Need advice on restoring IBM Thinkpad R50E

[voltrex]

Hi,

I just got my hands on an old ThinkPad R50E from my work and i would love to restore it into working condition,
Since i always wanted to get my own ThinkPad i am very excited about this opportunity.

The unite is in Mint condition But missing HDD (For security reasons it was destroyed ) and AC adapter.
the batteries are most likely dead. also 2 rubber feet are MIA.

Can i use any 2.5" HDD or special types? If yes, where can i find the compatible HDD list?
Can i find a compatible AC Adapter from other manufacturers or should i look for IBM only?
Also from which years the ThinkPads used the same DC input voltage?

As well i would appreciate any info on upgrade (CPU,RAM etc) options for the R50E.

I am sorry if these questions were asked many times but since R50E is a dated (2004?) notebook it is difficult for me to find relevant and solid information.

Many thanks,
Daniel.

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

Any laptop 2.5"/9mm PATA/IDE (not SATA) hard drive will work just fine.

You need a 56 or 72W AC adapter, I'd *strongly* suggest picking up a genuine IBM one which shouldn't run you more than $10-15 especially if you pick it up at our forum's Marketplace.

There's a 7-character model number on the same sticker that holds the serial # and production date on the bottom of the machine. What is that number, since it will reveal the original configuration/specs to the rest of us?

[voltrex]

Welcome to the forum!

Any laptop 2.5"/9mm PATA/IDE (not SATA) hard drive will work just fine.

You need a 56 or 72W AC adapter, I'd *strongly* suggest picking up a genuine IBM one which shouldn't run you more than $10-15 especially if you pick it up at our forum's Marketplace.

There's a 7-character model number on the same sticker that holds the serial # and production date on the bottom of the machine. What is that number, since it will reveal the original configuration/specs to the rest of us?

IDE is a relic, All my local hardware supply stores, sell only Sata II/III.
Is this the model? Type 1834-BWG

Thank you very much for your reply
I am very grateful to find such dedicated and active community

[danikayser84]

If you're daring you can put a 15" R51/R50 ATI motherboard in, or even a 15" R52/T43 motherboard (beware: if you go from Intel to ATI graphics, you will also need to change the fan/heatsink... in the case of moving to R52/T43 motherboard you will also need a new 533 FSB CPU and DDR2 RAM instead of DDR1)

I believe the fastest 400 MHz Pentium M Dothan was 2.1 GHz (you can go from a Celeron or a PM Banias to a PM Dothan CPU, but can't go from a 400 CPU to a 533 though, at least not without mods/hacks)

Hard drives in PATA are available up to 320GB but I think 160GB (Samsung HM160HC) is more than enough, there a few PATA/IDE SSD options (Transcend, OWC Mercury Legacy Pro or a mSATA-to-IDE adapter; AVOID Kingspec SSDs)... RAM can go up to 2GB (PC-2700 or PC-3200), a pair of 1GB PC2700/PC3200 SODIMM will run you about $10-$20 new

[voltrex]

If you're daring you can put a 15" R51/R50 ATI motherboard in, or even a 15" R52/T43 motherboard (beware: if you go from Intel to ATI graphics, you will also need to change the fan/heatsink... in the case of moving to R52/T43 motherboard you will also need a new 533 FSB CPU and DDR2 RAM instead of DDR1)

I believe the fastest 400 MHz Pentium M Dothan was 2.1 GHz (you can go from a Celeron or a PM Banias to a PM Dothan CPU, but can't go from a 400 CPU to a 533 though, at least not without mods/hacks)

Hard drives in PATA are available up to 320GB but I think 160GB (Samsung HM160HC) is more than enough, there a few PATA/IDE SSD options (Transcend, OWC Mercury Legacy Pro or a mSATA-to-IDE adapter; AVOID Kingspec SSDs)... RAM can go up to 2GB (PC-2700 or PC-3200), a pair of 1GB PC2700/PC3200 SODIMM will run you about $10-$20 new

As much as i would want to upgrade the ThinkPad, i still wish to keep it as original as possible.
Are these parts are rare today or expensive?

[danikayser84]

The 2.10 GHz Dothan Pentium M is pretty expensive ($40 or so), I'd recommend the 2.00 GHz because that is a lot cheaper ($10-$15)... you can still buy a new Samsung HM160HC for about $25-$30 on eBay (the best PATA/IDE laptop hard drive ever made, I use one in my A31, my T43 and my PowerBook G4)

Also note that due to the R50e's integrated graphics you will not be able to get Aero under Windows 7, but that doesn't really matter anyway (8.x and up will NOT however work because none of the 400 FSB Dothans support NX Bit)

[RealBlackStuff]

Ex-factory your laptop looked like this:
R50e (1834-BWG):
P M 725(1.6MHz), 256MB RAM, 40GB 4200rpm HDD, 15" XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, Intel Extreme, 24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, Intel 802.11b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 10/100 Ethernet(LOM), 6 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro
AFAIK the e in R50e stands either for "educational" or for "entry level".
It can take up to 2x1GB RAM.

