Swapping X61 motherboards

[karotlopj]

I have two X61's one which boots up OK - although sometimes just switches off. The other does not power up, although the fan starts up for a few seconds when powered on, but there is no BIOS screen.

The one which doesn't power up has an antenna and a WWAN card, the other does not. I was thinking about swapping the motherboards to be able to take advantage of the WWAN card.

How interchangeable are they likely to be?

[rkawakami]

Looking at the X61 HMM there's several different bases (lower case assembly) called out. The only difference may be in the model type (M/T) label that's provided. If your two X61 systems share the same basic model type, the first four digits, then I'd say you're golden. If they are not the same model type, then you should look at the HMM to see exactly how the builds are different.

[axur-delmeria]

Have swapped X60 and X61 motherboards across models with and without WWAN antennas. They're compatible.

Alternatively, you can just swap the lids, with the screen, antennas and all.

[karotlopj]

Thanks for the guidance, especially about just swapping the lid - sounds much more straightforward.

[karotlopj]

Have swapped X60 and X61 motherboards across models with and without WWAN antennas. They're compatible.

Alternatively, you can just swap the lids, with the screen, antennas and all.

Just started to getting around to the swap and am left somewhat confused by differences in the motherboards. The one with the antenna (the dead one)
which I'll call TP1, has an additional fan near the front. It looks like I could simply add it in but there is no connector for it.

Noticed that the wires to the screen were different, both had three wires, TP1 had two on the right and one on the left. TP2 had one on the right and two on the left. TP1 originally had two modems, a WWAN card and a WLAN card. The TP2 only has a WLAN card but it has three terminals, the WLAN card in the other system only has two terminals and the WWAN card had only one, so three cables, three terminals, but I wouldn't have been able to do what I wanted to anyway...

Now, can I manage to assemble the one which was nearly working or will both join my ThinkPad graveyard, which is getting expansive.

[axur-delmeria]

Some X61's do have a second fan. In my experience, I've seen them in the highest-end models (with Core 2 Duo T7500 or T9300 processors). The models that don't have the 2nd fan don't have a fan connector, so you won't be able to plug it in anyways.

Regarding the WiFi cards, the one with three antennas is usually the Intel 4965AGN, while the one with two antennas can be an Intel 3945BG or two different Atheros cards. From memory, the WiFi antenna cables are black, white, and gray, while the WWAN antenna cable is red. I've never had a WWAN card to use though, so I cannot be certain if plugging a WLAN antenna into the WWAN card will work without issue.

Also, it's possible to use the 4965AGN with only two antennas-- don't use the middle antenna connector.

[karotlopj]

Some X61's do have a second fan. In my experience, I've seen them in the highest-end models (with Core 2 Duo T7500 or T9300 processors). The models that don't have the 2nd fan don't have a fan connector, so you won't be able to plug it in anyways.

Do you know how to identify the higher end models visually?

[axur-delmeria]

Do you know how to identify the higher end models visually?

Unless the internal components were changed, the best way to identify them is to get the Machine Type Model (MTM) code at the bottom of the chassis, click the MTM link at the top of the forum page, then enter the MTM code on that site.

For example, my old X61 T9300 had the following MTM: 7676-A24.