Thinkpads Forum

This is the one that you've all been waiting for, but were afraid to ask...


configuration:

NEW!T9300 Core 2 Duo Penryn CPU..............2.5GHz, 6MB L2 cache....YUMMY!
4GB (2x2GB) RAM
15" QXGA (2048x1536) IPS FlexView LCD
nVidia NVS140M GPU
DVD RW multiburner
320GB/7200rpm hard disk drive
Intel 4965AGN wireless card
Verizon WWAN
Bluetooth
NO MODEM
Gigabit Ethernet
UltraNav
Security Chip
Fingerprint reader
9-cell extended battery, genuine Lenovo ( in "green")
Genuine Lenovo 90W AC adapter
Win XP COA
Middleton's modded BIOS enabling full SATA II transfer speeds along with other good stuff installed.

the shell came from a well-kept 15" T60p (2623-DDU) unit. Shows light wear on the lid, very mild keyboard shine and a couple of scratches on the bottom. About 9 out of 10 in my book.

the planar is a 42W7873 which enables full native support for Penryn CPUs. Please read more on it below.

the screen is a stunning example of rare ID Tech QXGA IPS FlexView panel, with zero dead pixels, backlight bleed, pressure marks, dust specs. light spots. It is also exceptionally bright for a panel of this type.

All in all, this is one of the possible "ultimate" T601 FrankenPad platforms. Only the very best, carefully sourced parts went into it.


The wise guys/gals corner - please read before making a comment - you'll be happy you did:

1) Geez, you're asking a lot of money for that home-built FrankenPad. Is it because of the screen? You know, I can get them for $7 shipped from TaoZaoBaoMaoLao...

Good for you. I'll be happy to offer you $150 a piece for a box of 100, FCO my doorstep.

2) I like the idea behind the machine, but am scared that the GPU will just flake out on me one morning. Can you get a board with a 08/08 or a newer date? Or an Intel one?

There are no 08/08 boards for 4:3 T61 units. Getting one from the first quarter of 2008 (which is when the existing planar dates from) is as good as it gets, because by May of 2008 they were already discontinued. However, I do have some good news for you:

a) I've been running FurMark on this poor thing since 2am this morning (09/02/2012) and it's still churning along happily. My not-so-modest experience leads me to believe that if they were any GPU problems, the planar would've died by now. With that said, I'll be running it for quite a bit longer, to be on the safe side.

b) If that's not good enough, I can replace this planar with an Intel-based 42W7872 which also provides native Penryn support at NO EXTRA COST. However, since I'm NOT about to swap boards three times a day whenever a prospective buyer changes his/hers mind, a deposit will be required ($100 will do) for me to replace it, unless I know you *very* well.

3) The machine sounds great, but I'd love to have a X9000 CPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD and a newer wireless card in it. Can you accomodate such a request?

Of course I'll be happy to, you can choose one of the following options:

a) You purchase the parts and send them to me - they will be installed at no cost to you. It will be YOUR responsibility to properly test them prior to shipping, I shall NOT be responsible for behaviour of any components that were not sourced by myself.

b) You lay out a deposit (the size of which will depend on the cost of upgrade that you'd like performed) and I source the parts and install them at extra cost that we both agree upon.

I might post additions to this part of the listing as the day moves along...


If you reside outside of U.S. the machine will be shipped without the battery. More on the USPS regulations regarding this issue can be found here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=104014

PM or email me directly to tataslonATaol.com with any questions/concerns.

Boahhh... That's a really bad@ss Thinkpad you've built there!

Unfortunately out of my humble budget, but I wish you good luck with the sale! And I will probably hate the person that buys it

This is definitely the ultimate Frankenpad, someone's gonna snatch this baby up fast.

ajkula66 wrote:
2) I like the idea behind the machine, but am scared that the GPU will just flake out on me one morning. Can you get a board with a 08/08 or a newer date? Or an Intel one?

There are no 08/08 boards for 4:3 T61 units. Getting one from the first quarter of 2008 (which is when the existing planar dates from) is as good as it gets, because by May of 2008 they were already discontinued. However, I do have some good news for you:

a) I've been running FurMark on this poor thing since 2am this morning (09/02/2012) and it's still churning along happily. My not-so-modest experience leads me to believe that if they were any GPU problems, the planar would've died by now. With that said, I'll be running it for quite a bit longer, to be on the safe side.

I agree completely, and this is the same procedure I use to test the nVidia GPUs. One that has failed and been baked/refowed will usually have temp spikes or go BSOD on you within the first 15mins, but I usually do the burn-in for 4 hours which is way more then is necessary. A good steady temp line with the fan set to manual mode will indicate a sound gpu, and odds are it will last for many years, but even if a gpu fails, any one of us could do a board swap if needed and in my mind it just doesn't make sense to have the worlds highest resolution panel without having some powerful graphics behind it.

Good Luck with your sale, and considering a QXGA T60p sold online for much more then this a few months ago, this one is VERY fairly priced.

