Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

X60/X61 and X60t/X61t Series
Post Reply
Message
Author
grunger106
Freshman Member
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:38 pm
Location: London UK

ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#1 Post by grunger106 » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:21 am

I recently converted a slightly damaged X60T into a fully working X61T.

As a result I now have enough guts left over together with some other parts of X6xT machines I've owned over time to have enough for a nearly complete unit, although with enough faults (damged screen bezel, digitizer is dead, bios locked with a unknown password but does boot of HDD0) to make it almost worthless in money terms (Although I have had interest in the board from a member here, so if this project doesn't work out that member can have the board :) )

But it got me thinking - I've always fancied a MAME cab, but never had the space, then I saw the WeeCade http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/eng/stepweecade.htm project and was thinking about trying a 'ThinkCade' I think a 1.83Ghz CD would do most MAME games, I can put the unit in tablet mode and then mount in a case, us a usb to arcade controller card.

I'm only aiming for a 1 player unit - 12.1 is a bit small for 2!

The only snags I can see are possibly heat, and how to switch it on, does the X60T support USB 'keyboard' wakeups? I could use the bezel power button

What do you reckon?
Current Thinkpads - X200s, X61 Tablet (MT+MV), X60 Tablet
Thinkpads Past - T20, T21, T23, X21, X30, T60, X31, X60

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23809
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sun Feb 26, 2012 8:54 am

If you get the password removed (contact forum member poshgeordie in Newcastle), you could activate Wake-On-Lan in the BIOS.
A bit of electronic fiddling with the keyboard should let you make a connection to the power button.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

grunger106
Freshman Member
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:38 pm
Location: London UK

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#3 Post by grunger106 » Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:18 pm

Actually one of the missing parts is a keyboard......

If needs be I'll grab one, but I'm leaning towards the screen bezel power button as the solution.

Got it all working with a 360 controller and MAME/GameEx frontend, now for the actual controls/cab - the hard bit....
Current Thinkpads - X200s, X61 Tablet (MT+MV), X60 Tablet
Thinkpads Past - T20, T21, T23, X21, X30, T60, X31, X60

grunger106
Freshman Member
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:38 pm
Location: London UK

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#4 Post by grunger106 » Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:30 pm

Slight snag, having removed the CMOS battery from the semi locked board, it is now showing the 0176 tamper message, so I guess thats that for that board...
I have a £20 replacement inbound.....
Current Thinkpads - X200s, X61 Tablet (MT+MV), X60 Tablet
Thinkpads Past - T20, T21, T23, X21, X30, T60, X31, X60

grunger106
Freshman Member
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:38 pm
Location: London UK

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#5 Post by grunger106 » Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:15 pm

An update - I'm still working on it!

Image

Still need to finish the top part of the cab, and paint.

But so far so good :) (I don't have a garage or power tools other than a drill - so hand tools all the way :( )
Current Thinkpads - X200s, X61 Tablet (MT+MV), X60 Tablet
Thinkpads Past - T20, T21, T23, X21, X30, T60, X31, X60

pkiff
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1607
Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#6 Post by pkiff » Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:34 am

That's looking great, grunger106! Hope you get it all working smoothly.

Phil.
X1E Gen 4 · X1T 3rd Gen · W520 · Legacy: P52, T60p, X61T, 600X, 770Z
Nostalgic for: 600X PIII 850MHz in a SelectaDock III with 64MB Voodoo 5 5500 and Sound Blaster Audigy 5.1.

grunger106
Freshman Member
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:38 pm
Location: London UK

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#7 Post by grunger106 » Mon Apr 16, 2012 1:49 pm

Thanks :)

A couple more pics of the project....

The beginning!
Image

Running BD vs DN - one of my first games :)
Image

Metal Slug 3 :)
Image

I'm going to re-do the bezel, so I'll grab a pic of the X60T in situ then...

I'm open to suggestions on how to power it up - currently I have to poke something through a hole in the bezel to hit the X60T's bezel power button, not perfect....
Current Thinkpads - X200s, X61 Tablet (MT+MV), X60 Tablet
Thinkpads Past - T20, T21, T23, X21, X30, T60, X31, X60

truk
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 387
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:36 pm
Location: Oldtown, ID
Contact:

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#8 Post by truk » Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:08 am

What I was doing for my t41 with no keyboard was using a port replicator. You should be able to solder on some wires to move the button where you need it!
http://www.truk.tk - 'Cause you've got nothing better to do.
RIP t30 2367-au5 October '07
t400 2764-CTO
7/OSX/Ubuntu
2.8GHz core 2 duo
4g DDR3
320g@5400rpm+160g@7200RPM
Led backlit and all the goodies

grunger106
Freshman Member
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:38 pm
Location: London UK

Re: ThinkCade X60T Mod Project

#9 Post by grunger106 » Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:18 am

Intresting.... Unfortunatly I don't have the depth to hold the PR in the cab, I was thinking maybe I could get a button in the bezel of the cab to look decent.

Nearly done apart from the bezel and artwork though.

Image
Current Thinkpads - X200s, X61 Tablet (MT+MV), X60 Tablet
Thinkpads Past - T20, T21, T23, X21, X30, T60, X31, X60

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Thinkpad X60/X61 Series incl. Tablets”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 56 guests