"FrankenPad" ThinkPad Edge 15 AMD / 8GB / 500GB / x920 black edition

Finally arrived - picked it up from a friend at a major distributor. $471 was the finally tally for a 0302-44U, which is:

ThinkPad Edge 15 AMD-based
AMD Athlon II P340
2GB RAM
320GB 7200rpm HDD
DVD +-
15.6" 1366x768 display
wigi b/g/n

Seems ok... however, lack of LED's, save the power LED, is a bit unnerving. I hate being in the dark...literally, in this case!

Got the 8GB Corsair DDR3-1333/10600 RAM, works fine, sees all 8GB, sees it as 1333mHz - this was $91 at NewEgg on a day they had the NBMEM10 10% off on laptop RAM coupon... also got a tube of Arctic Silver AS5 because I also ordered an...

AMD Phenom II x920 Black Edition quad-core, due to arrive Monday.

Also arriving Friday or Monday is a 500GB/7200rpm HDD, which will also go into it.

Currently has an 80GB SATA disk I have around for testing (I never blow away factory drives), and once the 500GB HDD comes in, it will be installed.

Currently running Ubuntu 10.10 x64 on it, with VirtualBox, running an XP 32-bit VM, Win7 64-bit VM, and for laughs and giggles, an Ubuntu 10.10 x86 VM.

Surprisingly, even though the P340 is a lower-end processor, it is relatively snappy - can't WAIT to see how the x920 performs with it's 4 cores, and unlocked multiplier!

Hoping it takes, and recognizes the x920, else the lappie's going back, and the journey will continue for finding a lappie... Don't necessarily need overclocking capability in the BIOS, but I at least need it to be recognized, and allow proper boot-up into Linux, so I can use tpc to set the speed(s).

I will report back once the x920 arrives, and FrankenPad gets built!

Cheers!

 

Typically, the term "FrankenPad" refers to a ThinkPad that has had parts swapped with another ThinkPad, say the LCD or motherboard. Putting a motherboard from a T61 into a T60 would be an example of this. Swapping the CPU would not meet this standard, but good luck with the project and do report back.

 

I am not sure if you're serious or not, but this will not work. First, even if it fits physically (which I doubt), these processors are not of the same socket type. Even with this aside, the chipset will not support. And even that aside, the BIOS would not support this desktop chip.

Now, even assuming all of this worked, the laptop could not cool the processor.

 

I suspect he has not purchased the desktop version, but the x920 BE notebook processor. Which i believe is the same socket at the Athlon. But it is interesting to see if the edge cooling can accommodate the extra 10w tdp.

 

Well I feel a bit silly then, I had no idea! I still would be surprised if the BIOS recognized the processor.

 

No kidding? It just crossed my mind as I was finishing the post. Didn't even know the word had been used before, as this is my first tpad, well, at work I had a ThinkPad 770x, but hell, now you know that was like a decade ago!!!

And yeah, as to the sockets, well, I'm pretty sure the only x920 AMD makes is a lappie processor - Phenom II x920 Black Edition. quad-core, 2.3gHz (unlocked multiplier), 512kb x 4 L2 cache, 45W TDP.

As to recognizing it, yeah, I'm hoping... there was a BIOS update for the TP Edge in 11/2010 to add proc support, so I'm hoping this one was rolled in. I'm gonna guess, like most others, BIOS are farmed out (looks like phoenix), and the BE's were released in October.

Used to do this back in the mobile athlon days, and the Turion TL and ZM days.

Here's to hoping it works

 

Now try fitting in a 1080p display!

But seriously, I've always wondered if the non-T/W series 15.6" thinkpads such as the Edge 15 and SL510 would support the higher-res displays. Lenovo refuses to offer them on anything except for their top-of-the-line thinkpads.

 

Believe it or not, if the x920 works, it's a keeper, and the next step is just that: 1920x1080 display, if I can find one.

Assuming the x920 works, and I keep the TP, where do I begin hunting down an LCD? Will the part numbers on the factory LCD help to locate a compatible FHD display?

 

That's interesting. Does the BIOS correctly identify the processor?

Does the 65W AC Adapter work ok with the new CPU?

And what's the battery life like?

Don't mind me, just very curious about your project!

Forgot to mention, i'm really tempted to get the 14" equivalent model, 01994GU, that's going for $428.99 (with Free Shipping) at Buy.com.

 

Don't know yet - x920 CPU won't arrive until Monday. I will update with the info.

