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T60 and T61 motherboard swap

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:58 pm
by racecar
Hello, I'm sure this has been talked about many times but I just wanted some clarification.

I currently have acquired 2 ibm laptops:

T60 15" with flexview sxga+ (ati x1300)
T61 14" with xga 4:3 format (intel graphics)

The T60 seems sluggish while playing youtube 720 videos where as the t61 plays them no problem with it's core 2 duo 2ghz. Have several options and I wanted your guys' input:

1) swap the motherboards out so I get flexview + t61. I guess you're typical t60 frankenpad? BUT I also want to still use the t60 mobo inside the smaller 14" t61 frame, is this doable?

2) keep the t60 a t60, and keep the t61 a t61 but look for an sxga panel. the xga screen is pretty bad, would an sxga be eon's better with regards to brightness and clarity?

As you guys can see, I'm trying the best I can to have 2 working machines after all of this. I really love the 14" form factor and if the sxga screen is considered decent (obviously won't hold a candle to a flexview but even the 14" xga looks better than my previous t410) then I might save the hassle and just buy an sxga 14" for it. ANOTHER question, what sxga monitor can I use? Can I get a t60 14" sxga? I think these are more common than finding a t61 unless they are essentially the same monitor?

Thanks in advance!

Re: T60 and T61 motherboard swap

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:09 pm
by ajkula66
racecar wrote:Hello, I'm sure this has been talked about many times but I just wanted some clarification.
Indeed...search the T6x forum on FrankenPad builds
1) swap the motherboards out so I get flexview + t61. I guess you're typical t60 frankenpad? BUT I also want to still use the t60 mobo inside the smaller 14" t61 frame, is this doable?

2) keep the t60 a t60, and keep the t61 a t61 but look for an sxga panel. the xga screen is pretty bad, would an sxga be eon's better with regards to brightness and clarity?

As you guys can see, I'm trying the best I can to have 2 working machines after all of this. I really love the 14" form factor and if the sxga screen is considered decent (obviously won't hold a candle to a flexview but even the 14" xga looks better than my previous t410) then I might save the hassle and just buy an sxga 14" for it. ANOTHER question, what sxga monitor can I use? Can I get a t60 14" sxga? I think these are more common than finding a t61 unless they are essentially the same monitor?
All doable with some frame mods. You can use a T61 panel in a T60 and vice versa.

Re: T60 and T61 motherboard swap

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:20 pm
by racecar
Perfect, just the answer I wanted to hear.

In your opinion which do you think is a better idea? swap the mobos out on both machines, or just install a sxga display on the t61?

Re: T60 and T61 motherboard swap

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 1:59 am
by Johan
If you wish to try speeding up Youtube on your X1300 T60, have a look in the the thread Ramdrive and T42 and Youtube & better than SSD performance - I would imagine that it would/could also speed up your T60 in a similar way.

Moreover, and if you haven't already, I suggest you (also) see the thread T60/T61 hybrid parts selection question) and the links pointed to therein (incl. the thread Parts for the ultimate 15” T60 UXGA FlexView w/T61(p) mobo?) and YAFP (Yet Another FrankenPad) project (T60p/T61) as they contain much useful information, which you then need not ask about... :wink:

Johan

Re: T60 and T61 motherboard swap

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 2:02 am
by Johan
ajkula66 wrote:All doable with some frame mods. You can use a T61 panel in a T60 and vice versa.
... provided that both of these are non-widescreen (= 4:3) models.

Johan

Re: T60 and T61 motherboard swap

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:28 pm
by racecar
Thanks Johan will definately read up on that.

After spending a day with the t61 cleaning it up and reinstalling windows 7, I really like the form factor. sure it's slightly smaller than the t60 15" but it really makes a difference!

That being said I might bite the bullet and look for a 14"sxga lcd. If I think it's acceptable I'll keep it and hold the t60 flexview for something else.

I HOPE the 14 sxga is much nicer than the xga because the current screen is absolutely horrible. contrast ratio and resolution.

Re: T60 and T61 motherboard swap

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:36 pm
by ajkula66
If you end up deciding to bite the bullet, I've got several very nice 14" SXGA+ LCDs, all working pulls from T61/p units which have "donated" their planars for FrankenPadding...just drop me a line.