Performance upgrades besides drive, memory, CPU?

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hydrostarr · #1 Post by **hydrostarr** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 12:15 pm

I'm upgrading my T41 2378DHU with more memory, better hard drive, and better CPU. Might there be any other performance-related upgrades I can perform?

I'm also plan on running a Linux system (probably Ubuntu) natively, and running Windows as a VMware guest and/or separate partition as needed. (This is driven more by my general application for this laptop--significant proprietary software development and testing.)

More specifics:

My usage requirements/notes:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=18180

I'm part way to maxing out the memory at 2GB (I'm at 1.5GB now) with DDR PC2700. Will any other memory be "better"?

I just received my Hitcahi 80GB, 7200rpm, 7k100 drive, have yet to load it. (I do have an ultra-bay slim, 2nd hdd adapter that I'll probably use for my existing, 40GB, 5400rpm drive.) I also found these reviews quite helpful:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/detail.php?id=92
http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/detail.php?id=80

I'm planning to upgrade my CPU per:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 401#117401
I have a 1.4GHz, 1MB PentiumM now, probably will upgrade to a 2GHz, 2MB.

Anything else I can do?

I'll gladly accept more power consuption for more speed and better performance.

-Matt

ps: I do not care to buy a new laptop until one can support more then 2GB of memory.

wolfman · #2 Post by **wolfman** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 12:35 pm

Sounds like you are well on the way to maxing out that unit. Should be a fine machine for a while - I use VMWare on my machine (in the opposite fashion as you suggested, windows XP pro as the host and linux as the guest). Works very well and the extra ram is definately nice (I use Kubuntu as the guest...).

As far as faster ram, I don't believe your system would take advantage of the PC3200 (DDR400) ram if you would install it - I think the PC2700 (DDR333) is the max your chipset can go. Now is still a good time to max out the ram though as prices are quite low...

I think you are hitting all the high notes to improve performance - the cpu, ram and hard disk...I can't think of anything else that will dramatically impact your performance.

Good luck with your upgrade...

hydrostarr · #3 Post by **hydrostarr** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 12:49 pm

I just stumbled upon the trail of Yonah/Intel-Core for a processor upgrade and started a new thread asking about it's availability:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=18610

-Matt

davidspalding · #4 Post by **davidspalding** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 3:56 pm

I think it's a testament to the quality of Thinkpads that, after the big three you've mentioned,... it's really hard to imagine anything else to "soup up" as you're trying to. Internal cooling? pretty good compared with other brands. Video? most of these T models have great video cards, crystal clear screens. Sound? pretty much a done deal, these days. Peripherals? well, perhaps consider Firewire 800 when it's feasible on your setup ... wireless peripherals (mouse, keyboard), a programmable keyboard (not as common anymore, I'm afraid) ... I'm out of ideas. I think the last element, which you're adding already, is the OS. From there, all kinds of interesting things will sprout.

StarTraveller · #5 Post by **StarTraveller** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:29 am

Cooling is an interesting notion. Will the cooling setup designed for a 1.4 GHZ P-M be sufficient for a 2 GHz P-M?

hydrostarr · #6 Post by **hydrostarr** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:55 am

StarTraveller wrote:Cooling is an interesting notion. Will the cooling setup designed for a 1.4 GHZ P-M be sufficient for a 2 GHz P-M?

That sounds like a great question.

My undestanding as per reading some other posts (maybe from this thread? I can't remember) is that it's good to get some quality thermal paste to slap in between the processor and the heat sink...if I understand things correctly.

Not sure that would address all the cooling issues with a 1.4-to-2GHz upgrade, though. I think the question on the table: can the chassis handle this cooling requirement at all?

-Matt

Sir Nikon · #7 Post by **Sir Nikon** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:10 pm

Where does one go about to try 'n find a CPU upgrade for their T41p? I currently have a 2373-315 with a 1.7GHZ. Pentium M.

#8 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:24 pm

From the following (3) links, you should get most of the information that you need. Search for the part number you want on e-bay, or Google. The Hardware Maintenance Manual will have IBM's part numbers for the processors.

Intel® Centrino® Mobile Technology
Compatible Chipsets

Intel® Pentium® M Processor
Product Order Codes

Hardware Maintenance Manual (July 2005) - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p

Performance upgrades besides drive, memory, CPU?

Performance upgrades besides drive, memory, CPU?

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