Some FrankenPad questions

[kkk]

Hi all, I just bought a complete T61 8889-CTO, and also have a T60 2007-F4G, so now I am planning to swap their motherboards. But the T61 has wireless N card with tree cables, and the T60 has wireless G with two cables. At home I use WRT54GL, which is G standart, but I plan to buy to some wireless N router, and I watn to upgrade the wireless cards of all notebook to wireless N (300mb/s is enought for me). So what to do with the T61 mainboard in T60 chassis:
1 Do I need to insert a third cable thru the hinges, and if yes does it matter if the cable is from some other notebook/wireless card or it has to be exactly the middle cable for wireless-N cards. And ofcourse is it posslibe, because I noticed that the left hinge of T61 through which the two cabes pass to the lid, is wider than the T60 hinges?

Since I will dissasemble the two machines, it would be good to change the hinges of the two notebooks, because my T60 already has some play, and T61 also has some play in the hinges, although it is just like new, no signs of using (I still have a Z60m and R50 at home, which are much older than them and has no broblems, so its strange to me why they have).
2. So, can you recomend me a hinges by FRU and where to buy them from. Maybe Lenovo in my country? Not sure if Lenovo still provide parts for T60. And some good hinge replacement guide.

3. The cooling fan of T60 has become noisier with time - I think I can hear some scraping noises, and it`s annoying especially when it`s quiet in the room, so should I lubricate it?

4. I've never updated BIOS by any way, so I need some BIOS flashing CD giudes. I mean what to do after burning the CD and booting it. Already burned the ISO file from middleton modified BIOS files with ImgBurn and checked the disc (I did it on other system if that matters, but checked it again on the system that I am trying to flash). At the moment it says that it has installed dvd drivers succesfuly and after that:

MSCDEX Version 2.23
Drive C:=Driver TPCD001 unit 0
Checking for files and environment.....
Check failed. Return code = 1
Flash over LAN is disabled for this client

and stuck at "C>" and flashing dash after that!

Does it mean that there is something wrong with the bootable CD? And is it safe just to shut it down - I think that the flashing process has never started? Alredy installed a 64 bit OS on the SSD, so if I have to do it under Windows OS, I have to install 32bit Windows on some other drive, which I want to skip if possible.

5. I want to buy some of these expresscards, so does any one has experience with these cheap cards or you will recomend me some others - I think that the controler in these cards is most important. My aim is to use them for installing occasionaly harddrives to the system and that is why I am looking for some SATA or eSATA PCMCIA or expresscard. And eventualy to use a USB 3.0 flash drive for page file, because I stopped the paging on the SSD, but when I run some more programs at the same time, I get message that I am running low on virtual memory. (I do not have HDD in the ultrabay and do not want to install) Do you think that this is good idea and does anyone have speed observations using USB 3.0 drive via expresscard on their systems?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[RealBlackStuff]

I've never replaced any hinges in a T60, so don't know. It was never required!

You can put in an Intel 6200/6205 with 2 antennas or Intel 6300 with 3 antennas.
If you want, you can put a 3rd antenna wire in the lid, and let its wire come out through the left hinge.
But it's not really required, 2 wires for good wifi-N are more than sufficient.

Your T61 has an nVidia GPU.
When you transfer the T61 mobo into the T60, you also need to transfer the T61 fan, which will fit fine in the T60 chassis.

On the T61 you need to ENable Flash over Lan in the BIOS, before you can apply Middleton's BIOS.
You run that BIOS update from a self-booting CD.
You also need a charged battery during the update.
I suggest you check the ECP in BIOS, if it is 1.08 you are OK, if lower, you need to first update with Lenovo's BIOS 1.29
and then run Middleton's update afterwards.

The T61 PCMCIA cage is different from the T60, so it needs to stay on the T61 mobo.
Some versions do not have Express, but a Smartcard reader instead.
If that is the case, you need to get the correct PCMCIA cage.

[kkk]

Well, I just thought that the wireless-N cards are supoosed to use 3 antenas. So, it is posslible a third wire to go through left or right hinge of T60 and it does not matter if I took it from some other notebook?

About the T60 cooler - I do not want to use it on the T61 board, integrated in my T60 chassis. I want to install my T60 motherboard in the T61 body, and eventualy use it or sell it. That is why I wonder what to do with the fan noise. It's barely audible, but it annoys me, especialy when I know for it.

