Should I upgrade the BIOS at all on my T23?

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dmata10 · #1 Post by **dmata10** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:28 pm

Is updating the BIOS a simple job? I am a little worried when hearing all these warnings and horror stories.

I would like to upgrade the laptop to a P4 1.7 ghz, a Hitachi 80 gb 7200rpm HD, and a wireless intel pro 2200 card.

Do you think I would need to upgrade the BIOS at all?

It currently has BIOS 1.10 and Embedded Controller Version 1.04

Everything is working great now with a 20gb HD, 1gb of RAM, and a Linksys wireless G adapter on Windows XP SP2.

Thanks for amy input you might have.

Website · #2 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:25 pm

Welcome to the Forum!

Updating the BIOS on a Thinkpad is much easier to do nowadays, as compared to the olden days where you had to make sure that your update was the correct one for the systemboard version that you were using.

The Thinkpad BIOS' are clearly labeled and can be done automatically. Still follow the directions of course, as far as doing the BIOS and the Embedded Controller.

As for your specific upgrades, you CANNOT put in a P4 1.7GHz CPU. The max for the T23 is a PIII 1.2GHz. As for the wireless card that you are talking about adding, you will also need to add internal antennas if your system doesn't already have them.

What is your full 7 digit model/type number? (ie. 2647-4AU)

phool@round · #3 Post by **phool@round** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:06 pm

Not a bad idea though, a PM 1.7 upgrade....10G of memory......PCIe slots....WLAN...with no more than a BIOS update......... they'd bury me with my velvet covered mistress.

dmata10 · #4 Post by **dmata10** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:20 pm

Upgrading the BIOS and the embedded controller was easier than I expected. I just followed the instructions and both were completed in less than 5 minutes.

My model number is 2648-2TU.

I bought the 1.7 P4 chip because I was seeing alot of posts saying that some people have been upgrading there T23's to P4 with great success. When I went to order the chip, I found various sites that even listed the chip under compatible models which it can run under and T23 was listed. I just got the chip in Friday so i will install it this weekend and see what happens.

goofyGAguy · #5 Post by **goofyGAguy** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:46 am

Okay, let us know how it goes.

phool@round · #6 Post by **phool@round** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:04 am

Careful now, dmata10 lives in Humble, you wouldn't want something bad happening by acting vain.......

I can see the prices of T23's sky rocket if this works..........You go dmata10, you go...........Glory had a LUGER!!!!

#7 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:52 am

dmata10 wrote: I bought the 1.7 P4 chip because I was seeing alot of posts saying that some people have been upgrading there T23's to P4... I found various sites that even listed the chip under compatible models

Please post a few links to these sites and posts. This upgrade is not possible. The CPU sockets and voltages are different.

#8 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:03 am

Why bother?
A PIII M 1.2GHz is roughly equal to a P4 1.8GHz CPU.

pianowizard · #9 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:06 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:Why bother?
A PIII M 1.2GHz is roughly equal to a P4 1.8GHz CPU.

Excellent point! Also, after the upgrade, battery life would go down dramatically. I would call this a downgrade, not upgrade.

dmata10 · #10 Post by **dmata10** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:56 am

Here's the site where I ordered the P4 chip from.

http://www.getpartsonline.com/sl5yu-26p8242.html

pianowizard · #11 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:01 pm

dmata10 wrote:Here's the site where I ordered the P4 chip from.

http://www.getpartsonline.com/sl5yu-26p8242.html

The site says "26P8242 - IBM Thinkpad A30, A31, T23 Series Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 1.6ghz Processor M". It's correct about the A30 and the A31, but wrong about the T23. The Pentium 4-M is for the T30, not the T23, and hundreds of people on this forum can confirm that.

phool@round · #12 Post by **phool@round** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:15 pm

While we make every effort to provide 100% accurate information, compatibility is provided as a courtesy to the consumer and does not constitute any warranties, implied or otherwise, as to the accuracy of such information.

I think they made a slight oopsie.......

dmata10 · #13 Post by **dmata10** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:03 pm

So do you guys think that it is possible? I haven't tried yet, but will it damage the motherboard if I do try?

goofyGAguy · #14 Post by **goofyGAguy** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:11 pm

dmata10 wrote:So do you guys think that it is possible?

We are thinking not.

pianowizard · #15 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:12 pm

dmata10 wrote:will it damage the motherboard if I do try?

It won't damage the motherboard because you can't even plug it in. The pins and holes don't match.

dmata10 · #16 Post by **dmata10** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:00 pm

Well no since in cracking the ThinkPad open then. Hopefully I can return the processor. Thanks for your help guys.

Should I upgrade the BIOS at all on my T23?

Should I upgrade the BIOS at all on my T23?

WOW! Very easy to upgrade the BIOS......

Re: WOW! Very easy to upgrade the BIOS......

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