Thinkpads Forum

I got this R500 from the recycle bin where I work. My friend/boss said that if I could fix it, I could have it. Well... I fixed it! There wasn't anything really wrong with it. Just a clogged cooling system, an easy fix. It had no HDD or RAM. That had already been pulled. I have no idea what the original config was, but it did have the C2D P8600 CPU and WSXGA+ screen. I have since upgraded it to C2D T9900 (from a Dell Latitude E6400), 8GB RAM (2x4GB DDR3, from 2 HP AiO desktops, 1 from each), and an older Samsung 128GB SSD (from a ToughBook CF52, originally from an HP). It runs Windows 7 Pro x64 perfectly fine. I tried Windows 10 Pro x64 and it worked as well, but I reverted to 7 because I didn't much like 10. Not bad for a recycle bin pick n fix I say.

My question is should I leave well enough alone or swap the motherboard for the ATI Radeon HD 3470 one, p/n 42W7983 or p/n 42W8108? I know I'd need the HSF p/n 44C0800 as well. I'm also considering trading it, minus the SSD, for a T500 in good working order without its HDD.

On a side note, at where I work, I have 6 ThinkPads I'm refurbing for resale. 3 T43 14", 1 T60 14", 1 T60 15", 1 Z60t 14". Where should I list those?

*Edit: I forgot to include that I flashed Middleton BIOS (7YET79WW) and added the wifi card from a parts T420 (Advanced-N 6300, p/n 60Y3193).

Welcome to the forum!

DartMan68 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 11, 2017 4:19 pm

My question is should I leave well enough alone or swap the motherboard for the ATI Radeon HD 3470 one, p/n 42W7983 or p/n 42W8108? I know I'd need the HSF p/n 44C0800 as well. I'm also considering trading it, minus the SSD, for a T500 in good working order without its HDD.

I'd leave it alone and use the system "as-is". As for the swap...you're really unlikely to be gaining much - if anything - but it's your call.

On a side note, at where I work, I have 6 ThinkPads I'm refurbing for resale. 3 T43 14", 1 T60 14", 1 T60 15", 1 Z60t 14". Where should I list those?

You could list them in the forum's Marketplace section.

Thank you, ajkula66. I appreciate it. I should thank you and several others here. It was through searching for info and upgrade compatibilities for the R500 that I found this forum and quite a lot of useful information. TuuS's Race500 FrankenPad was an inspiration.

The R500 serves me well as-is. I'm no gamer or hard user. It's a general-purpose daily use laptop. The reason for my question is that I thought it might improve the valuation of it if I were to sell or trade it.

O.K. Thanks for the suggestion. I will be listing them sometime this week.

Your`s R500 specs looks similar to my T500. I think you will not gain anything, maybe build quality of T500 is tad better than yours. Other than that, keep, use it.
Ati gpu might be an option if you play games or use 3D rendering software. For normal daily use (web, youtube, HD videos) integrated one is really enough.

Compared to T500,
R500's lower base plastics may be less resistant to impact damage, and where it's weakest is its lid. I would not lift the R500 by its lid, while the T500 is "safe" to lift that way.

For any sort of games I'd recommend a W520 or newer.

CASPER wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:21 pm

Your`s R500 specs looks similar to my T500. I think you will not gain anything, maybe build quality of T500 is tad better than yours. Other than that, keep, use it.
Ati gpu might be an option if you play games or use 3D rendering software. For normal daily use (web, youtube, HD videos) integrated one is really enough.

I think I may end up doing that. I do like it and it serves me well. I'll leave my FT ad up in the Marketplace for a week just in case. Thank you. Btw, is it ok to list non-IBM / Lenovo laptops in the Marketplace? I have an HP Beats Special Edition 15-P390NR 15.6" one, minus its HDD, I need to sell.

TPFanatic wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:29 pm

Compared to T500,
R500's lower base plastics may be less resistant to impact damage, and where it's weakest is its lid. I would not lift the R500 by its lid, while the T500 is "safe" to lift that way.

For any sort of games I'd recommend a W520 or newer.

One of the reasons I would like to have the T500 is that it's a bit thinner and lighter than the R500. Other than that, I have no problems with the R500. I use it mainly as a desktop replacement with occasional forays into the field. I work on computers and keep it in tip-top shape. I don't ever lift it by its lid alone, always lid + base. I've never been a gamer, so no real need for anything newer, 7 Pro x64 is fine for me, and I know how to fix what I have if it ever fails.

I have an R500 and it's my everyday machine. Mine was a bit of a dog (from day one) with Windows Vista, but it remains very usable with a light Linux desktop (I'm using Debian LXDE).

Sent from my Passport using Tapatalk

Omineca wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:40 pm

I have an R500 and it's my everyday machine. Mine was a bit of a dog (from day one) with Windows Vista, but it remains very usable with a light Linux desktop (I'm using Debian LXDE).

Sent from my Passport using Tapatalk

That's a good one. I'm using Mint XFCE on livedisk and Windows 7 Pro on the system disk. I skipped Vista altogether, went from XP Pro to 7 Pro.

DartMan68 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:00 pm

Btw, is it ok to list non-IBM / Lenovo laptops in the Marketplace? I have an HP Beats Special Edition 15-P390NR 15.6" one, minus its HDD, I need to sell.

Yes, you may.

RealBlackStuff wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:43 am

DartMan68 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:00 pm

Btw, is it ok to list non-IBM / Lenovo laptops in the Marketplace? I have an HP Beats Special Edition 15-P390NR 15.6" one, minus its HDD, I need to sell.

Yes, you may.

Thank you. I appreciate it. You're one of the several I should thank. I found a lot of useful information posted by you, so... Thank you.
Ad posted.