Looking to refresh / upgrade my ThinkPad with new parts

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SaabScott · #1 Post by **SaabScott** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 3:50 pm

I have the 6459-CTO T61p.

Even given careful use, it has seen better days.
I am giving some thought to refreshing it and would like some input.

I have seen a number of things on ebay that have caught my attention.
New keyboard, palm rest (although finding one for the 15.4" widescreen is proving difficult), new CMOS battery, Bluetooth adapter (stupid me, forgot to include that in my build), and perhaps upgrading to 8GB, DVD-RW, and WUXGA (1900x1200) screen.

Or do I say the hell with all of that effort and simply buy something like this;
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T61p-L ... 3a653bfdba

Thoughts please ... and yes, feel free to tell me I have lost a few marbles (just be kind and tell me why you think that).

davidhbrown · #2 Post by **davidhbrown** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:12 pm

If you have the NVIDIA chip, unless you're really, *really*, REALLY sure you have a "good one" (do any exist?), I would not put more money into it. See the sticky thread.

But if you have just integrated graphics or if you're determined, PM me... my 6459-CTO just died a week and a half ago and I need to figure out what to do with the carcass and parts.

SaabScott · #3 Post by **SaabScott** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:26 pm

I do have the dedicated NVIDIA chip (256MB vs. the 512MB in the machine I linked to ... so another upgrade there besides processor and screen ... and DVD-RW and Bluetooth, etc).

I had a spill on my system that was covered by warranty and the motherboard in my TP now is the newer version, the one everyone says is good.
So, mine is good that way ... but does it make any sense vs. "upgrading" to a different model?
Given that I can do some of the work I've listed but not all (never replaced a screen before, and oh, forgot to mention replacing hinges), it is going to be a serious task.

hunterman223 · #4 Post by **hunterman223** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:53 pm

It won't be too difficult, and after the first time disassembling and reassembling it is infinitely easier. Just follow the HMM (hardware maintenance manual) and you'll be just fine.

About upgrading, a T61p with a good CPU, dedicated graphics and plenty of memory is s good machine. But ask yourself, is there anything your T61p isn't capable of doing that would justify upgrading? I think you could squeeze a few more years out of it, at least. But it's up to you.

jayk · #5 Post by **jayk** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 10:57 pm

I just replaced the fan on my 4-year-old T60, and the machine not only runs cooler (I also cleaned and replaced the heat-sink grease on the CPU) but is a lot quieter when the fan does come on. Plus it was very satisfying to clean four years worth of accumulated dust out of the heatsink fins.

The fan was about $10 on ebay and it took me a bit under an hour.

- Jay

SaabScott · #6 Post by **SaabScott** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:01 am

Are there any good DIY threads on doing some of these things?

Replacing the hinges is a big job from what I understand.
Keyboard is easy.
CMOS battery and Bluetooth adapter are something I haven't looked at.
Optical drive is a no-brainer.
And based on the last post, would consider replacing the fan(s) ... again, would be looking for instructions on how to do that.

I'd also like thoughts on Turbo memory ... I remember reading something about it once.
Mine doesn't have it. I have found it (cheap) on ebay, so that has crossed my mind.

As for the screen ... mine is fine.
Can't think of any reason at this time to replace it.

SaabScott · #7 Post by **SaabScott** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:14 am

hunterman223 wrote:It won't be too difficult, and after the first time disassembling and reassembling it is infinitely easier. Just follow the HMM (hardware maintenance manual) and you'll be just fine.

OK, I've downloaded the HMM and wow, is it ever detailed (never really looked through it before with the intent of understanding how to take my TP apart).
I'll need a second machine (good thing I gave my fiance my mother's old R61i) to be able to see the details!

Now I just have to decide what I'm going to get.
It will be an all in situation ... won't be going back in a second time (if I can help it).

#8 Post by **ZaZ** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:25 pm

Hit the Service and Training site. That'll show you how to do it.

SaabScott · #9 Post by **SaabScott** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:20 am

Ok, so here is the plan.

I have ordered a new keyboard and palm rest, more just to refresh the machine and give it a "new" look than any other reason.
I have also ordered a DVD-RW, Bluetooth model, new fan w/thermal paste, a new CMOS battery (for less than $3.00, it only makes sense to replace it while I have other things apart), a set of new replacement hinges, and 8GB of memory (will allow me to upgrade this machine, then move the 4GB I have in it now to the R61i my fiance has).

I will do all of this in one shot.
Based on the HMM and the videos I have checked out, it does not appear to be difficult, just time consuming.
It will be very educational as I have never gone that far into a ThinkPad before ... sort of makes me wish I still worked for IBM/Lenovo and had access to the TP technical specialist.

goofyGAguy · #10 Post by **goofyGAguy** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:06 pm

SaabScott wrote:
I will do all of this in one shot.
Based on the HMM and the videos I have checked out, it does not appear to be difficult, just time consuming.

