Just purchased an old T42

I'm new to IBM, and I have an Alienware. I decided to buy and IBM because apparently they are tough and rigid before Lenovo took over. I picked it up for $240 in great condition, specs are:

1.7 GHZ pentium M
1GB ram
40GB HDD
32MB graphics

I'm basically using it as a netbook replacement, because I've been through about 4 netbooks, each dying within half a year or so and I'm sick of wasting money on them. So I opted for an old machine, with similar specs. I just intend to take it around in my school bag for school, doing light work such as Microsoft office applications and a bit of CAD. How do you think the machine will cope? I'll be putting windows 7 on it as well, and a 250GB HDD.

 

lolwut?

Also, since when is CAD light works?

 

Apparently, according to what I read, since lenovo took over they haven't been of the same build quality.

Well I only work with 2D drawings so I consider that light work

 

Some people just like to complain.

Ah, I have no idea of the requirements for 2D CAD. I don't do anything with it myself, I just know someone who did 3D CAD and it was very demanding on the computer.

 

Oh, I see. None the less I'd like it to be able to survive a bit of bashing it'd get in a school bag.

And Yeah I leave the 3D CAD to my alienware.

 

To give you an idea, my T60 has done the following while running
fallen off the top of my fridge onto the tile kitchen floor
fallen off the radiator support of my car
had a milkshake, a glass of water, and a glass of lemonade spilled on it
been stepped on
had a full briefcase dropped on it when it was on a chair
There have been other things too, I'm just not remembering them right now.
Sure, I've broken a bit of plastic here and there, but the computer functions fine.

 

Windows 7 likes multi-core, and Pentium M is getting up there in age, but you’ll probably see the biggest bang for your buck if you move to, at least, 2GB of RAM.

 

If you use Windows XP on it, 1GB of RAM should be sufficient. If you're planning on loading Windows 7 on it, I too would suggest upgrading to 2GB of RAM for better performance. I'm sure you'll be able to find someone getting rid of a 1GB DDR SODIMM somewhere in the NBR marketplace.

@marlinspike: Oh, your poor Thinkpad...

There is a design shift between the T4x generations and the T6x/Tx00 generations, but I wouldn't say the T6x/Tx00 generations are any less durable than the T4x generations. In fact, the lid of the T6x/Tx00 generations can support far more weight before the screen cracks than that of the T4x generation.

 

That machine is going to have a VERY hard time running Windows 7 (or Vista even). The problem isn't necessarily the CPU or memory, it's the graphics chip.

There graphics on that laptop are AGP based and the drivers available (at least the ones that I found) were completely unstable and would crash almost instantly. The default drivers that come with the OS will work, but you'll be limited to Aero basic, and there'll be literally ZERO graphics acceleration under Vista/Win7. On a whim I installed 32-bit Vista Pro on it to see if it'd work, and although it DOES work, the graphics are painfully slow for anything other than basic web surfing.

If you keep it running WinXP you'll fare better. If you do decide to install Vista/Win7 on it, it'll work but just be aware of the graphics limitations. You'll also want to pick up a cheap 4GB PNY flash drive from Staples and use it as a ReadyBoost cache. In this situation, it actually does help speed up repetitive disk accesses.

As for CAD, fuhgeddaboutit... Trying to use a T-42 to run CAD applications is like buying a stock Yugo and expecting to run in the Paris-Dakar rally right out of the dealer's lot. It's an old Radeon 7x00 based system, not FireGL. If you're just viewing AutoCAD drawings it'll do in a pinch, but if you elect to upgrade the OS to Vista/Win7, you'll be pulling your hair out in anger if you try to do any serious work on it. Don't even attempt to run Pro-E on it either.

Oh yeah... one thing to keep in mind... the T4x series has a rather weird quirk about it in terms of durability. Whatever you do, DO NOT tote the thing around with it on, holding it only with one hand by the left corner of the palm rest. The motherboard will flex inside the chassis and eventually your sound chip will cut out. Had this happen to a few of my users who apparently were toting theirs around like that.

 

^ The last point is especially true, but not just about the sound chip. the GPU itself is prone to detaching from the motherboard if the machine is subjected to constant stress. Be kind to it and you shouldn't have problems, though.

