Just joined and Frankenpad questions

[cortina18]

Hi Folks,
I just joined up today after looking around the site for a while and i can tell it's an encyclopedia of knowledge and help.
As to Frankenpading i have an old T60 which was sourced from IBM years ago and it just sits in a box doing nothing - it is the 1959 model so 14.1 size. Everything works okay but of course it is slow and in need of an overhaul.
I was searching for inspiration for a winter project to keep myself amused and i came across the Frankenpad project.
It sounds like a lot of fun and i'm pretty well versed in "tinkering" and "dremeling" if necessary.
I bought a new hybrid tablet laptop last year (Asus transformer T100) and i absolutely hate it So if i could turn this T60 into something more powerful and useful that would be great.
It would be used on the go for emails, office projects, internet surfing and movie watching.
I was looking around on ebay today for motherboards and there are so many wide screen boards on ebay but very few 14.1 boards. However i came across three possibilities:
(https://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-th ... ies/specs/) - motherboard and base case for sale.
(https://www.lapstore.de/a.php/shop/laps ... 12-B34-B35) - entire machine for sale
(https://www.lapstore.de/a.php/shop/laps ... 1-8895-WB8) - entire machine for sale

Now an obvious question is, if i am not bothered by having the UXGA screen is it not just as viable to buy the 8889 A12 model (if it is a good price) upgrade the bios, the processor, Ram and maybe a SSD and then call it a day?

I guess what i am asking is at what price is it worth upgrading the T60 with T61 parts or should that be "up to what price should i consider investing money" before i should consider buying something else?
I love the T60 for typing and i miss it for its durability (had a crappy HP after as well....) and as i said it just sits in a box asking for something to happen "sell me or retrofit me!"

I am interested to hear what you guys think or maybe bring up some ideas/questions i haven't even considered.

Cheers!

[theterminator93]

Hello, and welcome!

According to the MTM lookup above, model 1959 is actually a 14.1" widescreen T61, not a T60. Can you confirm what you have?

The entire purpose behind frankenpadding a T60 with a T61 is to have the 15" 1600x1200 IPS display found only in the T60(p) model coupled with the better performance of the T61. There were no 15" 4:3 T61s ever made - only 14.1" 4:3 T61s and the screen options between that flavor of T61 and the same flavor of T60 are identical (XGA or SXGA, no IPS options on either).

[RealBlackStuff]

+1
The first link T61 is also widescreen, its mobo might fit, but I haven't heard about anyone doing this.
The 2 Lapstore T61 machines are both standard 4:3 14.1" (but seem to be sold out).

[cortina18]

Thanks for the quick reply guys.
So i have what appears to be a Lenovo T60 type 1951 BY8. T60 displayed on the bottom right of the screen lid. Diagonal screen size is 14.1.
So it seems i have something like this - (https://www.lapstore.de/a.php/shop/laps ... 51-BY8-BY3)

Are you saying @ theterminator that this is not a real T60 but a T61 in disguise??

And you are saying that this link (https://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-th ... ies/specs/) - is actually a wide screen 14.1 model?
I thought the 15.4 was the only T61 widescreen model they had - hmmm interesting..

The other 2 links were to show you the specs of the ebay items which are on sale right now, so they are actully available for purchase.

So based on your opinions, realblackstuff and theterminator, what would you guys choose to do if you fancied modding your T60 which was lying around? Go the full hog and source a 14.1 suitable screen like this guy did (http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=120121) or something more conservative?
I still have a lot to learn here so at times i might be asking the obvious

Cheers guys

[RealBlackStuff]

T60 came in standard 4:3 14.1" and 15", as well as widescreen 15.4"
T61 standard 4:3 came only in 14.1", but the screen was offset, with a wider LCD-bezel-size on the left.
T61 also came in widescreen 14.1" and 15.4"

Since you're asking, I would get rid of it, not worth it to even consider upgrading.