BIOS update completed successfilly. ECP is 1.08, enabled Flash over LAN, but I got eror 99(179) - some nonsense message to turn off Microsoft Bitlocker, which I do not use, so I disabled Security Chip option, and excluded HDD0 from boot options. Do not know which one helped, but I updated successfully the BIOS. Tomorrow will dissasemble the two machines, install a T9500 processor and I will see what is the real improvement when assemble my FrankenPad

Thank You!

P.S. - in my case, T61 has both PCMCIA and expresscard slots. Anyone using some of these expresscard to USB 3.0 or PCMCIA to SATA/eSata cards?

[dr_st]

I've used a few ExpressCard-USB3 adapters. See here:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=110163

Haven't tried Cardbus to eSATA yet, but plan to at some point.

There are also combined ExpressCard to eSATA and USB3 cards. I used one of them - the one here (but not from this seller). Haven't got around to writing a report yet. Short answer - it performs well, but heats up and apparently uses a good deal of power.

[EvoT61]

ThinkPads - Lego for grownups


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Saucey]

ThinkPads - Lego for grownups

And a desktop would be Megablocks or just the big pieces of Lego bricks.

It was alot easier than I expected, haven't dwelved into harcore cooling, or ultimate cable tucking.
Still, it was alot of fun!

[kkk]

Whell, it wasn't exactly plug&play so, new questions: I will use the bracket from my T60 to press the cooler over the GPU (as others apparently do), but my GPU is Nvidia, which I will possibly overclock, so I want to do my best to cool the system.

http://s29.postimg.org/63a35kfkn/IMG_7040.jpg

On the above picture, the screw pointed with a red arrow, holds the bracket to the frame. But the purpose of hole on the left of the screw is to hold this part of the frame to the motherboard. And on these T60/T61 conversions, the hole in the frame get away from it's place in the motherboard by 3 to 5mm (did not measured it exactly). So if I want to keep that part of the cooler tight to the GPU, i need to figure out some way to fix the frame to the motherboard. And there comes two ideas in my mind: FIRST - to do some bushing (not sure if this in the right word) with two holes - one for screwing it to the frame, and the other to screw it to the motherboard(respectively, I will need to cut some part of the frame in order to provide distance between it and the motherboard). It may sound easy, but do not know what material to do it from, maybe teflon. Also, I do not have the right tool to make a thread in the holes (maybe would not need one if the bushing is made from plastics). SECOND idea - to cut out these parts of the two frames , where the modem card is positioned and GPU is placed, and exchange them. I will then need to welld them, but cutting takes too much material, so not sure if it's gona be strong enought after that. I know that it is posible to weld magnesium, but only a wellder will tell how it's gonna be. So first question in case that I decide to cut and welld:
Does any one know exactly what is the content of the magnesium alloy (I suppose it's alloy, not pure magnesium) which the frame is made of?
By the way, i saw that others are cutting part of the bracket (pointed with yellow) in order to fir it properly over the T61 cooler. I think that it's better to gring the edge of the cooler, because if you cut these part of the braket, it will be able to bend up and down, and therefore, it would not hold the cooler tight enought.
Also, I sucessfuly installed the motherboard from my T60 into the T61's chassis, and as you may expect, there is also a mismatch between the modem card, and the mountnig holes for it, but in this case there is plenty of room to insert modem card. I had to exchange the upper right bushings (pointed with green arrow on the above picture) from both coolers, as I used the brackets from T61 to hold T60 cooler in the T61 frame, and the bush on the T60 cooler has a bed for the screw's head, which does not allow the braket to be clamped tight to the cooler.
If anyone is interested - on T60 cooler you have to press these two pins to relese the bush in it's separate base from the cooler. Then, on the underside of the bush there is some sort of washer (correct me if this is not the right word), whish must be released by this way.
Other things I want to ask:
I suppose that not only T500 fan is better for my cooler, but also T/W/400/410/420/500/510/520 fans, right?
Is there any bluetooth 3.0 upgrade available for these systems? Maybe a bluetooth module from some newer systems?
Has any one used Plasti-Dip as a new rubber cover for their lids, and if yes, what are their impressions, is it durable? My rubber coating is very scratched, so I was going to wrap it with some matte foil, but then I saw some videos for plasti-dip.
And something just of curiosity - what is this connector for?

