ThinkPad T470 motherboard swap

[ThinkPad560X]

My ThinkPad T470 or rather the T470p are the highest ThinkPads in my lineup. So only going to the 7th Gen Intel CPU and no official windows 11 support. I know you can bypass and will have to with each main build update but want to have an official supported windows 11 install ThinkPad. I did all the bios updates and has max ram with my T470 and supports everything but the CPU requirement. TPM 2.0 enabled, UEFI Secure boot enabled. But for some reason Microsoft still says no to just the CPU. Sucks the CPU is socketed.

So, will a T480 or even a 9th gen T490 motherboard swap work in T470? I know the T470 can swap to do a T25 build with the shell parts. And the good part is the bottom covers will give you the port holes with the motherboard. But not sure if the internal battery is the same connector and the keyboard and LCD cable are the same. Even the T14 gens look to be almost the same with little change but probably are spaced differently internally and most likely different connectors.

If not, I'll just stay with my T470/p on 10 for a few years more. I don't if it would be worth buying a complete T480, but then again, a T480 board probably cost as much as a complete system now.

[dr_st]

The T470 and T470p are completely different machines.

T480 motherboard in T470 chassis is a thing that's possible.
In a T470p - nope.

[axur-delmeria]

T490 is a completely different platform from the T470.

* Its keyboard is from the T480s.

* It has no provision for 2.5" HDDs/SSDs, only NVMe.

* It has no battery bridge, only a large internal battery.

Apparently T490 and T14 Gen 1 have the same chassis, but I haven't seen a T14 so I can't verify that.

[ThinkPad560X]

Ok if I come across a T480 board I may do the swap. I know the T470p is a different shell, Looks to be the T440 shell. Haven't seen a p after the T470p, So the 70s must be the last to have it. Also, my L470 uses the T470p shell as well, just that it is that cheaper plastic they used that looks like it may start cracking in 20 years like my i series ThinkPads.

Would it just need the T480 board and the bottom plate? I know the dock connector is gone on 80 series.

I just looked on ebay and an i7 board is around the same price as a complete used T480. I was going to get the highest cpu So if anything it would be just easier and probably cheaper to buy a used complete one.

Was reading and it seems the i7 runs really hot and may just settle with the i5. But have to watch what board I get as they sell 7th and 8th gen for T480.

[ThinkPad560X]

Well I have a board watched. An i5 8th gen, I think that I just need to find the bottom cover and everything should be good minus the AC adapter.

My main question is, is the LCD cable connector the same? I have intel gpu and will probably just get the basic intel again unless the nvidia is the same and can run the same LCD as I don't want to have to change screen.

[dr_st]

The T470p and T470 chassis is not the same size (e.g., https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=131236). It's not just a matter of port placement as you seem to believe, but it looks like you really want to try this mod, so good luck.

[axur-delmeria]

The T470p and T470 chassis is not the same size (e.g., https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=131236). It's not just a matter of port placement as you seem to believe, but it looks like you really want to try this mod, so good luck.

I think he's exploring his options, with the aim of spending as little as possible.

In his last post, he puts forward the idea of putting a T480 board in a T470 chassis, similar to the TP25 with T480 board mod. But then, the price of a bare T480 system board isn't that far off from a complete T480 unit, so it's not cost-effective at all.

[ThinkPad560X]

I am not wanting to touch my T470p, it is a different shell.

This is correct.

"I think he's exploring his options, with the aim of spending as little as possible.

In his last post, he puts forward the idea of putting a T480 board in a T470 chassis, similar to the TP25 with T480 board mod. But then, the price of a bare T480 system board isn't that far off from a complete T480 unit, so it's not cost-effective at all"

All I want to do is see if the T480 motherboard will fit T470 and the bottom base cover of T480 as well. And is the LCD connector and internal battery the same on T470 to T480 as just want to just swap the board and not have to get a screen too.

[dr_st]

All I want to do is see if the T480 motherboard will fit T470 and the bottom base cover of T480 as well. And is the LCD connector and internal battery the same on T470 to T480 as just want to just swap the board and not have to get a screen too.

This should definitely work. Batteries are identical between the two, and I think the FHD LCD is as well, but someone should confirm that.

[axur-delmeria]

Given that the TP25 --> T480 conversion mod works (albeit with some caveats), and the TP25 and T470 system boards are interchangeable (someone on this forum already did that), IMO a T470 --> T480 conversion is all but guaranteed to succeed.

[ThinkPad560X]

Ok thanks. I'll do the upgrade when can.