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The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

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ajkula66
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The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#1 Post by ajkula66 » Sun May 13, 2012 11:05 am

First of all, let me state in no uncertain terms that although I've been toying with this idea for a while, the machine would've NEVER seen the light of the day without my dear friend RealBlackStuff, who took the time to listen to my bout of insanity and patiently, with no steps missed or stones left unturned, completed the rather complex customizing endeavour the results of which you're about to view...

I can't solder to save a life anymore. Let alone perform a SATA-mod...

Those who actually bother reading my posts know that I'm a huge T43 series buff. There's just something special about these machines - at least for me - and I was always interested in extending the limits of design that IBM somewhat botched in my opinion.

T43 models with Intel graphics and 15" IPS screens were really not an option offered to end users, but were ordered - in rather limited numbers - by some corporate customers. HMM does specify an IPS screen for some 1872-CTO based units, but these are an extremely rare find.

I've also never seen any of the IPS-equipped 187x series T43 units sporting a PM780 CPU either. The largest I've witnessed in person was PM760. And I will state that I've likely owned and seen more of these rare birds than anyone else around here...false modesty is something I was never accused of... :lol:

This part makes sense...if you want the machine cool and quiet, you don't shove a top-end, power-hungry Dothan in it. At least on paper...

Well, guess what: you're about to view one cool-running, top-specced T43 FrankenPad, which I'll be referring to as T43F from this point on...

For those interested in gory details: the board came from a 14" T43. The shell from a very nice T42 with a dead planar. CPU from one of my "spare" T43p units. And the list goes on...


The basics:

ThinkPad T43F

Based on 1871-CTO:
P M 780 (2.26GHz)
2GB RAM
80GB 5400rpm SATA HDD
15in 1400x1050 IPS FlexView LCD
Intel 900
CDRW/DVD
Intel 802.11bg wireless(MPCI)
Bluetooth/Modem(CDC)
1Gb Ethernet(LOM)
Secure Chip
6c Li-Ion batt
WinXP Pro
Modded BIOS

Here's a proud picture of our "newborn" Frankie:

Image

Will it run a SSD, you may ask?

Image

Should I bother saying that the IPS screen is downright flawless? I didn't think so...

Image

Warmth of LG vs. precision of ID Tech (left to right) - you don't get both, unless you own both... :D

Image

Is this perfect (in the eyes of its proud parents, that is) newborn missing anything? Yes.

a) HD light is not working. At this point in the SATA-modding game, RBS has figured out how to get it running on ATi-based boards, but not on Intel ones, which are *vastly* different from an electronic standpoint.

b) Missing a proper clear plate - will get fixed sometime later this week, when one with BT insignia arrives.

More pictures can be seen here:

http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i33 ... =slideshow

Enjoy!
Last edited by ajkula66 on Sun May 13, 2012 9:43 pm, edited 5 times in total.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

Eric Giles
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#2 Post by Eric Giles » Sun May 13, 2012 12:35 pm

Very nice! May I ask, how were you able to get past resolution limitation that is present on the T43 system boards with Intel graphics?
I lost count...

ajkula66
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#3 Post by ajkula66 » Sun May 13, 2012 12:44 pm

Eric Giles wrote:Very nice! May I ask, how were you able to get past resolution limitation that is present on the T43 system boards with Intel graphics?
We didn't.

My preference would've been an UXGA LCD. However, that's still a no-go on an Intel-based board. At least for us.

SXGA+ worked right out of the box, so to speak...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

Tasurinchi
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#4 Post by Tasurinchi » Sun May 13, 2012 2:15 pm

That's a cool one!! :thumbs-UP:

Since it's a 15" model, why no UXGA & SSD? :mrgreen: That would push this nice T43 to the very limit...
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x

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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#5 Post by ThinkRob » Sun May 13, 2012 2:16 pm

IIRC the GMA 900 itself is capable of driving UXGA, just not in the configuration shipped in the T4x; I think it's a BIOS limitation.
Need help with Linux or FreeBSD? PM or catch me on IRC: I'm ThinkRob on FreeNode and EFnet.
Laptop: X270, running Fedora
Desktop: Intellistation 285 (currently dead)
Workstation: owned by my employer ;)
Toy: Miata!

ajkula66
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#6 Post by ajkula66 » Sun May 13, 2012 2:20 pm