Shouldn't take more than 45 minutes or so.

hunterman223 · #11 Post by **hunterman223** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:51 pm

I don't know if you have experience taking laptops apart, but thinkpads tend to be easier than most. Some advice: don't rush, the first time will take longer. Try to remember "landmarks". Also I suggest either taking notes or doing what I do, lay down a sheet of paper separated into different sections with the pertaining screws on top of each section.

goofyGAguy · #12 Post by **goofyGAguy** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:00 pm

hunterman223 wrote: Also I suggest either taking notes or doing what I do, lay down a sheet of paper separated into different sections with the pertaining screws on top of each section.

Or whip out a digital camera.

hunterman223 · #13 Post by **hunterman223** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:11 pm

goofyGAguy wrote:
hunterman223 wrote: Also I suggest either taking notes or doing what I do, lay down a sheet of paper separated into different sections with the pertaining screws on top of each section.
Or whip out a digital camera.

Forgot to mention that one. Good idea to do that along side the screws on sectioned paper thing.

emeraldgirl08 · #14 Post by **emeraldgirl08** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:28 pm

hunterman223 wrote:I don't know if you have experience taking laptops apart, but thinkpads tend to be easier than most. Some advice: don't rush, the first time will take longer. Try to remember "landmarks". Also I suggest either taking notes or doing what I do, lay down a sheet of paper separated into different sections with the pertaining screws on top of each section.

This ^^^

I do this when I upgrade or change thermal paste on laptops

hunterman223 · #15 Post by **hunterman223** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 5:16 pm

emeraldgirl08 wrote:
This ^^^

I do this when I upgrade or change thermal paste on laptops

I use it when I do anything with more than a few screws. Hasn't failed me yet, no leftover screws.

SaabScott · #16 Post by **SaabScott** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:20 pm

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I have no fear taking my TP apart ... but going that far will be a first.
I remember having a friend who I worked with at IBM and back then he would take apart 755's and the like ... blew me away.
But then another friend of mine, the technical specialist for Canada, taught me to be much less "afraid" of them.

There wasn't anything he couldn't do!

SaabScott · #17 Post by **SaabScott** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:07 am

The parts are starting to arrive.

Got my 2 x 4GB in from Cali today! Very surprised at the speed that one arrived!
Memory-up is the seller on ebay.
They were the only ones I saw who had a listing for 4GB modules.
$170 including shipping ($78 each and $15 for S&H) ... not the cheapest memory out there, but so far very impressed with their service.
I'll be installing at home this evening for sure (and moving the 2 x 2GB out of the T61p into the R61i).

SaabScott · #18 Post by **SaabScott** » Fri May 06, 2011 9:01 pm

Just won an ebay auction for a brand new T9300 ... $120USD delivered.
Based on the pricing I have seen, that is really good.

SaabScott · #19 Post by **SaabScott** » Sun May 15, 2011 10:30 am

Downloaded the HMM, printed the necessary pages ... and left them on my desk at work!

Replaced the CPU this morning any way.
Machine runs great!
MUCH, much cooler ... never expected it was going to be that much cooler.
Perhaps the thermal paste that was there was past its prime and it is a combination of the new processor and fresh paste.

So, the machine not only runs way cooler, cools down much faster, but it also runs way better too!
Well worth the money and time spent so far.

hunterman223 · #20 Post by **hunterman223** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:36 pm

Glad it turned out well for you. It's been really interesting to watch this progress.

I am actually going to do a few "touch ups" on the T400 I just received. Don't ask, but I had a pretty big mishap and my palmrest came out of the ordeal with superglue on it!

The first reaction was to frantically wipe it, which smeared the glue and made it dry faster... Sigh. Live and learn I guess. So I am searching for one if those, and they seem few and far between. Most people would just leave it since it's not very noticeable, but I can't stand it!

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

SaabScott · #21 Post by **SaabScott** » Mon May 16, 2011 12:01 pm

Thanks for the comments Hunter ...

Just some more info on the heat/cooling.
I've been running idle temps around the 60C mark ... with the fan not even running (something that didn't happen with the T7500 in place).
The hottest I had it up to was today, 80C, while burning a video to DVD.
Will have to try testing the limits with Warcraft since that is what I am most familiar with in terms of driving up the temps.
The other pleasant surprise is that when the fan does kick in, it cools things down even faster than before.

Oh, and doesn't it figure that the BlueTooth adapter I ordered arrived ... this morning!
Gives me an excuse (as if I really needed one) to go back in and give the fan a good and proper cleaning (wasn't able to do that yesterday) and also replace the hinges.

SaabScott · #22 Post by **SaabScott** » Wed May 18, 2011 12:54 pm

OK, so I decided to take a leap last night and attempt to replace my hinges.

All went well ... except they are the wrong hinges!!!

Installed the BlueTooth adapter while I was in there ... and I can get the system to recognize it and turn it on, but when it tries to install drivers, it just craps out.
I've tried updating things through the ThinkVantage Toolbox as well as Windows Update ... nothing.

Also, gave the face an even better cleaning and also lubricated it.
Runs almost silently now (it really wasn't loud before though).
Now the loudest part of the ThinkPad is the hdd!

And the processor and GPU aren't getting nearly as warm as they used to ... must have been old thermal paste not working effectively anymore.