Slow Thinkpad
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You are currently reading a thread in /g/ - Technology
You are currently reading a thread in /g/ - Technology
My boss was cleaning up, and handed me a 10/10 condition Thinkpad T30 knowing I like tech.
This thing is the slowest piece of machinery I've ever used. Is it worth putting work into it or is it too obsolete to even try keeping up. I'd use it as a web surfer and light workstation, but the lack of speed is currently unbearable.
What did you guys do to your T30s to help it keep up in the developing first world?
Reformat it.
>>55233564
run linux with as few things as possible, breh.
>pentium 4
>>55233577
>>55233586
The software isn't the problem here. Sure it's a contributor, but if it can't run the OS it came with all that well (for todays standards) that's a little embarrassing.
People online talk about quadrupling the ram and swapping the CPU how "handy" is that?
>>55233604
It came with? You're running Windows 200 or XP on it?
>>55233613
XP, it's basically from the factory, he bought it, ran it, and put it in a box on the shelf until now.
>>55233564
Install Arch and light WM, too low to gentoo
>>55233631
It's deprecated. You should install arch at least. I promise it will go faster
>>55233564
That hardware sounds just fine as long as you don't try to overtax it, moderate your tabs, run software that it was meant to run and it will more than likely go just fine. I use a 600E pretty regularly for non-multimedia stuff.
>>55233564
Format and install Lubuntu. It will browse 4chan and reddit just fine.
>>55233564
lightweight linux distro, Lubuntu maybe?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightweight_Linux_distribution
There are a bunch of distros that can run pretty much on anything
>People online talk about quadrupling the ram and swapping the CPU how "handy" is that?
Depends on the CPU you have. T30 came with P4M 1.6-2.4Ghz. If yours is somewhere around 2.0Ghz I'd say its' not worth upgrading to 2.4GHZ, even if it's only ~$12 on ebay shipped.
However upgrading ram is much more important (and beneficial).You can max out T30 RAM (2x512MB) for $6-7 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SODIMM-512MB-PC2700-DDR333-200PIN-333Mhz-Laptop-MEMORY-SO-DIMM-RAM-333-Notebook-/321867048062) and I'd say it's worth it.
>>55233564
Install Gentoo
>>55233564
Remove the CPU and the RAM.
Install the best cpu you can and RAM.
Install Linux.
Use it as a Serial Terminal for you routers and modems and nothing else.
>>55233564
What's the resolution on it?
1400x1050 or shit 1024x768?
If it's the latter, not worth bothering imo.
Use it as a PS1 emulator or something.
>>55233564
>>55235586
Oh, and if you feel like spending a bit more on this thing you can install SSD. Since it uses PATA, you can either find PATA SSD, or get mSATA SSD and PATA-mSATA bridge (this option is probably better, since you can always salvage msata SSD for a newer laptop, unlike PATA).
>>55235664
mSATA bridge and 32GB mSATA SSD will cost around $25 it's up to you if you' willing to spend money on old junker
http://www.ebay.com/itm/mSATA-to-2-5-44PIN-IDE-HDD-SSD-mSATA-to-PATA-Converter-Adapter-Card-Case-New-/111993632883
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Sandisk-32GB-SSD-SDSA3DD-032G-SD5SF2-032G-SDS7FC-032G-10520-Mini-PCI-E-mSATA-/152036831967
bump for op
>>55233564
>to help it keep up in the developing first world?
Throw it in trash and buy a better laptop.
The trashed one gets recycled and the world gets more use out of it that way than you hoarding it and installing arch on this piece of shit.
>>55233564
>This thing is the slowest piece of machinery I've ever used.
>Pentium 4-M
You need to be at least 18 years old to post here.
>>55236677
What GPU does that have?
>>55233631
If the OS wasn't reinstalled, then it's quite normal that it lags. I recently rescued a pentium M laptop which also had XP installed on it and it was also slow. Reinstalling the OS usually solves the issue.
>>55237359
Op mentioned the idea of quadrupling the ram meaning he only has 256mb. Even for fresh install xp thats kinda low
>>55233564
you could try setting up a FreeBSD homeserver
>owncloud
>minidlna
>sabnzbd
>nzbget
>firewall
>>55236829
probably a neomagic chipset, not like it matters for the kind of shit you'd do with a UMPC anyway
>>55233564
You should format it and install a light linux distro like Porteus on it, it should get the job done
>>55234507
distcc???
>>55233564
>>55233631
There is no reason for XP to run slow on it unless its only got 256Mb of RAM, or the harddrive is slow as fuck because it's about to die.
Try a fresh install, if it is a factory install of XP there might be some bloatware running.
And check the SMART data on the harddrive and run a test for damaged sectors.
>>55234507
>too low to gentoo
you don't have to compile locally
>>55233631
Just install Debian or something along those lines and run some basic software. It'll be slow, sure, but definitely usable.
My T23 is still running strong
libreboot that shit nigga
>>55233564
Are you trying to use wangblows? Stop being a retard and install a real OS.
>>55233564
you can tell that's an old machine. try putting a more lightweight OS on it. I can't tell if the sticker says XP or 7, but either is too heavy.
I'd recommend something like debian with xfce4 or lmde.
>>55233564
>web surfing
websites and browsers will eat all your available ram before you notice it.
You can install 2gb of PC2100 ram max, in the form of 2x 1gb sticks.
You can install a Pentium 4-M 0F29h which is 2.4ghz and is the max your T30 can handle.
With a good SSD and those other upgrades, you have yourself a decent linux shitposting machine. Its not gonna game, its not gonna play video well, but it will work just fine for internet browsing and light office work.
Only issue is, 2gb of ram for it is going to cost 20-30$, the CPU is going to be 50-70$, and the SSD in any decent size is going to be 60-80$
Its possible, but expensive.
I have a R30 that i upgraded to 1gb of ram, and the 1ghz pentium 3, havent done the SSD because to be honest, i dont even use the 3.8gb of HDD space it has on there already.
It works for shitposting from windows 2000.
I have 4 oldschool thinkpads now, all work for regular tasks today.
>>55241657
He could try running some lightweight browser with flash and javascript turned off.
>>55241679
modern websites are so badly designed they won't load properly if JS is disabled.
>>55233564
sure it will be slow if you try to use youtube or javascript heavy sites.. and if it has a <5k rpm drive thats slow too
>>55241694
You're visiting the wrong websites then pal.