[theterminator93]

The 1951 BY8 (according to MTM) is a standard 14.1" 4:3 SXGA - the "higher end" screen of the 14.1" T60s, with integrated graphics. From a T60 standpoint, it's fairly low end, honestly. There isn't really much you can do to upgrade it aside from max out the RAM at 3 GB, put in a bigger HDD or SSD, and upgrade to a Core 2 Duo T7600 CPU. On the deep end you could source a motherboard with the ATI X1300 or X1400 GPU.

RBS is right... unless you're collecting, it's not really worth investing in, since for the money of the parts to upgrade the T60, you could get a decent T400 or T410. Maybe even a bargain T420.

I have a T60 2008WG2, much like yours but it has the midrange ATI discrete graphics chip (X1300), I upgraded to the SXGA screen, and has secondhand Core 2 CPU I installed. I stopped using it about a year ago when I built my T601F frankenpad. I have no use for it now aside from occupying space on a shelf and acting as an example of the heritage of the ThinkPad.

Yes - the T61 7661 is the 14" widescreen model. Very little you can interchange with the other models.

[TPFanatic]

As far as I know T60's only widescreen model was 15.4", and it was pretty gimpy compared to every other 15.4" Thinkpad with more features. Z61t was the only 14.1" Wide model at the time of the T60. T61 offered the first 14.1" wide T series.

[unixed]

The main thing in your T60's favour is that you are happy with the screen. Don't look at a 15.0" flexview and you'll remain so.
You could just put the whole T60 lcd assembly on a T61 and swap the keyboard bezel too.
The advantages are both cosmetic -- the T60 screen bezel is symmetric while the T61's is asymmetric and functional -- the T60 right hand side hinge is not prone to failure while the T61's is.
The disadvantages are the antennae cabling etc -- for the best wifi reception and WWAN options the T61 is better.

[cortina18]

Wow that definitely cleared things up a lot, thanks very much for all your help.
The main reason i wanted to do something with the T60 was because of its durability, keyboard and screen format. I need a new laptop but i don't like going for brand new i always like to refurbish, upgrade, solder, dremmel etc and have a bit of fun in the process any heavy processing work always get's down on my desktop and i also have a dedicated HTPC for movies and music.
So based on that and your suggestions and as i am looking for a laptop that will be mainly used for office work and getting dragged around all over the place by a less than angelic handler
I had a quick look on ebay at the T420 and X301 both could be purchased for around 150 Pounds/200 USD/180 Euros (each, not together).
I would say the T420 would be better for me with the slightly larger keyboard and screen whereas the X301 is lighter.
Which one would you say would be the best for upgrades - SSDs, Ram, Processor etc.

As for my T60, i might just build something into it just to get the experience of working on a lappy and get my hands dirty a little bit.

Thanks again guys!

[RealBlackStuff]

Much as people like the X301, it has some shortcomings.
The screen is mediocre unless you look straight at it, battery life is relatively short, and the internal HD-bay is only suited for 1.8" drives (or mSATA if you also get an adapter).
They have a terrific keyboard and sound though and the 16:10 screen is a rarity nowadays.

As for the T420, for your needs get one with only integrated graphics, preferably with a 1600x900 screen.

[cortina18]

Thanks everyone for their input and Realblackstuff thanks very much for your advice i am presently scanning ebay for a good second hand 420 with the 1600x900 screen.

I'm sure i will be back on the forums with questions as and when i need some good advice.

Cheers guys

[theterminator93]

Also - the X220 may be worth looking at as well if you like the X series' thin-and-light form factor. The keyboard is the same as the one found in the T/W *10 and *20 series. It won't have an optical drive, but the i7 models have USB3 and there's an FHD IPS upgrade kit (waiting list) available here to replace the lousy 1366x768 factory panel.

Just something to consider...

[cortina18]

@Theterminator93, yes i had a quick look at the X220 but i am thinking the screen size will be too small for me to work on for any length of time although i need to go out and have a play with some 13inch screens just to get a feel for the 12.5.
As for the T420 i saw that some people were upgrading their screens to an IPS screen. Is that actually a viable option down the line as i also saw that some people were having issues of flickering on the T420 not the 420s.

