IBM Thinkpad 701C Gets 21st Century “Brain Transplant”
Courageous Thinkpad fan Karl Buchka changed the interior of the 701C With rather more highly effective Framework motherboard. The highest official specs for this laptop computer rated it because the 486 DX4, not one thing that would sustain with the calls for of the twenty first century. In contrast to the most effective laptops of immediately, the most effective laptops of the mid-Nineties had massive enclosures, DSTN shows, and plenty of devoted ports. However IBM was at all times eager to please its street warrior clients, and the 701C got here out of that need. The Thinkpad 701C encompasses a new “butterfly” keyboard that slides outward to disclose a bigger typing space.
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Buchka’s project has been occurring for the final six months. The undertaking begins with a badly bought IBM Thinkpad 701C. Buchka determined to make use of the damaged Thinkpad as a foundation for constructing one thing superb and determined to take the Body {hardware} as a foundation. At the moment, the undertaking is totally working however in a “mock-up” state for testing. However as we will see within the footage, Buchka has efficiently booted Ubuntu.
The unique options of the 701C are ridiculous immediately. However in its heyday, it was a productiveness beast. The butterfly keyboard offered writers with a cushty typing expertise whereas folding right into a smaller bundle. So how does it stack up with a mind transplant?
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| Row 0 – Cell 0 | IBM Thinkpad 701C | IBM Thinkpad 701C Mind Transplant |
| Processor | Intel 486 DX2 50 to DX4 75 | Intel I7-1165G7 |
| knowledge retailer | 4 – 40MB | Essential 16GB DDR4 |
| to retailer | 720MB IDE | WD Black SN850 500GB NVMe SSD |
| Display screen | VGA 640×480 TFT lively matrix | 10-inch iPad display 2160 x 1620 |
Buchka’s undertaking is rather more than simply placing a Body motherboard within the 701C’s chassis. Buchka managed to zip the Body board into the rear half of the case. On the entrance is the battery to energy the laptop computer. The underside of the case is a 3D printed define that may be simply printed on among the greatest FDM 3D printers. The ultimate case will likely be printed utilizing MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) for top of the range and sturdiness. The hinge bracket will likely be printed utilizing DMLS (Direct Steel Laser Sintering), which fuses layers of metallic powder utilizing excessive energy lasers.
It seems that Apple’s iPad 7 show is an nearly good match for the 701C’s TFT show. The iPad show is tailored to make use of the eDP connector on the motherboard. The massive 2160 x 1620 show is big in comparison with the 701C’s 640 x 480. Buchka notes that Framework has no room for enlargement playing cards. Framework USB-C dongles that sit flush with the laptop computer and supply further ports. As an alternative, they selected to disclose two USB-C ports on the proper facet of the chassis. On the left, a devoted USB-C port replicator reveals two USB-A ports. Buchka remains to be engaged on CAD fashions for this a part of the construct.
The star of the present must be the butterfly keyboard, and it continues to shine due to the Teensy 3.6 microcontroller, which offers each the keyboard and trackpoint as USB units due to a personalized QMK construct. Within the ultimate construct, the keyboard and trackpoint electronics will turn out to be a customized PCB, a self-admitted mess of wires for the time being.
This undertaking is nice. We love the outdated Thinkpad aesthetic, however we additionally crave the ability of the most recent CPUs. This undertaking marries the 2 very nicely. Extra particulars will be discovered at: Buchka’s Frame community profile page.
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