Tasurinchi wrote:That's a cool one!! :thumbs-UP:

Since it's a 15" model, why no UXGA & SSD? :mrgreen: That would push this nice T43 to the very limit...
Thank you... :thumbs-UP:

Unfortunately, IBM crippled something somewhere in the setup so no Intel-based T43 will run an UXGA panel... :evil:

Oh we've tested it with SSD and it runs fabulously well...it's just that the only SSD that I currently own went someplace else... :lol: ...check my next post in this section of the forum...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

Tasurinchi
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#7 Post by Tasurinchi » Sun May 13, 2012 2:26 pm

ThinkRob wrote:
ajkula66 wrote:
Oh! I stand corrected... Thought that the limit was XGA only and that you somehow tricked it to run an SXGA+
IBM Convertible 5140/L40SX/220/240/240X/2*340CSE/360PE/365XD/380D/380E/380XD/380Z/390/560E/560X/2*570/2*600/600E/750Cs/755C/760CD/760EL/760XD/770E
A20p/A22p/A31/i1600/G40/R50p/R61i/S30/SL510/2*T22/4*T4x/11*T6x/6*T40x/6*T5x0/3*W5x0/W700/3*X2x/4*X3x/3*X4x/5*X6x/3*X6xT/12*X2xx/4*X30x/Z60m/3*Z61x

Eric Giles
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#8 Post by Eric Giles » Sun May 13, 2012 10:37 pm

ajkula66 wrote:We didn't.

My preference would've been an UXGA LCD. However, that's still a no-go on an Intel-based board. At least for us.

SXGA+ worked right out of the box, so to speak...
Just so I understand...an Intel GPU based board will support XGA AND SXGA+ resolution, without any modifications? I was under the impression that all Intel based boards were somehow limited by IBM to XGA resolution only-except for the 1872-CTO models you mentioned which was something I wasn't aware of.

If a modification has to be made for SXGA+ resolution, could you fill us in on what that modification is?
I lost count...

ajkula66
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#9 Post by ajkula66 » Sun May 13, 2012 10:45 pm

On T43s, Intel board will support XGA only on 14".

I would tend to believe - but have no way of proving it - that it has something to do with the LCD cable and pinouts involved.

It will, however, run both XGA and SXGA+ on a 15" unit. At least in my experience.

As of right now, to the best of my knowledge, UXGA is a no-go.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

Faenad
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#10 Post by Faenad » Mon May 28, 2012 1:55 pm

On T43s, Intel board will support XGA only on 14".
You are only speaking of the internal LCD, right? And not about an external monitor.

Well, anyway fyi, I noticed huge improvement in my T43 handling of high resolution external monitor with the latest windows7 Intel drivers -the one downloaded automatically by windows 7-.
I was able to run an extended desktop setup -T43 4:3 XGA + a 16:10 1680x1050 external LCD- without issue, while it never worked a while back with XP and the Lenovo drivers.

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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#11 Post by thinkpadr52 » Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:13 am

And if I don't go wrong the depicted desktop car is a '58 Citroën DS in a Confort trim!

ajkula66
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#12 Post by ajkula66 » Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:06 pm

thinkpadr52 wrote:And if I don't go wrong the depicted desktop car is a '58 Citroën DS in a Confort trim!
Unfortunately, it's not mine. Got the pic from the web, according to the description, it's a '56. But we all know how accurate www can be, right... :roll:

I wouldn't know first-hand since I've never owned anything older than a '62 ID19A... :D
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

thinkpadr52
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Location: Florence, Italy

Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#13 Post by thinkpadr52 » Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:59 am

I wouldn't know first-hand since I've never owned anything older than a '62 ID19A... :D
Not far from the one in the desktop except les enjoliveurs (wheel covers).

I had a '66 DS Pallas gris palladium and a '72 D Luxe -an entry level model especially made for Italy.

End of off topic.

ajkula66
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Re: The T43 that IBM never built - but we did - HUGE PICS

#14 Post by ajkula66 » Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:53 am

A little update on this Frankie of mine...

First, some bad news: the original board has succumbed to the SouthBridge failure, leaving our patient unable to recognize a hard drive.

The good news is that RBS had swapped in a new (NOS) R52 board with Intel graphics and that this unique T43F is back in business... :thumbs-UP:

And yes, the machine has received a proper clear plate in the meantime...

Updated pictures to follow...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

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