T4Xp motherboards

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boris · #1 Post by **boris** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:17 pm

I see people advertise T40Xp motherboards on Ebay. Are they all the same motherboard, or are there differences?

Will a standard T4X processor fit a T4Xp motherboard?

poshgeordie · #2 Post by **poshgeordie** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:17 pm

Checking Thinkpad Wiki T40, CPU and graphics are as follows:

Intel Pentium M (Banias) 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6GHz
One of the following video controllers:
* ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 with 32MB
* ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 with 32MB

T40p (which stands for Performance):

Intel Pentium M (Banias) 1.3 or 1.6 GHz CPU
ATI Mobility FireGL 9000 with 64 MB

I believe the major difference is that the T40 has a 32 bit either Radeon 7500 or 9000 graphics chip, whereas the T40p has 64 bit Radeon 9000 chip.

Regarding whether a T40 processor will fit a T40p, it certainly looks like certain ones will fit OK.

Regarding whether a T40p board will fit in a T40 chassis & case, I recently had a T41p repair pass through my hands and the board looked identical to a T41.

However please don't take my word for it - hopefully someone with more expertise will give you a definitive answer.

<EDIT> Sorry reread your post, and you are asking about the whole T4x and T4xp range.
I believe what I've posted above is still correct.
To make a full T4x /T4xp comparison, please have a look here and do a check between the various models.
It looks mainly as if the graphics chip is enhanced on the T4Xp versions.

#3 Post by **Johan** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:06 pm

Boris:

I suggest you have a look in the tawbook (with the official title: "Personal Systems Reference, IBM ThinkPad Notebooks A, T, X, and G Series, 2000 to 2005 - withdrawn [May 2005 - Version 291]); it includes data on redrawn ThinkPad's up to T41, but no T41p's, no T42/p's and no T43/p's. The ltwbook (with the official title: "Personal Systems Reference, Lenovo ThinkPad Notebooks - 2005 to present - withdrawn [July 2008 - Version 342]" includes more T4x's; both T41/p's, T42/p's, and T43/p's. In these two reference books, you will see the selection of T4x/p's incl. specifications of various CPU's used.

Apart from that, you might also benefit from having a look in the ThinkPadT40/T40p,T41/T41p,T42/T42p Hardware Maintenance Manual - or, alternatively, be aware of the System service parts - ThinkPad T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p site - and note the different motherboard FRU's ("FRU": Field Replacable Unit).

Through the above references/sites, you may find help to obtain the specifications of, say, a certain motherboard offered on eBay, and either specified as being from a specific ThinkPad, or specified in terms of its part-number or FRU.

Processors usable in T40/T41/T42/p's are discussed in many threads on this forum - see e.g. New T40 owner, new upgrade race!! or Processor Upgrade etc. etc. (hint: Use the Search function and e.g. search for "T40 CPU upgrade" - and check "Search for all terms") - that will bring up a wealth of information.

T40/T41/T42/p's all uses 400 MHz FSB whereas T43/p's uses 533 MHz FSB and another line of CPU's. Therefore, a "T43 CPU" is not usable in an e.g. T42. You can upgrade T40/T41/p CPU's from Banais to Dothan CPU's both cheap and easy - and that will bring a significant performance boost at a very low cost. Check HarryC's post in the thread Upgrade to Dothan on T40p for a list of compatible T40/T41/T42 CPU's.

PS: An alternative to the sometimes a bit "uncertain" trading on eBay is to put up a "WTB" (Want To Buy) advertisement in the Marketplace on this forum - there you will deal with people who now what they sell - and who can help you get what you want and/or need!

Johan

agarza · #4 Post by **agarza** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:51 pm

I think Johan pointed out all the info you need to know. To put it simply you can use any 400MHz Pentium M on T40/T41/T42 (with the exceptions of some processors which do not work well on T4x machines)
T43 parts also fit the older T4x chassis, but if you will be replacing the motherboard only, you will need the ExpressCard to connect it to the motherboard:
T40/T41/T42 have all CardBus
T43 have ExpressCard

However If you plan on upgrading your T40 machine motherboard, upgrade with a T41p or a T42p. T40 motherboards are known to be the most prone that could lead to GPU failure.

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:38 pm

Make a long story short...sort of...

T40p equals certain R51 units, Radeon 9000 GPU. These, in my not so modest opinion, are best left alone altogether. Will take any Dothan CPU listed under "b" below, as well as a variety of Banias CPUs.

T41p=T42p=R50p, 128Mb FireGl T2 GPU. Nice board, but hot and failure prone. Will take Dothan PM CPUs with 7x5 designation, such as 745, 755, 765. All of these are with 333Mhz FSB. DDR RAM. Banias CPUs work as well.

