ADVICE NEEDED. UPGRADING MY T40 WITH A T43 MOBO.

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PARKERLYON · #1 Post by **PARKERLYON** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 3:44 am

I WANT TO UPGRADE MY T40 WITH A T43 MOBO A NEW CPU AND MEMORY. I CAN GET ALL THE PARTS FOR ABOUT $150.00. I THINK ALL I NEED IS THE MOBO, CPU, MEMORY, PC CARD/EXPRESS CARD CAGE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANT ADVICE. I ALSO WOULD NEED TO UPDATE MY MODEL/TYPE AND SERIAL NUMBER TO THE EEPROM. WHICH I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DO. ANY ADVICE OR SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS.

Beaver · #2 Post by **Beaver** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:15 am

I am not sure about the inverter for the LCD, there is maybe need to swap something too, at least the cable. More experienced users will add the details.

About the model type - it's stored on the mainboard, so you do not need to change inside the computer but more likely OUTSIDE - on the bottom sticker

#3 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:01 am

The LCD is not an issue unless you are going from an ATI to an Intel board.

PARKERLYON · #4 Post by **PARKERLYON** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:56 am

Thank you. I have searched this forum for relevent posts and have found alot of the information I needed. I do not see any problem with the hardware swap except that in 1 post a person referred to a Sata Controller problem (There is also the SATA controller with a SATA-PATA bridge to deal with on a T43 board.). I do not know what they are refering to. I do have some questions about after the hardware swap.
1. Will ThinkVantage System Update still update my laptop with the correct software (Will it correctly identify the new hardware?)?
2. How do I update the Model/Type and serial numbers to the EEPROM?
3. Will there be any hardware or software (Drivers, Bios) conflicts I will have to deal with?
4. I want to purchase Recovery CD's for my laptop. Will I still be able to use the CD's for my stock T40?
5. The Mobo I am installing is new and has never been installed in a laptop. Will this cause a problem? Will I have to flash the bios to the new Mobo?
Thank you for any information you can provide!!!

#5 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:19 am

1. Will ThinkVantage System Update still update my laptop with the correct software (Will it correctly identify the new hardware?)?

Yes it will, but you will need to purchase and load T43 recovery discs.

2. How do I update the Model/Type and serial numbers to the EEPROM?

There is a system program service diskette to do that, so you will need a diskette drive.

3. Will there be any hardware or software (Drivers, Bios) conflicts I will have to deal with?

None for the default machine/load. Who knows what conflicts may occur if you add any devices ...

4. I want to purchase Recovery CD's for my laptop. Will I still be able to use the CD's for my stock T40?

No, you will need T43 recovery media. The HAL is significantly different for T43's, so T40 recovery media will not work.

5. The Mobo I am installing is new and has never been installed in a laptop. Will this cause a problem? Will I have to flash the bios to the new Mobo?

No, the BIOS will come flashed. If it is down level, and you need a recent BIOS feature, then it is time to consider flashing. Don't do it 'just because'...bad mojo there.

Also, you may want to consider an upgrade to an Intel mobo because they are not prone to GPU failure like T4X's with ATI chipsets. There is a very good thread that describes this upgrade here. If you go that route, ask questions about the LCD compatibility because it 'may'' be a factor on an Intel board.

PARKERLYON · #6 Post by **PARKERLYON** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:31 am

Will the T43 recovery CD's work with my XP Pro Product key that is on the T40 laptop case? Should I do the Mods for quieting the fan when I am swapping the Mobos? Can you think of any other pertinent information? Thanks.

#7 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:34 am

Yes your current COA will still work. I am not familiar with any fan quieting upgrades.

sjthinkpader · #8 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:49 pm

You need the following to make a T43 conversion:

1. New 740/750 CPU.
2. New DDR2 RAM
3. PC Card/Express Card cage.
4. New WiFi card, BMDC300 BT/modem card.
5. New CPU fan assembly. (older long fans may work too).
6. The plastic spacer needs minor modifications to fit.

sjthinkpader · #9 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 2:03 pm

PARKERLYON wrote:...Should I do the Mods for quieting the fan when I am swapping the Mobos? Can you think of any other pertinent information? Thanks.

The fan issue is in the BIOS where the 740/750 thermal output is more rapid as it switch to high frequency under increase CPU demand. So it switches to high fan speed more rapidly.

I would not mess with the fan operation as the GPU detaching issue is huge for these machines. Keeping operating temperature around 40-45 deg C under normal load and 60-65 deg C under full load is paramount.

If you want quiet fan operation, try a T42.

