IBM T2X series laptops

[imzjustplayin]

Is there a site or a link or what ever where I can find T20-23 faqs? Like what type of socket they used for their processors, max processor speed, what features were available at the time of purchase, what can be upgraded etc. Cause My friend is looking for a laptop and I recommended him an IBM T20-23 series laptop since it'd be cheap and built well. So now I'm wondering what to look for and what we can do to the laptop if we want to make it the best it can be.

[tfflivemb2]

Here is a good place to start. Also, you can search for specific answers through this forum. There is a wealth of information here.

Personally, I would recommend the T23 over the T20-22, simply because it has more room to grow.

[rkawakami]

I second the motion for a T23. In my case a big selling point is that it can be populated with up to 1024MB of memory (T20-22 limited to 512MB). As far as what features were available, download a copy of the tawbook from here:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitu ... awbook.pdf

It's a listing of some of the obsolete IBM laptops (A, T, X and G series) and what their main features and options were.

[AlphaKilo470]

It's also notable that the T23 featured a 133mhz bus speed and Tualatin processor as opposed to the 100mhz bus and Coppermine processor featured in the T20, T21 and T22.

[ambientscape]

Is there a site or a link or what ever where I can find T20-23 faqs? Like what type of socket they used for their processors, max processor speed, what features were available at the time of purchase, what can be upgraded etc. Cause My friend is looking for a laptop and I recommended him an IBM T20-23 series laptop since it'd be cheap and built well. So now I'm wondering what to look for and what we can do to the laptop if we want to make it the best it can be.

Some T23 is equipped with internal wireless and IBM security chip and not to mention, SXGA+ screen. Check it out on eBay!.

[imzjustplayin]

Could you upgrade an T2X series laptop to a tualatin processor? Didn't there exist a 1.4ghz Tualatin processor for mobile? Is this compatible with any of the T2X series laptops?

[tfflivemb2]

Could you upgrade an T2X series laptop to a tualatin processor? Didn't there exist a 1.4ghz Tualatin processor for mobile? Is this compatible with any of the T2X series laptops?

Of the T2x series, only the T23 can use the Tualatin processors, because they are the 1.133 and 1.2GHz processors. The T20-22 cap out at 1.0GHz, which was Coppermine.

There has been discussion about there possibly having been a 1.3-1.4GHz Tualatin, but it you can't find them. This tends to lead me to believe that they were designed but not sold. There was a thread on this awhile back.

For the record, it has been said, and I guess tested, that the PIII Tualatin CPUs can outrun the laptop version of a 1.6GHz P4. (or was it the 1.6 P4M in the low end T30's...I forget)

[imzjustplayin]

Well I know for a fact that they made a Tualatin 1.4 for the desktop, it was a PIII variant and a Celeron Variant. So you're just not sure if they made it for the mobile sector?

[tfflivemb2]

Correct, I am not sure if it was made for the Mobile line.

[kstuart]

To some degree, it depends on what you are going to do with the laptop.

While built-in wireless on the T23 is nice, most T23's don't have it, and the antenna was improved in the T40 series. And, usually the built-in wireless card is B only.

SXGA+ has its pluses and minuses, and can be found on T21 or T22 as well as T23. The main problem with it is that the screen is going to be 4-5 years old, and likely to fail soon - my T22's SXGA+ screen lasted exactly 1 day after I purchased it (used, of course). Then the problem is that an XGA screen is US$40-$90, while an SXGA+ screen is $200 more (ie more than the laptop costs).

The maximum memory issue might be a problem with Vista, but 512MB should be fine on WinXP or Win2k (unless, of course, you are doing some highly memory intensive work, like photo editing, in which case you probably want a T4x series anyway).

From intensive perusal of ebay the past few months, I would say that the best value for the money is a T22 with an XGA screen. I've seen some circumstantial evidence that the screens improved somewhat when the T22 was introduced.

You should be able to find a nice T22 for US$150-$200, while T20s and T21s barely sell for any less, and so are not as good a buy. T23's sell for $250-$350, IMHO they are not worth the extra money, especially when everyone uses battery maximizing mode that throttles the CPU to 600mhz anyway.

The T40/T41 has a number of subtle improvements (such as great battery life) that may make the extra cost $500-$700 worthwhile to some.

[rkawakami]

While built-in wireless on the T23 is nice, most T23's don't have it, and the antenna was improved in the T40 series. And, usually the built-in wireless card is B only.

Which is why I just installed a Broadcom 802.11b/g card in one of my T23s today. Almost the same one I've used in my 600X upgrade. This card is just slightly "taller" and does not fit inside the 600Xs bay. Now comes the hard part; installing an antenna somewhere in the case. I'm not going to bother with the lid for now but when I have the case apart I'm also going to look for anyplace I can put an external antenna jack.

[imzjustplayin]

To some degree, it depends on what you are going to do with the laptop.

While built-in wireless on the T23 is nice, most T23's don't have it, and the antenna was improved in the T40 series. And, usually the built-in wireless card is B only.

You should be able to find a nice T22 for US$150-$200, while T20s and T21s barely sell for any less, and so are not as good a buy. T23's sell for $250-$350, IMHO they are not worth the extra money, especially when everyone uses battery maximizing mode that throttles the CPU to 600mhz anyway.

I can buy an antenna and card (internal) online for around $40 total which I think is worth it if it takes the hassel out of having to deal with a PCMCIA card. Being 802.11b isn't really that bad, I've got a T42 and all I use is B, rarely do I encounter a more advanced router than that, if I get signal, thats all that matters to me.

[naro]

Is there a site or a link or what ever where I can find T20-23 faqs? Like what type of socket they used for their processors, max processor speed, what features were available at the time of purchase, what can be upgraded etc. Cause My friend is looking for a laptop and I recommended him an IBM T20-23 series laptop since it'd be cheap and built well. So now I'm wondering what to look for and what we can do to the laptop if we want to make it the best it can be.

http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/thinkpadspecs.html

dunno whether this will be useful for u.. its not updated on the latest models though..