For the maintenance manual, click on the HMM link at the top of this page.

[jronald]

I have a set of R50 Recovery Disc.

Very dated, but it will put it back to the original state.

Ron

[voltrex]

I have a set of R50 Recovery Disc.

Very dated, but it will put it back to the original state.

Ron

It will be great if you could upload it on a sharing website from which i will be able to download it.

BTW what is the HDD Caddy/ Tray? My HHD slot is exposed and i don't have the cover.

[ajkula66]

BTW what is the HDD Caddy/ Tray? My HHD slot is exposed and i don't have the cover.

Caddy is a metal tray that holds the hard drive securely in place via 4 screws and ties to the HDD cover. A set for your system should be no more than a couple of quid on feebay. All 15" R5x systems share the same caddy/cover, where the latter is different between the 14" and 15" units. The caddy is the same.

As for the hard drives, you'll be much better off with a newer drive such as Samsung HM160HC. Anything that spins at 4200rpm will be horrendously slow under XP SP3 nowadays. I'd also upgrade the RAM but would leave the CPU alone.

[voltrex]

The irony in my case, another ThinkPad (Dual Core, 1gb ram and more..) fully working order will cost me around $100.
Buying parts for my R50E will cost me around $50.
Should i try to find free or very cheap parts or buy another one?

BTW, Will the IBM thinkpads will become valuable collectibles in the future?

[ajkula66]

The irony in my case, another ThinkPad (Dual Core, 1gb ram and more..) fully working order will cost me around $100.
Buying parts for my R50E will cost me around $50.
Should i try to find free or very cheap parts or buy another one?

It's your call, really. There's a price to be paid when one is restoring a classic car, guitar, or a ThinkPad. Been there and done that for all of the items mentioned.

BTW, Will the IBM thinkpads will become valuable collectibles in the future?

Some of them already are. It's unlikely that R50e will fit in that category anytime soon, though.

[voltrex]

Some of them already are. It's unlikely that R50e will fit in that category anytime soon, though.

In what Forum section can i debate about what IBM thinkpad i should restore?

BTW the R50E is sold for $120 working on Feebay (Why can't i say eBay?)
that's a pretty good price.

I want to restore an IBM machine but i also want to invest into something with value to it.

[ajkula66]

In what Forum section can i debate about what IBM thinkpad i should restore?

I'd pick a model and start a debate in the appropriate forum.

BTW the R50E is sold for $120 working on Feebay (Why can't i say eBay?) that's a pretty good price.

All depends on where one stands...

I want to restore an IBM machine but i also want to invest into something with value to it.

Heh...value is relative. I don't know how old you are, but people who had invested in E-Type Jags back in the early 90s lost their shirts for the most part...so it's pick your poison for the most part IMO...

[voltrex]

Heh...value is relative. I don't know how old you are, but people who had invested in E-Type Jags back in the early 90s lost their shirts for the most part...so it's pick your poison for the most part IMO...

I am 23 ( i hope it is clear why i have so much interest in IBM ThinkPads) . I am a fresh Electrical Engineer.
the idea is to start restoring old machines as a hobby. but not to repair junk.

anyway i will try to find very cheap parts on Ebay for the R50E and then i will see what will come next in my way.

[ajkula66]

I am 23 ( i hope it is clear why i have so much interest in IBM ThinkPads) . I am a fresh Electrical Engineer.

Good for you. Seriously.

the idea is to start restoring old machines as a hobby. but not to repair junk.

Sometimes it's hard to draw the line between the two...just like any other type of restoration, really.

anyway i will try to find very cheap parts on Ebay for the R50E and then i will see what will come next in my way.

You may want to also post a WTB (want to buy) ad in the Forum's Marketplace. You'll likely be amazed at what people have sitting in their storage bins...

My take:

1) Get 2x1GB DDR PC2100 or 2700 laptop RAM, it's quite inexpensive nowadays.

2) Stay away from 4200rpm hard drives.

3) Get a genuine IBM AC adapter, as well as a genuine - even well-used - battery.

4) Clean out the heatsink and replace thermal paste.

5) Pick the OS that you want to run and install it.

6) Enjoy.

[voltrex]

Why can't i use more then 2Gb of RAM?
What mods should i try so i could get better CPU?

After a close look i found out that most IBM thinkpad look the same and feature the same chassis.
The difference is inside, could i theoretically install another motherboard?

[ajkula66]

Why can't i use more then 2Gb of RAM?

That's all that chipset supports AND there are no DDR laptop DIMMs larger than 1GB.

What mods should i try so i could get better CPU?

You're stuck with 400MHz Dothan-core Pentium M CPUs. What you have right now (725) is a pretty good balance between power and heat IMO.

After a close look i found out that most IBM thinkpad look the same and feature the same chassis.
The difference is inside, could i theoretically install another motherboard?

Appearances are deceptive.

The "newest" board that you could install would be from a R52, which would require different CPU/heatsink/RAM. Not worth it IMO.