Used ThinkPad Buyer's Guide (2019)
7 hours ago
- The guide provides a comprehensive buyer's guide for used ThinkPads, focusing on models that fully support Windows 10, with prices starting from $50.
- Used ThinkPads are affordable due to their business-grade nature, often being replaced every 3-4 years, and they tend to last longer and perform more consistently than consumer-grade laptops.
- To find good deals, understanding eBay sorting is key; patient buyers can find ThinkPad xx70 or older models for under $250, with the best deals coming from refurbishers not including HDD/SSD/OS.
- SSDs are affordable and easy to install, and Windows 10 Pro can self-activate on xx40+ models; alternatively, Linux (e.g., Pop!_OS, Linux Mint, Solus, Arch) is a viable, stable option.
- ThinkPad model naming conventions: T (thin, standard), X (ultraportable), W (workstation, discontinued), P (workstation, newer), X1 (flagship thin), X1 Extreme (gaming-capable).
- The guide highlights specific models to consider (e.g., T440p, T495, X1 Extreme) and notes quirks like T440/T440s lacking physical TrackPoint buttons, which can be modded with T450 trackpads.
- Older models like T61 with Nvidia GPUs have high failure rates; avoid them or maintain them with clean fans and fresh thermal paste.
- Avoid ThinkPads with BIOS/Supervisor passwords, as they cannot be easily reset and may require special equipment; also be cautious of Computrace-enabled laptops that might be stolen.
- Battery life and quality vary; generic batteries are cheaper but less reliable, while genuine ones cost over $100.
- Upgrade options: mSATA SSDs work in models with Core i-Series G2 and newer; older models may require BIOS mods to use certain PCI-E cards.
- CoreBoot is supported on several models (e.g., T60, X230) for custom BIOS, and eGPUs can enhance graphics performance on supported models.
- The guide lists compatible models for upgrades and provides performance benchmarks (CPU/GPU) from Geekbench and Notebookcheck, with current US prices.
- Additional resources include the subreddit for questions, a free software directory, and tools for finding deals on Lenovo's website.
- Avoid cost-cut models like the Edge series and R series due to lower build quality and durability issues.
- The guide thanks KTGee.net for the original content and directs readers to ThinkWiki for detailed specifications.