The $118 Powerhouse: Resurrecting a 'Parts-Only' T450 into a 2026 Linux HackPad

Resurrected a dead ThinkPad T450 for $118. Performed a full teardown, repasted the thermal internals, and optimized the soul of the machine with Arch Linux. The result? A high-performance, distraction-free 'HackPad' that proves hardware is only e-waste if you lack the tools to save it."