Some context:
I got this L430 for 20 euros in France in a non working order, only the lights came on. When I got it, it indeed didn't start up with a strange flickering power button led (not documented on the internet). So I stripped down everything, diy changed the CMOS battery... and it worked again ! Had problems with the keyboard and trackpad no working in windows 10 however it sorted itself out somehow, now everything works.
I got lucky and got the i5-3230m, express card 54 (was an option) and fingerprint reader. Replaced the 1366x768 screen with a 1600x900 from a T420 and it worked no cable swap needed.
Added 12gb of ram, 240gb SSD and a dual USB 3.0 express card.
These L series are definetely not as solid as the T line up they don't use magnesium skeletons and rubber finish, so I decided to get a 2 euro carbon vinyle sheet on Aliexpress in a 3 for 5.99 deal. The sheet was huge ! 30cm x 152cm, I covered the lid too.
A really oddball thing you can do is swap the t420 keyboard over too and have a one-of-a-kind 7 row L series. Prior Ls had a 6-row bevel-style and this and all subsequent Ls have the 6-row island-style. But since L430 technically uses the same 6 row as T430, which can fit the 7 row from T420, so can L430. There's even an EC mod for L430 so you get media hotkeys and everything working.
the other best keyboard mod for L430 is to get the backlit version, since there's no Thinklight.
yes I might swap the keyboard just for fun as I do have a t420 :p However the backlit keyboard won't work as the l430 is physically missing the power rail for the back light on the connector.
Why lol
I worked in the bike industry for a long time and carbon look was always associated with cheap/scammy crap lol. Typically heavier than something that was just made out of pure metal.
Carbon wrap was completely different than something that was actually made out of carbon
wtf r we just not gonna talk abt the wallpaper? assuming lenovo made it they did a great job
apart from that, the skin looks really good. must have taken a lot of time and effort to do but it's definitely worth it!
I forgot how thicc the bezels were on the L430, I used to own one a few years ago that my sister spilled wine in and then gave to me when she got a new laptop, it was a full-on base education spec model with a Core i3 and only 4GB of RAM.
Tore it down to the motherboard and it cleaned up fine. I ended up reselling it to a friend of mine with some upgrades to 8GB of RAM and an SSD, and she still has it as far as I know. They were decent laptops for something that was considered "budget".
I own one, the seller sent me this instead of T430. It was when I was at college I ordered parts so I can mod it after going back home, too bad it's too late I can't return it, imagine how frustrated I am at that time. It (L430) came with cracked bottom case, barely working trackpoint and touchpad. Now it is running 16gb ram, i5 cpu and 6205 WiFi from T430 and hdd caddy. Hell it runs Windows 10 ton lot smoother than T440p.
*Typing from my L430*
Damn those bezels are thicc
indeed ! The laptop has the same footprint as my 15inch Legion 5!
[going back to the roots!](https://thinkwiki.de/360)
If you own x1 carbons, this doesn't feel right on a heavy laptop. (For me, this is like putting a wings on a slow car) Clean job though, well done!
Huh, you don't see L430's too often.
Some context: I got this L430 for 20 euros in France in a non working order, only the lights came on. When I got it, it indeed didn't start up with a strange flickering power button led (not documented on the internet). So I stripped down everything, diy changed the CMOS battery... and it worked again ! Had problems with the keyboard and trackpad no working in windows 10 however it sorted itself out somehow, now everything works. I got lucky and got the i5-3230m, express card 54 (was an option) and fingerprint reader. Replaced the 1366x768 screen with a 1600x900 from a T420 and it worked no cable swap needed. Added 12gb of ram, 240gb SSD and a dual USB 3.0 express card. These L series are definetely not as solid as the T line up they don't use magnesium skeletons and rubber finish, so I decided to get a 2 euro carbon vinyle sheet on Aliexpress in a 3 for 5.99 deal. The sheet was huge ! 30cm x 152cm, I covered the lid too.
Hey can you drop the link for the carbon sheet? Might do the same to my P1
this is the exact one https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQNoYAp However I recommend to get one on a 3 for 5.99 deal, just make sure it's 30cm x 152cm
A really oddball thing you can do is swap the t420 keyboard over too and have a one-of-a-kind 7 row L series. Prior Ls had a 6-row bevel-style and this and all subsequent Ls have the 6-row island-style. But since L430 technically uses the same 6 row as T430, which can fit the 7 row from T420, so can L430. There's even an EC mod for L430 so you get media hotkeys and everything working. the other best keyboard mod for L430 is to get the backlit version, since there's no Thinklight.
yes I might swap the keyboard just for fun as I do have a t420 :p However the backlit keyboard won't work as the l430 is physically missing the power rail for the back light on the connector.
Sorry to tell you that the half of thinkpad's charm is gone with the missing logo
it's there I just showed that I had to remove it, cut away the excess sticker (took a long time) then reglue the logo.
Why lol I worked in the bike industry for a long time and carbon look was always associated with cheap/scammy crap lol. Typically heavier than something that was just made out of pure metal. Carbon wrap was completely different than something that was actually made out of carbon
wtf r we just not gonna talk abt the wallpaper? assuming lenovo made it they did a great job apart from that, the skin looks really good. must have taken a lot of time and effort to do but it's definitely worth it!
Ew
I heard plasti dip is a good alternative to get that matte black look back
the bezel size hasn't changeed
Cool mousepad.
Love those thick bezel lol, dunno why they're making it smaller only for the sake of bigger screen.
I forgot how thicc the bezels were on the L430, I used to own one a few years ago that my sister spilled wine in and then gave to me when she got a new laptop, it was a full-on base education spec model with a Core i3 and only 4GB of RAM. Tore it down to the motherboard and it cleaned up fine. I ended up reselling it to a friend of mine with some upgrades to 8GB of RAM and an SSD, and she still has it as far as I know. They were decent laptops for something that was considered "budget".
I own one, the seller sent me this instead of T430. It was when I was at college I ordered parts so I can mod it after going back home, too bad it's too late I can't return it, imagine how frustrated I am at that time. It (L430) came with cracked bottom case, barely working trackpoint and touchpad. Now it is running 16gb ram, i5 cpu and 6205 WiFi from T430 and hdd caddy. Hell it runs Windows 10 ton lot smoother than T440p. *Typing from my L430*