Salvaging a T60

My friend wants a faster laptop, but isn't willing to give up the IPS screen on the T60, so:

1) Are there any modern laptops with high-quality IPS screens like the T60? This would be the preferred option.
2) How upgradeable is the T60? Would it be possible to throw a Q9000 in there, for instance?
3) Can the T60's screen be used with some other laptop?

 

1.- Not IPS, but the X200 Tablet has a high quality S-PVA screen that is quite comparable. Unfortunately, it is limited to WXGA resolution.

2.- Not exactly sure which CPUs will work in the T60, but any quad core processors will not. I do not think any dual-core Montevina processors will work either, but not sure on that.

 

I believe the fastest processor that can be installed in the T60 is the T7600. Far from a Q9000, but it is a fairly old computer.

 

In what way is the T60 not cutting it? My own R60 which is probably very similar to the T60, is plenty fast for general usage. The only advantage a newer laptop offers is the ability to use SSD, which do offer some advantages. For things like office and internet, a better CPU, even a quad won't make much of a difference because they don't push the CPU enough to make a difference. There would be little difference between a Merom Core 2 Duo and a Penryn Core 2 Duo.

You can upgrade to a T7600 Core 2 Duo. You cannot do a quad core because it's the wrong socket and a T60 cannot take the extra heat a quad core gives off.

The IPS is a 4:3 screen. Since it's time most of the world has gone widescreen, making it difficult to transplant into another machine. The best I've heard is someone putting a T61 board into a T60, which isn't really much of an upgrade.

 

She's doing a computer graphics/multimedia major, hence the need for a good screen as well as all the processing power you can throw at it.

A good PVA screen would be acceptable as well, but the X200 is too small.

 

She should get an external monitor than really. A laptop is a cramped workspace for any real heavy graphical work.