Need a case

[j-dawg]

A heavy metal fan fell right on my Thinkpad X24 the other day, from about 18 inches up. Were it my old Dell, the screen would probably be broken, so hooray for IBM.

The computer didn't come out unscathed, though, as the plastic right underneath the right latch has broken off. The back part also cracked and is now ever so slightly bent away from the rest of the computer--not enough to bend the screen, mind you, or even to notice it unless it's closed, but when it is closed I'm afraid something will catch on it and possibly damage the screen.

So I want to replace the upper case. The IBM website is quoting $118.00 for it, but I only paid $300 for the computer in the first place, and another website was offering them (used) for about forty-five without the antenna.


I basically have two questions:
1. Where can I get a top shell for an X24 on the cheap? Used is fine, and my bezel is okay, it's just the actual shell that needs replacing.

2. Would an internal mini-PCI Wi-Fi card require any further changes to the case if I got the screen with the antenna? I figure as long as I'm replacing the case, I may as well get an antenna and a mini-PCI Wi-Fi card.

EDIT: Holy jeez, it's another forty dollars for the lid with the antenna:
http://www.impactcomputers.com/ibmparts ... dware.html

Forget Question 2..

Thanks.

[claudeo]

I've seen lots of used parts on eBay. Some seem to be from reliable people. Might be worth a try. Be careful with the mini-PCI card -- Search the forums and do a web search on the topic "wireless mini-PCI thinkpad" for some of the known issues. Basically most laptop manufacturers, including IBM, play dirty tricks to prevent third party mini-PCI cards from being recognized. The official rationale is that a specific mini-PCI wireless card model must be tested in combination with a specific machine for conformance cerfitication with FCC rules and the equivalent regulations in various countries.

[mfratt]

Yea, ebay is certainly your best bet. You can easily get an X2x shell there for < $20. As for internal wireless, its do-able. Try to find antennae with flat tips, or you might have trouble mounting them in the screen. I rigged a T21 I used to have like this, and because the tips were a few mm thick, I could only find space for one behind the screen, the other had to go under the keyboard. I dont suppose the X24 would be any easier. If you can mount them though, its fairly easy to do. You can get both the wireless card and the antennae on ebay as well.

[Thinkpaddict]

EDIT: Holy jeez, it's another forty dollars for the lid with the antenna:
http://www.impactcomputers.com/ibmparts ... dware.html

I see that you are looking at Impact Computers. Just to make sure that you understand that you are not guaranteed to get a new part(even if the part is advertised as new, you might get some used or refurbished part). I know this from my own experience.