 

Think of the T4x laptop as an armadillo, quite strong external when curled into a ball, but so strong when it is open (no stomach area plating).

The T4x laptop gets all the mechanical strength from the magnesium alloy or magnesium composite top casing, the base just uses a composite carbon fiber polymer shell, which flexes when too much weight is applied across it.

Hence, the bending of motherboard may occur if you hold the T4x in one corner with the LCD open. The CFRP shell just can't the weight applied across it and it would slightly bend, causing the motherboard to flex.

The bending is the most severe in the middle of the laptop, hence why Southbridge and GPU detachment is so common (they are both located in the area with the most amount of flexural stress).

--

T60 resolved this issue by adding the internal magnesium alloy rollcage, which stiffens up the entire thinkpad chassis, to prevent it bending even when it is held with one hand in one of the corner with the LCD open.

T61 took it one step further by adding a screen case magnesium rollcage. So much so, you can stand on the laptop with the LCD closed without the LCD cracking (provided you are under 80 kg). People have driven cars over their T61 with only the LCD cracking, and everything else remain intact.

However, all the addiction to magnesium alloy enforcement does raise the cost of manufacturing Thinkpads, so much so Lenovo decided to drop the top case magnesium rollcage in the T510 and W510.

 

I knew about the graphics limitations, I watched a view Youtube videos and read a few things off the net, and apparently windows 7 ran better than XP, but didn't say in what, so I assume they were talking about speed. I would rather speed over graphics, And yes even though it does have 1GB RAM, I most likely will be upgrading it eventually, but might keep XP until I do.

But since it's an older system, Maybe I should keep XP on it, the main deterant for XP for me is it's looks and functionality as it's 10 years old now, so to me it's like using windows 95 when vista was readily available, you start to feel out of date and old if you know what I mean. But I guess I can easily fix that with windowblinds and some programs.

And wouldn't carrying it around with it off cause it to do that as well ? I'd only carry it around in sleep mode anyway haha but from the other guys post, his T60 looks like it could survive a lot more than anything a school bag could throw at it so I assume my t42 could survive.

 

T4x runs better with XP pro, it won't run faster with Win 7, the CPU and GPU are the main limitations.

Regarding, the XP pro looks and that. You can always get a Linux build and customize it.

The T4x is strong but no strong as the T60 laptop. My T42 has the detached GPU problem, i am still in the process of fixing that.

Also, you can easily get a T60 for around 350 dollars. My friend got one for 290 dollars two days ago.

 

I should probably disclaim that I make no representation that my experience is typical lol. I don't know what typical is, I just know my own experience. Also, at some point I did manage to crack a piece of the magnesium roll cage (left rear corner), probably from falling off the fridge since it hit the left side that time. But the computer works fine, which is all I really care about.

 

Yep, this is all I care about too I don't expect it to last long after all it was only $240, anything better then blowing $500ish on a netbook that will last 5 seconds is a win for me.

 

I would of gotten something better if I had just a bit more, but I needed something now and couldn't wait much longer to save up the extra money, (I have no job so I still have to scab off the parents ) I'm not too keen on taking the alienware to school and it cost me a lot, and I need to take something to school because it helps with my school work a fair bit.

The detachment of the GPU can be fixed easily though right? if it did occur? I have no problem taking laptops apart, I've taken plenty of them apart before, just wondering if it's as simple as plugging it back in?

 

Lenovo Support & downloads - Hardware Maintenance Manual - ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p

this manual will show you how to take apart and put everything back together.

The detaching GPU can be fixed by a solder reflow, there is some Youtube video on that made for the T4x thinkpads.

For simple net surfing and word processing, nothing beats the keyboard on the T4x laptop (IBM 600 may give us a run for the money, but they are getting a bit too old). I use mine T41 when i need to type some long documents fast.

 

I run Land Design Desktop 2006 & CADD 2004 together on my 2007 T60P with which I design as well as carry lots of drawings with no problems, but some of the older stuff (T42) will not handle much. You might look into a T60P

 

The OP is constrained in the available funding. He got the T42 already too.