"parts" computers and swapping hardware.

[eddiearniwhatever]

I've got a T40 which I love to death, even if the DVD player is shot and the screen is leaking funny green stuff... rather than upgrade i'm thinking about buying another T40 / T41 /T42 /T43 and use it for parts: replace the screen, put in a new DVD player, etc. I'm doing this mainly because I replaced the motherboard, getting a brand new one, this Spring and I don't want to throw it out. Also I'm a cheapskate.

My question is, how cross compatible are other T4x parts? what's the best T4x "parts" computer to pick up??

[Brad]

The main change is from T42 to T43 where the front side bus speed increases from 400mhz to 533mhz. Along with that change is the T43 change from DDR to DDR2 PC2-4200 memory. You can't use memory between the two.

Other than that all hard drives optical drives and keyboards palmrests and LCD's would work. If you do change LCD resolution you would need a different LCD cable. Also some Intel based T43 boards are said to not work at all with the higher resolution LCD's.

Brad

[sktn77a]

Well, you've heard the story "I've had this broom for over 20 years - all I've had to do is get a new brush head every 2 years and a new handle every 5 years!"

You'll probablly spend more piecing together parts than you would just getting a new computer. But I understand the temptation!

[richk]

The only parts I can think of that are different are the PC card assemblies. T43 is different from the others. Also T42/T43 with fingerprint readers have a different hsrd drive cage.

[Tim M]

But I understand the temptation!

I succumbed to that over the past year with my T42, essentially turning it into a maxed out T42p. I have finally put a stop to doing further upgrades to the computer itself because of the cost/benefit ratio, but recently fell off the wagon to get a Dock II so that I can put an nVidia 8400 GS card in it.

[eddiearniwhatever]

I'm looking on Craigslist and seeing T43s with 2gHz processors for around four hundred Bucks... I'm wondering if I'll be able to upgrade one of those with the RAM chips I upgraded my T40 with?

It's crazy, the cost of getting a whole new T43 is only slightly more than getting a new screen for my T40...

[sparta.rising]

You won't be able to put the ram from your T40 into the T43, but the T43 can take PC2-5300 which is dirt cheap these days. I saw a 2GB stick advertised at Microcenter for $12 AR!