Replacement board assembly

[whatsinthename]

I have a thinkpad T42(2378fvu) sitting around with a busted motherboard. Here's my question:

The part number for the motherboard i have is 93P4158. Is it possible to use any other part number because I am finding it particularly hard to secure this one. I dont care about the specs or graphics at this point, just want to get it up and running.

[richk]

Any T40/T41/T42 board will fit and will work. If it is a T40 board, your pc2700 will slow down to be like pc2100 memory. Your active protection will not function and the power management stuff will be a little different,

[Johan]

Any T40/T41/T42 board will fit and will work. If it is a T40 board, your pc2700 will slow down to be like pc2100 memory. Your active protection will not function and the power management stuff will be a little different,

According to the Parts Information for yor system, this is how it looks:

Product: ThinkPad T42 2378-FVU [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: P M 735, 256MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 64MB ATI Radeon 9600, 24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, Intel 802.11b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

So, if you swap your motherboard (having the 64MB ATI Radeon 9600 graphics interface integrated) to one having a 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, you may loose some functionality.

Will a motherboard for a 15" T42 really fit in a 14.1" T42? I guess this could be checked in the Hardware Maintenance Manual, but I haven't looked there.

[richk]

14" and 15" motherboards are the same. The board sits at the left side of the case. There is a little board added to the 15" (called an interposer) to extend the connectors for the CD bay. The HDD has a different cover with long legs to push the HDD back farther.

[Chris001]

The part number for the motherboard i have is 93P4158. Is it possible to use any other part number.

93P4158 (PLANAR, RAD M10-64MB GBE ) crosses over to
93P3772 (PLANAR, RAD M10-64MB GBE) crosses over to
27R1990 (PLANAR, RAD M10-64MB GBE) crosses over to
39T5451 (PLANAR, RAD M10-64MB GBE)

Hope this helps.

Chris

[Johan]

14" and 15" motherboards are the same. The board sits at the left side of the case. There is a little board added to the 15" (called an interposer) to extend the connectors for the CD bay. The HDD has a different cover with long legs to push the HDD back farther.

Thanks, richk; highly useful information for the relatively uneducated audience, such as me! I had precisely wondered how the VGA-connector at the right side (of the ThinkPad) and the USB, Ethernet etc. connectors in the left side could be on the same sized motherboard (in a 15" and in a 14.1"), if no such interposer was used. Now I know... wow, am I getting more and more clever these days!!

Thanks, and best regards,

Johan

[mitchellst]

I tried sticking a 2373 board in a 2379, and the video doesn't work internally. All T4x boards will fit, but I'm not convinced that all T4x boards will work.

If I'm wrong, I'd love to know how to get the video working.

[rssb]

2373, 2374, 2376,2378,2379 are all just numbers set in the serial number.

This has nothing to do with video or system capabilities.

One could set a 0000 or 9999 also. That being said, any T4x board will fit into the base, and will work ( exception being T43 which needs a different processor and RAM as the bus speed is different compared to T40,41,42 )

HTH

[richk]

Johan: The VGA connector is a different issue. The VGA connector is on the rear frame, which attaches to, but is not part of the motherboard. The LCD cabel is also different.

[whatsinthename]

thanx a ton for the input

i am the victim of the old graphics chip become unseated problem. Along with that there is a busted onboard fancontrol. Basically changing the mobo is the only option remaining, problem is whats better...dropping 200 bucks on a new mobo or buying a similarly powered laptop for a lil bit more.

I hate how fast these things become obsolete.

[Harryc]

T42'a are not obsolete by any means. Also you have a nice one with that 14.1 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD. Along with the other parts it seems pretty much loaded. It would be worth it to me to replace the motherboard, but that's me . Also, only you know the condition of the machine overall and it's value to you ...