Price Check: T30

[thinkpad1]

Could anyone suggest a price for a used T30? In good condition with a total of 768mb of RAM.

ATI 7500, XGA screen (1024 x 768) and Cisco wifi card. 60GB HDD.

[RealBlackStuff]

No more than $150.- shipped

[thinkpad1]

Thanks, RealBlackStuff!!!!!

I need an idea.... 'hope someone would want it, too.

[RealBlackStuff]

Good luck if you plan to sell it, very few buyers for those nowadays. eBay has loadz.

[Neil]

RBS seems to be able to get more for his ThinkPads than I can. I sold a T30 on eBay...I dunno...maybe last year sometime for $99 including shipping. And I was glad that I got that much!

[RealBlackStuff]

I sold my last T30 (with SXGA+ LCD) in October 2010 for $180.- shipped here on the forum.
That was an absolutely barebones machine with only a wifi 802.11B card and a HD cover in it.
No optical or hard drive, no RAM, no battery.
So OP's machine with (getting expensive) 768MB RAM and 60GB HD sounds not too bad, assuming it also includes at least a DVD-drive, has Windows installed, as well as a working battery.

I no longer buy or repair them and am glad to be rid of them all (I had 7).
I have just a few T30 parts still lying around.

[Neil]

Look at it this way, the hard drive alone might be worth $25-30, the RAM $10-12, if you have a like new battery another $15-20, AC adapter $5-10, but the T30 itself doesn't have much value anymore especially with the XGA LCD.

Looks like both your RAM slots work, though, so that alone might be your greatest selling point. A buyer will know he/she can put up to 2GB RAM in there should they want to.

[cadillacmike68]

I sold my last T30 (with SXGA+ LCD) in October 2010 for $180.- shipped here on the forum.
That was an absolutely barebones machine with only a wifi 802.11B card and a HD cover in it.
No optical or hard drive, no RAM, no battery.
So OP's machine with (getting expensive) 768MB RAM and 60GB HD sounds not too bad, assuming it also includes at least a DVD-drive, has Windows installed, as well as a working battery.

I no longer buy or repair them and am glad to be rid of them all (I had 7).
I have just a few T30 parts still lying around.

Hey RBS, what was it that you dislike so much about the T30s? Other than the memory slot problems.

[RealBlackStuff]

Too bulky, too heavy, GPU problems, weak graphics (when working), RAM-slot problems.

[jronald]

Hey
The T30 Im still on is offended!

Ron

[Unknown_K]

The only thing I don't like about them is the RAM slot and video chip issue. I do prefer my T23 probably because it runs a little cooler (P3 v p4 will do that). T30's do come with built in wireless and do 2GB of RAM which is a plus if you just need an XP laptop.

[Neil]

Believe it or not, back when I had a T23 (SXGA+ LCD with built in antenna) and a T30 at the same time, both running XP, the T23 just felt faster. Had 1GB RAM in each, so it must have been the difference between the 1.2GHz PIII and the 2.0GHz P4. Or, could have been the hard drives, since I don't remember what either had in 'em.

[Unknown_K]

Believe it or not, back when I had a T23 (SXGA+ LCD with built in antenna) and a T30 at the same time, both running XP, the T23 just felt faster. Had 1GB RAM in each, so it must have been the difference between the 1.2GHz PIII and the 2.0GHz P4. Or, could have been the hard drives, since I don't remember what either had in 'em.

Not sure why that would be. My T30 1.8Ghz runs ar 1.20 Ghz on battery, my T23 1.13Ghz ran at 732Mhz on battery. Both chips have 512K cache (I expect the P3 to be faster at the same clock speed then the P4 which is why they ditched the P4M for the Pentium M (based on the P3 core). The P4 still have the speed advantage even on battery, unless underclocking the CPU realy screws up the long P4 pipelines.

[ajkula66]

T30s were OK, with two major turn-offs in my book:

a) SXGA+ LCDs were dim as heck to begin with, and got worse in a hurry.

b) ATi 7500 in 16MB version that was seen on T30 and lower-end A31/R40 units is downright painful to use nowadays.

Apart from the aforementioned issues, I actually liked the concept...we used to beat the living daylight out of these machines in the field, and they kept on going...

I'd hate to be selling one nowadays, though...