[PowerPC]

Does any one know exactly what is the content of the magnesium alloy (I suppose it's alloy, not pure magnesium) which the frame is made of?

I think the frame is made of an alloy called AZ91D. More information on it at [ http://mg.tripod.com/asm_prop.htm ].
Because pages often die, I'm pasting this here, for the future:

Composition limits of AZ91D
8.3-9.7% Al
0.15% Mn min.
0.35-1.0% Zn
0.10% Si max.
0.005% Fe max.
0.030% Cu max.
0.002% Ni max.
0.02% max. other (each)
[balance Mg]
(...)
AZ91D is a high-purity alloy which has excellent corrosion resistance. It is the most commonly used magnesium die casting alloy.

[RealBlackStuff]

In a Frankenpad T60 chassis (when it gets a T61 motherboard), you cut off the screw-hole top left of the modem connector.
From the screwhole bracket under the RED arrow you grind off about 1-2mm so it comes flush onto the motherboard.
That is the ridge on its bottom, which needs to be removed (the 1-2mm that I mention above)
You should put some electricians tape on the motherboard where that bracket touches the motherboard.
And if you cut out/grind the corner of the metal clamp where the YELLOW arrow points to, that metal clamp will properly hold the cooler down onto the GPU.
Believe me, that metal clamp does NOT bend when mounted that way.
I have built dozens of Frankenpads, none ever overheats, even with an X9000 CPU in it!

The connector between Ultrabay battery and CD is for the (rare) Serial/Parallel Ultrabay adapter.

[kkk]

Hello, everyone!
I was somehow busy in the past few moths, but didn't stop working on my FrankenPad so here is an update of my FrankenPading progress (better later, than never ). Here are the pictures:
First, the frame:
http://s27.postimg.org/a0470ixfn/DSCF9076.jpg
http://s14.postimg.org/ozqcksy6p/DSCF9088.jpg
http://s28.postimg.org/p3v1tenvx/DSCF9078.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/rlpiaidcb/DSCF9079.jpg
http://s16.postimg.org/empy8o0h1/DSCF9080.jpg
As you can see in the second picture, I cut off (where are the red dashes) and exchanged the two sections where the modem card is installed of T60 and T61 frames, and glued them with an adhesive liquid metal.
(the pictures are from the T60 frame with T61 section).
First of all, I tried the strength of the glue by gluing some aluminum piece to the frame.
Then cut out some thin aluminum plates/pads from an old CPU heatsink to connect the sections to the frame, and glued them all together.
I did not like this idea very much, but forget about welding - the frame is too thin and contains too much magnesium. And after all, it is not something visible.
And here is how the assembled system looks like with modem card installed:
http://s30.postimg.org/hy5yo5tr5/DSCF9087.jpg
If someone decides to go this way, do not forget to put some insulation tape over the plate next to the processor (pointed with yellow arrow), because there is some motherboard elements underneath.
Also, this plate has to be very thin.
Then I installed a T500 fan and as I wasn`t impressed, decided to do probably "the coolest" mod ever done to some FrankenPad:
http://s3.postimg.org/7qqa1cexv/DSCF9116.jpg - larger air vents
The problem was that I could hear some "splashing" when I get close to the air vents. This, as far as I know, is because of the air turbulence caused by the small holes and their sharp edges of the inner side.
At first, I broadened the holes using small file, and then rounded their inner edges using sandpaper.
I can certainly say that this improved the cooling, the plastics around the air vents are cooler than before, at ~2500 rpm I can hardly hear the working fan and it is definitely not annoying. Of course, if you rounds off the outer part of the air vent, it would be better, but also would be uglier.
Some pictures before rounding:
http://s15.postimg.org/z68s0w00b/DSCF9098.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/qb221t167/DSCF9099.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/mlev98zpf/DSCF9101.jpg
http://s16.postimg.org/oz19lavz9/DSCF9102.jpg
http://s16.postimg.org/w4t0nr52d/DSCF9104.jpg
http://s21.postimg.org/slo5zzmcn/DSCF9106.jpg
After rounding:
http://s4.postimg.org/rgzcpjfsd/DSCF9108.jpg
The biggest airflow comes out from these holes:
http://s15.postimg.org/rvridd4p7/DSCF9111.jpg
And maybe it is good idea to make some air vent under the fan, but for now I have not thought about that.
My impressions from the system - do not know about FX 570, but NVS 140 does not worth - it is a bit weak, but still depends on the purposes.
Basically I do not need a powerful GPU, just when I open a few sites with a bit more flash banners or clips and when playing some movie, there is a noticeable lag, and I think that Intel X3000 will not perform worse.
Also it is pointless of installing 8GB RAM, not only because it is 3-4 times more expensive than 2x2GB, but mainly because the processor (and probably the chipset) are limiting the system's productivity and can't benefit the double RAM size.
But overall, as someone said, frankenpading is like LEGO. I mean it is enjoyable.
Now I am nearly done upgrading the bottom of my FrankenPad. Just one problem - installed card reader 42x4994 from T400, which I read somewhere is compatible with T61.
The expresscard slot works properly, but not the cardreader. Device manager does not show any unknown devices, neither before or after reinstalling Windows.
It says that I have "Ricoh R/RL/5C476(II) or compatible cardbus controller" and that is all. I can't find any drivers for this card reader for Windows 7 at lenovo site, any ideas? Or how can I check if the card reader itself is working.
Also, what is the best WWAN card with GPS that I can install?
Regarding my screen, I have to change so many thing that it would be better buying complete assembly, because:
Need new hinges, and I get I little confused reading T60 HMM - which exactly FRU/part number are for my 2007 T60, and which has better quality: Kato or Reel?
I plan to restore a R61 with 4:3 screen which i bought few months ago, so I want to install my SXGA+ screen on it, and try a UXGA screen on this frankenpad, so which IPS UXGA screens are better - these from t42/43 etc., or Boe/Hydis from T60 (FRU if possible)?
Also, I know that R60 and R61 4:3 lids are interchangeable, and I can find both of them completely assembled including hinges and screen, but is there any quality difference between them as there is between T60 and T61. Because if so, it's better to buy a R60 lid assembly.
The question is not exactly for this section of the forum, but just do not want to open another topic.
If you have some questions, feel free to ask!

