Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
-
portsample
- Sophomore Member
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:38 pm
- Location: Alaska (not Anchorage)
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
Loving this build. Still hoping for a kit...
T61, 14.1", X9000 2.8ghz, Intel GM965, 8gb RAM, 250gb SSD, 1tb SATA Ubay, openSuse 15.1/Win8
(2) T61, 14.1", T9500 2.6ghz, Intel GM965, 4gb RAM, 250gb SSD, openSuse 15.1/Win8 (spares)
(2) T61, 14.1", T9500 2.6ghz, Intel GM965, 4gb RAM, 250gb SSD, openSuse 15.1/Win8 (spares)
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
I'm new to this forum, but would like to say awesome work man.
Bold initiative and great results!
owner of IBM Thinkpad 390
-
kfzhu1229
- Senior ThinkPadder

- Posts: 2659
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2015 10:59 pm
- Location: Toronto, Canada
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
I have a 770ED XGA 13.3" full screen assembly fully functional, if you want, deal with me about the price.
I have more 770ED parts as well since the power board of my 770ED is dead. (I have the original DVD-ROM as well)
I have more 770ED parts as well since the power board of my 770ED is dead. (I have the original DVD-ROM as well)
Dell Lat CP MMX-233 64mb 40gb W2k
600 PII-266 416mb 40gb WXP
T23 PIII 1.13ghz 1gb W7
Precision M4300 X9000 8gb 160gb WUXGA Ultrasharp fp W10
T530i 15.6" i7 16gb fp W10
UXGA:
A30p PIII 1.2 1gb W7 (IDTech)
T43p 2.26 2gb fp W10 (Sharp)
Lat C840 P4-2.5 2gb 60gb W7 (Ultrasharp)
600 PII-266 416mb 40gb WXP
T23 PIII 1.13ghz 1gb W7
Precision M4300 X9000 8gb 160gb WUXGA Ultrasharp fp W10
T530i 15.6" i7 16gb fp W10
UXGA:
A30p PIII 1.2 1gb W7 (IDTech)
T43p 2.26 2gb fp W10 (Sharp)
Lat C840 P4-2.5 2gb 60gb W7 (Ultrasharp)
-
Norway Pad
- ThinkPadder

- Posts: 1161
- Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:50 pm
- Location: Meridian, ID & Oyer, Norway
- Contact:
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
Hi all. I'm sorry for the late feedback. I am also, as always, a little embarrassed to tell that progress hasn't come any further at this point. I decided to take a network certification, which took all my time this spring, and with summer we have the ever returning issue of a house that needs work and cars (3 of them) that need brakes and suspension parts changed this year. So guess where my time and money is going for now..
On the flip side, the path is clear when it comes to how the rest will be done. So all that's needed now is really "only" to assemble the laptop. The keyboard bezel will be some work, but I already made a prototype that was acceptable and proved it could be done. I'm also doing research on computing boards that offer better computing resources than my current PI. There is a new Raspberry out, and various computing sticks which can run Windows 10. Not sure what to do about that yet, so main priority is to get the unit assembled. But hey, now I'm just talking, and just talking doesn't bring me or the project anywhere.
Let me also point out that with the progress Lenovo currently has made on their Retro project, I can spend quite some time on my project and still be first with a RetroThinkpad.
On the flip side, the path is clear when it comes to how the rest will be done. So all that's needed now is really "only" to assemble the laptop. The keyboard bezel will be some work, but I already made a prototype that was acceptable and proved it could be done. I'm also doing research on computing boards that offer better computing resources than my current PI. There is a new Raspberry out, and various computing sticks which can run Windows 10. Not sure what to do about that yet, so main priority is to get the unit assembled. But hey, now I'm just talking, and just talking doesn't bring me or the project anywhere.
Let me also point out that with the progress Lenovo currently has made on their Retro project, I can spend quite some time on my project and still be first with a RetroThinkpad.
Thanks for the offer. I don't need any more parts at the moment. but I will keep your kind offer in mind.kfzhu1229 wrote:I have a 770ED XGA 13.3" full screen assembly fully functional, if you want, deal with me about the price.
I have more 770ED parts as well since the power board of my 770ED is dead. (I have the original DVD-ROM as well)
Bjorn
THINKPAD collector. Only missing a proper RetroThinkpad.
THINKPAD collector. Only missing a proper RetroThinkpad.
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
Very impressive project. Seems like a nice undertaking and can't wait to see the end results.
Thinkpads: X1 Yoga Gen 5, X1C 5th Gen, T430s
-
kfzhu1229
- Senior ThinkPadder

