IBM ThinkPad 560 Series

The ThinkPad 560 Series of laptops were subnotebooks that were initially released in May 1996 and discontinued in June 1999. The series was comprised of the 560, 560E, 560X, and the 560Z, with each being an improved version of the last.

Specifications

Note: Different configurations of each laptop often had different release and discontinuation dates. In these cases, the earliest and latest dates will be used for each respectively. See the PSREF linked in resources for the specific dates for each configuration.

Spec	ThinkPad 560	ThinkPad 560E	ThinkPad 560X	ThinkPad 560Z
Release Date	May 1996	June 1997	March 1997	September 1998
CPU	CPU Type: Soldered TCP Intel Pentium @100, 120, or 133MHz	CPU Type: Unknown Intel Pentium MMX @150 or 166MHz	CPU Type: Unknown Intel Pentium MMX @200 or 233MHz	CPU Type: Unknown Intel Mobile Pentium II @233 or 300MHz
Chipset	Intel 430MX		Intel 430TX	Intel 440BX
RAM	Type: EDO, 1x 144-pin Slot Standard: 8MB Soldered Maximum: 72MB	Type: EDO, 1x 144-pin Slot Standard: 16MB Soldered Maximum: 80MB	Type: EDO, 1x 144-pin Slot Standard: 32MB Soldered Maximum: 96MB	Type: EDO, 1x 144-pin Slot Standard: 32 or 64MB Soldered Maximum: 160 or 192MB
Storage	2.5" IDE Requires Adapter: Sort of, has a cable inside Standard: 810MB, 1.08GB, or 1.2GB	2.5" IDE Requires Adapter: Sort of, has a cable inside Standard: 2.1GB	2.5" IDE Requires Adapter: Sort of, has a cable inside Standard: 2.1 or 4.0GB	2.5" IDE Requires Adapter: Sort of, has a cable inside Standard: 4.0 or 6.4GB
Display Options	- 11.3" Passive Matrix LCD @800x600 - 12.1" Active Matrix LCD @800x600		- 12.1" HPA/Passive Matrix LCD @800x600 - 12.1" Active Matrix Color @800x600	12.1" Active Matrix LCD @800x600
Graphics Chipset	Trident Cyber9382 VRAM: 1MB	Trident Cyber9382 VRAM: 2MB	NeoMagic MagicGraph 128XD (NM2160) VRAM: 2MB
Audio	ESS AudioDrive 1688		Crystal CS4237B
Main Battery	Lithium Ion
CMOS Battery	CR1220 Lithium	Unknown
Power Supply	Barrel Jack
Media Drives	None, external only
PC Cards	2x PCMCIA Slots
Networking	None
Other I/O	- 1x Parallel - 1x Serial - 1x VGA Out - 1x PS/2 - 1x Dock Connector - 1x External FDD Connector - 1x Mic In - 1x Line Out		- 1x Parallel - 1x Serial - 1x VGA Out - 1x PS/2 - 1x USB 1.x - 1x Dock Connector - 1x External FDD Connector - 1x Mic In - 1x Line Out
BIOS	IBM BIOS w/ Easy Setup
Pointing Device	TrackPoint

Resources

Link	Details
	IBM ThinkPad 560 Series Drivers
	IBM ThinkPad 560 User Manual
	IBM ThinkPad 560X User Manual
	IBM ThinkPad 560Z User Manual
	IBM ThinkPad 560/560E Hardware Maintenance Manual
	IBM ThinkPad 560X Hardware Maintenance Manual
	IBM ThinkPad 560Z Hardware Maintenance Manual
	IBM ThinkPad 560/560E Technical Reference
	IBM ThinkPad 560Z Technical Reference
	IBM ThinkPad 560 Product Brochure (Japanese)
	IBM ThinkPad 560E Product Brochure (Japanese)
	IBM ThinkPad 560X Product Brochure (Japanese)
	IBM ThinkPad 560Z Product Brochure (Japanese)
	IBM ThinkPad 1992-2001 Personal Systems Reference (PSREF)

Common Faults & Maintenance

The ThinkPad 560 is a very well-built laptop. You don't really see hinge failures or other structural problems like you do in so many other 90s laptops. The plastics are likely getting brittle with age though, so still handle with care. None of the 560 laptops are rubber coated.

Most issues you'll see with a 560 are screen related. Mainly, the TrackPoint can press against the LCD and cause pressure damage.

Like any other LCD this old, the 560 LCD panels can suffer from Vinegar Syndrome.

It is also worth noting that the motherboard (at least in the original 560) has a handful of SMD electrolytic capacitors on it. Failures/leaks are not yet common, but they may start causing trouble in a few more years time.