Upgrading T60p 2613-ETU as far as it will go

[w4cko]

I have the IBM ThinkPad T60p 2613-ETU configured with T2500 2.0GHz Dual Core, 2GB RAM, 7200 RPM 100GB HDD, the chipset is reported as Mobile Intel(R) 945GM/GMS/940GML Express Chipsets or Intel(R) 945GT Express Chipset by Intel's chipset identification utility.

1.) What exact chipset is being used, the listing says 945GM, and GT?
2.) What is the maximum supported RAM of my current chipset?
3.) What is the maximum supported CPU on this board?
4.) How do I figure out exactly what revision my board is?
5.) Should I just retro-fit a T61p board in my T60p to gain maximum performance at minimum cost?

Thank you in advance.

[ssd_thinkpad]

In your situation I would replace the motherboard with a T61. I have replaced my old motherboard with a T60 one and now I would definitely choosen the T61 motherboard. I would get a T61 with intel graphics and T9500 and up to 8 GB RAM.

Currently I have a T2400 with intel gpu and 2 GB RAM. As much as I know the T60 chipset can only address 3 GB RAM. I am curious which path you choose, please report back here.

[Harryc]

1.) What exact chipset is being used, the listing says 945GM, and GT?
945GM

2.) What is the maximum supported RAM of my current chipset?
3GB

3.) What is the maximum supported CPU on this board?
T7600

4.) How do I figure out exactly what revision my board is?
Download and run CPU-Z

5.) Should I just retro-fit a T61p board in my T60p to gain maximum performance at minimum cost?
You can do that however I'd stay from a 'P' board unless you now that the GPU has been fixed or is a recent version. Plenty of threads here on nVidia issues on T61's.

I would get a T61 with intel graphics and T9500 and up to 8 GB RAM.

[w4cko]

Thank you both for your reply. That is excellent news, I was afraid to proceed without some confirmation. I have the FireGL V5200 256MB and UXGA IPS 1600x1200 display, which serves me very well, but the video upgrade on a T61 board is still appealing.

I read that retrofitting a T61 board into a T60p means not everything exactly screws in, and that the Modem and PCMCIA slots cannot be used.

1.) Is the above true?
2.) If I do decide to keep my board, will I benefit from using matching 2GB pair to maintain dual channel or should I just have a 1GB/2GB pair?
3.) In addition to CPU and RAM, would a SSD be a logical highest upgrade (I have a 100GB 7200RPM)?

* Also CPU-Z reports the board is Rev. 3, i945PM

[Harryc]

I have the FireGL V5200 256MB and UXGA IPS 1600x1200 display, which serves me very well, but the video upgrade on a T61 board is still appealing.

So, before we go any farther, this statement implies that you are favoring a T61P board upgrade, correct?

[ssd_thinkpad]

UXGA runs fine on a T60 with integrated graphics. The dual channel is in the T61 as it is in the T60. A SSD would definitely help. Take a look at the intel ones with more than 80 GB. This is around 150 Euro.

Considering the cost of the mainboard, cpu, ram you may have to pay around 200 Euros for these three items. This is much money for a slightly outdated system. In this case, take a look at the T520 and the good coupons lenovo gives with them, you usually get 20 % off the price you see in lenovos shop. The T520 with the FHD panel (250 USD upgrade) is reviewed as a system with a good display. Not as good as the IPS from the T60 but speed wise it is from another world.

[w4cko]

I am still weighing cost, pros and cons. When I bought this I spent around $4000, so I am willing to throw some money in it. I am in love with my IPS display and in fact not long ago got it replaced under warranty, and the body of my laptop refurbished. So even though its 5 or 6 years old by now, its like a new T60p.

I will price out the T61 upgrade path and see what I care to afford to do right now. My biggest limitation right now is 32bit, I cant run some Adobe CS5 products without 64bit.

[ssd_thinkpad]

The T60 series is quite outdated for such projects. I replaced my SXGA+ display with a UXGA one but in the end I am not so sure if this was such a good idea. The T520 is very cheap with starting from 800 USD and it is faster in cpu and gpu than any T61. This is what you could get for around 800 USD plus taxes:

Intel Core i3-2310M Processor (2.10GHz, 3MB L3)1
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 6412
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
Intel HD Graphics 3000
2 GB DDR3 - 1333MHz (1 DIMM)8
UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad
320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm4
DVD recordable multiburner5
6 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55+60 (apparently new)
No Bluetooth
ThinkPad b/g/n10
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable65
4239 : 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7

[w4cko]

I cant quite afford $800 right now. I have decided against the T61 upgrade also. I am going to go with a 120GB SSD, T7600, and 2GB ram upgrade, all for around $400.

Thank you all for your help

[ssd_thinkpad]

The T60 only has SATA 1. T61 has SATA 2 with the unofficial bios. Keep that in mind when upgrading your system to a ssd. SATA 1 can only manage 150 MB / s. SATA 2 can manage 300 MB / s.