Re: [Thinkpad] source for 128 Mb RAM for 380, 385, 560x and 560z

Hello,

My apologies for delayed replies this weekend, been ever so hectic, and
yesterday I spent some five hours in a tailback on the A23 after a
serious crash happened at Pyecombe outside of Brighton.

Anyway... Here goes.

The 128MB memory module will work in the 560X, as Shing points out the
430TX chipset will only cache (via it's L2 cache which is 256KB in size
on the Pentium MMX Tillamook as per the 560X) the first 64MB of memory,
anything after that is not L2 cacheable and anything in the upper region
of 64-128MB will suffer performance wise, though it will work.

The Windows 9x systems need a tweak in the hardware config (System
Control Panel) to re-address some device to a new memory range, so that
the 128MB module can locate itself properly without a device clash. So
it's not too much in the way of a hack/kludge - it does work properly.

the 560Z supports the 128MB module with no corrections as does the 560X
on Windows 2000/XP due to a change in its device driver architecture,
which removes the clash that 95/98/ME create.

On 160MB; Windows XP is a possibility - but not recommended, Windows
2000 works much better in 160MB in my experience, and this is based on a
560Z 128MB Pentium II 300MHz and a 570 128MB Pentium II 366MHz. The
former handled Windows XP ok but cut down performance, the same machine
is now running Windows 2000 Server superbly in just 128MB. The 570
fared better at XP in 128MB but again preferred 192MB minimum.

In all honesty, go for Windows 2000 professional over XP Home/Pro if you
want the 560X to remain fluid in use.

Also important is a decent speed hard disk, a 5,400rpm one should be
considered at least; as this will reduce the lack of memory issue. A
4,200rpm will do, but delays when using are likely not to be that of
memory swapping (i.e.: from page file to memory and vice versa) but the
time it takes to seek information from the hard disk. This holds true
for my T23 even, with an ample 512MB, but 4,200rpm 20gb disk - it needs
that 5,400rpm device to make it completely snappy. The 560Z on Windows
2000 Server (more demanding that 2000 Pro) runs well, but bear in mind
it has a Pentium II 300MHz vs. Pentium Tillamook MMX 233MHz and a fully
cacheable memory architecture. (i.e.: it doesn't bottom out at 64MB
cacheable space like the 560X)

Overall, the 560X with 160MB is a sound investment, I dearly love my
560X and 560Z; I think they are incredibly fine laptops (the Z no longer
sports the clicky 560X keyboard on mine) and if the cost is not too
prohibitive are sound machines to invest in.

As I have found out from my Windows 3.11 For Workgroups based solid
state 560X, I'd not sell it for the world. It's pretty much 100%
reliable, has MS Office Pro 4.3, IE 5.01, ethernet networking, MP3
player, and Terminal Services so I can manage my Windows 2000 Server
machine (the 560Z) remotely in a 16bit client.

Funky or what! :-)

Best of all I can get 5hrs max on a battery when not using audio! Shame
there's no room for a DVD drive inside the machine :-)

I'd say that £125-50 is the tops I'd spend on a 560X, giving it USB 2,
Windows 2000 Pro, USB2 DVD Drive and a 128MB DIMM.

Otherwise then I would look at a T20/T21 if you are to spend £200 or
more which are nice machines, I love my T23 to bits! :-) But I'd be
lost without my 560X and 560Z.

Vicky

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Received on Mon May 17 15:00:48 2004