T41 makeover

[00111100]

I bought a brand new t60p last month and decided to give my brother my T41 to replace his T23. The t41 was in good shape with some signs of wear like some shiny keys and shiny spots on the palm rest and touchpad. So I decided to rebuild it to nearly new and beyond. I replaced the following:


-Keyboard:

First one, model 39T0519 "c" key became detached after one week. Sent it back for another, model 39T0581 which is supposed to have a firmer touch, it does. ($75)

-Palm rest:

Model 41V9155 - ($43)

-Hard Drive:

Replaced my original 40GB with another Hitachi 40GB 8MBbuff. 4500rpm ($45) new.

-WiFi:

Replaced Cisco Aironet 2200 with Intel 2915 a/b/g. Boot screen changed from Pentium M to Centrino Mobile! ($69). Lifting and re-attaching antenna leads was nerve racking.

-RAM:

Replaced original IBM 2x256 with Crucial 2x512 ($49x2) PC 2700

-Battery:

New 6-cell (V7 brand, so far so good) ($99)

I wanted a new look and got it. I had never rebuilt a laptop before but with the IBM Service Manual it wasn't so bad. Wish I had changed the BIOS batt. while I was at it. I know I violated the "if it works don't fix it rule". I then sold his T23 for $450 (included 4 mo. old primary and 2 mo. old Ultrabay 2000 batts., Linksys wpc54g WiFi, 512RAM, XP, 40GB HD) and pocketed that. My advise to anyone considering rebuilding a T41, get your wallet ready, expensive but fun.

Was this too much money to put back into a four year old T41?

[jdhurst]

Probably not, as the T41 is a good machine (I am using mine daily). But I would have installed a 7200-rpm drive for better performance, and if it is not too late, do it now before it is.
... JDH

[00111100]

Probably not, as the T41 is a good machine (I am using mine daily). But I would have installed a 7200-rpm drive for better performance, and if it is not too late, do it now before it is.
... JDH

I didn't think that by being a PATA drive rpm would make that much of a difference like it does with a SATA drive so I went with the 4500, but now I wish I hadn't. I'll tell my brother.

[FTC]

Yep, the hd upgrade and the Wireless card upgrade are the only two things I would not have gone through in your case. I have a T42 and a T40, and for the T40 I have :

- Upgraded memory from 256 to 1GB
- Swapped the wifi card to one with 802.11g (mine had an intel 2100 card which only supports 'b'.)
- Changed the hd (40GB) to an 80GB/5400 RPM (the one that came in the T42, for which I bought a 100GB 7K100.
- Swapped processor from a banias 1.5Ghz to a Dothan 1.8Ghz which I run at 2,016Ghz
- Changed keyboard once (because it came with a UK kbd and I am from Spain, so needed a local one)
- Also changed battery once.

.. and of course these ugrades have been made during 3 years, so I did not notice the impact of all of them at once, and most pieces wrere bough in eBay (quite cheaper). All in all, now my T40 is and feels as fast as the T42. Only the graphics chip (7500 vs 9600) and the bluetooth show it's not the same machine.

[Temetka]

Sounds like a pretty good make over. I do agree that a 7200RPM drive would have made a very nice upgrade over the slower drive. OTOH I do believe your brother should be happy with the new laptop simply because it is a far more capable machine than the T23 he was using.

[00111100]

Sounds like a pretty good make over. I do agree that a 7200RPM drive would have made a very nice upgrade over the slower drive. OTOH I do believe your brother should be happy with the new laptop simply because it is a far more capable machine than the T23 he was using.

Yes, he is nearly as happy as a termite in a Woodshed especially since the pass-through station for his former T23 is compatible with the replacement T41. I told him about the 7200rpm advantage and he was silent for a moment and then said, "Wow... I'll start checking the web". He's already dual-booted the HD with Breezy Badger so I don't know how anxious he is to start all over but "notice has been served".

Swapping and overclocking a Thinkpad CPU is impressive FTC and, frankly, beyond my present skillset. Another goal to set!! Thx guys!

[Temetka]

Sounds like you gave your brother the 'upgrade' bug.

[Harryc]

Replaced Cisco Aironet 2200 with Intel 2915 a/b/g. Boot screen changed from Pentium M to Centrino Mobile! ($69).

What is the part number of the Intel 2915 a/b/g that goes in a T41? What else was required to replace the Cisco with Intel? Does this card post errors?

[00111100]

The FRU number for the Intel PRO/Wireless 2915abg is 27K9936. The part number is 41N2990. Nothing else was required to replace the Cisco except for patience. You have to remove the battery, hard drive, keyboard, and palmrest. The WiFi card is right under the touchpad. Exercise caution when removing and replacing the antenna connectors. Be sure to attach the antenna leads to their respective connectors (main & aux).

Card has never posted errors on T41 (2374-151). Access Connections works like a champ and so does the card.