The big difference here is the bus speed. T43 at 533Mhz is 33% more switching than 400Mhz used in T42. Switching is a big contributor to heat.

For these machines, it is important to keep the CPU power profile set on "Adapative" instead of "Maximum".

PARKERLYON · #10 Post by **PARKERLYON** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 4:40 pm

I got this laptop free and would like to upgrade to better graphic and faster CPU. Changing the Mobo seem the way to go. I do not want to spend to much cash on this old of a laptop.

Will the old WiFi and modem not work? I haven't read about needing to change these. If I need to change them what would you recommend as a replacement?

Can I determine if the fan on the T40 I have will work on the new Mobo?

What Plastic spacer are you refering to needing modification? Is there a post of the steps I need to take? Thanks.

sjthinkpader · #11 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 5:22 pm

PARKERLYON wrote:...

Will the old WiFi and modem not work? I haven't read about needing to change these. If I need to change them what would you recommend as a replacement?

Basically the T43 use some versions of intel 2915, 2200 and Atheros. You can try the old one and see if it passes the BIOS at boot. Modem should work if it doesn't have the BT function.

PARKERLYON wrote:
Can I determine if the fan on the T40 I have will work on the new Mobo?

Most long fans should work. The T43 version has a little higher thermal capacity but older long fans should be ok.

PARKERLYON wrote:
What Plastic spacer are you refering to needing modification? Is there a post of the steps I need to take? Thanks.

This is the wire guide over the motherboard. The T40-T42 wire guide doesn't fit perfectly in a T43 so you need to do some minor cutting.

PARKERLYON · #12 Post by **PARKERLYON** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:27 pm

Thanks for the info. I have researched the parts needed and I was wondering if the cost will out way the benifit.

The new Mobo has the ATI M24 GL-128 graphics $75.00.
The CPU is 2.0GHZ $45.00.
The Ram 2GB PC-4200 $25.00.
The BMDC-3 CDC card $45.00.
The WiFi card $15.00.
The PC Express slot $5.00.
The extras (Floppy drive, Artic Silver, screw kit) $25.00.

For $235.00 is the benifit worth it? Please let me know any thoughts. Thanks

#13 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:34 pm

Probably not worth it. You should be able to easily get a similarly spec'd T43 on EBay or here for $235 plus the amount you could sell the T40 for.

PARKERLYON · #14 Post by **PARKERLYON** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:38 pm

I looked up the laptop after upgrades on E-bay the price was over $800.00. Is this because of the graphics? Most of the t43's on E-bay do not have the Ati V3200 graphics. Is the Ati V3200 graphics that good?

#15 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:39 pm

The better graphics has no value to me

. What do you use the machine for? For that chipset you need to look for T43P's.

PARKERLYON · #16 Post by **PARKERLYON** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:52 pm

The motherboard I found on E-bay had the V3200 graphics. I will be useing the computer for internet and gaming.

I just found the same computer for $400.00 on E-bay. Not worth upgrading costs. Thank you everyone for the help and information!!

TomKroscavage · #17 Post by **TomKroscavage** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:51 pm

PARKERLYON wrote:
"Should I do the Mods for quieting the fan when I am swapping the Mobos?"

I don't find the T43 hot or loud, but again I'm an Alaskan tin knocker.

comptiger5000 · #18 Post by **comptiger5000** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:09 am

A T43 with the ATI FireGL V3200 graphics (like a Radeon X600) is really a T43p. Those are definitely more expensive than a standard T43, so the mobo swap may be worth it.

sjthinkpader · #19 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:42 pm

I have both the V3200 and X300 versions in 14.1 inch chassis. I think the best benefit for a V3200 would be in a 15 inch chassis mated to an UXGA LCD.

But high performance and T4x is almost an oxymoron given the GPU failures. My son had been using Thinkpads as his portable gaming machines and he had gone thru several units.

comptiger5000 · #20 Post by **comptiger5000** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:13 pm

Sounds like your son needs to improve the cooling on those Thinkpads somehow.

sjthinkpader · #21 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:06 pm

You mean something like those cooling pads?

comptiger5000 · #22 Post by **comptiger5000** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:39 am

Cooling pads could possibly help. Or at least open it up and clean the dust out of the heatsinks.

sjthinkpader · #23 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:58 pm

Sounds reasonable and yes, they get cleaned on a regular basis.

ADVICE NEEDED. UPGRADING MY T40 WITH A T43 MOBO.

ADVICE NEEDED. UPGRADING MY T40 WITH A T43 MOBO.

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