However, I do not know if the Edge 14 could handle the extra heat of the x920 - it's 45W vs the 35W TDP of the stock CPUs. The HMM shows what I THINK appears to be a smaller heatsinkg/fan combo for the CPU. What impact that will have, I don't know, but if you're planning on it if it works for me, I'd suggest at MINIMUM using Arctic Silver AS5 thermal grease when you upgrade.

Right now, no matter WHAT I do, I can't get the system to draw more than 30W, on OR off AC adapter...

Under Ubuntu 10.10, I was at 100% brightness, had a WinXP VM going, running some speed tests, a win7 VM going, also running speed test, CPU cores almost locked to 100% @ 2200mHz (the P340) as well as making a 4.4GB DVD .iso image, and still could only get 30-31W draw. Maxing both CPU cores, using HDD and DVD drive!

Can't really see how much more of a difference a 10W addition will make, overall.

 

Well I found this:
Lenovo Support - 15.6-inch Full High Definition (FHD) (1920x1080) RG-ph LED-backlight LCD service parts - ThinkPad T510, T510i, W510
The model number for the T510 FHD panel is "42T0765". Some quick googling of that number comes up with some sites charging $125 for the panel (which is a lot cheaper than the +$250 it costs to order a T/W510 with it!)

Then, looking at the two pages for the 1366x768 display for the Edge 15 and the T510, there are multiple different model numbers for the panel, but none are shared. Not sure what that means for compatibility
Lenovo Support - 15.6-inch HD LED-backlight (1366x768) LCD service parts - ThinkPad Edge 14, Edge 15, E40, E50
Lenovo Support - 15.6-inch HD (1366x768) LED-backlight LCD service parts - ThinkPad T510, T510i, W510

Edit: this might also be helpful
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/TFT_display

 

i swapped an AMD X920 into my gateway NV53a36u. it works fine but i cant overclock. no bios options, amd overdrive is not compatible with M880G chipset in laptops. set fsb doesnt have compatible PLL info for my gateway either. I think any laptop that can support N930/N950 processor will handle X920 just fine. I got my laptop for $557 shipped and my X920 for $99 off ebay.

 

Negative on the x920 in the TPad Edge 15. Made sure it had latest BIOS, too.
Machine powers up, and that's it. No screen, nada. I at least expected it to come up, and about not having the CPU microcode or something...

For your Gateway, Try tpc (Turion Power Control) at TurionPowerControl - Home

So what is AMD expecting folks with Black Edition CPUs in laptops to do?
Kinda' pointless to make an unlocked, overclockable processor, and not support your main mobile platform with the overclocking tools!

What are some speed test comparisons on your x9100 in the 7815, and the x920 in the NV53?

T

 

They are for system builders making gaming laptops. Not people taking apart OEM laptops with locked down BIOS.

 

Then why is it in the channel?

Some of us have been doing this for MANY years, so it's nothing new...

I figured it wouldn't work, but at the price I paid for the TP Edge, it was worth a try. All I lose is time.

I can send it back, shipping pre-paid, and get 100% refund, including original shipping.

As I said - wasn't too much gamble.

Now I just gotta decide what to get next - NV53A seems to be it...

Buttons - lemme know if ya try TPC!

 

Did you want AMD to make a super-secret system builder marketplace?

 

Really you crack it open and mess with it then send it back for another person to get? That's a BS thing to do.

Common sense would tell you that your plan wouldn't work.

 

Actually no, Mr 5 posts.

Actually, when it's OEM only stuff, it goes there, to OEM's. It doesn't normally end up in dist channels, unless 1) it was NOT OEM-only, or 2) someone broke some rules.
AMD mobile CPUs have been available in dist channels for years, hence upgradeability for AMD laptops, to an extent.

In this case, the TP Edge doesn't recognize/have the microcode for the x920, and probably nothing triple- or quad-core.

 

Actually, the guy knew what I was going to try before I bought it, and that was a stipulation BEFORE I bought it. It has a simple trap-door on the bottom, similar to the Gateway FX 17" lappies.

Guess your lack of it explains buttons' response on the swap working on the Gateway NV53A36u?
I mean, common sense saying it wouldn't work, after all...

 

I woudn't even try it. I've upgraded CPU's in laptops before, but Acer/gateway/eMachines are known fore being more lax on their BIOS lock down. as they are a cheaper company and you pay for what you get.

 

Then you're probably frequenting the wrong forum...

I'd say probably 1/3 - 1/2 the threads on here are about upgrading!

As to Acer/Gateway being cheap, yeah, they are - so are HP's, Dell's, and many others. We used Dell Latitudes at work, and they sucked (D600-D630's). On the other hand, I have a Gateway P-6860FX that is like 3 years old, just sold it to a co-worker, and it's still running beautifully. His D630 from work is 1 year newer, and on it's last legs.