[FryPpy]

The expresscard slot works properly, but not the cardreader. Device manager does not show any unknown devices, neither before or after reinstalling Windows.
It says that I have "Ricoh R/RL/5C476(II) or compatible cardbus controller" and that is all. I can't find any drivers for this card reader for Windows 7 at lenovo site, any ideas?

I think the problem in Ricoh chip. It is controller for PCMCIA + FireWire + Cardreader. I have seen many 4:3 T61 mainboards they all have unsoldered FireWire connector in pace of IrDa transmitter on T60 mainboard. For FireWire and non-FireWire mainboards lenovo uses different ricoh chips. 5C847 - for FireWire an 5C804 for non-FireWire. I think this cip lacks cardreader functionality but i'm not 100% shure.
If someone find 4:3 T61 mainboard with FireWire connector - it is very interesting to test cardreader functionality on this board.

Also, what is the best WWAN card with GPS that I can install?

I have tried many WWAN cards but GPS is blind on internal antennas. Right question - what (and where) WWAN AUX anntenna you can place inside Thinkpad to get best GPS reception?
My best WWAn cards is
Huawey EM770W - it can make voice calls with thinkpad speakers an microphone (installed right now on X61 and X61t)
Ericsson F3507g can be switched of with FnF5 applet or with just removing SIM (installed in Frankenpad)
GOBI - ulimate solution for roaming in CDMA / EvDo + GSM / UMTS networks
All cards (except standard lenovo branded for T61) need pin 20 taping

and try a UXGA screen on this frankenpad, so which IPS UXGA screens are better - these from t42/43 etc., or Boe/Hydis from T60 (FRU if possible)?

If my memory is ok - T4x UXGA (and SXGA+?) haven't EDID chip. T4x detects correct screen type (resolution) by installing correct LCD cable. T6x use EDID data to detect screen type. It is possible to program and solder edid chip on T4x LCD - but it is not plug and play. Use ThinkWiki TFT Display table to find out correct numbers - ex 13N7076 BoeHydis UXGA from T60p. Other way - BoeHydis UXGA LEDbacklit LCD - HV150UX2-100. It is rare expensive and non plug and play. But if you find one - contact RBS for hints | kit for connecting it.

