Thinkpad T580 - Hardware Setup
My Thinkpad T580 physical setup
Purchases
Thinkpad T580
- i7-8650u
- 16GB Ram
- Broken SATA connector
If you click see original listing you can see more details
Kingspec 2242 B+M Key M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD
Upgrades/Modifications
SSD install into the existing and empty WWAN (Cellular modem) slot
If you plan on doing this mod yourself, make sure to select a compatible SSD. SSDs to fit in the modem slot and work need to be:
- B keyed, or M+B key
- PCIe, NOT SATA or anything else
- M.2 2242
- First we have to take out the external battery. Its secured by two slide locks.
- Next, we have to unscrew the captive screws from the backplate
- After you can shim the back cover off. There are clips so go slowly around and pop them up.
- With the back cover off, we can unplug the cable to the internal battery. I don't find it necessary to take it fully out
- After inserting the SSD into the modem slot (it only fits one way, atleast for this ssd) you can push it down and insert the screw to hold it in
- Reconnect the battery cable
- Clip the back cover back on
- Screw back in the captive screws
- Put back in the external battery
New external battery
The external battery that came with my thinkpad was toast so I had to get a new one. I decided to pick up a 01AV427 72Wh battery for around $35 online. It is the biggest external battery offered for the laptop and does add a lift. The lift hasn't bothered me so far and seems pretty stable. The battery life has been great with it
Result
Now I have a laptop that has been reunited with a storage medium. OS install and setup are in the next posts.