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IBM Thinkpad Upgrades
- Thread starter zerofocus
- Start date
Person
Banned
What do you want to upgrade ?
Person
Banned
CPu and RAM you can upgrade... as for the wifi you would need to buy a PCMCIA wireless card. Post make and model of Notebook and specs you have now, and i'll get you some prices.
supersunbird
Honorary Master
Yeah, let us know, then I can check up online on how to upgrade it (CPU) and help you. The memory is usualy very easy.
nGAGEd55
Expert Member
Cant he just get a mini-PCI wi-fi card?Person said:
Hi guys.
This is a IBM Thinkpad G40. The type code is 2388-4SG. The memory i can upgrade myself, i would just like to know where and how to get it. Its currently got a 2.8 P4 CPU, i would like to uprade to the maximum. Its got 700 odd MB ram, i would like to upgrade it to 1gb (its the max), its only got 2 mem slots so i need to take the 256MB out and install a 512. As for the wifi card, ive got a pcmcia card in it now,...i was hoping i could install an onboard one if possible (i think some of these models had them on so im just hoping).
Thanks to all that have replied so far. Looking forward to hearing from you again.
This is a IBM Thinkpad G40. The type code is 2388-4SG. The memory i can upgrade myself, i would just like to know where and how to get it. Its currently got a 2.8 P4 CPU, i would like to uprade to the maximum. Its got 700 odd MB ram, i would like to upgrade it to 1gb (its the max), its only got 2 mem slots so i need to take the 256MB out and install a 512. As for the wifi card, ive got a pcmcia card in it now,...i was hoping i could install an onboard one if possible (i think some of these models had them on so im just hoping).
Thanks to all that have replied so far. Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Person
Banned
Upgrading the RAM no problem, the CPU is another story. You will need to track down a CPU that has 400FSB as most CPU's now have 800FSB. I'll have a look if i can track down a CPU for you.
For the wireless your only option is the PCMCIA card, the model you have has a board what does not support onboard Wifi. Only the other model with a different board supports the wifi.
IMO if your finding that notebook slow with the 700Mb Ram and a 2.8 CPU it might be an idea to give it a format, or look at buying a full new Notebook. Im not sure what you are wanting to do on the notebook but those specs should easily handle office work.
For the wireless your only option is the PCMCIA card, the model you have has a board what does not support onboard Wifi. Only the other model with a different board supports the wifi.
IMO if your finding that notebook slow with the 700Mb Ram and a 2.8 CPU it might be an idea to give it a format, or look at buying a full new Notebook. Im not sure what you are wanting to do on the notebook but those specs should easily handle office work.
Person said:
The format helped (did it a few weeks ago). I do development, so this pc is a bit light. I didnt really want to upgrade the notebook because im quite happy with it otherwise, and a new thinkpad will cost me almost R15K. But if theres no other choice, a mans got to do what a mans got to do.
Thanks again for all the comments and help!
bdt
Executive Member
After a bit of digging (tinyurl.com, redirects to google) around (ibm.com), it sure looks like this model is at the very least a candidate for mini-PCI action ..but that's not the end of it. A client of mine got an R31, I duly opened up the access hatach and found a mini-PCI socket (joy!), all ready for some hot upgrade action, only to have my hopes dashed by a severe lack of antenna cables anywhere in sight.
And yet, at another site, I initally sold 'em a PC Card - only to find that their (Dell) Latitude C610 (AFAIK an older machine) also has a mini-PCI slot ...AND the cables. So, really, the only way to know for sure is to open it up and eyeball the dratted thing.
Actually GETTING mini-PCI cards turned out to be the challenging part ..partly my fault for not asking the sales bunnies the right questions I guess. Turns out that short of Miro and their Senao (tinyurl.com, redirects to senao.com, suggest you view in IE (it wigs out on Ff for me)) NMP-8602 (miro.co.za), there are REALLY few options at the usual suspects among the JHB dealer channel crowd. So, on the following round of questioning, I unearthed the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG (intel.com) lurking in the depths at Rectron ..for a MUCH lower price too, w00t!
So open up your lappie and see if this IS viable for you: if so, the very first thing you need to check is how long the antenna cables are - seems not all laptops are equal in being able to get to the Senao-design connectors that're both lurking down the one side (mine does, YAY Acer!
) and, much as you may want the Senao card, you'd have to go with the Intel. That being answered, and working on the presumption that it IS a go for you (for either), it comes down to price/features/flexibility (as in Linux (at which, from what I gather, the Senao would be a better choice)). FYI, some time back I did get a Senao card, the 5354MP+ (tinyurl.com, redirects to senao.com) and I've found it to be a ridiculously good card ..too good, in fact: I have to keep reminding myself when doing site tests not to calibrate for MY machine but client ones, as almost invariably, it turns out that what works reliably for my machine is in NO way an indicator that it'll work for theirs!
HTH
-bdt
And yet, at another site, I initally sold 'em a PC Card - only to find that their (Dell) Latitude C610 (AFAIK an older machine) also has a mini-PCI slot ...AND the cables. So, really, the only way to know for sure is to open it up and eyeball the dratted thing.
Actually GETTING mini-PCI cards turned out to be the challenging part ..partly my fault for not asking the sales bunnies the right questions I guess. Turns out that short of Miro and their Senao (tinyurl.com, redirects to senao.com, suggest you view in IE (it wigs out on Ff for me)) NMP-8602 (miro.co.za), there are REALLY few options at the usual suspects among the JHB dealer channel crowd. So, on the following round of questioning, I unearthed the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG (intel.com) lurking in the depths at Rectron ..for a MUCH lower price too, w00t!
So open up your lappie and see if this IS viable for you: if so, the very first thing you need to check is how long the antenna cables are - seems not all laptops are equal in being able to get to the Senao-design connectors that're both lurking down the one side (mine does, YAY Acer!
) and, much as you may want the Senao card, you'd have to go with the Intel. That being answered, and working on the presumption that it IS a go for you (for either), it comes down to price/features/flexibility (as in Linux (at which, from what I gather, the Senao would be a better choice)). FYI, some time back I did get a Senao card, the 5354MP+ (tinyurl.com, redirects to senao.com) and I've found it to be a ridiculously good card ..too good, in fact: I have to keep reminding myself when doing site tests not to calibrate for MY machine but client ones, as almost invariably, it turns out that what works reliably for my machine is in NO way an indicator that it'll work for theirs!HTH
-bdt
@bdt - sorry to go offtopic but what's the advantage of using all those tinyurl's, especially if you're using the insert link command.
I've never used tinyurl's but it just seems like extra work to me - which is why I'm asking.
I've never used tinyurl's but it just seems like extra work to me - which is why I'm asking.
bdt
Executive Member
well, I've gotten really used to 'em when quoting links in email, to avoid wraparounds that break the links. Then, after getting used to it, in places like forums it's more of a neat freak thingbwana v.10 said:
Not really, when you use Firefox and have the TinyURL extension loaded ..then it's just a matter of a right-click, wait a coupla seconds, 'n paste the result (that's automagically loaded to your clipboard) to wherever you need it - simple. really!
-bdt
Thanks for taking the time to explain - guess it does make sense if its that simple and you get into the habit.bdt said:well, I've gotten really used to 'em when quoting links in email, to avoid wraparounds that break the links. Then, after getting used to it, in places like forums it's more of a neat freak thing
Not really, when you use Firefox and have the TinyURL extension loaded ..then it's just a matter of a right-click, wait a coupla seconds, 'n paste the result (that's automagically loaded to your clipboard) to wherever you need it - simple. really!
-bdt
