Best T500 systemboard upgrade?

[thelostartof]

A T500 I have here is in need of a replacement systemboard. The current board is a 42W8131 / 63Y1433.
Intel Socket P, ATI 256 descrete graphics.


What is the best board I can put in this case? (15.4" T500). I figure since replacement boards seem to be running 200-350$ so I might as well put in the best board I can find. The only major upgrade I see the system board getting me is a better video card, figure since it needs to be replaced I might as well put in something better.


On paper it looks like the 60Y3779 board from the W500 might be the best that is listed for this frame but I am not 100% sure it will fit.

Thank you for your time.

[lead_org]

T500 with ATI GPU is the best board you can get. Unless you want to get the W500 motherboard with slightly better GPU.

[thelostartof]

So the W500 System Board will drop in place of the T500 Board?

[richk]

my suggestion is to sell the T500 as is and buy a used w500

[erik]

the W500 board will drop into a T500 chassis.   physical dimensions are identical, only differing in GPUs.

[thelostartof]

my suggestion is to sell the T500 as is and buy a used w500

Why?

A T500 with a dead system board I would assume is worth almost nothing, After $200 for the part and maybe and hours worth of work I would have a fully working T500 with the best GPU I could stuff in it. The System boards in IBM laptop's are some of the easiest in the world to swap out. I just swapped system boards on a T60 in maybe 10-20 mins a few nights ago. It made me wonder why I waited so long to finally swap it.

While a W500 would cost me what . . $500+?

Unless you know something I do not about the W500 being better than the T500? I have yet to pull the trigger on the replacement board so I could still do what you suggest i just need to be able to justify it.

[thelostartof]

the W500 board will drop into a T500 chassis.   physical dimensions are identical, only differing in GPUs.

Thank you, It seems the board supplier I was talking to also confirmed this so it sounds like I know what I am getting.

[thelostartof]

Just a quick update. replacement System board from a W500 went in and fit was perfect and works great so far. FireGLV5700 video card is a nice upgrade.

[erik]

awesome!   glad you got it working.   thanks for the update

[Bub McZombieFace]

I am looking into doing the same thing with my T500. Can I ask, were you got it and how much it was for the W500 MB? I have a couple reasons why I want to do this.
(1) I want to play more Live games than I can. Now, I can barely run GTA IV with this 256.
(2) My bios is half locked I can install an OS, but not much else.
I do know that the System Update and Lenovo ThinkVantage ToolBox think my T500 is a T61 for some reason. The guy that I got it from told me he "flashed" it, what ever that means.

[richk]

What is the FRU number on your motherboard?

[Bub McZombieFace]

42W3131

[richk]

The number you gave looks like a palmrest on a Lenovo 3000. Do you mean 42W8131? If so, that is a discrete graphics model and I'm surprised you are having game problems. I'm not sure how much improvement you would see going to a 512mb w500. If you want to replace your locked board with the same one, I have an 42W8131 (no password) in stock and can offer a trade-in on your old board to use as parts. pm if interested

[Bub McZombieFace]

It may be my sticker is a little smudged.

[thelostartof]

I am looking into doing the same thing with my T500. Can I ask, were you got it and how much it was for the W500 MB? I have a couple reasons why I want to do this.
(1) I want to play more Live games than I can. Now, I can barely run GTA IV with this 256.
(2) My bios is half locked I can install an OS, but not much else.
I do know that the System Update and Lenovo ThinkVantage ToolBox think my T500 is a T61 for some reason. The guy that I got it from told me he "flashed" it, what ever that means.

I paid ~$200 shipped for my w500 board. I asked about a T500 board to begin with but because they have so many and the W500 fit I went with that one.

OH and I got it from a supplier in China. Let me see if I still have the email handy.

[Bub McZombieFace]

I appreciate it.