- Posts: 2659
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2015 10:59 pm
- Location: Toronto, Canada
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
Btw the 14.1" version only come from 770X and Z. They have a higher 1280x1024 resolution if you are lucky enough
After all your life would be much easier if you purchase a dead A3x (pretty common with the GPU issues) and work on that. No matter which screen size you purchase you end up with a 15" compatible LCD back case but a thicker frame to hold the 14.1" LCD in place. You also get a UXGA LCD for that if you bought the A30p/A31p which is still next-level resolution for the computing sticks
After all your life would be much easier if you purchase a dead A3x (pretty common with the GPU issues) and work on that. No matter which screen size you purchase you end up with a 15" compatible LCD back case but a thicker frame to hold the 14.1" LCD in place. You also get a UXGA LCD for that if you bought the A30p/A31p which is still next-level resolution for the computing sticks
Dell Lat CP MMX-233 64mb 40gb W2k
600 PII-266 416mb 40gb WXP
T23 PIII 1.13ghz 1gb W7
Precision M4300 X9000 8gb 160gb WUXGA Ultrasharp fp W10
T530i 15.6" i7 16gb fp W10
UXGA:
A30p PIII 1.2 1gb W7 (IDTech)
T43p 2.26 2gb fp W10 (Sharp)
Lat C840 P4-2.5 2gb 60gb W7 (Ultrasharp)
600 PII-266 416mb 40gb WXP
T23 PIII 1.13ghz 1gb W7
Precision M4300 X9000 8gb 160gb WUXGA Ultrasharp fp W10
T530i 15.6" i7 16gb fp W10
UXGA:
A30p PIII 1.2 1gb W7 (IDTech)
T43p 2.26 2gb fp W10 (Sharp)
Lat C840 P4-2.5 2gb 60gb W7 (Ultrasharp)
-
bit_twiddler
- Junior Member

- Posts: 445
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 3:36 pm
- Location: Salinas, CA
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
O.K., you can stop kidding. I saw Trollhunter, I understand how busySo guess where my time and money is going for now..
you guys in Norway are chasing down suspicious rocks.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/
Daily Drivers: W520 i7-2760QM | W520 i7-2860QM | T420 FHD IPS i7-2640m | W701
Others: W510 | 701C (on its shrine)
Non-TP: Dell m7510
Currently Experimenting With: T420s
Others: W510 | 701C (on its shrine)
Non-TP: Dell m7510
Currently Experimenting With: T420s
-
portsample
- Sophomore Member
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:38 pm
- Location: Alaska (not Anchorage)
Re: My homemade 770 Retrothinkpad (Large pics)
Bumpety bump...
Love this mod.
I've been working w/a Raspberry Pi 3 on a work project.
Dropping one of these into a 770 frame and have a useable machine would rock.
Love this mod.
I've been working w/a Raspberry Pi 3 on a work project.
Dropping one of these into a 770 frame and have a useable machine would rock.
T61, 14.1", X9000 2.8ghz, Intel GM965, 8gb RAM, 250gb SSD, 1tb SATA Ubay, openSuse 15.1/Win8
(2) T61, 14.1", T9500 2.6ghz, Intel GM965, 4gb RAM, 250gb SSD, openSuse 15.1/Win8 (spares)
(2) T61, 14.1", T9500 2.6ghz, Intel GM965, 4gb RAM, 250gb SSD, openSuse 15.1/Win8 (spares)
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
T420 Lid Sensor Trigger Location? (WARNING: PICS)
by T_B » Fri Jan 16, 2026 11:08 pm » in ThinkPad T400/T410/T420 and T500/T510/T520 Series - 2 Replies
- 5035 Views
-
Last post by T_B
Mon Jan 19, 2026 11:24 pm
-
-
-
ThinkPad 25 replica build log *WARNING: PICS*
by hidde-j » Tue Mar 24, 2026 4:20 pm » in Thinkpad T25 Anniversary/Retro - 3 Replies
- 1639 Views
-
Last post by hidde-j
Thu Mar 26, 2026 4:49 pm
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 44 guests



