Thinkpads Forum

As per the title, is the combi USB & IEEE1394 port board just a drop in replacement for the non IEEE1394 fitted T420?

I have external devices that use 1394 and would, if possible, like to have native support on the T420 rather than have to carry and use an adapter.

I already have a replacement combi (USB & 1394) board in-bound and TBH it cost so little that I am not too worried about having to write it off as a failed idea.

I am looking at fitting it at the same time as I replace the lower chassis shell, palm rest, upgrade the LCD and fit the new back/lid of my T420. I am, for want of better term, on a "refurbishment kick", given that the T420 has been "well loved" and occasionaly abused such that a couple of the plastic bars around the heatsink fins have been broken away. I have already replaced the keyboard, have mouse buttons and trackpd sticker in-bound since I hate shiny/slick keys and slippy/slick mouse buttons and trackpads, plus when all is said and done, it should be a healthy looking well perfoming machine for a few more years.. (Yes, photo's will be forthcoming!!)

I Also have my trusty L412 (which I am typing this on) to fall back on whilst the T420 is down and being refurbished/rebuilt, so no major loss of mobile computing on that front and once the T420 is refurbished, the L412 is next for "the treatment"......

Anyone?

To be fair, the Firewire port is a pretty rare option for the T420. It's the first time I've heard of it, to be honest.

From the looks of it, it's a drop-in replacement, but based on this picture you might need to fabricate a cover for it.

Fab'ing a cover is rather easy for me, being a modeller / model builder and all. Plus, I had a good grounding in tool use and methedology by an Engineer.

Should not take too long to resolve a cover for it.

Was not aware that firewire was such a "rare", not oft chosen, option?

Just need to resolve a couple of other non-factory-fitted options and the T420 should be fully loaded to the spec I am after. I managed to fit the non-optioned Webcam on it courtesy of a temporary replacement screen back/lid, so getting there slowly.

Firewire was the brain-child of Apple(so why would a TP venture into their camp?), and was mostly dead by 2009. In 2011, nobody needed Firewire with the advent of eSATA(which was kind of dead back then), USB, and SD cards for camcorders.

The firewire port is now installed, just have to mod the blanker and the job is complete.

Since I also had the keyboard, palmrest bezel and screen off (to get full access to the port!!) I also took the opportunity to install the i7-2640M CPU, upgrading from an i5 2520m.

TBF, I do have firewire Accy's, so for me, it makes sense.

3D printers would probably come in handy for this job.

The blanking plug, since my last post, has been opened up and now allows access to the port. So much easier than scouring for one on ebay, buying it, waiting for it to arrive et-al.

If I can lay my hands on another blanking plug, I could make a little better job, seeing as I opened up one side of it by 1mm too much.

GrifterGuru wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:56 am

The blanking plug, since my last post, has been opened up and now allows access to the port. So much easier than scouring for one on ebay, buying it, waiting for it to arrive et-al.

If I can lay my hands on another blanking plug, I could make a little better job, seeing as I opened up one side of it by 1mm too much.

I have a parts T410 and a T420(might have FW). My T520 I know has FireWire and if it has the right blanking plug I might be able to model something up and send the model to you. Then you can go to your local 3Dhubs or makerspace and get it printed for a few cents. Shouldn't be much longer than 10-20 minutes to print. 3D printing space might do it for free if you ask nicely. Won't be able to model anything up till the weekend though.

Thank-you very kindly for the offer, I will certainly take you up on it, even if I am a little untrusting of the strength of 3DP componants/parts.

Fair enough with a model locomotive (another of my 8 at last count, hobbies) for which no RTR exists, but I prefer to maintain a certain "originality" with the T420 parts wise.

If with a computer it came from the factory, fine. If not? unless it is a display upgrade then I tend to avoid it. Even then, unless it is a modification that requires a certain 3DP or "unobtainium" part, I tend to shy away from it. Maybe it is just me, but I find anything that is 3DP (which actually started out life as a fast prototyping tool) to be a little fragile. Given the lugs on the factory blanking plate are so small and could so easily be broken, I would hate to think how fragile they would be if it were a 3DP port cover with less material for rigidity and then there is what material for the smoothest finish and how to match the Lenovo factory finish........

It's not as if we have easy access yet to 3DP in the area I live in either, although I do have a friend that knows of a company, even if the pricing is a little steep!..

Thinkpad4by3 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:44 am

GrifterGuru wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:56 am

The blanking plug, since my last post, has been opened up and now allows access to the port. So much easier than scouring for one on ebay, buying it, waiting for it to arrive et-al.

If I can lay my hands on another blanking plug, I could make a little better job, seeing as I opened up one side of it by 1mm too much.

I have a parts T410 and a T420(might have FW). My T520 I know has FireWire and if it has the right blanking plug I might be able to model something up and send the model to you. Then you can go to your local 3Dhubs or makerspace and get it printed for a few cents. Shouldn't be much longer than 10-20 minutes to print. 3D printing space might do it for free if you ask nicely. Won't be able to model anything up till the weekend though.

Were you able to do this? I am doing a swap and need a cover!

Anecdote: most T420 I see have the 1394 and it just so happens my personal machine doesn't. But I never use it so unbothered.

I feel like the plastic cover could swap from another base. If not, it's drilling time.