T43p = V3200 GPU, fast, hot , powerful. Will take Dothan PM CPUs with 7x0 designation, such as 760, 770, 780. Better soldering than previous ones, new type fan. Cream of the crop for T4 series, if you can tolerate the heat and fan noise. 533Mhz FSB, DDR2 RAM.

Hope this helps.

Tim M · #6 Post by **Tim M** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:19 pm

ajkula66 wrote: T41p=T42p=R50p, 128Mb FireGl T2 GPU. Nice board, but hot and failure prone.

Is there a good summary of the lead-free solder and motherboard flex issue? The pinned thread is a bit long to take in all at once. I recall reading that some more recent T42p motheboards (post-2005 or 2006?) may be less prone to the problem due to manufacturing changes, but it's still rather nebulous.

ajkula66 · #7 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:29 pm

There is no such summary that I'm aware of. Very late T42/p boards have the same type of soldering as T43/p with ATi.

Tim M · #8 Post by **Tim M** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:38 pm

ajkula66 wrote:There is no such summary that I'm aware of. Very late T42/p boards have the same type of soldering as T43/p with ATi.

Summary or not, that's good to know. So, to summarize ourselves

, my reading of the tea leaves seems to suggest that these "very late" T42/p boards are perhaps those made in the last two years or so? Is there any way to check? I can only get an S/N from PC-Doctor and didn't copy down the info from the sticker before popping my in my new T42p mobo upgrade. Silly me.

NorrisCell · #9 Post by **NorrisCell** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:08 pm

Sorry to dig this up, but I'm not having much luck getting a definitive answer.

R50p board into T42p chassis. Seems possible. Hardware is almost identical. I know an R50 board fits a T42, but these are 14" models. I'm hoping the same is true for 15" models. Any input?

ajkula66 · #10 Post by **ajkula66** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:14 pm

FWIW, I know of an exact opposite situation, where the T42p board ended up in a R50p with no issues...

sjthinkpader · #11 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:57 pm

I have both the R50p and T42p FireGL T2 15 inch UXGA models. Seems to be no significant differences other than the thickness.

I am typing on the T42p now. Other than an occasional process getting stuck and raise the temperature to 60 deg+, it normally works at 40-45 deg C. I do keep am eye out on the temp via NHC running at all times.

Also have a T43p V3200 but a 14.1 inch SXGA+ version.

NorrisCell · #12 Post by **NorrisCell** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:31 pm

Excellent, thanks guys.

One final question. T4xp and R5xps... 14" and 15" models use the same system board?

#13 Post by **schen** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:44 pm

NorrisCell wrote:Excellent, thanks guys.

One final question. T4xp and R5xps... 14" and 15" models use the same system board?

If you mean do the T4x of 14" and 15" use the same MBs; R5x of 14" & 15" use the same MBs. I believe that would be, yes with the only difference being the interposer card that make up for the additional width of the case on the 15" models.

#14 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:48 pm

They do, but some of the R5X models came with Firewire, and the T4X's did not. So if you use an R5X board in a T4X you lose firewire because there is physically no port on the T4X's for it.

NorrisCell · #15 Post by **NorrisCell** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:22 pm

Firewire isn't a big deal. I'm just looking to the future in case I need to replace my mobo if it turns out to be dead. The 14" T42ps go for a lot less, so I would look for one of those to replace mine

ajkula66 · #16 Post by **ajkula66** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:47 pm

You might be better off fixing your planar if it turns to be a classic GPU problem...

AdaSch · #17 Post by **AdaSch** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:15 am

Hi,

i have two t43p with max load (p780, 2G ram,). After modify fan system all work great and quiet.

and "Witcher" work on this config.

because my t43p great work, i don't plan to change on ugly and fat t6x.

I think, mobo from t43p is best way to upgrade your system

cheers

AdaSch · #18 Post by **AdaSch** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:32 am

ajkula66 wrote:if you can tolerate the heat and fan noise.

t43p don't noise after my two mods

first mod - improve contact beetween cpu gpu radiator
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 242#424242

second mod - engine modificaton see bellow link

thats all. Noise like in t60

cheers

NorrisCell · #19 Post by **NorrisCell** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:36 pm

ajkula66 wrote:You might be better off fixing your planar if it turns to be a classic GPU problem...

I would love for it to be that. The symptoms don't line up though. The machine died while in use, now it won't respond to anything. Plugging the power cord in while off won't even light the battery light.

ajkula66 · #20 Post by **ajkula66** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:58 pm

If you decide to purchase a board, PM me for a 100% reliable source.

Good luck.

NorrisCell · #21 Post by **NorrisCell** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:08 am

I'm hoping to tear into it tomorrow (12/12) so I should have an idea of whether or not a new board is necessary. I will contact you if I do in fact need one. Thanks for the input.

T4Xp motherboards

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