What to do with half-broken R60i?

[twistero]

Now before getting flooded by "There is no R60i!" posts, let me assure you they exist. It's basically another name for the R60e, type 065#. Probably only marketed in Asia, though.

A friend gave me an R60i 0657-LHC in pretty bad condition. Seems like she somehow melted a hole through the corner of the lid The bottom cover and magnesium roll cage both cracked at the left hinge. The LCD has small patches of blackness, and the battery is completely dead. All the electronics seems to be working just fine, though.

I tried to grab a cheap broken R60i/e from eBay to fix it, but there aren't many R60i/e floating around. Hence my question: what are some interesting things I can do with this machine?

ThinkPad R60i (0657-LHC)
T2080(1.73GHz), 512MB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 15in 1024x768 LCD, Intel 950, CDRW/DVD, Wireless upgradeable, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, 6c Li-Ion, WinVista Home Basic

[ajkula66]

I'd know what to do with it but am not telling you...

The frame/hinge issue is fixable. Once you've done that, throw in a C2D CPU and an IPS screen and enjoy.

If you're not up for all that work, PM me and we'll figure something out.

Good luck.

[ZaZ]

The R60(e/i) are good candidates for the IPS upgrades. I have the SXGA+ IPS in mine. That's if you want to spend some money. Then put a sticker on the lid to cover the hole.

[twistero]

Well, the amount of work is not an issue, but money is.

Let's ask a more specific question. Since I don't see many R60i/e parts floating around: What parts are interchangeable between a 15 inch 4:3 R60i/e and other ThinkPad machines?


Oh, and the plastic around that hole on the lid deformed so much that the lid will not latch close. Will have to replace both the LCD rear cover and screen bezel to make it workable.

[ajkula66]

Well. you can get a lid from any 4:3 R6x unit. CPUs/wireless/BT cards are usable across the T60/R60/Z61 palette...hard drives are your common SATA ones...

[twistero]

What about the motherboard? Are they interchangeable with other 14/15 inch R60/T60 machines?

[ajkula66]

Hmmm...I'd say no, but am not dead certain. I believe that the base on i/e models is different...

[ZaZ]

I believe the boards are different between the R/T series and can't be swapped, though luckily for us R owners, the screens are.

[twistero]

Well, that's disappointing. Seems like there's not much to do with it then... Acquiring parts to replace all the broken things would be too expensive, and it doesn't seem feasible to get a dead R60/T60 to transplant the motherboard into either.

[dr_st]

I'm pretty sure the R60e mobo will fit into an R60 case, though since it probably has no docking connector, something will have to be done with that hole in the base...