This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which drivers you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required drivers have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.

Page Contents Authors Introduction Editing This Page Linux Compatibility Notes Gaphics Wireless Audio Related Resources Summary

If you are looking to purchase this laptop you can visit Lenovo's ThinkPad T series page.

Authors

Bill Giannikos (bill2 at giannikos.com.au)

Introduction

This is a guide to running Linux with the IBM-Lenovo Thinkpad T61 laptop. The T61 is a high end laptop from Lenovo with a price tag to match.

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Linux Compatibility

Device	Type	Compatibility	Comments
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo (Merom) 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4 GHz 800MHz FSB, 2-4MB L2 Cache CPU	Yes
	Intel Core 2 Duo (Penryn) 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 GHz 800MHz FSB, 3-6MB L2 Cache CPU	Yes
Screen	14.1" WXGA	Yes
RAM	1GB
HDD	120GB	Yes
Optical Drive	DVD+-RW	Yes
Graphics	Intel X3100	Yes
	nVidia Quadro NVS 140m	Yes
Sound		Yes	Use the snd-hda-intel driver
Ethernet	10/100/1000	Yes
Wireless	Intel 3945ABG 802.11abg	Yes	use the ipw3945 driver
	Intel 4965AGN 802.11abgn	Yes
Bluetooth		Yes
56K Modem		Not Tested
USB	3 x USB2.0	Yes
Firewire	1 x Firewire	Not Tested
PCMCIA Slot		Not Tested

Notes

Gaphics

Version of the T61 with the Intel X3100 should work without any extra configuration on most recently release Linux distributions.

Version with the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M should also work just fine in 2D mode with recent distributions, however you will need the proprietary NVIDIA driver for 3D support. See the ((Installation+Guide|guides) section for details.

Wireless

Some models of the T61 use the 4965AGN wireless controller. This works with the iwlwifi drivers. Installation instructions are available here.

Audio

You will need at least version 1.0.15rc2 of the alsa drivers to get sound working properly. Some older Linux distributions may only have an older version of ALSA so you may need to install the latest version manually. Fedora 8 and Ubuntu 7.10 are known to work just fine.

Related Resources

Preparing your laptop for Linux
Configuring a nVidia graphics chip
Configuring the audio
Configuring the ipw3945 driver for the Intel 3945ABG wireless controller
Configuring the iwl4965 driver for the Intel 4965AGN wireless controller
Increasing battery life

Summary

Quite a lot of work and Linux experience is required to get the Lenovo Thinkpad T61 working with Linux. Definitely not a install and use laptop but you can get everything working with a bit of work. Update: Ubuntu 7.10 and more than likely other recently released distributions now include good support for this laptop. The sound and wireless work without extra configuration.


Have you installed Linux on this laptop? If so how about leaving a comment about your success in the comments section below.