15.4" WS T61P mobo in T60 14"? [PIC WARNING]

[QWERTY Andreas]

Hi
I just got a near mint T60p, with a 14" screen. A very, very nice machine.

I have tried to compare it to a 15.4" Widescreen T61, and suprisingly all the ports are in the exact same Places (except for the cardreader that the T60p doesnt have)

So i thought that maybe it is possible to upgrade with a 15.4" T61p motherboard?

I know that the ultrabay might not fit very well. However, i don't need the ultrabay. The HDD might not fit either, but i thought i can place it where the ultrabay were before and then use a SATA extention cable.

Is it possible to do so?

Best regards

[ajkula66]

There's a post by mr.motoring decribing fitment of a 15.4" WS T61p planar into a conventional 15" T60 frame. From what I recall, he had to put the hard drive in the ultrabay.

On my PDA now, so I can't look for it, but it's there...

I'd presume that fitment in a 14" frame would be even more of a PITA, but good luck regardless.

[QWERTY Andreas]

There's a post by mr.motoring decribing fitment of a 15.4" WS T61p planar into a conventional 15" T60 frame. From what I recall, he had to put the hard drive in the ultrabay.

I'd presume that fitment in a 14" frame would be even more of a PITA, but good luck regardless.

The thread is here, and it is where i go my idea from; http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=108139

The Harddrive in the ultrabay, wouldn't be that hard to do with a sata-cable.

From what i can see of differences in the port layout: Infrared on the T60p, but exact the same size as firewire cable
No card-reader (can just be blocked off by the frame?)
The two USB ports on the right side, is a Little further away on the T61, that the T60 because it is wider. However, those are connected with a cable.
The ultrabay is more to the right

When taking off the keyboard, i can see the following: The motherboards are the EXACT SAME except for ONE DIFFERENCE: The 15.4" WS MOBO have a half-length mPCI-E connecter, to the right of the wifi Card. Other than that, it is more wide. I think that these two differences might be "covered" by the Space where the ultrabay used to be?



I just took another Picture with a T61 nvidia planar upon the T60P... looks good so far:



A Little update;

The only parts on the frame that need to be ground down are the screw studs for the interposer card, about 3 of them. Also, the media card reader slightly interferes with the hard drive bay wall, and that wall would need to be cut out. You could even cut a hole into the front of the base, but that is not necessary (since it would look very ugly ). The firewire port could be kept, but the frame would have to be cut. Or the easy way out is just removing it (as it easily separates from the board). Finally, the metal bracket that pulls the optical drive out needs to be removed, but that is extremely simple to take off.

It seems like i don't have to cut a lot, to get it working. There is no interposer Card on the 14" T60, Thus i don't have to be afraid of that one. So the only cutting, seems to be the HDD "wall". That shouldn't affect the rigidity of the system that much. I might have to cut a small hole, for the SATA cable from the SATA connector to the ultrabay where i hope the HDD will fit.

So i have started the hunt for a "cheap" T61p penryn board, after 08/08. I will keep you updated on thoughts and progression. But a good T61p might be hard to come by here in denmark.

Best regards

[FryPpy]

Some comments from outer space
1. You may be interested in 1.8" SATA SSD like this "KSD-SA18.5". It have standard SATA connectors (not micro SATA) and 40mm shorter. It 100% can work in 15" 4:3 combo with 15.4 planar (if it happens). You can measure the rest of space in HDD bay. If it 60mm or greater you can ommit cutting holes for sata cables.

2. 08/08. This is hard date But why do you not considered the possibility of installing the planar from the T500 (W500)? It have'nt sick nvidia chip, have faster bus and modern memory. I dont see (touch by my hands) T500 mobo - but on ebay photos it is very similar with T61 15.4WS. But it have many chip components near 3nd miniPCIe socket, that can make some troubles. I see - left ports have been changed. HDMI pushed RJ11 and 3.5 jacks to bottom and right side

[QWERTY Andreas]

Some comments from outer space
1. You may be interested in 1.8" SATA SSD like this "KSD-SA18.5". It have standard SATA connectors (not micro SATA) and 40mm shorter. It 100% can work in 15" 4:3 combo with 15.4 planar (if it happens). You can measure the rest of space in HDD bay. If it 60mm or greater you can ommit cutting holes for sata cables.

2. 08/08. This is hard date But why do you not considered the possibility of installing the planar from the T500 (W500)? It have'nt sick nvidia chip, have faster bus and modern memory. I dont see (touch by my hands) T500 mobo - but on ebay photos it is very similar with T61 15.4WS. But it have many chip components near 3nd miniPCIe socket, that can make some troubles. I see - left ports have been changed. HDMI pushed RJ11 and 3.5 jacks to bottom and left side

Im afraid that no matter what, there won't be enough room for the HDD where it used to be. So if it get moved to the ultrabay, with a SATA cable, then the size doen't matter. But i will try to make some Measurements.. It might fit, but i have to get it all done first.

