T43 Motherboard FRU?

[Nycto]

Well, I've come across a dead T43 (2669-CTO) and I would like to restore it to working condition...I've ordered some replacement plastics for it and so on, and what I need now is a motherboard.

My first choice is for something with 128 MB of dedicated video memory. I know Think Wiki lists both X600 based boards and FireGL V3200 based boards, although I suppose I would settle for an X300 with 64MB.

I was going to look at getting one from the board room, but they're out of T43 boards, so now I'm wondering what FRU I need for one of these particular video cards so I can pluck one from eBay or something. Any pointers on what I'm looking for would be awesome.

[ajkula66]

T43p had V3200 GPU which is based on X600. 128MB VRAM, 256MB shared.

T43 had X300 GPU (64MB VRAM - 128 MB shared), or Intel 900 integrated graphics (up to 128MB).

All T43s with model numbers containing 187x have Intel integrated graphics.

Models with number starting with 26xx have ATi dedicated GPUs.

You really can't go wrong, no need for a particular FRU, because there's about a zillion of them.

Happy hunting.

[RealBlackStuff]

If you look at the list of T43 motherboards on my Board Room website, you will see all the different part numbers that are available.
Don't forget the R52 mobos on the same list. Apart from (removable) Firewire on some boards, they are drop-in replacements for the T43.
http://theboardroom.info/ibm_list.htm#T43
If you find Intel graphics good enough, I do have some (unlisted) R52 with Intel gfx. motherboards.

[Nycto]

If you look at the list of T43 motherboards on my Board Room website, you will see all the different part numbers that are available.
Don't forget the R52 mobos on the same list. Apart from (removable) Firewire on some boards, they are drop-in replacements for the T43.
http://theboardroom.info/ibm_list.htm#T43
If you find Intel graphics good enough, I do have some (unlisted) R52 with Intel gfx. motherboards.

An R52 board would actually be nice for the firewire alone, if I could figure out where to cut the hole for it...I just have a hard time biting on shared video memory. Do you have some sort of waiting lists for certain boards...? Or should I just keep checking back every so often?

[RealBlackStuff]

These R52 boards with Intel gfx only work with 14.1" or 15" XGA screens, and with 15" SXGA+ screens.
They don't work with 14.1" SXGA+ nor with UXGA.
The firewire port sits between the PCMCIA cage and the CPU fan case.
There is no room for it in a 14.1" case, but in the 15" case it's easy, just break out one of the bars for the fan exhaust.
The Board Room is not getting in any more mobos, other than what is shown on the Stock page, plus these (unlisted) R52 mobos.
Once they are gone, that's it!
The reballing company in the UK that refurbished the mobos has gone out of business (unfortunately), and I have not been able to find another trustworthy outfit.

[Nycto]

Hmm...I don't know what kind of screen is in this unit. I do know it's a 14 inch laptop, but it's a CTO machine...so I'm guessing I'd have to pull the LCD and check the FRU to get an idea of what I have.

I'll keep the R52 boards in mind, but since I can't fit firewire in the chassis of the smaller shell, it's gonna lose some of it's appeal.

[ajkula66]

You may want to try and pull the parts lookup...it may or may not work on a T4x unit:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... ookup.page

[RealBlackStuff]

If you are a bit of a DIYer, have a look on eBay with this search: ibm r52 firewire.
Check out the pictures.
You'll see the FW cable going diagonally across the PCMCIA cage, on top of a metal strip.
It's only glued on, so you can easily pull it off (the strip from the cage, and/or the cable from the strip).
That cable plugs into the motherboard.
You could lead the cable to a place where you make an opening in the front of the laptop, to just let the cable through. You could then attach the FW-port itself when you need it, and keep it somewhere safe when not.
Since nobody uses Infrared any more, the infrared window would be the perfect spot (front left bottom).

[Nycto]

That's an interesting thought, though I'm not sure how much I like the having to reattach and detach the firewire port. It might just be better to throw a short PCMCIA card in it (I hate having things hanging outside of my laptop). Until video cameras go USB 3.0 or something though, firewire is nice to have handy, since I see myself doing lots of media related projects. Not having that capability on hand would be a bit of a bummer.