T21 system board confusion

[JonathanW]

I am certain I have one faulty memory socket in my 2647-CCG and am willing to replace the system board. However, trying to ascertain a suitable replacement is quite a task!

There appears to be something 'special' about the CCG designation. In some documents on IBM's website it doesn't seem to exist, the series model matrix for example and yet in the parts list of the HMM clearly shows the CCG to exist! The system board part number is 12P3369. There are only 3 flavours of T21's with this board - does anyone know why? Is it support of SXGA by any chance?

Anyway, my question. A number of replacement system boards are available on Ebay, one in particular at the moment I have my eye on is a T22, an 08K3381 (why is this not in the format 12Pxxxx ?!)

Can I replace my T21 board with one from a T22?

Many thanks for any help at all.

Jonathan

[lilserenity]

Lil to the rescue

Yes, the T21 motherboard has two variations the difference as you correctly state being support for SXGA+ which featured in the T21.

The T21 motherboard has two differences:

- Savage IX8 8mb chip - supports XGA (1024x768) TFT resolution - standard
- Savage IX8+ 8mb chip - supports SXGA+ (1400x1050) res

The former usually was fitted with thye 750 or 800MHz PIII chip, the latter the 850MHz PIII chip.

The T20 motherboard is ALL IX8 and none will be SXGA+ compatible. 650, 700 and 750MHz.

T22 : ALL IX8+ based, this means all of them will support SXGA+ TFT displays regardless of T22 model, but also backwards compatible with XGA TFT res.

In answer to whether the T22 motherboard will suit a T21 shell, the answer is almost a positive yes from me. The only difference should be the graphics chip and the PIII chip - that is the only thing on the motherboard itself that differentiates what constitutes a T20, T21 and T22.

The T23 is a different ball game and may have a slight different shape due to being a marginally different machine (133MHz bus, 2 USB slots, Pentium III mobile instead of Mobile Pentium III, 1GB max ram instead of 512MB, UltraBay differences etc.)

Hope this helps. I'll look up 2647-CCG now on IBM and get back to you if that makes a difference. The CCG could of been a non-standard config ie: specially put together that IBM has not documented.

As for why it's not in the format 12Pxx... - not sure; could be that was the old parts ref format, I'm not 100% sure.



Vicky

[lilserenity]

Ok.

2647-CCG as per IBM:

"Product: ThinkPad T21 2647-CCG [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: PIII 800MHz (256KB), 256MB RAM, 20.0GB HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 8x-2.3x DVD, Intel combo, TV out, Li-Ion Battery, W98"

A standard T21 by all means (sounds similar to the one I had before my T23 a couple of years back).

I'd give a shot on that T22 board, there are no real reasons for it not to fit. If it doesn't work, then sell it on, there is a market.

Just make sure it's sold as tested and working as too much crap is sold on eBay, I took a risk on a sold as seen hard disk that was "working when removed from laptop" - before i even put it in I could hear the drive head rattling around like it was on speed or something Just be careful!

Otherwise, sounds like a good bet!

[JHEM]

Just to add a bit to the ramblings of Vicky "The French Maid" Lamburn!

Yes, the T22 board is a drop-in replacement for the T20 and T21 series machines and, as Vick Luv noted, it provides for an SXGA+ display upgrade on early T21 and T20 machines.

The T23 MB is just different enough that it's not backwards compatible, but you can swap displays from earlier machines onto a T23 lower unit and get the same result.

Regards,

James

[JonathanW]

Vicky,

You give me more knowledge in 30 seconds than a week of Googling and intense research on IBM's site - thank you! The guy on Ebay is offering to fit while-u-wait for £50 so I may take him up on his offer!

If I go with the T22 board, presumably the SXGA support requires a new TFT screen which no doubt costs more than a new laptop ....?

Thank you again both.

Jonathan

[lilserenity]

Just to add a bit to the ramblings of Vicky "The French Maid" Lamburn!

I'll have you know it was a present, not for me

I'm sure from my cock ups over the recent week will ensure you know who it was intended for

Tsk.

Vicky
(not quite the french maid, I'm British don't you know )

[lilserenity]

Vicky,

You give me more knowledge in 30 seconds than a week of Googling and intense research on IBM's site - thank you! The guy on Ebay is offering to fit while-u-wait for £50 so I may take him up on his offer!

If you have the money, do it, it will save you hassle and if he messes up, you're not to blame

As for giving you the info, no probs, that's what I do, spread the knowledge because it's useful to others, like you.

If I go with the T22 board, presumably the SXGA support requires a new TFT screen which no doubt costs more than a new laptop ....?

Thank you again both.

Jonathan

For SXGA+ resolution you would indeed need a SXGA+ TFT panel. However, keep an eye on eBay.com - they do crop up and make a massive difference to using the laptop.

Mind you, I'm usually doing 101 things at once so I need screen estate

Vicky

[JHEM]

Just to add a bit to the ramblings of Vicky "The French Maid" Lamburn!

I'll have you know it was a present, not for me

Yeah, sure, whatever you say Luv.

Somehow I have this image of you in that getup on the back of my Harley!

You going to Sturgis this year?

Regards,

James

[JonathanW]

For SXGA+ resolution you would indeed need a SXGA+ TFT panel. However, keep an eye on eBay.com - they do crop up and make a massive difference to using the laptop.

Mind you, I'm usually doing 101 things at once so I need screen estate

Vicky

Loving every minute of my 1920 x 1200 D**L Ins****n laptop I am keen to up my T21 to SXGA resolution so I will start searching for that TFT panel. But after today's fiasco with my T21 (it will go for weeks without a hitch and yet today will not stay on for 30 mins without a blue screen) I am loathe to spend much more money on it. [censored] memory slot ....

Thank you again ...

Jonathan

[JonathanW]

Just to update anyone interested, T22 board installed last night (in under an hour whilst watching football!) and the machine has been running fine all night. Really chuffed, although with it's 1GHz 'heart' and the 'body' of a T22, my T21 is starting to get an identity crisis...

Very simple job for those with the slightest disposition towards techy things and it was [censored] near impossible to spot any difference whatsoever between the two system boards. I thought I might get a BSOD on first booting but no.

Great stuff - it's nice to have my 512Mb back in and to be able to just go near the thing without it crashing/hanging!

Jonathan