A W500 motherboard, would be fantastic. But as you pointed out, the port layout is different. But would be nice, since it is hard enough to get my hands on a 15.4" T61p motherboard with penryn CPU here in denmark

On a side note; Its displayport and not HDMI. Nonetheless, the W500 is a fantastic laptop! Like the T61, just better and more reliable..

[Cola]

Have you considered an mSATA SSD? They just stick right into the WWAN/WLAN port. And IIRC there's an extra one available in the T61p motherboard.

[TuuS]

Have you considered an mSATA SSD? They just stick right into the WWAN/WLAN port. And IIRC there's an extra one available in the T61p motherboard.

mSATA is not supported on T61, T500, or T510, I think only T520 and above.

[rumbero]

since it is hard enough to get my hands on a 15.4" T61p motherboard with penryn CPU here in denmark

Have you already tried submitting a search request on the very active German Thinkpad Forum at thinkpad-forum.de/forums/17-Suche? Germany is in direct neighborhood to Denmark, so this might be worth trying.

There is a similar project like yours currently under way (fitting a T61p 15.4" mainboard into a 15" R61) by user "madrew" at the above mentioned forum. Maybe you would like to share ideas with this guy: thinkpad-forum.de/threads/159949.

Disclaimer: You need a decent level of German to actually be able to take advantage of the thinkpad-forum.de.

[FryPpy]

And another one from east (but in 15" T60):
http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... CDYQ7gEwAA

[QWERTY Andreas]

And another one from east (but in 15" T60):
http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... CDYQ7gEwAA

That is a much more sophisticated version, with the T/W500 motherboard. It would be fun to try, but i think there is too much cutting and soldering into making such a laptop. But a nice one indeed.

Have you already tried submitting a search request on the very active German Thinkpad Forum at thinkpad-forum.de/forums/17-Suche? Germany is in direct neighborhood to Denmark, so this might be worth trying.

There is a similar project like yours currently under way (fitting a T61p 15.4" mainboard into a 15" R61) by user "madrew" at the above mentioned forum. Maybe you would like to share ideas with this guy: thinkpad-forum.de/threads/159949.

Disclaimer: You need a decent level of German to actually be able to take advantage of the thinkpad-forum.de.

That might be a good idea - ill look into it, if i can't find one. I will just look around a Little more.

[QWERTY Andreas]

Hi Again
I have been looking all over the internet for a motherboard, that i could buy that wouldn't cost a small fortune.

Im ending up with a T61p 15.4" WS penryn board, from 08/08. It will cost me 300$, a used pre-08/08 TP here in DK cost about 400$

However, such a motherboard doesn't come with anything. I managed to get my hands on a cheap Intel X9000 CPU, so i got the processor.

However, i will miss the following:

Heatsink (can be used from a defective T61p, og bought on ebay)
Expresscard reader (can the one from the T60 be used?)
Cables? (i assume that all the cables from the T60 will fit?)
Metal that holds the componentens and the KB (should i go for T61 or can i use those from the T60?)
Wificard, Modem Card (should be rather easy to come by, and with middleton i can use most of them)
RAM (Same as above...)

Am i missing something? Can i reuse the Things from the T60, as i assume i can?

Best regards

[FryPpy]

Hi Again
I have been looking all over the internet for a motherboard, that i could buy that wouldn't cost a small fortune.

Im ending up with a T61p 15.4" WS penryn board, from 08/08. It will cost me 300$, a used pre-08/08 TP here in DK cost about 400$

However, such a motherboard doesn't come with anything. I managed to get my hands on a cheap Intel X9000 CPU, so i got the processor.

However, i will miss the following:

Heatsink (can be used from a defective T61p, og bought on ebay)
Expresscard reader (can the one from the T60 be used?)
Cables? (i assume that all the cables from the T60 will fit?)
Metal that holds the componentens and the KB (should i go for T61 or can i use those from the T60?)
Wificard, Modem Card (should be rather easy to come by, and with middleton i can use most of them)
RAM (Same as above...)

Am i missing something? Can i reuse the Things from the T60, as i assume i can?

Best regards

Expresscard reader - no express card / PCMCI cage is different on T60 & T61.
Cables:Power & modem & USB card IMHO is ok.
MDC will work from box (without middleton bios). WiFi - 3945 was used both on T60 and T61.
Structure frame - you must try to answer this question. Classical T61 -> T61 frankenpad needs some mtal working. But on 15w T61 MDC is in place (as i can see on pictures) and don't need cutting the frame.

