Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,

I have a beloved T60 Thinkpad with the 15" IPS Flexview screen at SXGA+ resolution, and the very handy infrared port.

I want to swap the motherboard / systemboard, so that I can get the ATI FireGL V5200 graphic card (or ATI FireGL V5250) on it.
However, I have no idea about:
1. it is possible?
2. what part number of motherboard should I get, so that i can successfully install it?
3. where to get such a motherboard / systemboard?
4. apart from hard drive, RAM, CPU, bluetooth, wireless card, do I have to swap some other devices to the new systemboard?
5. will my old system (windows XP mainly, with linux, and osx) usable on the new motherboard with a different graphic card? i know basic techniques of modifications in system prompts /shell of linux and osx, but i don't know how capable is XP's safe mode to change a display driver... etc.
6. can I get a preload copy of hidden system restore partition for XP of T60p from somebody and then re-apply it onto my hard drive? If yes, how can I do that? I use Acronis True Image.

Thanks a lot in advance...!

Mainboard T60p FRU cost as much as the whole T60. I check one time the price, it wad about 650 € for T60p mainboard direct from Lenovo.
You also need new HSF (30 €). It's possible to do it but you have to disassemble all the T60. I'am not sur the base/bottom (50 €) is the same for T60 and T60p. So cost will groth. Take no offence, but according to what you ask for and about, you seem to be not enough common with hardware to make the swap the system board. I don't know how mutch it can cost if you ask some tech guy to do this but I'am sure hand in hand more than a new unit.

The OS part is easy. Windows XP will found an other GPU and ask fro driver. I suppose Linux will do the same. Perhaps you will have to rebuild kernel.

Pascal_TTH,

Thanks for your information
Then, do you mean that with the same amount of money for a new / refurbished motherboard, I can get a brand new / refurbished Thinkpad T60p with the UXGA or SXGA+ screen (one of those 15.0" IPS Flexview screens) and the FireGL V5200 on it?
I don't mind that if I can really get that with around 650 EUR!

PM'd.

Brad

By the way, the product ID of my 15" T60p-wannabe-T60 is
2613HMU

milstein wrote:Pascal_TTH,

Thanks for your information
Then, do you mean that with the same amount of money for a new / refurbished motherboard, I can get a brand new / refurbished Thinkpad T60p with the UXGA or SXGA+ screen (one of those 15.0" IPS Flexview screens) and the FireGL V5200 on it?
I don't mind that if I can really get that with around 650 EUR!

I can't tell much more about the price in USA. I just have a look in the Lenovo price book for France and Belgium.

This is just a sample T60p 14" SXGA+ but you can find 15" UXGA T60p for about the same amount :
http://www.thinkpadworld.com/products.a ... _id=103237

You can find some better offers from this kind of shop. It's hard to deal with €/$ ratio but 900 $ is about 635 €. So if I have to replace a T60p mainboard out of warranty or would like to upgrade one, I will rather buy a new one refurbished.

The other solution is to find someone selling a second hand mainboard and is capable to install it for a small price.