Hello!

As subject; Is there any way to check if the T61p nVidia GPU is from a 'bad batch'? E.g., can I ask a seller for the serial number and somehow find the manufacture date on the Lenovo website? Alternatively, is that listed anywhere on the laptop? If the manufacture date of the laptop is beyond a certain point in time is it 'likely' it does not have the 'bad batch'?

I know it might not be possible to tell 'for sure', but I'm looking to determine if there is a way to narrow down how 'likely' it is a particular model is affected.

Thank you!

You are correct that it is hard to tell for sure, but the manufacture date is on the same label as the Type number on the bottom of the laptop. Manufacture dates on and after 08/08 are generally considered "safe".

Where 08/08 is in format YY/MM, meaning 2008/August. 08/09 is 2008/September, etc.
They are following the S/N (Serial Number) on that label.

Thanks for the replies. I have found out it is 08/07. Strictly speaking this not 'safe' from the previous 'rule of thumb' but how likely is it that this month has the bad chip? Am I, say, safer than 'normal'? Thanks!

Still impossible to say for sure, but the way I look at it, even if the laptop was built even one day before a shipment of re-engineered chips arrived in the factory, that days production would still have been using the defective chips.

Another possibility is that the motherboard was replaced under warranty at some time. If the seller can provide written proof of that being the case....you might consider it a safe purchase.