[QWERTY Andreas]

Expresscard reader - no express card / PCMCI cage is different on T60 & T61.

...............

Structure frame - you must try to answer this question. Classical T61 -> T61 frankenpad needs some mtal working.

Ill try to get my hands on the correct Expresscard reader then.

The metal im thinking of, is those called "c" and "b" on this image: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... D=PD004343
Those metal parts applying pressure on some of the cooler.. But as far as i can see, the one from the T60p should Work just fine.. Im just cruious if it will have an effect on the cooling?

One last question: When i buy a motherboard, i will need those Things mentioned above - and a cooler. Is the "42X4685" the best cooler avaible for the T61p?
It will need some serious cooling, b/c the FX570m and the X9000

Best regards

[FryPpy]

The metal im thinking of, is those called "c" and "b" on this image: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... D=PD004343
Those metal parts applying pressure on some of the cooler.. But as far as i can see, the one from the T60p should Work just fine.. Im just cruious if it will have an effect on the cooling?

I see. There is no right screw hole for part "c" in T60 structure frame. I have used metall bracket from T60 and it works fine for me, but i have T9500 + NVS140.

[QWERTY Andreas]

I see. There is no right screw hole for part "c" in T60 structure frame. I have used metall bracket from T60 and it works fine for me, but i have T9500 + NVS140.

Ah, i see. I just didn't look good enough by myself (ive sold the T61 on the Picture, so i don't have any more T61s left)

[QWERTY Andreas]

Just a short update; I just ordered a SATA cable and a T61p heatsink.

So soon, ill have all my parts. The other parts that will get into this machine will be:

2x2GB DDR2 RAM PC2-5300 (i know i can get PC2-6400 and 8 GB, but those are rare and expensive)
Expresscard/PCIMIA reader
Intel Core2Extreme X9000 @2.8 GHz
100 GB @7200 RPM HDD (probably a SSD later on, but ill start with this)

Now i just need the motherboard, and then i am ready to try if it fits

Best regards

[Binh]

Now i just need the motherboard, and then i am ready to try if it fits
Best regards

We are waiting for your success and a report

[QWERTY Andreas]

We are waiting for your success and a report

I have a dead T61p MOBO, and some spare time today. So i tried to see how it fits, and here it is:

I can see three "walls" that have to be cutted, to fit in a 15.4" motherboard. One of them are for the SD-reader. It doesn't seem to be anything that will affect the rigidity of the system too much. The upper one, might be a problem - but i will add something in the empty Spaces around there, to keep the system rigid.



I don't know yet, but i will probably need to drill a small hole, for the SATA-cable too. But overall, i was afraid that i would have to cut a lot.

The half-height mPCI Card will still be usable, but one will have to disassemble the Whole system to access it. But since it is for wirelessUSB it have no use, at least not for me (AFAIK it is not possible to install any other devices like ie. WiFi)

EDIT/UPDATE; I have done the cutting now. Only the two upper parts, have to be cut. The lower one for the SD Card reader, doesn't have to since you can just cut 1mm of plastic from the SD reader (it will still be fully functional, but not accessible)

It fits rather well.. But i still have to assemble the rest of the machine. But i wont do that, until i get a working mobo.

[QWERTY Andreas]

I present to you, the 14" T60/1p Frankenpad with 15.4" T61p motherboard:

Specifications:

'09 Penryn motherboard from T61p with Middleton BIOS
Intel Core2Extreme X9000
4 GB DDR2 RAM
nVidia Quadro FX570m
100 GB @7200 RPM HDD (i should get a SSD, i know)
Intel 5100 WiFi Card (could be better, i know)
14" 4:3 screen with the resolution of 1400x1050
SD Card reader (i haven't cut a hole for it..)

Things that can be upgraded:

HDD => SSD..
WiFi Card.
8 GB RAM

I thought it would be fun to try, and it worked. I had to do a lot of small-scale cutting in the frame, but nothing that really weakened the machine. SO no problem there..
It is hot, however. The Core2Extreme is a Little too much for the thermal system of the T61p. So i will try to decrease the voltage, since the X9000 have unlocked multiplier (i suspect the processor to have a higher voltage than it really needs, to help when using the unlocked multiplier)
I still dont have anything to cover the hole, where the HDD is (and the ultrabay used to be). Any ideas would be appreciated.

It costed me around 600$ to build, everything included. I have a T60P motherboard, 2 GB DDR2 RAM, T60P cooling, T61p structure frame and some minor parts for spare. These could be sold too, to bring the cost further Down!

Pics of the monster:



Note the missing wall here:





Its alive!



The specs:



So thats it. The worlds fastest 14" 4:3 laptop.

