Some thoughts of T40

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teetee · #1 Post by **teetee** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:09 pm

Recently I purchased a barebone T40(2373-75U) w/ 256MB x2 from eBay for $200(shipped). Then I replaced the short fan with the long fan($15shipped), one of the 256MB ram with 512MB($15shipped), added a 20gb hard drive, spent $13 for hd caddy and cover, $15 for a ultrabay slim DVD-rom drive. If I can get a bluetooth/modem CDC card less than $20, I will probably build a pretty decent quality machine for less than $300.

The condition of the laptop is almost mint(except two barely-noticeable scratches on the LCD cover). Judging by no-shiny keys on the keyboard and the like-new palmres, it seems like I got one of those off-lease machines that didn't get abused too much. I cleaned the fan blades and applied some WD40 to reduce the fan noise by following the link below(thanks to FTC):
Ref: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=437021

I also build a customized heat sink for south bridge chip by following the link below(thanks to guido at linuxfocus.org):
Ref: http://linuxfocus.org/~guido/gentoo-tpt43p/cooling/ (PIC inside)

I also installed tpfancontrol and NHC to monitor/tune-up the system hardware. The result turned out very satisfying. There is no common video, USB2.0, or system crash (due to overheated mainboard) issues. Overall this machine is ready to be my daily drive.

However, I did find something that's bothering me regarding the build quality. First thing I noticed was the flimsy palmrest. It's nice for most of people to have 2 PC card slots under the palmrest but it really makes the left side of the palmrest more flexible than I expected. Without any cards in the PC card slot I wouldn't pick up T40 with just holding the left-bottom corner, which I do all the time with my X24 with no problem.

The second thing is the improper location of wireless antenna connectors under the touchpad. I was really surprised they just let bare metal of touchpad and the mouse key of the trackpoint touchs both of the U.FL connectors (wikipedia link) of the wireless antenna. It might not be a big deal but I am not sure how it would increase the wireless signal strength by using the ground of the whole system. I used a piece of tape to make sure those connectors are not short.

agarza · #2 Post by **agarza** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:54 pm

Wow. Interesting post. how do you measure the southbridge temperature? I'd like to do some modding on my T42p coz I thing the heat is not dissipated effectively. The fan blades does not let go a warm burst of air not like other T42's I've tested. I'm unsure of this FRU: 26R9066. Laptop CPU is constantly on 48C (0.716V @ Dynamic Switching, generally @ 600MHz)

Any ideas on how to know if my fan is working well. I've AS5 on CPU and GPU.

P.S. Where I could get the cooper sheets ?

#3 Post by **underclocker** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:58 am

That's some nice, fun hobby work on a T40. It's also a fine machine for $300.

You can use either a BMDC 200 or BMDC 200 rev. B combo CDC for the T40. They are also called Bluetooth II or Bluetooth III. The same software package from Lenovo is used to install either.

Some people place foam tape under the keyboard in different areas to improve the flex and squeaks.

Temetka · #4 Post by **Temetka** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:26 pm

That's a great little T40 you picked up there. Nice pricing too. Unless you have an external burner or something I would have picked up a combo drive instead of the DVD-ROM drive, but either way is fine.

Sometimes I think about my machines specs and think "is it too much?". Then I slap myself.

Enjoy your T40 and may it serve you well.

aaa · #5 Post by **aaa** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:24 pm

http://www.compuvest.com/Search.jsp?Sea ... site=yahoo

Cheap bluetooth

#6 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:42 pm

aaa wrote:http://www.compuvest.com/Search.jsp?Sea ... site=yahoo

Cheap bluetooth

Will that work in a T41? I've been looking at part # 91P7315.

#7 Post by **richk** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:51 pm

I don't think that part will work in T4x. It may be obvious, but you need to have a screen with a bluetooth antenna.

#8 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:56 pm

richk wrote:I don't think that part will work in T4x. It may be obvious, but you need to have a screen with a bluetooth antenna.

Yeah, thanks. I'll let you know because I have one on the way. This EBayer seems to think that 26P8396, 91P7259, 91P7297 or 91P7315 are all compatible parts for a T41, although not guaranteed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-BT-Blu ... dZViewItem

Thinkwiki says it's for a T41 as well -

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/IBM_Integ ... dem_(BMDC)

teetee · #9 Post by **teetee** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:26 pm

Info from t4x HMM(PDF), page 205/260:
BMDC(FRU#91P7315) is for T40/T40p, T41/T41p
BMDC-2(FRU#91P7319) is for T42/T42p

Info from Lenovo website ( http://tinyurl.com/3c5uvp )
91P7315 replaces 91P7259 replaces 26P8396

So I think 91P7315 and 91P7259 are interchageable.

Just for a side note, 91P7259 is originally from R50/e (HMM PDF).

#10 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:33 pm

teetee wrote: So I think 91P7315 and 91P7259 are interchageable.

Good news, thanks for that reference. In case anyone wants one, order from the link that aaa provided above and pay $23.67 shipped, CONUS. It shipped within an hour, which is unheard of (plus they take Paypal). That is an outstanding price.

aaa · #11 Post by **aaa** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:58 pm

I actually have it right now, but I haven't bothered trying it yet. Dunno what I'm going to do about the antenna issue either, might have to snag one off Ebay but I'll try it first,

.

sojourner · #12 Post by **sojourner** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:58 am

Harryc wrote:
teetee wrote: So I think 91P7315 and 91P7259 are interchageable.
Good news, thanks for that reference. In case anyone wants one, order from the link that aaa provided above and pay $23.67 shipped, CONUS. It shipped within an hour, which is unheard of (plus they take Paypal). That is an outstanding price.

Greetings Harryc, Sojourner (Vic) here with a question about the BT card mentioned in this post.

Been searching for a BT CDC and cannot figure out the difference between a IBM FRU PN: 91P7315 which replaces 91P7259. Noticed you bought the 91P7259. Was wondering if you could answer a couple of questions?

Do you know the difference between the two P/N's?
How do you like the card you bought (how well does it perform)?

Thanks

#13 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:28 am

Vic, I sold the T41 in question but Bluetooth worked just fine on it. Sorry I do not know the differences in cards. In fact I can't think of a single source for change log information on any IBM/Lenovo parts that have been superseded/upgraded by a new part. I don't believe it exists.

koden · #14 Post by **koden** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:55 pm

I'm just more confused...

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 46474.html

here stands under T40 that:

91P7315
replaces
91P7259
replaces
26P8396

I have a T40 2373-14G. But can't find 14G in the list???

But I think 91P7315 will fit in my T40.
And it's cheap here:

http://www.compuvest.com/Description.js ... iid=554859

91P7319 must be the same card as 91P7315. But fits into T42.
or is there a performance diff. between 315 and 319 ?

What is the diff. between BT cad II and III ?

lithium726 · #15 Post by **lithium726** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:33 pm

Just an aside, you should never pick the system up by solely grabbing the palm rest, it causes too much system flex and can kill your mainboard. Pick it up on the base around the LCD hinges.

koden · #16 Post by **koden** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:10 am

I have a 27R1880 and a 27R1880 card. This should be BT III card for T40. If i search on ebay they have them and says it fits in a t40???

But i'm still not sure about antenna.
can i use one antenna for wireless and one for BT, or do I need an BT antenna?

If i just can use the 2 wireless antenna, is it than still bether to by a seperate BT antenna?

Some thoughts of T40

Some thoughts of T40

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