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    CF-51 MK3 SATA Inside!

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by PeteB77, Jan 10, 2013.

  1. PeteB77

    PeteB77 Notebook Consultant

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    I've been look into the CF-51 MK3 a bit more and noticed that the chipset is the 945GM/PM
    and the ICH7M. The ICH7M provides 2 SATA interfaces but I think they used a
    converter chip on the motherboard to go to IDE/PATA probably to maintain the form
    factor and drive compatibility across all CF-51s.

    Has this been discussed before? I searched but didn't find any threads.

    IBM did a similar thing in the T43 Thinkpad and people have tried, with some success,
    to remove the chip and use a SATA drive. It is rather complicated since the connectors
    are different and I would not attempt it. But here is one thread on it:
    forum.thinkpads.com • T43p SATA Guide (Beware pictures, 56k-ers)

    Michael J Moffitt's Project Log » Blog Archive » Intel 915GM SATA Hack
     
    PeteB77, Jan 10, 2013
    #1
  2. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

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    Interesting, we haven't quite discussed this angle that I know of.
     
    ADOR, Jan 10, 2013
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  3. Gear6

    Gear6 Notebook Evangelist

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    user xboxhaxorz on this forum might me able to help you with that. He has a repair shop, and the equipment to do BGA stuff, re-flows, etc.
     
    Gear6, Jan 10, 2013
    #3
  4. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    I think the reason no one looked into this is cost. After you do all the mod and upgrades to the CF-51MK3 (LL) your looking at $200.00 and then to do this you will be getting close to what a CF-52 cost...my first 52 cost me $275.00 so it really makes no sence.
     
    toughasnails, Jan 10, 2013
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  5. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

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    It is surprising they didn't make the whole 51 line SATA since they have the performance bumped up on these models to begin with.
     
    ADOR, Jan 10, 2013
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  6. PeteB77

    PeteB77 Notebook Consultant

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    It is certainly true that it is not worth paying someone to do it however if it uses
    the Marvel chip, it might be as simple as lifting the SATA leads, it does look like
    a leaded chip and not a BGA. I would do this probably by pulling the entire chip,
    then solder 30 ga wire wrap wire from the SATA pins to what would be the IDE
    pins from the converter chip. Now we have the SATA signals on the ribbon cable
    and into the caddy. Next would be to remove the ribbon cable in the caddy, and
    hook up a power cable, and SATA ribbon cable from another laptop that is a good
    match. Someone with more experience might know of a good ribbon cable to use.
    Probably too much work to be worth my time and the risk of damaging so much
    equipment. If I had a partially failed motherboard to try it out on - maybe.
    Looks like the Marvel chip is single channel based on this pin out:
    http://theboardroom.info/bios/Marvell-pinout.jpg
     
    PeteB77, Jan 10, 2013
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  7. PeteB77

    PeteB77 Notebook Consultant

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    PeteB77, Jan 12, 2013
    #7