Upgrading my R400/T400 hybrid laptop - advice please.

[rayfenwick]

Hello All

A former T42 owner, I've recently come back to the ThinkPad fold with a R400 Type 7440 that I am busily upgrading as I'm soon to leave for Moscow to teach English, and it will be my only machine for a while.

So far I've performed the following:

• Installed 8GB RAM
  Changed the 160GB SATA HDD for a 64GB SSD
  Changed the keyboard for an English/Russian one
  Added a 2505 mini-dock, Lenovo keyboard and mouse, and a Lenovo ThinkVision L2240p external monitor

I plan to:

• Install the webcam and change the bezel accordingly (just waiting for the screen cable with webcam plug to arrive from eBay)
  Change the Intel 5100 WiFi card for an Intel 5350 WiFi/WiMax card (en route from eBay)
  Install an Ericsson F3507G WWAN/GPS card and SIM holder(not bought yet - what antenna do I need?)
  Change the 2505 mini-dock for a 2503 dock with a graphics card in it (what's the recommended choice?)
  Change the 64GB SSD for a Seagate 750GB Hybrid HDD
  Install a card reader in one of the PC card slots (if I can find the FRU...)

I'm thinking about:

• Changing the motherboard for a T400 one with the ATi Hybrid graphics (hence posting here...)
  Changing the processor, though there seems to be so many suggestions I'm a bit lost with which way to go... P9700, E8435, QX9300
  Changing the LCD panel to a WXGA+ LED one (do I need to change the cable?)
  Changing the bottom casing for a T400 one (not sure if there's much point...)

Any and all advice would be gratefully received. I'm fairly techy - as you may have gathered, so I'm not worried about not being able to do any of the work myself, but advice from those who've been there will make my life much easier (and cheaper!)


Thanks

Ray

[precip9]

Ray,
How do the nickels and dimes work out, considering that used T400's are not expensive?

[underclocker]

Ray,
How do the nickels and dimes work out, considering that used T400's are not expensive?

Agreed. All those upgrades might be possible, but would never be worth the money. You could just buy the T61 you want for less than all the parts. However, I'd strongly recommend a T410, since they have the newer Core processors, flush-fitting 6 cell batteries and are dropping into the $350 range.

Of course, if your hobby is tearing down machines and rebuilding them, and you won't be the first around here, then go for it!

Welcome to the forum.