Thinkpads Forum

I want to solder a DVI or HDMI port on to my T61 motherboard. I know the signals exist on the dock connector. Does anybody know the pinout?

EDIT: Looks like dual-link DVI signals are easily present on the dock connector. This should not be too complicated.

buy thingy to hdmi and job done obviously you will have to run jack from earphone connector to the thingy of hdmi

Bibin wrote:EDIT: Looks like dual-link DVI signals are easily present on the dock connector. This should not be too complicated.

One thing to keep in mind is that you only need (can use) the single-link DVI signals. HDMI and DVI are identical up to single-link. Dual-link DVI is not compatible with HDMI, because HDMI uses a different approach (higher clocks rather than multiple links) to achieve higher resolutions. So if you are looking for a completely passive solution, you can go roughly up to 1920x1200 with the single link.

I see, that's a little bit disappointing. I'm not sure I'm going to bother going through with the mod simply because I have a T450s on the way.

EvoT61 wrote:buy thingy to hdmi and job done obviously you will have to run jack from earphone connector to the thingy of hdmi

I'm having trouble understanding what this message is trying to say.

Probably to get a USB to HDMI or VGA to HDMI converter, instead of modding.

dr_st wrote:Probably to get a USB to HDMI or VGA to HDMI converter, instead of modding.

The former won't provide a decent image or accelerated graphics, especially limited by USB 2.0's bandwidth; those adapters are best used by putting them in the trash bin. The latter won't provide any convenience where HDMI is useful, and even still the resulting image will be worse than a native digital connection and consume more power.

Yep.

Although in terms of static image quality I don't see why USB adapters would necessarily be inferior, and USB3 adapters can actually provide decent bandwidth. But the T61 does not have a USB3 port anyways, and although one can be added via ExpressCard, it is already far too complicated to be practical, IMO, and is not guaranteed to work well.

Like you, I would stay away from USB-to-video, if it can be avoided.

dr_st wrote:Yep.

Although in terms of static image quality I don't see why USB adapters would necessarily be inferior, and USB3 adapters can actually provide decent bandwidth. But the T61 does not have a USB3 port anyways, and although one can be added via ExpressCard, it is already far too complicated to be practical, IMO, and is not guaranteed to work well.

Like you, I would stay away from USB-to-video, if it can be avoided.

Most (maybe all?) USB video adapters employ lossy compression. In a perfect world no, there shouldn't be loss for static images, but cheap devices are seldom designed to the best specifications. Even with USB3's bandwidth, the video accelerator has to support routing image data through USB3, and unless a system was explicitly designed for it it's not likely (that's routing the GPU's output back down into PCI-E, then into a USB3 controller).

T61 did not have proper GPU and jack for the HDMI adapter, it came out on the W500 series and only level 1 quality

I'd love to see the outcome of this mod if you ever decide to go through with it.

I've only ever seen 17" PC laptops and Mac laptops with a DVI port built in. The ports on Apple laptops had the extra pins for use with a VGA adapter too (DVI-I? I always forget).

MrMaguire wrote:I'd love to see the outcome of this mod if you ever decide to go through with it.

I've only ever seen 17" PC laptops and Mac laptops with a DVI port built in. The ports on Apple laptops had the extra pins for use with a VGA adapter too (DVI-I? I always forget).

IBM W500 had the DVI ports installed as did W520 with high end GPU on 15"-15.5" display but they where made to plug into larger display with 1st level HD not the newer higher levels of HD. as Graphics limit quality and pixels resolution. I have the DVI/HDMI adapter for My W500. have yet to try it on my 42" Visio TV

There are no DVI ports on the chassis of any Thinkpad.

HDMI or displayport mod on T61 models would be awesome.

Also, W700/W701 models actually have built in dvi on the back.

DisplayPort won't happen, that's an active adaption. I thought of HDMI because of the common use-cases, which are plugging into a TV or projector at a friend's house or other place. Most projectors accept VGA, but many TVs now do not, and DVI/HDMI will look better and not require an active conversion.

I'm tempted to put a DVI port, though, because that will allow a dual link connection. Since I'm probably going to use the expresscard slot area, which I never utilize for its original purpose, I might have space to throw an HDMI and DVI port there, though of course they can't work in tandem because they share the same lines.

Bibin wrote: Since I'm probably going to use the expresscard slot area, which I never utilize for its original purpose, I might have space to throw an HDMI and DVI port there

I don't think the T61's Expresscard+Cardbus slot is wide enough for both ports.

axur-delmeria wrote:

Bibin wrote: Since I'm probably going to use the expresscard slot area, which I never utilize for its original purpose, I might have space to throw an HDMI and DVI port there

I don't think the T61's Expresscard+Cardbus slot is wide enough for both ports.

But it might be tall enough.

MrMaguire wrote:But it might be tall enough.

The double-stack slots are tall enough for the DVI port, but I think you'll run into trouble if you try to fit the HDMI port as well.

It might fit if the DVI port is on the upper left corner of the slot, and the HDMI is on the lower right corner, but wouldn't it be easier if a DVI-HDMI passive adapter was used instead?

Those work, but again the intention is to not carry adapters. If it has to only be one, then I'll pick HDMI.

the adapter is about the size of a thumb drive and can be left on the HDMI cable used. still dont think the GPU options for T61 can handle even the low res version of this though. my T61 wont I know.

n2ri wrote:the adapter is about the size of a thumb drive and can be left on the HDMI cable used.

Because you assume that the laptop will always be in one place or that the user will always carry the cable?

n2ri wrote:still dont think the GPU options for T61 can handle even the low res version of this though.

What exactly don't you think the T61 is able to handle?

I'm interested in adding an HDMI port to a Frankenpad just for hooking up to
a TV or projector. Why not put it in the modem connector location by using
the female end of a cable, cutting it and connecting to the back of the dock
connector or pads on the motherboard.
Anyone tried this - is there enough room?

^ You'd probably need a flat cable.

Thanks makes sense, or maybe some very small twisted pair.