Retrofit 15.4" T61p with T500/W500 motherboard?

[kb3edk]

Has anyone here retrofit their T61p with a used motherboard pulled from a T500?

Over in the sticky thread, I commented on my T61p finally succumbing to the nVidia defect the other day. While I have a shiny new W520 to get my work done, I'm quite attached to my old T61p and would like to squeeze a little more "life" out of it, preferably with a much more reliable ATI GPU.

I am seeing motherboards sold online as "T61p" boards with an ATI GPU, however these are in fact T500 boards. With a little bit of research, along with advice from other users here like eecon who have noted a high level of compatibility between the T61p and T500, I've noticed that the T500 motherboard uses the EXACT same PCB as the one in my 15.4" T61p.

As far as using official support avenues to resurrect my T61p, my warranty expired 2 years ago and this is purely a vanity hacking project of mine in my spare time. Doing a full teardown of a ThinkPad is way more fun (to me at least) than sitting on hold with Lenovo and pleading with them to provide support to someone who didn't extend his warranty like all the other sane customers

Just putting this out in the wider T6x forum in case someone has already attempted this mod.

Thanks for all the advice so far and thanks in advance for any more that may be forthcoming -

-Adam

EDIT: Looks like there are too many jacks in the wrong spots for me to drop a T500 board directly into my old T61p magnesium chassis... so I will probably have to get a T500 motherboard/chassis combo, and then re-use my CPU, heatsink/fan, RAM, wireless card, LCD screen, keyboard, speakers, and palmrest. Would give me a machine that would be half T61p, half T500, for about $250. Might still be worth it, if only for the conversation value

[underclocker]

One deal breaking issue is the LCD cable. The connector grew in width, and presumably connections, between the T61 and T500. Therefore, you can not connect a Z61/T60/R60/T61 LCD cable to a T500/W500/T400 mobo. I found this out the hard way. (The actual LCD panels, assuming non-LED, are swappable across ThinkPad lines, among same-sized machines.)

Basically, it makes more sense to sell the T61, as parts or otherwise, then buy a good used T500.

[kb3edk]

One deal breaking issue is the LCD cable. The connector grew in width, and presumably connections, between the T61 and T500. Therefore, you can not connect a Z61/T60/R60/T61 LCD cable to a T500/W500/T400 mobo. I found this out the hard way. (The actual LCD panels, assuming non-LED, are swappable across ThinkPad lines, among same-sized machines.)

Basically, it makes more sense to sell the T61, as parts or otherwise, then buy a good used T500.

Well that's an authoritative answer... exactly what I was looking for, thanks

Farewell T61p, our 3 years together were far too short... I've got a spare Dull Attitude that could use a CPU/RAM/HDD upgrade, and I could probably get a few bucks online for the screen as well.

-Adam

[Harryc]

If you are going to part it out, consider selling the parts on our own Marketplace forum. We have members here that are always looking for parts.

[underclocker]

Glad I could help. Also, used T500 and W500's are great deals. A high end T500 or W500 would make a fine replacement. Just note that not all T500/W500 machines had webcams, if that's important for you.

If you are going to part it out, consider selling the parts on our own Marketplace forum. We have members here that are always looking for parts.

Please do! T61p's have many great parts!

[kb3edk]

Glad I could help. Also, used T500 and W500's are great deals. A high end T500 or W500 would make a fine replacement. Just note that not all T500/W500 machines had webcams, if that's important for you.

If you are going to part it out, consider selling the parts on our own Marketplace forum. We have members here that are always looking for parts.

Yeah, thanks again. As for replacing my T61p... well technically I already did that six weeks ago when I got my new W520, I just would have liked to have had my T61p around a bit longer as a "goof-off" box to try new Linux builds, etc. Guess I will have to stick with VMs for that for now.

I forgot about the Marketplace here, I'll have to check that out. Didn't know there would be such demand for parts for this model given its shaky reliability record. Then again, I guess there are those Intel GPU T6x owners out there...

Cheers,

-Adam

[farmall]

I just would have liked to have had my T61p around a bit longer as a "goof-off" box to try new Linux builds, etc

Headless server (install Linux on another machine then reinstall hard drive)?

Old Ars Technica piece, if any problems you can ask in the Linux Kung Fu forum which is excellent.

http://www.arsgeek.com/2006/09/26/how-t ... th-vncgui/

You could also install an external USB graphics card in another machine (Windows only), then treat that Windows install as if preparing to clone it for a "universal sysprep" image (leaving the USB graphics hardware you just added) then reinstalling the hard disk in the T61. Ghosting or dd'ing that drive would be a good idea so you can reload it easily in another machine without special effort.

[lrpingel]

One deal breaking issue is the LCD cable. The connector grew in width, and presumably connections, between the T61 and T500. Therefore, you can not connect a Z61/T60/R60/T61 LCD cable to a T500/W500/T400 mobo. I found this out the hard way. (The actual LCD panels, assuming non-LED, are swappable across ThinkPad lines, among same-sized machines.)

Basically, it makes more sense to sell the T61, as parts or otherwise, then buy a good used T500.

I know this is an old thread but of interest. Is there any reason that a T500 cable for LCD + T500 mobo would not work in a T61 of same size? I've invested in retrofit of LED illumination for the T61's I have. Plus I like the rugged nature of these machines.

PS Since a T500 mobo is only $38 and my T61 mobo has older Nvida chip I purchased the T500 mobo and will try the conversion. And a T500 lcd cable. The cable appears same as T61 but has connector for camera. Also has a 2nd connector where Bluetooth card connects. Interestingly several 800 FSB rated cpu's are listed as optional. I will try one with PC5300 memory from old T61. In theory it should work. Of course once everything works I upgrade memory and cpu.

PPS The T61 memory can't be used, it is DDR2 with 200 pins. T500 uses DDR3 with 204 pins. Fortunately memory upgrade is something well worth the money.

[lrpingel]

The T500 board required too many changes to metalwork. I ended up with a T500 with T61 display (cover). I had to use the T500 cable in display and drill a new hole for thinklight. If I were to do it again I'd take a T500 and swap out the LCD for the LED back lit one I had. Remember that you have to replace the inverter board that is also in the display (cover) if switching between CFL lamp and LED. There are versions of LCD for T500 that use LED I believe, it would be better choice to use those if you don't already have money into a T61 LCD. I had used a kit to convert the T61 to LED.

[Saucey]

USB placement are different from the T61 and T500.
The frame might be slightly different... not sure.
If anything a dremel tool should handle it, it will just not look appealing.
Also the SD card may be a bit difficult.

I tried to do a lid swap from a T6x to a T500 but it didn't work, however, switching the LCDs was successful, it just took more work.
I think the hinge and latch placement are slightly different.