A31 & A30 MOBO UPGRADE

[Argonaught]

From all my previous posts its should be obvious that I am trying to rebuild an A30 or A31, since I have a few now.... Well 1 A31 and at least 3 A30's.(Yes another one is on its way to me from the States) Here's the thing Can I put a different thinkpad motherboard into one of My existing chassis I was thinking an R51 mobo, which uses a P4~1.6 at least (because it takes the CPU and RAM I can salvage from the dead A31) and there seems to be a plethora of them floating around right now

Anyone got thoughts or insights on this, or has anyone tried and suceeded I would really like to step up in speed and or graphics from my PIII~1.2 (so I can play NFS Carbon with the pushbutton mouse )

Finally I think it would look cool to have essentially a new system in an obsolete A30 case, (There is less chance of it being pinched by a discriminating TP buff)

[ajkula66]

That's not going to fly.... you're stuck with A30/p and A31/p main boards for that chasis...otherwise I would've had a T43p mobo in an A3 frame years ago...

[sjthinkpader]

Even A31 and A30 have different bottom case. The A31 has additional cooling for the GPU and video RAM. A31 also has additional metal plates bolt on in the back.

[Argonaught]

I see.... [censored]! Thats a pity though isnt it?...I have kept my notes (yes on the existing and sometimes working A30) on a CNET online course I took early last year.. on upgrading laptops... Their spin is that as long as the outlet for the exhaust fits and the backplate can be modified, and the board is compatible with the existing LCD many mobo's can be interchanged.(not as in a desktop of course, I am pretty sure the parameters in laptops has a narrow margin but within computer "families" most of the internal interfaces are retained and can be swapped out...) Their example was with a Dell PII [ I would need to really dig up the model number and specs]upgrading it with an ASUS P4 board with a Centrino 1.8 CPU with a gig of ram (evidently this board can be made to fit into any number of chassis, and here's the but.... BUT I want to retain the IBM feel and quality amd reliability.

I am going to push ahead with this .. I have at least 3 waiting chassis to play with....and see if I can get a more modern IBM (Lenovo) MOBO and try it, if it doesnt work........ like Frankenstein I'll get the one CNet opted for in their upgrade.. but seriously if any one here has tried and failed or tried and succeeded please let Me know

[Harryc]

Even A31 and A30 have different bottom case. The A31 has additional cooling for the GPU and video RAM. A31 also has additional metal plates bolt on in the back.

Now that's an interesting statement. I have an A31 that does not have any additional cooling on the GPU. Perhaps you're talking about an A31/P? What should I be looking for exactly? I'm having a weird boot problem on this machine, so this may provide some clues.

Edit: Disregard, I found out there are cooling sponges for the A31 GPU found in FRU 46L6362

[sjthinkpader]

Here is what I noted about the differences between A31 and A30 bottom cases:

1. Thru the memory door, you can see a piece of aluminum covering a QFP chip. This is a video RAM.
2. After removing the MB, the A31 cases have an additional aluminum shelf with a thermal sponge next to the CPU area. This is at the bottom of the GPU.
3. They also have two aluminum plates outside the case held down by the connector hex screws.

Most of my A31s are A31ps but I believe A31 and A31p share the same bottom case structure.

[Argonaught]

Come on fellas, I seem to only be getting red lights here, I never said that it would be easy, and yes its far easier to exchange the base, frame and chassis to upgrade the A30 to an A31, or, by simply swapping out the chassis. I am going ahead with this and as soon as I find a mobo that will fit in the frame of my A30 and will accept the CPU and RAM from the A31 you can start calling me Dr Frankenthinkpad. I have been perusing ebay and as soon as I find something that I think will fit (Yes with some judicious modifications), and its screwed in and works when the power button is pressed I'll let you know

[sjthinkpader]

... frame and chassis to upgrade the A30 to an A31, or, by simply swapping out the chassis. I am going ahead with this and as soon as I find a mobo that will fit in the frame of my A30 and will accept the CPU and RAM from the A31...

The base is different between A30 and A31. If you are looking at an upgrade; might as well go for an A31 MB+base unit.

[Argonaught]

Ok so I heeded your advice and went out with a bang and will be buying a T42p here are the specs:

IBM Thinkpad T42p
Pentium M 1.8GHz
1GB RAM
128MB FireGL T2
60GB Hard Drive
DVD-RW
Bluetooth
WIFI
15" UXGA Display
Windows XP Pro

[ajkula66]

These are very fine machines, hopefully it will have some warranty left.

[Argonaught]

Only 60 days from the re-seller

This worries me I'm moving to just below the arctic circle and dont want to have to ship the [censored] thing down to Toronto to be have the GPU re-soldered, or whatever the hip ThinkPad T4*-ers all call it, I've got myself so worried after reading the sad, sad stories in the T4* series forum I might just decide to go with a brand new Acer Aspire from The Source

[ajkula66]

You may want to post a WTB ad in the Marketplace of this forum, and see what you can find that you can afford. Most sellers (and I'm not referring to myself) on this forum are VERY trustworthy and reliable, and there are some nice machines on offer right now...many with IBM/Lenovo warranty left...

Just my $0.02...