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Headless Thinkpad workstation?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:43 am
by Olwe
I just saw at willowgarage.com a video
http://youtu.be/UyLq4lfBsI0?t=1m20s . (Roughly at 1:26) Does anyone know how this thing was made? Did it come "headless," or was it chopped?
Re: Headless Thinkpad workstation?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 2:21 am
by basketb
I think another name for it is "keyboard". Maybe one of these: 31P9490
Re: Headless Thinkpad workstation?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 6:01 am
by RealBlackStuff
Correct, it is 'only' a IBM/Lenovo keyboard with built-in trackpad, not a modified Thinkpad.
Re: Headless Thinkpad workstation?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 9:54 am
by Olwe
Ha! Joke's on me! I thought it was some sort of headless workstation. But would it be possible to have such a headless workstation just using a monitor through the vga, that is, bypass the screen entirely? Sure, no problem running external monitors, but could a monitor totally, from OS install on, bypass the thinkpad screen? Eventually I'd like to have a totally stripped down, say, T61 with no screen, no keyboard, just a "CPU" with external keyboard, mouse, monitor. I want to have something like those arm-based mini desktop stations.
Re: Headless Thinkpad workstation?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:24 am
by RealBlackStuff
The GPU on a Thinkpad has two outputs (hence the 2 monitors in Device Manager):
-one is digital and goes direct to the laptop's LCD
-the other is analog and goes via the VGA-port to an external monitor.
You can take the lid off and use the laptop base with just an external monitor.
I don't know if you'd even notice any difference between digital and analog.
While testing/fixing motherboards, I usually run the bare motherboard with only CPU/fan, RAM, keyboard and external monitor (or attach a loose LCD or plug in a complete lid, depending on what needs to be done).
Re: Headless Thinkpad workstation?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:36 pm
by Olwe
@RealBlackStuff
I've got a yanked t61 screen in my hand right now. To the left are 5 wires (power etc.?) and in the middle is a proprietary female looking plug for the video. Would there be an adapter for that video plug so I could go to an external monitor (DVI/VGA)?
Re: Headless Thinkpad workstation?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 3:21 pm
by RealBlackStuff
The 5 wires on the left are antenna and BlueTooth wires, no power.
The flat LCD-cable can connect to any T60/R60/T61/R61 motherboard.
I'm not aware of an adapter or extension cable, but then I never needed one.
FYI: that LCD connector has 80 pins, 40 on each side.
The LCD cable ends in a 30-pin connector that goes into the back of the LCD panel.
It's easier to start work from the panel outwards.
Check this out:
http://www.instructables.com/answers/Ca ... tandard-L/