Lenovo ThinkPad T430: Upgrade Wonder

https://twitter.com/LaptopRetrospe1
https://curiouscat.me/LaptopRetrospective

Detailed T430 Specs and Configurations:
https://support.lenovo.com/ca/en/solutions/PD024705

Upgrade Guide:
https://medium.com/@n4ru/the-definitive-t430-modding-guide-3dff3f6a8e2e by George Kushnir (http://n4ru.it)

Maintenance Manual:
https://thinkpads.com/support/hmm/hmm_pdf/t430_t430i_hmm_en_0b48304_03.pdf
Support Videos and Documentation:
https://support.lenovo.com/ca/en/solutions/pd023521

Looking for one yourself? Check eBay and your local classifieds. Amazon also has a series of parts and machines. By purchasing from the links below, as an Amazon and eBay Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases that goes to supporting the channel.

eBay:
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4\u0026pub=5575586810\u0026toolid=10001\u0026campid=5338682114\u0026customid=t430\u0026mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp2380057.m570.l1313.TR9.TRC1.A0.H0.Xthinkpad%2Bt430.TRS2%26_nkw%3Dthinkpad%2Bt430%26_sacat%3D0

Amazon.ca
https://amzn.to/3df8GwS
https://amzn.to/3ciswpU

Amazon.com
https://amzn.to/2XFXGCc
https://amzn.to/2Xi3Rx7

Timestamps (Special thanks to Jack Coe)
0:00 Introduction
0:50 Specifications/Upgrades
3:04 Disassembly
4:50 Conclusion
6:37 Port Selection
Nicholas DeLessio : The T430 has been my daily driver for about 7 years now. I bought it new from Lenovo's website with the i7 3540m, and immediately upgraded to 16GB RAM and a 250GB SSD (later upgraded to a larger SSD when prices came down.) I got the SATA drive bay you showed and stuck the factory standard 360GB HDD in it as backup / movie storage.


I agree that this is a great laptop. It's been virtually trouble free for the entire time I've had it. It's suffered through drops and less than careful handling with barely a scratch, and was well worth the hefty price tag when new. Since these were so ubiquitous, I fully suspect I'll be able to milk another 5 useful years out of this thing with parts available for any minimal repairs that are needed.

Here are some things I'd like to add, for people considering this laptop:

- You have to come to terms with the screen. It's disappointing, considering the overall build quality of the machine. There are very few drop in upgrade options, and they're getting too expensive to be viable.


- When you take the keyboard out, be very --- very --- careful with the ribbon cable. It's super fragile. I was able to get a replacement under warranty, but that's no longer an option.


- The keyboard came in two flavors: with and without backlight. I've had the pleasure of using both, and while both feel good, the non-backlit option is much more clicky and responsive. If you can make due without a backlight, I'd seek out this option. This model still has the thinklight, which you can use to see the keyboard in the dark either way.


- Don't forget that you can dock these as well! Docking this computer allows you to run up to four displays at once (including the built in screen) though you might want to seek out improved heat sinking options if you plan on making this a habit. Make sure you have the higher wattage adapter plugged into your docking station -- the one that comes with the computer won't cut it (this is the same as the W530 adapter.)

- The DVD/SATA drive bay also had a battery made for it, allowing you to hot swap the main battery without being plugged in! I've never used this functionality, but it could be useful if you're on a transcontinental flight or something.
ananias danda : My t430 wasn't turning on for 6months and during those 6months different computer repair shops have been saying it's the motherboard but I wasn't convinced so I removed the cmos battery and put it again and it instantly turn on but the issue is each time I have to turn it on I have to remove and put it back again the cmos battery what should I do? Because it's now beginning to annoy me hahahahaha
EM NETWORK : can this run a graphics card?
Cristian : Have you tried playing on it? Raise temperature? Is it noisy?
Rezart Avdyli : If i upgrade the msata drive with msata3 does it recognise at all the msata ssd cuz as i know these is msata2 or it just read the speed of msata2 but still recognise the msata 3 ssd
Mizi anyone there : Can upgrade cpu with i7 4700mq on this laptop?
Ghasif Zain : Can I upgrade the processor from 3rd generian to newer ones?
ThiNK RealtaLK : just got one of these, in my stock i bought today. I got 6 ThinKpads today 200
HeiderTV : Hello Mate, Thanks for this video After watching this video on Thinkpad T430, I ordered T430 from Ebay. I receive it yesterday 8GB Ram Intel I5-3320M. I upgrade the SSD and applied thermal solution on the CPU. Resolution is 1366 x 768 which is fine for me. I installed on it Archlinux, Debian and Windows 10. It is a great Machine.
I will make it my workstation and slowly slowly I will upgrade the CPU following the guide you recommended:
Upgrade Guide: https://medium.com/@n4ru/the-definitive-t430-modding-guide-3dff3f6a8e2e
by George Kushnir (http://n4ru.it)
frosts maker : This laptop is 2012, It has all of that?? Mind-blowing. Why nowadays laptops still don't have it? Hot-swap battery, hot-swap DVD drive for HDD. Express Card (for newer laptops should be type c thunderbolt). I'm just surprised to learn that this is produced in 2012 and I just know that right now.

It's hard getting a new laptop (Thinkpad T430)

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ADITHYA AJAY : I got the lenovo T430 for $100
HeiderTV : How many of you watch this video because of Lenovo 2020 BS?
T430 is the last great thinkpad u can upgrade the CPU to quad core i7 everything is upgradeable. In 2020 Lenovo Killed thinkpad. RIP Thinkpad
Blazor b : So no battery = doesnt work? But wait, works wired correct?
Justin Nentwich : Just bought a T430 can't wait for it to come in.

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