Help... Just starting out...

Hello everyone. Was hoping some of you could help me out as I'm starting to venture into the Toughbook world. I have a CF-73 mk2 with the standard on-board RAM and the Intel Pentium processor running XP Pro. What are my options for upgrading both hardware and software? I already have a bead on more RAM but what else?

I also have a 29 that is running fairly well. I may tackle it after I upgrade the 73. Thanks for any help you all can provide!!!

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbook Forum

I never had a 73 but the 29 you should read this http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/241106-cf-29-f-q-read-me-before-posting.html . If you really like upgrading then you should look into the CF-51MK3 http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/526150-cf-51-cpu-upgrading.html

 

More ram and find a pata ssd drive.

 

Your hardware options are going to be limited on the 73 model. You could get a newer model to upgrade your specs, that way you could reuse what other parts you have, caddy, battery, etc.

~Toughbook Talk~ Toughbook Discussion • View topic - CF-73 TBT GUIDE

Give you some specs to look over.

I personally like the Mk3 best because it give you the ATI 9000 video card, but if you don't need dedicated video I would hold out for a Mk5 and get the 2.0 Pentium M CPU. The Mk2 has a 1.6, the MK3 a 1.7 so if you don't use the better graphics the the .1 you gain in CPU won't really show, but there would be a big jump in the 2.0 from the 1.6 CPU. If you haven't got your ram yet and thinking this might be the right upgrade for you the Mk4/5 uses DDR 2 so hold off on your ram.

As Shawn pointed out a SSD and Ram is going to be your best two upgrades.

If you think you want to do some real power modding as Toughasnails pointed out the CF-51 is your pc, socketed CPU. So you have a lot more you can do. The best one to start out with it the Mk3 or Mk3LL the Mk3 has core duo 2.0, 945 chipset, x1300 video card, the M3LL core duo 1.6, 945 chipset with integrated graphics. Mk 1, Mk 1LL, Mk2, Mk2LL models are both Pentium M chipsets with the dedicated graphics models having the ATI 9600 and x300 cards in them. You can also use the newer CF-29 battery. If that is out of your price range look for a Pentium M CF-50. You get a removable CPU, ATI 9000 or 9600 graphics, but it takes the CF-28 battery.


If you think you are going to want something semi rugged like your 73, your only options is a 74 model, their prices have really dropped here lately. Any Mk will work but I would look at a Mk3 or Mk4. This would give you dual core, 4gb max of ram or more depending on the Mk. M-pci-e wireless card, SATA hard drive interface. Each of my kids have a Mk3 of their own. I think right now on the bay a complete unit minus the OS and charger is around 150 if you want to do the work yourself.


http://toughbooktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1572

 

Thank you both for your replies. I might throw an SSD and some additional RAM in this 73 and use it as a general internet browsing computer. I'll definitely checkout the CF-29 thread, although I may be limited there as well due to its age. I'm basically looking for a toughbook I can modernize with Windows 7 and the features you've mentioned here. Thanks again!

 

All of the kids 74's are running 7 with out problems, I will be trying 8gb of ram on them later on.

 

This the type of 51 you're referring too??? Panasonic Toughbook CF 51 Intel Core Duo 2 00 GHz 2 5 GB RAM 60 GB HDD | eBay

Also ound this 74...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-T...85995068?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item4ac82d593c

 

Yes they are the one's

 

Between the two what will give me best bang for the buck?

 

Get a cf74 or cf52 or cf30. They all use sata hard drives. The cf73 cf51 and cf29 all use pata drives..

 

I am with Shawn on the CF-52 "Core 2 Duo"

 

Going with used stuff I have had a VERY hard time finding good used IDE drives for a good price. That is why I have been getting rid of most of my older machines. Just keeping a select few. As stated before your best bet price wise right now is a CF-30,52 or 74. So lets do a quick brake down.

The CF-30 is the same size as you CF-29. You can use your 29 battery in the 30 but you can't use a 30 battery in a 29. Two slots for ram DDR2, dual core 1.6 in all three Mk's. The Mk1 is 32 bit only, Mk2,3 32/64 bit. Media bay battery and optical drive is different than the 29 model. SATA hard drive interface.

The 74 is the same square size as your 73 but it is a little thicker. Integrated graphics only, all of them are dual cores. The Mk1 and Mk2 are 32 bit only, the Mk3/Mk4 are 32/64 bit. I have had all 4 Mk's of this model. The best performing of the two are the Mk3/Mk4. Mk 3 is core 2 duo 2.0, 965 chipset, X3100 graphics, DDR2 ram (two slots), the Mk4 is core 2 duo 2.4, 45 series chipset, 4500 graphics, DDR2 ram (two slots) the prices on these have been dropping. If you can wait hold out for a Mk4. I dropped a SSD into one for the girl friend to replace her Dell. It runs like hell.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/725310-toughbook-ssd-thread.html
Check out post 9


Now on the CF-52. It is similar to your 73 but is thicker like the 74 model. This model is a wide screen model so it wider than your 74. It will take CF-29 batteries. So far I have had Mk1 with ATI and Mk2 with ATI. It's the laptop my oldest boy uses. These come with and with out ATI 512 Mb graphics cards. The cheapest models will be the Mk1 or Mk2. The Mk1/2 are Core 2 duo models. It has the carry handle like the 73 you have also. The model you want will depend on what you can find and what you want to get out of the machine. 4gb + of DDR 2 ram on these machines. Two slots for ram.


I have all of these models. You can't go wrong with any of them, you are just going to have to narrow it down because of what you need. You can improve what you have, but for the dollar spent you could be money ahead getting a newer model.