TP 600 Modification

[jjmclean]

I've got an old TP 600 2645-85U. First, has anyone come up with a good solution for the battery? Second, what's the latest modification anyone's done on one of these to bring them up to speed and does anyone have one running XP successfully?
Thanks
Jerry

[TomKroscavage]

I had a 600e. I maxed out the memory & CPU put in a 7k100 hard drive with XP. It was an AWESOME machine I gave it to my sister's son.

Be very careful with the keyboard cable.

[TomKroscavage]

I've got an old TP 600 2645-85U. First, has anyone come up with a good solution for the battery?

eBay

[u.mac]

more than 900mhz
(32+)256+256 memory

how to... http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 52438616c0

"on board" USB2.0 + Bluetooth... http://shop.ebay.com/items/__ake-usb-bl ... ec0Q2em283

[jjmclean]

Got a question on memory. I've found some 128's PC66 or 66 MHz that's for the 600. I also found some 256's PC 100 or 100 MHz and the seller says they will also work in the 600. I didn't think you could switch the MHz rating. Can someone fill me in on what will work here and what will not?
Thanks
Jerry

[rkawakami]

600X requires the use of at least PC100-speed memory. The 600 and 600E used PC66 modules so you can use PC100 rated memory. This is with the stipulation that they be "low density" memory. By that I mean, memory which is rated with a 4K refresh cycle spec. The easiest way to tell would be to count the number of individual memory components on the module. A 256MB module should have 16 parts on it to be called "low density". A 128MB module will have 8 parts on it. Note that there is at least one exception to this rule (I found a 256MB module that only has 8 parts) but if you use it, you shouldn't go wrong. There is also the possibility that some 600 systems (maybe 600E as well), will only recognize half the memory in one of the slots.

The memory controller in the laptop dictates what speed the modules will run at. Generally, you should be able to use faster rated memory in a slower system, but not the other way around. There are other things to consider as well; the CL (or CAS Latency rating) being of them, as well as the aforementioned "density" issue.

[jjmclean]

The easiest way to tell would be to count the number of individual memory components on the module

Are these the square or rectangle memory chips located on each side of the module? Can you mix memory of different speed?

[rkawakami]

Yes, the larger "chips" on the module are the actual memory components. The type of memory modules that go in the 600 systems will also have a single, much smaller device that has 8 pins (don't count that one). You can generally mix different speeds but you are better off sticking to the same speed and if possible, whatever is recommended by the manufacturer. For the 600 system (not E or X), the system specs call out for PC66 modules. Those are getting fairly rare. You can substitute with PC100 but you must stick with the "low density" modules.