[cadillacmike68]

I sold my last T30 (with SXGA+ LCD) in October 2010 for $180.- shipped here on the forum.
That was an absolutely barebones machine with only a wifi 802.11B card and a HD cover in it.
No optical or hard drive, no RAM, no battery.
So OP's machine with (getting expensive) 768MB RAM and 60GB HD sounds not too bad, assuming it also includes at least a DVD-drive, has Windows installed, as well as a working battery.

I don't get this logic, a bare machine was worth $180 while a fully equipped one is worth only $150... There is an 11 month time passage, but that still seems extreme.

[cadillacmike68]

Hey
The T30 Im still on is offended!
Ron

Mine too, except that I'm at work on a govt issue dell

The memory slot is an issue, but can be fixed, I never heard of GPU chip problems, but to ajkula66; how is a chipset painful to use, are you pregramming aginst it?

And RBS, yes, they are bulkier and heavier than the T40 series, but those were later machines, T30s were no bigger than T20 series. And I have a lot more UB plus / 2000 devices than i have UB slim, making the T30s more versatile to me than T40s.

You all left out one more PITA issue with T30s:

USB1.1 only - no 2.0 That's a real PITA if there ever was one.

[RealBlackStuff]

The T30 with SXGA+ is quite rare, hence the higher price.
Shipping was to Belgium ($45.-), I'd forgotten that, so the effective price was $135.- for a bare machine + shipping.
Checking eBay, they sell 'em for avg. $150.- (and also some are asking off-the-wall higher prices.
Realistically, $150.- shipped for a working XGA T30 is still reasonable IMHO.
Of course I always bought password-locked units, which are generally cheaper (no further comments allowed).

As to USB1.1 or USB2.0, I've never used anything fancier than a USB mouse or a memory stick. So no biggie for me...

[cadillacmike68]

That clarifies it RBS, thanks.

I'm not a fan of USB HDDs or DVDs, but even if just using a memory stick, it's painfully slow copying several GBs over a 1.1 connection.

I guess I'm lucky in not having had a GPU problem (but maybe my 2GHz T30 developed one, because i get no screen, who knows...).

On the T30s plus side, there is no HPA to mess with with and overriding the BIOS for G WiFis works easier than the T43, which is impregnable to the No1802 utility.

Plus it has the S-Video out port for watching DVDs on a large screen TV (when you have no DVD plater around!).

[pianowizard]

Back in Feb 2008, I bought a mint-condition T30 (2366-85U) with 1.8GHz Pentium 4, 512MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, 14.1" XGA, DVD/CD-ROM and 802.11b for $149 locally, through Craigslist.

The T30 was a great machine, probably IBM's most durable T-Series model, although it is heavier and bulkier than all other 14-inch T-Series Thinkpads ever released.

[ajkula66]

cadillacmike68 wrote:

are you pregramming aginst it?

If you could clarify what you actually meant to ask, I'll be more than happy to answer...

how is a chipset painful to use,

Let's get the terminology straight first: I was not talking about the chipset, but about the GPU. Running a fully updated XP SP3 (with latest Flash and other toys) will render the video portion of any T30 next to useless for any fairly serious streaming and such. GPU has always been the bottleneck on these machines, and the only problem that one can't resolve by upgrading and/or hacking.

On the T30s plus side, there is no HPA to mess with with and overriding the BIOS for G WiFis works easier than the T43, which is impregnable to the No1802 utility.

Most IBM-issued a/b/g wireless cards will require a "no-1802" mod on T30, while they'll work on T43/p out of the box. If you want to go the "n" route, then, yes, a modded BIOS is called for on T43/p, R52 and X41/T. Also, all T43s that left the factory with a wireless card installed had a *minimum* of Intel 2200BG as a standard. The ones that were sold as "wireless upgradeable" will purr with any Intel 2200BG/2915ABG or IBM (Atheros) II card.

As previously stated, I'm quite fond of T30 line and have owned a three-digit-number of these units over the past decade. That being said, I would be very hard pressed to use it as a main rig nowadays...

[jronald]

I have at least 3 T30s still knocking around in everyday use. Both of my machines have the SXGA screen and I have 1 spare SXGA screen. Not counting good MoBos I have enough spare parts to keep them running for quite awhile. I have thought about graduating to a later machine but frankly I know the 30s inside and out, and they give me zero issues. I guess if I were I would need to take the plunge to a T43 or so to avoid the GPU issues in the other 40 series.