[RealBlackStuff]

Replace the CPU with a much cooler running T9300 (2.5GHz).
And get a travel bezel for the Ultrabay.
Piece of plastic, that you can easily modify.
Or remove the plastic door-panel from any old T4x/T6x CD drive and modify that.

[QWERTY Andreas]

Replace the CPU with a much cooler running T9300 (2.5GHz).

If i wanted it cool/better battery life, i wouldn't install af FX570M in the first place The X9000 is cool enough for me, when it is undervolted

And get a travel bezel for the Ultrabay.
Piece of plastic, that you can easily modify.
Or remove the plastic door-panel from any old T4x/T6x CD drive and modify that.

I have considered that - its just hard to remove the plastic from a DVD-drive without tearing it apart, and make the rest garbage.

[rumbero]

Pics of the monster:
[ snip ]
pics with the external views of a standard T60 14" 4:3 shown here
[ snip ]

Don't just tease the hungry by showing the food package, we want to be fed with the content!

To really impress and inspire the regular forum participants, as a bare minimum i would have expected to see some pictures made during the construction of this stealth monster. Some pics without the keyboard, palm rest, and bezel, clearly showing how it looks inside, would thus be very welcome.

[QWERTY Andreas]

Don't just tease the hungry by showing the food package, we want to be fed with the content!

To really impress and inspire the regular forum participants, as a bare minimum i would have expected to see some pictures made during the construction of this stealth monster. Some pics without the keyboard, palm rest, and bezel, clearly showing how it looks inside, would thus be very welcome.

Heres a Picture of the machine, when KB and Palmrest is removed



About the Construction pics; I will post some showing the setup of the HDD soon, since it is pretty much the hardest thing to make when Building this FP. And pretty much the most time consuming!

Other than that, it was pretty straight forward to make it. Few Things to cut, and simple solutions! More than a "Standard" frankenpad, but far from impossible!

[FryPpy]

I present to you, the 14" T60/1p Frankenpad with 15.4" T61p motherboard

Congrats! You have done well.
My vacation is coming to an end. And parts for my frank is slowly mooving to my hands. In a 2 weeks i'll try to build it and post my pictures there or in another topic (because it will be W500 FP;).
PS
Please see PM. I write a question about W500 to you.

[QWERTY Andreas]

Here is a Picture of the disk setup; The place is tight B/C the cable.



I installed a 64GB Crucial SSD in it. Makes it even better

[QWERTY Andreas]

For those interested, its now 4.5 GB RAM (4 GB and 512 MB). Just need another 4 GB Stick, and it should be a Little better However, those are so expensive it doesn't really makes sense with my low use Even thougth its the only addition needed for it to be the Worlds fastest frankenpad (AFAIK)

[RealBlackStuff]

No, I beat you to it!
I built one already in March 2013, see my Nuclear FrankenPad T601NFL: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=109360

[QWERTY Andreas]

No, I beat you to it!
I built one already in March 2013, see my Nuclear FrankenPad T601NFL: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=109360

Isn't it "just" a 128 MB Graphics Card in that one?

I have managed to undervolt the CPU a lot, and then i have some thermal room to overclock the Graphics Card. You migth be able to do the same, but in the end it will most likely be the one with the most RAM, and the one who is luckiest with their components (Overclock and undervolting are very individual from CPU to CPU etc.). Assuming they are equal, i will have those 128 MB of memory more than you

But the nuclear one is still quite impressive! Just need a LED lit QXGA to top it off

[RealBlackStuff]

Nope, mine had the REAL 570M with 256MB VideoRAM.
Can't do any more tests or comparisons.
It's no longer available as it was sold outside the US, for an undisclosed amount that would make your mouth water...
Good luck finding a LED-QXGA

[brchan]

Sorry to bump this thread, but I just did this mod and thought I'd share an alternative way to mount an ssd in the hdd bay area without needing to use the ultrabay and routing wires.

The actual PCB of 2.5" SSDs are usually a lot smaller than the casing itself. Remove the SSD case, and you should be able to mount the ssd into the ultrabay with no clearance issues:


Next, measure and cut off part of an HDD caddy and wrap it in tape for insulation. This will act as a filler between the system board HDD connector and the bottom of the case to prevent sagging:


Afterwards, apply tape to the underside of the top of the HDD bay so there isn't a possibility of metal on metal contact creating a short.

Lastly, slide the modified HDD caddy into the bay, and then the SSD:



Optimally, you would cut the SSD enclosure and corresponding rubber bumpers to have a neat and flush fit. You wouldn't need to do any other steps, but then you wouldn't really be able to use it in any other normal HDD bay.

As a side note, you may need to slightly bend down the outer inner "fins" of the metal bracket that mounts over the GPU. For me, it wasn't very tight and did not hold down the gpu/northbridge area well.

The FX 570m definitely improved performance even during basic web browsing!