Thinkpads Forum

Hi , I'm thinking about building myself a 4:3 Frankenpad, after looking my options, I think I will go for a 15" one.
What I need is the complete (good shape, and preferably with IBM Logos) body without motherboard (or with a dead one), HDD (but the caddy and cover), RAM and keyboard.
I also need an IPS Flexview screen for it (either SXGA+ or UXGA are ok), a 9 or 6 cell genuine battery, Ultrabay battery and HDD caddy, T500 or W500 Heat sink and fan, a working T500/W500 ATI Motherboard, T9600 processor or better, and some DDR3 RAM for it.
Please PM me, thanks

YGPM

There are no T500/W500 mainboards in 4:3 form factor. Due to connector compatibility reasons it is either a 4:3/T61 mainboard with DDR2 RAM or better forget about your project.

Even if you had a variant of this here in mind (viewtopic.php?f=29&t=110323), swapping a T500/W500 16:10/15.4" mainboard into a T60 4:3/15" chassis will be next to impossible due to the completely different layout of external connectors.

See also viewtopic.php?t=96893 for a detailed discussion of the technical limitations.

Once you got over it, buy a suitable T500 and call it a day.

rumbero wrote:There are no T500/W500 mainboards in 4:3 form factor. Due to connector compatibility reasons it is either a 4:3/T61 mainboard with DDR2 RAM or better forget about your project.

Even if you had a variant of this here in mind (viewtopic.php?f=29&t=110323), swapping a T500/W500 16:10/15.4" mainboard into a T60 4:3/15" chassis will be next to impossible due to the completely different layout of external connectors.

See also viewtopic.php?t=96893 for a detailed discussion of the technical limitations.

Once you got over it, buy a suitable T500 and call it a day.

http://tech.sina.com.cn/n/2009-01-19/10532762463.shtml

K. Len wrote:http://tech.sina.com.cn/n/2009-01-19/10532762463.shtml

Wow, i was not even remotely aware! HOPE again!
Good luck with that endeavour, mate.

rumbero wrote:

K. Len wrote:http://tech.sina.com.cn/n/2009-01-19/10532762463.shtml

Wow, i was not even remotely aware! HOPE again!
Good luck with that endeavour, mate.

Gracias , if I do the project, I will upload the progress

It seems el-sahef on the German Thinkpad forum converted a R500 mobo successfully. Details here: http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... &sandbox=1

This opens up the way to cheaper DDR3 ram

If anyone here tries it, be sure to tell us

coolcat37 wrote:It seems el-sahef on the German Thinkpad forum converted a R500 mobo successfully. Details here: http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... &sandbox=1

This opens up the way to cheaper DDR3 ram

If anyone here tries it, be sure to tell us

WOW, Now that its a big improvement over the original one, I also thought that there were a big room for improvement, the difference will that I will use the body from a T60, instead of a R60 one, and also I want to have the ATI GPU, so a R500 Board is not an option
Does the ultrabay gives some kind of rigidly to the Thinkpad? if not, I can just build a simple dust cover for it, and deal with those sticking out ultrabay devices, or maybe turn a broken DVD player into a Dumb Ultrabay device. (Sorry for my bad English)

K. Len wrote: and also I want to have the ATI GPU, so a R500 Board is not an option

There are R500 boards with ATi graphics, they're just not easy to find.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:R500

Does the ultrabay gives some kind of rigidly to the Thinkpad?

Yes it does.

On a different note, how much are you looking to spend for a T6x shell and IPS LCD in very good to excellent condition?

ajkula66 wrote:

K. Len wrote: and also I want to have the ATI GPU, so a R500 Board is not an option

There are R500 boards with ATi graphics, they're just not easy to find.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:R500

Does the ultrabay gives some kind of rigidly to the Thinkpad?

Yes it does.

On a different note, how much are you looking to spend for a T6x shell and IPS LCD in very good to excellent condition?

Well, goofyGAguy is selling me one, but I'm still looking for the IPS LCD and screen assembly, give me a starting price

MOD edit: price removed. Please do NOT publish such PM details!
Sorry , It will not happen again

K. Len wrote:give me a starting price

I'm in possession of a very nice 15" UXGA system, but have absolutely zero interest in parting it out. Just forget that I ever asked and all shall be well...

On a different note, Is a R400 Mobo compatible with a T400 body? I found a cheap death Mobo T400 in Mexico, and I was thinking about fixing and giving it to my dad, instead of fixing my ex-T61 for him, but for some reason, T400 Motherboards costs at least the double in comparison with the R400 ones

K. Len wrote:
Well, goofyGAguy is selling me one (really interesting, since it comes from a Assembled in Mexico, IBM Branded (it only mentions Lenovo in the copyright) machine) for an X amount, but I'm still looking for the IPS LCD and screen assembly, give me a starting price

Um, there is a reason things of this nature are discussed via PM.

MOD edit: selling price removed

The reason why el-sahef used the R60 body and R500 board was for the ability to continue to use the Ultrabay. If you want to see the pictures, follow the original link: http://thinkpad-forum.de/threads/169412 ... frankenpad

el-sahef is probably the most talented modder I've ever come across. He has helped me on many occasions, such as my X301 AFFS mod. (still WIP)

goofyGAguy wrote:

K. Len wrote:
Well, goofyGAguy is selling me one (really interesting, since it comes from a Assembled in Mexico, IBM Branded (it only mentions Lenovo in the copyright) machine) for an X amount, but I'm still looking for the IPS LCD and screen assembly, give me a starting price

Um, there is a reason things of this nature are discussed via PM.

MOD edit: selling price removed

I'm really sorry

600X wrote: el-sahef is probably the most talented modder I've ever come across. He has helped me on many occasions, such as my X301 AFFS mod. (still WIP)

Me too , his work is awesome, I Was hoping to be able to use the ultrabay on the Slimmer T60 body, maybe I will ending up using my "Mexican ingenuity" and doing a "Mexicanada"

I don't think it's possible to use the Ultrabay on a T60 after converting it with a widescreen mainboard. If el-sahef and nobody at nb51 has been able to do it, it's probably not possible.

K. Len wrote:Is a R400 Mobo compatible with a T400 body?

Yes it is. I've recently done such a swap. Fit perfectly.

600X wrote:I don't think it's possible to use the Ultrabay on a T60 after converting it with a widescreen mainboard. If el-sahef and nobody at nb51 has been able to do it, it's probably not possible.

Well, It's time for this forum to be the first in something no? Never underestimate the power of Mexican ingenuity
Speaking seriously, if this is not possible, I will get a R60 body and somehow restore the T60 one and sell it as an Intel Frankenpad
EDIT
I Don't know why, but after looking at this picture, I think that it could be possible, maybe I will need to do some kind of strange thing to be able to pull out the drive
http://abload.de/img/bild1ysk4y.jpg