Ron

[underclocker]

No more than $150.- shipped

Getting back to the original question of a price check on a T30, I'm going to have to agree with RBS. And only if the prospective buyer really, really wants a T30. At this point, with some eBay skill and patience, you can find nicely equipped Core Duo machines, like T60, R60, Z61 models in the $150 range (sometimes less!)

Other than for nostalgia or for a particluar defunct port (parallel or serial), I can't see why a T30 would make more sense than a newer, Core Duo model.

[Unknown_K]

Getting back to the original question of a price check on a T30, I'm going to have to agree with RBS. And only if the prospective buyer really, really wants a T30. At this point, with some eBay skill and patience, you can find nicely equipped Core Duo machines, like T60, R60, Z61 models in the $150 range (sometimes less!)

Other than for nostalgia or for a particluar defunct port (parallel or serial), I can't see why a T30 would make more sense than a newer, Core Duo model.

If you just need a spare and a T30 comes up for $30 why not ( I have picked them up that cheap just needing a HD)? There are better laptops at the lower end of the price curve these days, you just need to know what issues are common before getting one. Avoid getting anything during the current back to school buying craze as prices are inflated.

[underclocker]

Agreed, for $30, why not...but, at $150, why?!

[ajkula66]

underclocker wrote:

Agreed, for $30, why not...but, at $150, why?!

Well...if it's a SXGA+ model (with the rare 200-nit panel in good shape), has a brand new battery, 2GB of Elpida RAM, a PATA SLC 32GB or bigger SSD in the main bay and a WD 250GB in the ultrabay...you could persuade even the cynical old me...

[underclocker]

Well...if it's a SXGA+ model (with the rare 200-nit panel in good shape), has a brand new battery, 2GB of Elpida RAM, a PATA SLC 32GB or bigger SSD in the main bay and a WD 250GB in the ultrabay...you could persuade even the cynical old me...

Not to mention a couple of hundred dollar bills stuffed in the PCMCIA slot!

[Unknown_K]

So you are paying that $150 for the parts and not realy the machine itself?


I have one of those 1400x1050 T30 screens, it is nice.

[cadillacmike68]

Ajkula66, I agree on the streaming performance. Trying to view a flash video either streaming or via a local HDD takes an excessively high percentage of CPU, but that's not my primary use of the machines so it's not too much of a bother for me. But you are right it does suck compared to newer TinkPads.

On the wireless, if you get a T40 series with a B/G wireless already instaled you're good to go, but if not, and you have a T43, you can't "No-1802" the BIOS (this may not even matter). T30s are easy enough to get working and i like the Intel kits that are out there.

I don't have any T40 series, I have 1 T61 for my wife, but I can't experiment on it or she'll kill me. Besides, I like having the parallel & serial ports (good old LaserJet 6Ps & head to head gaming w older games via the laplink cables - i actually have the blue and yellow cable sets). The T61 not having a parallel port is a PITA since her T61 does not like the LJ 6P except in 1 USB port. I wonder if her port replicator has a parallel port - i have to look...

Plus T30s have the S-Video out on the T30 which I know the T61 doesn't have (don't know about the T40 series). This comes in handy when travelling and your hotel / resort does not have a DVD palyer, you can send it to the TV via the T30.

Lastly, I have Several UB2000 DVD /DRW drives, so I'll never run out if one croaks. I also like the original IBM AT keyboards, and these plug right into a T30 via the IBM keyboard / mouse cable. I have enough of the these 101 key karboards to last me the rest of my life as well.

[thinkpad1]

Thanks for all the feedback and input on the T30 and prospective prices.

I checked ebay and there does seem to be a few completed listings at or near $100 plus shipping. Some totaled $150.00.

But, the majority of sellers (and probably the buyers, too?) are from the U.S. who have the luxury of a much cheaper and convenient shipping rate/system.

But, it's an interesting guide for comparison.

The particular T30 in the original post is exactly described specs wise except without the preferences some posters mentioned, so including the XGA screen, ATI 7500 graphics and 768mb of total RAM.

So definitely not 'loaded' or top specs for the T30. But, it's in good condition.

So, I guess my best bet is still ebay, right?

[ajkula66]

Just make sure to put reserve price on it or you might end up giving it away...and do your math regarding fees/shipping etc. before posting it on fleabay...

Good luck.