T25 keyboard bezel to make T470 a 7-row?

[SwissFrank]

I was happy with my T400s and T420s. I was going to buy a T470s, then saw the 25, then saw that the T470p was same price and twice the CPU cores.

So I got 1TB SSD, 7700HQ, and 16GB.

And, sadly, the first non-7-row keyboard I've used since 1998.

Obviously the 25 shares most of its hardware with the T470, which means the 25's keyboard bezel probably fits the T470, which means you could probably 7-row a T470 if you could obtain that part.

But I note the official dimensions of the T470p are 1/10 inch wider and deeper, so I'm guessing the bezel wouldn't interchange on my p.

Can anyone confirm or (better yet) deny this assumption?

[dr_st]

AFAIK, no one has yet verified that a Thinkpad 25 keyboard can really fit T470 and work. I don't even remember if someone verified that the connector is physically the same.

As far as T470 vs T470p, the keyboard FRUs are different, so I'm not sure they are physically interchangeable either.

[NonesensE]

AFAIK, no one has yet verified that a Thinkpad 25 keyboard can really fit T470 and work. I don't even remember if someone verified that the connector is physically the same.

The FRU of the T25 motherboard is the same as the one of asia's T470 with dGPU. So yes, the keyboard connectors of the T25 and T470 are definitely identical.

As far as T470 vs T470p, the keyboard FRUs are different, so I'm not sure they are physically interchangeable either.

This indeed might be a problem. And the touchpad, too, it's smaller on the T25 than on the T470 so probably needs to be fitted into a retro T470p as well.

[TPFanatic]

ibmthink on the Subreddit said that the keyboard is wholly incompatible with T470.

[evening_hunger]

Said it he has, but it's not like he actually tried.

[dr_st]

If the motherboard FRU is the same, then the keyboard should be fully compatible. But that's not what I see from the FRU BOMs:

T470
TP 25

It does not make sense to me for the board FRU to be completely the same, because the T470/TP25 also share the BIOS/EC FW. How will the board "know" if it's running a TP25 or a T470?

[NonesensE]

If the motherboard FRU is the same, then the keyboard should be fully compatible. But that's not what I see from the FRU BOMs:

T470
TP 25

It does not make sense to me for the board FRU to be completely the same, because the T470/TP25 also share the BIOS/EC FW. How will the board "know" if it's running a TP25 or a T470?

Dang, shouldn't have trusted the info someone posted here or on reddit.

[NavyBOFH]

This is something I’ve been really interested in. I want a TP25 but not for the price and limited specs to just get the keyboard. I’d be willing to swap palmrest and keyboard like I did on my T430s but that’s about it.

Something tells me it’s a pretty straightforward swap - just no ones torn down both computers to see if they’ll physically fit. If they do the firmware/BIOS obstacle is minor by comparison.

[RealBlackStuff]

Things might change once anyone gets hold of a [spare] T25 keyboard (not available yet AFAIK).

[Ibthink]

As far as I have heard from people who tried, Lenovo only sells the ThinkPad 25 keyboard to someone who owns the ThinkPad 25 - and it costs 300 $.

The best choice if someone wants a ThinkPad 25 keyboard seems to be to buy the ThinkPad 25 while its still available.

[gofishus]

Is it worth it to go to such lengths just for the quad core CPU on the T470p? cause thats literally the only advantage the T470p has over the TP25. I don't get the incessant need for a quad core cpu on the tp25 its not designed to be a heavy workstation. I think it would be a better idea to get a P series if heavy workloads are needed.

[zoltan87]

As far as I have heard from people who tried, Lenovo only sells the ThinkPad 25 keyboard to someone who owns the ThinkPad 25 - and it costs 300 $.

The best choice if someone wants a ThinkPad 25 keyboard seems to be to buy the ThinkPad 25 while its still available.

Is that 300 $ price only a typing error? It surely can't cost that much.

[agarza]

Is it worth it to go to such lengths just for the quad core CPU on the T470p? cause thats literally the only advantage the T470p has over the TP25. I don't get the incessant need for a quad core cpu on the tp25 its not designed to be a heavy workstation. I think it would be a better idea to get a P series if heavy workloads are needed.

You also don't get the WQHD LCD screen on the T25

[NavyBOFH]

As far as I have heard from people who tried, Lenovo only sells the ThinkPad 25 keyboard to someone who owns the ThinkPad 25 - and it costs 300 $.

The best choice if someone wants a ThinkPad 25 keyboard seems to be to buy the ThinkPad 25 while its still available.

Is that 300 $ price only a typing error? It surely can't cost that much.

Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s priced at $300 to keep people from buying them. Remember all T25s are sold with a 3 year warranty that I think included accidental damage... so who really would be paying for the part at this point anyway?

[dr_st]

Remember all T25s are sold with a 3 year warranty that I think included accidental damage

It does not.

[TPFanatic]

You'd need T25 keyboard, bezel/touchpad, and power button as well.

[Jake.Werecat]

A few years went by, anyone tried this mod maybe? Is it feasible partswise?

[RealBlackStuff]

Several people have put the T25 keyboard in the (better) T480.
See also
T480 Modification with Thinkpad T25 7-Row Keyboard

[Jake.Werecat]

I know But I find T470 superior in design to T480 due to docking connector. Also I really don't feel like cutting and trimming anything. I know that for a T470 it's a direct fit with no modifications whatsoever, I was rather wondering is a T25 keyboard, touchpad and palmrest obtainable anywhere and if yes, are the prices reasonable.

[Jake.Werecat]

I kept searching and searching, and found nothing, but some strange layout on eBay. But no qwerty-us for T25 anywhere, not to mention other necessary components.
Nothing on eBbay, nothing on Aliexpress, sold out on Encompass. It's basically unobtainium. And I don't even understand why.
In any case - any hint or suggestions where else could I possibly look for those parts? I know that this swap HAS beeen done by more then a few peoples, including forum and/or subreddit members with both T470 or T480, so there must be a way.

[axur-delmeria]

And I don't even understand why.

Perhaps there simply aren't any left?

[RealBlackStuff]

Funny, just looked on eBay and I see a T25 palmrest and a T25 backlit keyboard.

[Jake.Werecat]

Funny, just looked on eBay and I see a T25 palmrest and a T25 backlit keyboard.

I know about it, I even mentioned it in my previous post:

(...) nothing, but some strange layout on eBay. But no qwerty-us for T25 anywhere

The thing is it's an odd Scandinavian layout. Not very useful.