Comments on: 8GB Ram + Crucial M4 SSD in Thinkpad X61

By: Jeff Sumner

Jeff Sumner — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:12:07 +0000

The bios I installed removes the artificial SATA cap and removes too the “no boot” blacklist for WAN cards (one must use particular PCI ID’d cards in the 61, or it won’t boot- unless one uses the ‘correct’ BIOS).

I am looking up the right FRU for the WAN card: 42T0867 looks like a good bet.

By: brian

brian — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Thanks for the feedback Jeff. Is the blacklist-free BIOS update the one that removes the SATA cap or is it something else?

By: Jeff Sumner

Jeff Sumner — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:14:24 +0000

I have been working on a nearly identical upgrade to my X61T for the past month.
I wanted an iPad but figured I’d go this route first. I would not save any money, but I would end up with a different and broader solution.
My tablet has the 1400×1050 screen- in a 12″ screen. That and many other reasons marry it very well to Windows 7, and even though nearly four years old, the device feels very modern.

I flashed the BIOS to the ‘blacklist free’ 1.25. It makes a difference.

The only things left to upgrade are the wireless card and battery- and that is more a replacement instead of an upgrade. The last TWO slice batteries that I have found “new in box” have been dead.

Enjoy. I have been training my Windows 7 tablet software to recognize my handwriting- and the device performs better now than when I got in.