Possible to custom build a new laptop using current chassis?

[Murcielago]

I was thinking about this as I kept thinking how much I like my current thinkpad but not much of its specs.

Is it possible to upgrade the hardware while keeping the chassis?

[gator]

Unless it belongs to the same series (ie T21/22/23 or T40/41/43, A31/A31p etc) this is not possible since the port layouts. battery location etc are changed from generation to generation.

[schen]

I was thinking about this as I kept thinking how much I like my current thinkpad but not much of its specs.

Is it possible to upgrade the hardware while keeping the chassis?

The closest you can get IMHO is to do a little wrenching on the A31 chassis by upgrading CPU, RAM and then taking advantage of the 2 modular bays and putting whatever combination of drives/devices into them as necessary. When you take that and put it into a 2631 dock with another Ultrabay 2000 plus 4 more type 2 PC Card slots, it's as flexible of a combination as you can get with a notebook computer. Of course, the P4-M and bus on the A31s are a little long in the tooth these days, but they are still very useable machines.

[wiggd]

Hi,

I am currently putting a 39T5454 T42p motherboard w/128mb ATI in a R51 1831 case with a XGA LCD. I have already replaced the motherboard once recently with a T42 2373-R4U, but it has the USB issuse of dropping to 1.1.

I also have recently aquired a 2.0 CPU, 2GB of memory, 2915ABG WiFi, Bluethooth IV and Modem. I already had a DVD Multi burner and a Hitachi 80gb 7200rpm hard drive.

Now the last parts that I am waiting for is the SXGA+ LCD and Bluethooth antenna, so that I can maybe put this all together this weekend.

One reason I don't mind this is that I have read some people say that there is flex with the T - chasis, and that the R Chasis is more sturdy. I plan to post later after I finish the complete transformation.

[schen]

A very impressive project! By all mean, I'd encourage you to record the progress and post pictures.

[DarkMark]

I am currently putting a 39T5454 T42p motherboard w/128mb ATI in a R51 1831 case with a XGA LCD.

I've actually got somethink very similar going on with a T43p mainboard in a r51 case.

My first impression was that the case is less sturdy than that of my t43 though.

BTW: What have you got as a cooling solution? I very unsure about the passive cooled GPU and might use the long fan from the T43p.

[wiggd]

Thanks, I hoped I wasn't getting to carried away, but it is so much fun to update these Thinkpads. I have found so much information here. It is a very valuable forum.

Yes, I did buy a M10 long heatsink. I forgot it in the list.

One other thing I was remotely considering, was the UXGA 14.1 Dell LCD upgrade using the 15in T Series UXGA LCD Cable that pianowizard did. Only problem is that would be another $200