I also see in your .sig that Envy died...guess you do NOT get what you pay for...

These things are commodities nowadays, meant to be replaced every 1-2 years, hence my looking for a cheap toy to play with.

 

I have a name, but thanks anyway.

 

Edge/SL/L laptops are mainly aimed at home business and price conscious customers, whom want a laptop that is more robust than the average consumer grade entry laptops.

As part of lowering the purchase price for the consumers, they are usually offered with limited option range (basically only options that the customers frequently purchase), which enables the brand company to achieve greater saving by increasing the economies of scales.

 

They have a very long way to go, as the Edge that I received, was worse than any "average consumer grade entry laptops" I remember.

My wife is on her 2nd Black Friday special, HP DV6, previously using a Compaq C712NR which still works, and they are both worlds better in construction and appearance.

The Edge's keyboard, on the bottom left, made a plastic "creak" any time you use the arrow/pg up/pg down/shift/enter to the point of annoyance, and the entire right-bottom quarter of the keyboard would actually dip down about 1-2mm when pressing a key in that area.

The seams were not uniform, and plastic panels higher than other where they join.

I'd take a dv6 consumer grade laptop over the edge any day of the week, twice on Sunday.

I don't even consider it consumer grade, to be perfectly honest.

It's OK, but it's NOT even up to average consumer grade, IMO.

 

Edge 15 wasn't the world's best designed laptop, the casing design of that machine is more suitable for the 11 to 13 inch laptops.

Lot of my friends have bought DV6 when they first came out, most of these DV6 suffered hinge and overheating problems after 12 months warranty expired.

Personally i would hesitate to purchase any run of the mill ODM consumer laptops.

 

My wife's is a 2009 dv6-1334us.
Still 100% fine, except the dog chewed the AC adapter, and I had to replace it

Believe it or not, Dell emailed me today, that the inspiron M5101r I ordered from the Dell outlet on 1/10, due to arrive 1/14 (tomorrow) has been delayed, now arrival is 1/19, and got an email a li'l while ago that it shipped.

Seriously, Dell, how F'd up are you, if you have to delay REFURBISHED laptops, that are IN-STOCK, with even a svc tag available, and "in production" for 4 freaking days?!?!? On a REFURB?!?!?!? Supposedly, this is "inventory" that is available, before you even choose an exact unit.

Really?!?!?

I dunno - maybe I WASN'T meant to get a lappie just yet!!!

 

Hello all,
First time poster here so go easy

My finacee recently got an Edge 15, it was a good deal but the screen is appalling.
The poor viewing angles are literally a pain, she's getting headaches from using it!

I've been reading this thread with interest.

Looking at the Lenovo Support info, the SL510 can take a 1600x900 screen

Lenovo Support - 15.6 inch (1600 x 900) HD+ LED-backlight LCD service parts - ThinkPad L410, L510, L412, L512, SL410 and SL510

The standard 1366x768 screen shares some model numbers with the Edge 15 and the diagrams show they have a very similar construction although the LCD cable has a different model number.

Looks possible to me. What do you guys think?

Does anyone know what the quality of that 1600x900 screen is like.
I'm not too concerned about resolution, just want a screen that doesn't change colour as you move your head

 

Inspiron M501r arrived - x920 went in, works like a charm.

Summing up: Dell Inspiron M501R, X920 Black Edition, 8GB Corsair DDR3-1333 RAM, 500GB Seagate 7200RPM drive, all for right around $600 shipped!

AS5 still in the curing period, so i haven't hammered it TOO much, but this sucker flies!
Whoops up on my work lappie, HP 8440P i5-560M/4GB/320GB, both running Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, running Windows XP x86 and Windows 7 Pro x64 VM's under VirtualBox OSE.

Battery life, if sorta-of-hammered, is about 2:15-2:30, about what I expected. I built it as a cheap, portable virtualization workstation, which it is doing fine. I had a WinXP x86, a Win7Pro x64, and (2) Ubuntu 10.04 VM's open at once, and CPU was doing nicely - rarely going above 1200mHz clocking across the 4 cores.

Nice machine, at a nice price!

However...

Installing all this junk was a PROJECT!
The ThinkPad Edge, like my Gateway P-6860FX before it, was a joy to work on.
One trap door, with 5 screws, and everything was within reach: CPU, HS/Fan, RAM, HDD.

This Inspiron needed a near-total disassembly to get the CPU swapped. Artic Silver 5 thermal paste was used, of course