u/GVala98

Hey everyone, I just picked up a used ThinkPad T450 and I’m looking for some advice on the first steps to get it in good shape.

Specs:

- Model: T450

- CPU: i5-5300U

- RAM: 4GB

- SSD: 128GB (this is enough for me)

I’m definitely planning to upgrade the RAM, but I’m wondering what else I should take care of. Is it worth replacing the thermal paste on a machine this old? Any other maintenance or upgrades you’d recommend (battery, cleaning, BIOS updates, etc.)?

Appreciate any tips!

Hi everyone!

I’m thinking about picking up an old ThinkPad T440 mainly to start learning Linux and get more hands-on with fixing an older machine.

My main goals are pretty simple:

• Get started with Linux (probably something like Ubuntu or Arch later on)
• I really like the classic ThinkPad design
• I want a “project laptop” to learn by tinkering
• Web Use

The one I found has these specs:

• i5-4300U
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB SSD
• Good overall condition

Price is around 65€ / 70 USD. (My original budget was about 70€ / $75 USD).

I don’t need performance for gaming or heavy tasks—just something stable for Linux and general webuse.

So I’m wondering:

1. Is this a good deal for the price?
2. Is it still worth it in 2025/2026 for learning Linux?
3. Are there any other models in the same price range?

Thanks fo all!