Also it is pointless of installing 8GB RAM, not only because it is 3-4 times more expensive than 2x2GB, but mainly because the processor (and probably the chipset) are limiting the system's productivity and can't benefit the double RAM size.

It is depends on use case. If you are working with tonn of virtual machines - yes memory can be needed. If you using Linux OS free memory can be used for disk cahe and it can make some improvements. I have SSDs in all 6xs thinkpads and the swap is turned off (this is not the best way for general use) and 4Gb is fine for normal use but 8Gb is better;)

[kkk]

Whell, FryPpy, you are probably right about the Ricoh's controler. I can't verify right now the exact model of my chip, as this requre complete base dissasembling, including motherboard remoral and expresscard/cardreader removal. Instead, I checked the R61's chip, and it is 5C803. On this page with 5C803 specifications, there is a list with other pinout compatible chips, including 5C847. There is some misunderstanding, because Windows says that my model is 5C476, and as I couldn't find any information, I decided that it's a driver related problem. But then I found this article, where the autor's chip is 5C847, but under windows he is shown also as 5C476. Maybe 5C476 is driver for all chips from the above link (R61 aslo shows 5C476 in Device Manager). Anyway.

As for the UXGA screen, I am asking for any quality differeces , as I think that some people were complaining from their IPS screens (dust, blue spots), but I can't remember from which ones exactly. And right now it is easier for me to find an excellent UXGA screen from T4x series than the ones from T60. Is it possible to use T4x screen and cable on T61 motherboard (without any modifications)?

Also, I haven't thought about LED backlight, but as far as I understood, HV150UX2-100 has a factory LED backlight and is not compatible with T60 video cable. Although the backlight of my SXGA+ screen needs to be changed, I am OK with it's original brightness, but as I think, LED is better – a little less power consumption, less heat, more brightness, and of course - much longer life/true white color. And if someone has an IPS screen, it would be much more convenient for him just to install LED backlight, instead of buying a new screen, especially one that is not exactly compatible with his system. I searched for some LED kits, and all of them does not state what type of LEDs they are using (emited lumens) and what would be the maximal expected brightness, doesn't offer brightness control for systems who use PWM control (digital, like IBM/Lenovo), and only this seller is stating that they are using PAM (analog) in their LED driver, which I think is better than PWM. So, for me it's more important the quality of the driver and the backlight flashing which may occur at lower brightness levels.

Now, my naive question – do you think that it's possible to use T400 LED driver like this one, which socket is the same as the ones on T60s' inverters, so it should fit on T60 video cable; and has a separate power socket for the LED strip - as far as I understood, there are two models and the other model powers the LED strip through the video connector, and we can get a Led backlight with brightness control? It won't be an expensive experiment, but I just want to ask before start doing something, because there are people that know much more about these laptops, and my idea may be unfeasible by some reason.

[FryPpy]

Also, I haven't thought about LED backlight, but as far as I understood, HV150UX2-100 has a factory LED backlight and is not compatible with T60 video cable.

Yes it is not compatible - so conversion kit is needed. But main problem is to find HV150UX2-100 for a resonable price.

Now, my naive question – do you think that it's possible to use T400 LED driver like this one, which socket is the same as the ones on T60s' inverters

I don't know any soccess story of pairing HV150UX2-100 with T500 (400?) LED control board. Other problem that HV150UX2-100 have different LVDS (video) connector pinout - so the T60 video cable must be modded (adopted) itself
But this is interesting idea;)
BTW
Look this - is a T500 LED controller board - it's shape like T60's.

Common way is to modify original T60's invertor - see this.

Read this tiopic for howtos about using aftermarket LED conversion kits. This hint aplicable not only for X6x series.

[kkk]

My idea is to use T400/T500 LED board (as I can see, both have the same socket as T60's inverters) with the original T60 video cable to control an aftermarket LED backlight (just the strip installed in place of the CCLF backlight in original T60 IPS matrix) and see if the system would be capabe to control the brightness of the LED strip. I dont know how a T400/T500 system control the LED board/brightness and if a T60/T61 would be able to.