T40 crossroads

[bvanderberg]

Hi all.
I have a 2373-8CU and love it. So far, I've done the following:

2GB of PC2700 RAM
8GB SSD (SLC)
I'd like a little faster proc (currently 1.5) a 1.8 or 2 would be nice.
And I really want better resolution - But I have the ATI7500.

The plan was to throw in a new CPU and replace the screen with an SXGA and call it done.
But I've looked at LCDs and find mixed reviews on running SXGA with this card.

So now I'm on the fence, get a new mb or stick with the original plan and take my chances.
Any advice? Thanks in advance.

[ZaZ]

If you're patient you can probably find a T60 or R60 in the $400 range, maybe less. The patient part is the key. The WXGA+ Z61t might be an option too. Your machine is probably worth at least a couple hundred bucks if it's in decent shape. You got to figure in the cost of the parts you're going to have to buy - the LCD and CPU. Maybe you can get used parts on the the cheap, but a Core Duo based ThinkPad is going to offer you better performance, more memory and access to bigger faster SATA drives. Plus the T60 is a bit more sturdy than the T4x machines and you can get SXGA+ on the Intel card, which offers better battery life. I'd say a newer machine costs about a hundred more, plus it's more work to find one and sell yours, but offers tangible benefits.

[sktn77a]

The T40 appears less susceptible to the GPU issue than the T41 and T42 as it was pre-RoHS. However, they still have some failures because of the inherent flexing of the design. If you like the computer, maxing out the RAM, HDD and CPU will bring notable benefits and replacing the screen is a good idea because most of the T40s are 5+ years old now and their backlights are getting old and tired (like me)! Several users on this forum with the SXGA+ display running from the ATI7500 graphics chipset say it works just fine.

I loved the form factor of the T4x and so did my kids (dad doesn't get a laptop). Two of them have switched to the T6x and they really don't like them as much (heavier, fatter, etc).

[ZaZ]

I kind of liked the extra thickness, but I'm probably in the minority on that one.

[LegendaryKA8]

I personally did the swap to an SXGA+ when I was running my T41 motherboard with the MR7500. It works just fine, although I did see a slight hesitation with XP's minimizing/restoring windows animation stuff. That hesitation is completely gone with my MR9600, so my assumption is that it is the graphics card. Believe me, if you go SXGA+, you won't go back.

[91011]

I moved a T40 SXGA+ lid assembly into a T41 with an ATI 7500 GPU last week with no problems that I can see. As a matter of fact, I'm looking for another assembly to do it again.

Go for it.

John

[bvanderberg]

Thanks all, I think I will keep on upgrading this.
I've had and enjoyed a T60, several 30s and even a couple 20's, but the 40s are really something special. I just need some more screen real estate.

Will order the screen tomorrow. If that works out ok, I'll go find a new proc.

Thanks again,

Brandon

[ttan98]

Hi,

I just bought a second hand T41, it works great, you guys have swapped over to a SXGA+ 14" screen and like it. I am considering as well.

Question: What do I need, ie system requirements before I plunge into a change over, also I just have to follow the instructions from the system maintenance manual, to perform the screen swap, right.

Cheers.

[LegendaryKA8]

Hi,

I just bought a second hand T41, it works great, you guys have swapped over to a SXGA+ 14" screen and like it. I am considering as well.

Question: What do I need, ie system requirements before I plunge into a change over, also I just have to follow the instructions from the system maintenance manual, to perform the screen swap, right.

Cheers.

I was able to just swap and go. Purchasing a whole LCD lid is easier, and the one I bought off of Feebay is actually in near-mint shape.

The only downside is that I noticed that the resizing windows animations in XP seemed a little sluggish with my MR7500. The sluggishness wasn't all that noticeable, but could definitely see that it disappeared when I swapped out to a T42 motherboard with the MR9600 video card.

Good luck on the swap; you will definitely love the SXGA+. Only thing better that I know of is a Flexview(which I'm in the process of swapping into... yeah, I'm a nut. )

[bvanderberg]

Good news, bad news, great news

New screen (whole panel) arrived and was installed. Beautiful..

Until it cut out. Doesn't seem to be screen related, rather it cuts out intermittently - even with an external monitor attached.
It's done that a few times before the new screen, but I wasn't sure if it was an OS thing.
Now I can reproduce it at will. Just typing hard will do it, and sometimes bring it back.
Opened it backup, and cleaned and reseated connectors. No joy.

This isn't going to cut it for work, so I bought a T60. It's still under warranty w/ 14" SXGA, abg, bluetooth, and a fingerprint reader.
This is very much like my last work laptop and that was pretty cool

Anyway, my kids have 40 series laptops with minimal ram, so they'll each get one of the new 1 gig sticks.
I'll reuse the SSD card in the new 60.
And I've got 2 good screens (and other spare parts) standing by for the when the kids' laptops have problems.

So another 40 goes offline permanently, but its parts will live on.
Thanks for all the help and advice everyone.

[LegendaryKA8]

Yeah... that sounds like the 'infamous' GPU bug. Sorry to hear about your luck with the T4x. While I haven't had much experience with the T60s, they are nice machines and definitely hold an edge as far as modern upgrades go. Glad to hear that the work was not all for naught, however.