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.

[ThinkPad560X]

Just an update, I am staying with my ThinkPad T470 as now even the T480 isn't compatible with the latest version of Windows 11 as it requires again more hardware to meet. Even my new Dell mini tower isn't compatible with all the new features, and it came with Windows 11. I don't want the AI stuff anyway, so I switched my T470 to Linux Mint.

[Cigarguy]

I don't understand. I have a T480 and have not problems "upgrading" to Win 11. Ran it this way for a few months then reverted back to Win 10. Like 10 better.

[ThinkPad560X]

You can upgrade to windows 11, but you cannot get the latest hardware required windows 11 features, it requires an NPU and the snapdragon cpu or Intel Ultra cpu. The standard Windows 11 will probably get normal updates, but Microsoft will say to get the most out of Windows, you need a new PC. Mostly Microsoft wants you to buy a new PC that has the Copilot button on it. Mostly called a Copilot Plus PC. Windows 12 will be probably be NPU required hardware to install.

https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2024/0 ... pilot-pcs/

[dr_st]

You can upgrade to windows 11, but you cannot get the latest hardware required windows 11 features, it requires an NPU and the snapdragon cpu or Intel Ultra cpu. The standard Windows 11 will probably get normal updates, but Microsoft will say to get the most out of Windows, you need a new PC.

So? How is that different from the situation which existed since the dawn of computing? New hardware comes out all the time. New software features are developed to take advantage of the new hardware. If you don't have the new hardware, you cannot use the new software features, but you can still use all the same features you've used before.

[ThinkPad560X]

But Windows 11 came out not too long ago and now Microsoft wants you to get even new hardware. I bought a new machine just for Windows 11 and now you have to buy a new machine again to support new features in the same released OS. I am not really for Microsoft's new AI and data stored collection in the new required hardware anyway. I am slowly switching to Linux and my old software that can't run on Linux is just on Windows 7.

[jakemonO]

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.

I just bought a T480 board (Lenovo Thinkpad T480 i5-8th Motherboard 01YU851) to replace my inoperative T470 MB. The motherboards are roughly physically similar, but there are cutouts for the standoffs in the 470 that he 480 doesn't have. More importantly, the video connectors don't match. I could potentially work aruond the physical differences with a dremel, but I can't do anything about the video connection

[RealBlackStuff]

That one has an i3-8130U CPU with iGPU and only 2 cores + 4 threads.
Return it if you can for one with i5-8xxxxU CPU (4 cores + 8 threads).

PS: maybe i3 has different layout from i5/i7? Only guessing here, never seen an i3.

[jakemonO]

Are you referring to the mb I purchased? It's supposedly an i5. Anyone have any experience with converting the display connector from 30 pin to 40 pin?

[RealBlackStuff]

Oops, you're right, it has an i5-8250U CPU (I mixed it up with the i3 on the line above on my partslist).
Let us know what the P/N or FRU is of your T470 LCD-cable and LCD.
40-pin sounds to me like a touch screen...

[jakemonO]

40-pin sounds to me like a touch screen...

Would that mean the m/b is specific to a touchscreen?

from cable
CT470 EDP CABLE 30PIN
SC10G 75185
DC 02C 009J 00

There's a similar cable on the other side that I believe is for the webcam...
CT470 LCD CABLE IR
SC10G75193
DC02C009H00

Can't get the display P/N without disassembly.

[RealBlackStuff]

Where do you have/see/need 40-pin?
Standard and touch use the same motherboard.

[jakemonO]

Where do you have/see/need 40-pin?
Standard and touch use the same motherboard.

The T480 m/b has a different connector. Seems like its. a 40 pin WQHD connector. Apparently, this was an option?

[RealBlackStuff]

Get the T470 and T480 schematics and frubom/parts lists, they use different LCD cables.
T480 motherboard LCD-conn. has more pins than T470, but probably can use the same LCDs, so get the make/model of your LCD and let us know.

[jakemonO]

Get the T470 and T480 schematics and frubom/parts lists, they use different LCD cables.
T480 motherboard LCD-conn. has more pins than T470, but probably can use the same LCDs, so get the make/model of your LCD and let us know.

INNOLUX N140HCA-EAB Rev.C1
06C138Z76420077

P/N SD10L27790 FRU 01 EN100
8SSD10L27790C3TN764402D

[RealBlackStuff]

That's a non-touch FHD screen and requires (T480) LCD cable 01YR501.

[jakemonO]

That's a non-touch FHD screen and requires (T480) LCD cable 01YR501.

right. so basically a 30 pin to 40 pin cable...?

[RealBlackStuff]

Nope, the T480 LCD-connector is 54-pin which 'concentrates' into 30-pin for a non-touch LCD.
Stop having 30-pin or 40-pin fantasies.

[jakemonO]

got it, thanks much!