Thank you for the comments, gentlemen. Your appreciation is highly appreciated...

For those who are interested in the machine, but not quite certain whether they could handle the resolution, I've posted a bunch of comparison pictures between this Frankie and my SATA-modded T43p with an UXGA (1600x1200) IPS FlexView LCD.

http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i33 ... =slideshow

Enjoy!

ajkula66 wrote:Thank you for the comments, gentlemen. Your appreciation is highly appreciated...

For those who are interested in the machine, but not quite certain whether they could handle the resolution, I've posted a bunch of comparison pictures between this Frankie and my SATA-modded T43p with an UXGA (1600x1200) IPS FlexView LCD.

http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i33 ... =slideshow

Enjoy!

Looks great, quite interested. How much does it weigh? Will moving to an SSD make much of a difference. I am torn between a newer ultrabook and something like this (although I suspect a UXGA screen would suffice for me) but the weight will be important.

thanks!

I can weigh it and post the figure sometime later tonight, but expect the weight of a normal 15" T60/p. I don't see that it lost much weight from the modem being removed...

SSD always makes a difference when compared to a rotational drive. I have no problem removing the drive and knocking off a few bucks if the buyer wants to throw in a SSD, and has no interest in the HDD.

thanks, that would be great. On the SSD, I was wondering if it would make a difference to the weight rather than in a performance sense.

cheers
pevara

Well...while I don't own a pharmacy-grade scale, the measurements came pretty much as expected...

In other words, when it comes to weight this fabulous FrankenPad doesn't compare well with ultrabooks of today...

The only way to stay under 5lbs is to remove the battery altogether, and replace the media drive with a travel bezel.

With a 6-cell battery and travel bezel it's about 5.3 lbs. Pretty consistent with what I've found here:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-62722

where it states:

For systems with 381.0-mm (15.0-in) TFT display:

System:
•Width: 329 mm (13.0 in) to 334 mm (13.2 in)
•Depth: 268 mm (10.6 in)
•Height: 31 to 36 mm (1.2 to 1.4 in)
•Configured system weight: ◦With travel bezel: 2.54 kg (5.6 lb)
◦Configured system: 2.71 kg (6.0 lb)


Accessories:
•Li-Ion battery pack: six cell 340 g (0.75 lb)
•Li-Ion battery pack: nine cell 490 g (1.08 lb)
•90W ac adapter (2-pin or 3-pin): 360 g (0.795 lb)
•65W ac adapter (2-pin or 3-pin): 260 g (0.573 lb)
•Power cord for ac adapter: 90 g (0.19 lb)
•DVD drive: 345 g (0.76 lb)

As for the SSD vs. HDD when the weight is concerned, I really can't foresee a major difference between the two...

Bump for an incredibly awesome FrankenPad! I think the price is really fair, especially when you consider the HOURS AND HOURS that go into building this, not to mention the HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS of time George has spent accumulating the knowledge and experience which enabled him to build this. (plus, he has excellent taste in cars!)

Good luck with the sale!

Hi,
What's battery life like on the 9-cell with light web browsing? Thanks.

alcuin wrote:Hi,
What's battery life like on the 9-cell with light web browsing? Thanks.

The key for battery life are one's settings. Trim everything down and get 5 hours, or do the opposite and get 2...

This machine is now offered with an upgraded CPU (from T8100 to T9300) for the same low price...

Guys and girls: you've had your chance, and you all missed it!
This machine was sold outside of the forum!
Congrats to the new buyer!
And FWIW: I deserve some credit here too, as I built it, flashed the EDID, etc.

Great job George and RBS

I was surprised in a forum full of thinkpad fans that this wouldn't have been quickly snatched up at the price it was offered, and as it turns out it sold considerably higher at open auction.

In fact, it wasn't that long ago that a very mild qxga (in comparison) T60p sold over $1400 on ebay that doesn't even compare to the power of a discrete T61 board. I'd love to see more of these in the hands of thinkpadders world-wide, such a great combination of parts.

Before I lock this thread, a couple of notes...

RealBlackStuff wrote: And FWIW: I deserve some credit here too, as I built it, flashed the EDID, etc.

You most certainly deserve a LOT of credit for this one, sir... ...as well as for many others

TuuS wrote:

Great job George and RBS

I was surprised in a forum full of thinkpad fans that this wouldn't have been quickly snatched up at the price it was offered, and as it turns out it sold considerably higher at open auction.

Well, thank you, my good man. Very grateful for your unselfish help...

Yes, it was a great job and it is a great machine - by far one of the most impressive units I have ever used - and had I done the Lasik when I was supposed to get it done, it would've never left my possession. However, a different fate was meant for this Frankie.

I'm going to have to agree that I was rather surprised with a lack of serious interest that I got from the forum members...

That being said, I'm awaiting for someone to build another one with these specs and offer it at a similar price...

Until then - locking this thread since the machine was sold outside of the forum.