Thinkpads Forum

I have a project Z61p (http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:Z61p) lying around for a while. It has a faulty motherboard: under the former owner's property the GPU was melted as I'm told: there were clumsy attempts to fix this, so the motherboard is beyond recovery. I bought this as is (without CPU, HDD, RAM, BT and WLAN) and I had these components already. All I need to resurrect this notebook is a good mobo.

According to the ltwbook, only two FRU-s are matching with this model: 41W1294 and 42W7753. I want restore this notebook, not building a Frankenpad with another model's mobo, so I need a matching mobo.

As for payment & shipping, consider that I live in Hungary, Europe (and my possibilities to get here the mobo I need are really scarce, that's why I turn to this forum), and I can pay for the mobo via Paypal. On eBay I see mobos in the price range 180-200 USD, that's the price I wouldn't willing to pay for a restoring/resurrecting project. Otherwise, I'm open to discuss price, shipping etc.

Thank You for reading this!

If you'd consider Intel graphics, a brand new board for $45.- + shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GENUINE-LEN ... 0945296487

Perhaps the mobo from a T60p 15.4" might also fit.

RealBlackStuff wrote:If you'd consider Intel graphics, a brand new board for $45.- + shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GENUINE-LEN ... 0945296487

Thank You for the insight. I would consider the mobo with Intel graphics as an option in case I don't find a suitable Z61p planar with FireGL V5200 GPU.

RealBlackStuff wrote:Perhaps the mobo from a T60p 15.4" might also fit.

I would like to restore a fully functioning Z61p (with firewire), I think that's not possible with T60p mobos, am I correct? (Same as R5x mobos with T4x case, as I recall.)

These are useful advices, but maybe I'll have luck, it's worth a try.

RealBlackStuff wrote:
Perhaps the mobo from a T60p 15.4" might also fit.

I can tell you that by the location of the hdd alone that this would never work. Other then sharing the same screen (lcd) and keyboard, virtually every other part is different.

ps. As I mentioned in a PM, I do have a mint z61p with fireGL graphics in my collection that I may be willing to part with, but it would take a lot of convincing for me to turn it into a pile of parts. Perhaps if I had buyers for many of the other parts, but to sell just the board would probably be more then you're looking to spend. I did have a look online, and it seems none of the boards advertised are actually from the "p" models. Most are the intel or ati radeon boards. I do have a z61m with radeon graphics that I might be willing to part out. but I understand why you'd want to keep yours original, they really are great systems. I'd hate to part with mine, but I definitely need to thin out some of my collection.

There are some Z61p planars on eBay (seems they are all FRU 42W7753: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40), but these are expensive.

I totally agree about that a working and good Z61p shouldn't be disassembled. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and save money for one of those mobos on eBay.

Up.

Here is a complete Z61p on ebay for well under $100. Only problem is it has a BIOS password.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Think-Pad-Z ... 3a7c2b02c3

mr.motoring wrote:Here is a complete Z61p on ebay for well under $100. Only problem is it has a BIOS password.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Think-Pad-Z ... 3a7c2b02c3

You need to be careful when looking for stuff on ebay, that is actually not a z61p according to the model number posted, it's a z61e, which is the cheapest model, and in that condition I'd say it's worth about the cost of shipping IMO

ThinkPad Z61e (0673-26U)
T1300(1.66GHz), 512MB RAM, 60GB 5400rpm HD, 15.4in 1280x800 LCD, Intel 950, CDRW/DVD, 802.11abg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, Secure chip, IEEE 1394, 6c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Home

Many sellers don't realize ebay includes that auto-populated specs section in their listing (which is almost always wrong). If you look carefully at his pictures, the label says Z61p. My instincts say his pictures are what is in fact being sold. Seller also states: "PLEASE SEE THE PHOTOS.WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU'LL GET."

I did look at the two very poor quality photos, the only one showing the model is to out of focus and fuzzy to confirm if that's a Z61p or Z61e. I even downloaded it and zoomed in.

I will admit that the bluetooth icon, wwan antenna and finger print reader would lead me to believe it may not be the "e" version, but at very best it's a heavily abused Z61p, I'd have to be really despirate to source a board from something that abused. The description says the case is cracked, the keyboards obviously been smashed to have all those keys missing in the same area, plus even if you clear the password, who knows what kind of working condition it will be in. Don't forget what that kind of abuse can do to BGA solder joints.

It was nice of you to look for the board for the member, but I'd think very hard about gambling on something like that.

mr. motoring: Thank You for the help, but I would consider this option as a worst case scenario. As TuuS said, there's no way of knowing, what other damages and defects might have and the seller doesn't ship to Hungary. The BIOS password is another problem, usually (but not always, of course) indicates a stolen stuff.

Still active, manual UP.

Found a working, tested, BIOS-lock free motherboard from an UK seller on eBay for a reasonable price. I'll receive it soon. I hope this will be a successful resurrection story.

Great news, good luck with your build.


ps. one of my T7600 cpu chips would be a nice addition to this project. I've been thinking about putting one in my z61p, but also thinking of selling the laptop since I don't use it often.

Thank You for the offer, but I already have a T7200 for the project. It'll be sufficient, and now I am on very short budget until the next payday comes in March.

Only the mobo is needed (it'll arrive within a couple days, I expect the delivery on Monday because of the weekend), all the other components are ready for the assembly process.