T40 Motherboard upgrade

[ervink]

OK, from all I have read it appears my T40 has a failing southbridge chip, which is apparently common. I am having USB issues, connecting & disconnecting, device can run faster on USB 2.0, failure to recognize device, device malfuntion errors.
My questions are:
1) is it a big job to change the motherboard in my T40?
2) is changing the motherboard the only way to fix the southbridge?
3) would o need to reinstall the operating system (win xp)
4) what is the best drop-in replacement? FRU #s please

[ajkula66 Guru · Accepted solution]

OK, one by one...

1) No. With the help of HMM, it's a fairly simple procedure. You'll have to rip the entire machine apart, though.

2) Apart from having it professionally reballed (NOT reflowed) yes

3) No.

4) Check here:

http://www.theboardroom.info/

You can also order a professionally reballed board with warranty there, likely the most trustworthy place on the web.

No, I don't have stock in it.

Yes, I do know the owner personally and he does a lot of custom work for me.

Good luck.

[ervink]

Is there a way to find out the motherboard that is in my T40 without tearing it apart?

I emailed the boardroom and will wait for their reply

The number on the bottom of my T40 says 2373-75U, but when I run auto-detect this is what comes up.

ThinkPad T40 (2373-6U0)

Based 2373-75U: P M 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim), Modem, 1Gb Ether, Cisco 802.11b , Sec Chip, UltraNav, 6 cell Batt, WinXP Pro

[ajkula66 Guru]

I wouldn't be concerned about that one bit, since you have the second lowest-spec'd motherboard when it comes to T4x range. It would be next to impossible - barring installation of the earliest one with 16MB VRAM - to downgrade from what you currently use...

[ervink]

Motherboard orderded

I will post the outcome after it arrives and I install it.

[ervink]

while I have the T40 apart i want to replace the USB ports, but I can't find them online anyplace. Does anybody know where I can get them?

[ajkula66 Guru]

Your "new" motherboard will come with USB ports, fully functional. No need for any additional shopping...

BTW, replacing an USB port on any ThinkPad is not for the faint at heart, it's a headache of a job. Lots of *very precise* soldering required...

Good luck.

[ervink]

I ran Belarc advisor and it tells me my processor is: 600 megahertz Intel Pentium M

Being i am upgrading my motherbosrd, is there a better processor I can install??

[ajkula66 Guru]

Your processor is a 1500Mhz Pentium M Banias, but was running at 600 Mhz while testing...

There are many upgrades available and all depends on:

a) How much you want to spend?

b) How cool do you want the machine to run? The fastest (and the most expensive) CPU is Intel SL7V3 running at 2.1 Ghz but that T40 will be quite hot with it...

[ervink]

Ok, I want it to runn better, but not overheat, nor break me. Give me a good mid range chip to buy. I respect your knowledge, and advice.