Thinkpad 240X memory upgrade

[vcc6809]

hello, This is my first post.
I'm here because I found (most) of a 240x at a computer junk store a few days ago and decided to rescue it. I've read that the MX chipset seems to only support 256Meg of ram and that adding a 256Meg SODIMM to this machine will bring little joy. It also seems that if I were to remove the onboard 64Meg I could add a 256Meg card and that would work. Can anyone verify this is correct? Is there anything else that needs to be done in addition to removing the existing memory.
Thanks.

[tfflivemb2]

The 64 onboard ram is just that...onboard ram. It is built into/soldered to the systemboard, not just attached to the board (ie. plug and play).

[Michael4104]

Do a search for "240X upgrade", there has been a lot written about the upgrade. I think maybe tfflivemb2 misunderstood your question.
Michael j

[vcc6809]

Nayea, BTDT, Like I said, can't find it. the search you mentioned amoung 100's of others brings no joy. Like I said I just want to know how to DISABLE the internal RAM. This is a PIII 500Mhz 240X with the MX chipset.

[tim S]

You'll need a Dremel or some other grinding tool. According to the photos I saw on a Chinese(?) site you have to physically remove the 4 soldered on chips lying under the removable memory. Maybe removing just one will disable the rest? Since there is no going back, I didn't think it was worth the effort or potential collateral damage. My 240X runs XP just fine with 192 meg (128+64).
Tim S

[vcc6809]

agreed, too risky for too little benefit. was hoping for something more reversible. There's got to be a way to just kill the CE line without removing all 8 onboard chips. If I get something better than major surgery I'll post it here.
Thanks for the confirmation.

[whizkid]

Well... you could snip the appropriate lines on the chips, if you can get to them. Output Enable would be a good one to try. Then you could solder in a piece of 30AWG if you wanted it back. Not a job for the twitchy or caffeinated.

[vcc6809]

Actually I'm going to really go for broke.
I've got a leftover 240 MB with a 300Mhz Celly. I'm going to attempt to replace it with a 1gig PIII and swap the onboard ram for 256Meg chips. It post some pics if I don't brick it compleatly.
Wish me luck.

[tim S]

I removed the existing 64meg of ram with a Dremel from an unused 240X 450 celeron. First I cut along one side of the first bank and bent the chip back to break the connections on the other side. The Dremel kind of chewed up the 'legs' but I made sure that the leftovers weren't touching. I installed a 64meg chip, fired up the laptop and ....4 beeps and nothing. Took out the rest, cleaned up the connectors fired it up and....4 beeps and nothing. Either there is more to it, or there's a short I can't see. Could be that I have to join all the connecters in lieu of a chip, Heaven forbid! Maybe connect the first over to the last for continuity, I'll get back to it someday.
Tim S

[vcc6809]

"took out the rest". You do know there are 8 chips. 4 on top and four on the bottom? I don't know how wise using a dremmel tool was either as its very easy to cut a pcb trace or 3. I just ordered a hot air station for this from Ebay. I'm always messing with something anyway so its not just for this.

[phool@round]

This is my take on it all.......

Even if the mods are successful....... the next limitations will be the 800X600 res, the PCI (not AGP) SMI Lynx EM+ with a whopping 2M that cannot do 3d period, then the notoriously weak backlighting and a BIOS on a 256k chip. The stock heatsink/fan won't be enough for a 1G stove burner either......

I wish you the best of luck. Beware of your expectations and forge ahead.

I simply installed linux........

By the way, Welcome to the forum vcc6809!