Thanks again

[theterminator93]

FHD on the T420 is nice, but to my knowledge I'm one of very few with the "non s" kit, since they haven't been widely released since a completely functional/bug free converter board has yet to be released. I'm hopeful that eventually it will arrive, but it's anyone's guess as to when. And yes, mine flickers too.

[Vonfeffer]

Hi people!

What about the 44C3932 MOBO model? Will it fit the R61? If so, does it have the later nvidia video chip (which doesn't burn out after 3 y. of use?) Couldn't find the answer anywere... Mine R61 is a 7733BB3 model...

Thanks a lot

Tercio

[RealBlackStuff]

AFAIK 44C3932 and 44C3933 are the same, but they are for the T61 14.1" widescreen.
It just might fit your R61, but will probably be missing Firewire.
As for the production-date of the chip, that's anybody's guess.
I'm sure you know that the Chinese are master copiers/falsifiers...
I doubt if that mobo has the new corrected nVidia NVS140M chip.

[Vonfeffer]

I see. Once I get it is there a way (supposing its not falsified) I can tell if this is the thing?

Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

On the nVidia chip the production date is etched in.
Check the picture on my webpage: http://theboardroom.info/t61motherboard.html
The 1021A2 you see on that chip means Year 2010, Week 21 (= May24-30), unknown irrelevant code A2.

But unless you know the origin and history of the mobo that you want to buy, it's impossible to know if the etched date is for real.

[TuuS]

What about the 44C3932 MOBO model? Will it fit the R61? If so, does it have the later nvidia video chip (which doesn't burn out after 3 y. of use?) Couldn't find the answer anywere... Mine R61 is a 7733BB3 model...

I have used these motherboards to replace the boards in 14.1" T61, it is a drop in replacement. As far as I can tell the only difference is in the firmware, as your system will then identify as a T61. I've also used the R61 boards to repair a T61.

This is true only for the 14.1" widescreen models. For the 15.4" R61 it gets more complicated, as they are made with and without firewire, with and without docking station port, and you can use an 15.4" R61 board in a T61, but they do not have the ability to use an ultrabay serial/parallel adapter.

As for the GPU chips, finding one with the "good" gpu is extremely rare, but I do have them available if interested, both the 14.1 widescreen and 15.4 widescreen, and of course I believe I'm the only one that has the standard screen nVidia boards with the new gpu chip.

[TuuS]

On the nVidia chip the production date is etched in.
Check the picture on my webpage: http://theboardroom.info/t61motherboard.html
The 1021A2 you see on that chip means Year 2010, Week 21 (= May24-30), unknown irrelevant code A2.

But unless you know the origin and history of the mobo that you want to buy, it's impossible to know if the etched date is for real.

This is very true due the forged (fake) chips coming out of china. It's very easy to polish the numbers off of the chips and re-etch new numbers. I don't trust refurbished boards unless I'm certain it came from IBM or Lenovo, since it's far too easy to forge numbers on a chip.

[TuuS]

Sorry for arriving late to this topic, but if you are still interested in upgrading your 14" T60, I do adapt the frankenpad kits I offer for the 14" model. It's true that most people prefer to use the 15" T60, but I have sold many kits to convert the 14" also and for them I also include a T61 frame so that there is no need to modify the t60 frame to use the T61 motherboard. There is no extra charge for the frame when buying the kit which includes all parts necessary to install the motherboard into a T60. If you are interested you can send me a PM and we can discuss it further.

[Vonfeffer]

Thank you People! The code is 0831A2... Since I have warranty I'll make tests. Any more recommendation? The funny thing is the motherboard is new... Funny... I bought it here in Brazil... So if it is what I think it is (the new ones lenovo made after the problem) I may buy and send them to whoever is still interested.

Thank you all