R50/R50p/R51 motherboard/systemboard interchange

[eMaringolo]

Does somebody know if I can place a R50 or R51 systemboard as replacement of a R50p systemboard?

My R50p died (GPU unsoldered, reflow, etc, etc), and I won't pay the crazy price the spare part costs.

So I'll keep my 512MB, 1.7GHz centrino, 60GB 7200RPM, and my 15 inch UXGA screen, but with less video power buying a working R50 or R51 systemboard.

For what I've seen the T41 systemboard is also compatible with the form factor of the R50p, but I couldn't check this, is just an appearance.

If the systemboards are interchangeable I'll need to know how much video RAM will I need to feed the UXGA screen. Does anybody know how to calculate this? I guess its 1600x1200 x4 (32bpp), this sums 8M approx.

Best regards.

[eMaringolo]

Aparently the T43 15" is the most compatible of the Txx series.

Can anybody confirm this?

Regards

[tomh009]

Critical question: what is the exact model number of your R50p?

[eMaringolo]

Critical question: what is the exact model number of your R50p?

Is it so critical? Why?

Type: 1833.
Gigabith Eth, FireGL T2-128, TPM Chip, Bluetooth, Intel 802.11b, 15" UXGA IPS FlexView.
No Firewire port.

Regards,

[tomh009]

Because the motherboards that fit depend on your model. Some R5x models appear to fit multiple types, but, based on cross-referencing the info in the HMM, the 1833 will probably only accept a 91P7372 motherboard:

System board assembly, M10 GL-128, Gigabit Ethernet with security chip for R50 series v 1832-22x, 23x, 24x, 25x, 26x, 27x, 28x v 1833-22x, 23x, 24x, 25x, 26x, 27x, 28x

[eMaringolo]

Because the motherboards that fit depend on your model. Some R5x models appear to fit multiple types, but, based on cross-referencing the info in the HMM, the 1833 will probably only accept a 91P7372 motherboard:

System board assembly, M10 GL-128, Gigabit Ethernet with security chip for R50 series v 1832-22x, 23x, 24x, 25x, 26x, 27x, 28x v 1833-22x, 23x, 24x, 25x, 26x, 27x, 28x

Well... they will never say that an inferior systemboard can be placed on a superior system. They'll force you to buy the original spare.

But I've placed a fan long for the M10, which is designed for the T4x series, and it fitted perfectly, at least the mounting holes were millimetrically aligned.

What worries me is if I can attach a 15" UXGA Flexview to that "inferior" motherboard.

Best regards,

[tomh009]

What I did is cross-reference the base plastics with the motherboard, as any new motherboard has to physically fit on the base plastics. Based on that, an 1829-E2G, for example could likely accept any motherboard of types 93P4257, 93P4259, 91P7334 or 27K9922.

Now, it may well be that yours can accept other ones as well -- I have no proof that it won't. However, the HMM did not include any evidence that it does, so if you buy another motherboard type, you are taking some additional risk that it won't physically fit. But, as I said, it may well fit perfectly ...

[eMaringolo]

What I did is cross-reference the base plastics with the motherboard, as any new motherboard has to physically fit on the base plastics. Based on that, an 1829-E2G, for example could likely accept any motherboard of types 93P4257, 93P4259, 91P7334 or 27K9922.

Is this info available in the Hardware Maintenance Manual?

Best regards.

[tomh009]

Yes. The HMM describes which models use which bottom plates and which motherboards -- that's what I used for the cross-referencing.