W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

W530/W540 series specific matters only
Post Reply
Message
Author
Khipata
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 283
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:33 pm
Location: Arlington, VA

W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

#1 Post by Khipata » Mon Jun 23, 2014 9:49 pm

Hi everyone!

I would like to know if you guys thought of putting (with modding I suppose, but I could be wrong) W540 System board in W520 casing? I have W520 and love it, its keyboard, build quality etc. etc., but W540 has better specs obviously :)

Any thoughts or suggestions on this topic? Your input will be highly appreciated!
5140,L40SX(3),PS/NOTE 425(2),PS/2 NOTE,700T,730T,700,700C(3),720C,701C(3),701CS(3),360P,360PE,750P,380,385,PC110,TRANSNOTE, Z50,240,240X,600,600E,600X(2),A31P,750C,755C,770,X40,X60,X61S,X61T,R50,R51E,R61I,T20,T21,T30,T42(2),T43,T60,T61(4),T500(2),W520,HP95LX,100LX,200LX,300,PSION II,3,NEWTON130

brchan
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1326
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:43 am
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Re: W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

#2 Post by brchan » Mon Jun 23, 2014 10:06 pm

The W520 and W540 are completely different generations, and I would be very suprised if they used a similar chassis, since they look very different and the motherboard ports are in different places and have different connectors. I think it would be quite difficult to make the motherboard swap, but I suppose with enough patience and skill that it would be possible. The W520 is still more than capable of handling most demanding tasks, and I would just stick with it for now.
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53

Brad
**SENIOR** Member
**SENIOR** Member
Posts: 1846
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:41 am
Location: Long Island New York

Re: W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

#3 Post by Brad » Tue Jun 24, 2014 4:54 am

The W540 is very different from the W520 like brchan says. The W520 is fairly similar to the W530 where you could use the same lid and LCD motherboard connector. The the eSATA port is not included on the W530 but is on the W520. The W540 is a much different platform. Don't let that stop you.

Brad
Long Island New York
T43p 2669-Q1U, A22p's UTU A21p HXU
Transnote, 770's 8AU, 600, 701CS, 755CD

600X
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 683
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 3:31 am
Location: Burlington, NC

Re: W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

#4 Post by 600X » Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:12 am

Why not just get a W540? It's not like the W520 has anything special to offer like 4:3 and the likes.
Daily: T440s
Classics: 600X (850MHz), A31p (FlexView), X41, T60 (LED FlexView), R61 (QXGA FlexView), X301 (AFFS)

brchan
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1326
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:43 am
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Re: W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

#5 Post by brchan » Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:48 am

Well, the W520 does have the advantage of the traditional keyboard as well as a stronger lid (at least from what others have said). IMO, the W540 design is not as nice as the W520's, and the W520 didn't win any beauty contests either :lol: .
Current Thinkpads: W530 (functional classic keyboard mod), X301, T61, T60, T43, T23, 600X, 770
Other: mk5 Toughbook cf-19, mk1 Toughbook cf-53

600X
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 683
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 3:31 am
Location: Burlington, NC

Re: W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

#6 Post by 600X » Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:56 am

brchan wrote:Well, the W520 does have the advantage of the traditional keyboard as well as a stronger lid (at least from what others have said). IMO, the W540 design is not as nice as the W520's, and the W520 didn't win any beauty contests either :lol: .
I've compared both units in real life and IMO the W540 is somewhat better in most regards. The keyboard may not be traditional but the typing experience is better. As for the lid, both didn't have very strong lids, but considering that the W540 has a much thinner lid than the W520 I'd say the W540 wins here as well. Though I prefer the W540's design I understand that others may think differently. Guess I'm just trying to say that you need to test the W540 for yourself because I think it's quite an improvement over the previous W machines and writing it off just because of some bad comments isn't really fair.
Daily: T440s
Classics: 600X (850MHz), A31p (FlexView), X41, T60 (LED FlexView), R61 (QXGA FlexView), X301 (AFFS)

ajkula66
SuperUserGeorge
SuperUserGeorge
Posts: 15734
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania

Re: W540 System board in W520 case? Possible or not?

#7 Post by ajkula66 » Tue Jun 24, 2014 8:35 am

Aurora wrote: Guess I'm just trying to say that you need to test the W540 for yourself.
I agree.

Let's not forget that the keyboard connector has been changed on the *40 generation as well, along with everything else previously mentioned...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

AARP club members:A31p, T43pSF

Abused daily: R61

PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad W530 and later Series”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests