Thinkpads Forum

WTB motherboard for T61 14.1 standard with Intel GPU and configuration for Penryn CPU. Thanks.

You could also use the 42W7648 Intel mobo with Middleton BIOS, after which it also accepts Penryn CPU.

A couple of hints: Check this add... if it's not yet sold, then that's what you need!

Alternatively, if no one chimes in here, see this add; you can check its specifications via this site by entering the MTN (Model/Type-Number) being 88952FU for this particular T61 (see the thread ThinkPad Machine Type - Model lookup table for more information about looking up detailed specifications). Note that the seller seems to have listed incorrect specifications in the add; the CPU is not a T8100 but only a T7300, and it only has 2 GB RAM (as per the BIOS); not 3 GB as listed!

Yet another option is potentially this add but first you'll need to get its MTN and then check specs to see if has a X3100 or a NVidia GPU? Also, you need to decide for yourself if you dare buy a laptop which has definitely taken some (albeit unintentional) absube... by being dropped on the floor?
Update; the above is a 888902U which is the 128MB nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M... stay away!!

I don't know to what extent shipping from the USA to Canada and import-tax makes US-T61's uninteresting for you, but I'd guess that the used-T61 market in Canada is much smaller, compared to that in the USA?

Good luck!

Johan

T61 selection in Canadian big cities is pretty good. Shipping from the US to Canada or vice versa is no problem and I've never had an issue with taxes. Never been charged taxes or duties for computer stuff. Cigars and alcohol on the other hand......

Personally I'd contact TuuS.

Thanks for the discussion and advice. The machine in my footer with the T8300 processor has a 42W7648 mobo and uses the Middleton BIOS. I'm looking for a 42W7872.

portsample wrote:Thanks for the discussion and advice. The machine in my footer with the T8300 processor has a 42W7648 mobo and uses the Middleton BIOS. I'm looking for a 42W7872.

Just out of sheer curiosity (I need to be educated here!), and not to start a (potentially lengthy!) discussion here in the Marketplace: Could you elaborate a bit about why you seek for the probably a bit more rare 42W7872, when the 42W7648 w/Middleton will work identically?

Johan

I have this board, used, factory refurbished, or new NOS. Let me know if you are still interested. I also have he new NOS nVidia boards where are even rarer and a great deal if you are interested.

Johan wrote:

portsample wrote:Thanks for the discussion and advice. The machine in my footer with the T8300 processor has a 42W7648 mobo and uses the Middleton BIOS. I'm looking for a 42W7872.

Just out of sheer curiosity (I need to be educated here!), and not to start a (potentially lengthy!) discussion here in the Marketplace: Could you elaborate a bit about why you seek for the probably a bit more rare 42W7872, when the 42W7648 w/Middleton will work identically?

Johan

I can't speak towards this members motives, but can tell you that the middleton bios allows use of the penryn board by ignoring the redundant digital thermal sensor and disabling the boot error, but does not add full penryn support. Most don't notice a difference, but I can't blame a member for wanting he best and I do keep these rare boards in stock.

TuuS wrote:I can't speak towards this members motives, but can tell you that the middleton bios allows use of the penryn board CPU's by ignoring the redundant digital thermal sensor and disabling the boot error, but does not add full penryn support. Most don't notice a difference, but I can't blame a member for wanting he best and I do keep these rare boards in stock.

What exactly do you mean with the above (by me) highlighted, red text:

What "difference(s)" can be noted in actual use bewteen a 42W7648 with Middleton's BIOS, and the 42W7872?

What/where is exactly the lack of "full Penryn support" for a 42W7648 with Middleton's BIOS?

PS: Sorry for highjacking portsample's thread, but this question on the other hand bumps this WTB quest!

Johan

Most members don't really notice a difference, which is why I always offer buyers he option of the reflashed merom board since these penryn boards are so rare, but the difference is in the Penryn chip which was designed to be more thermal efficient and for example (I'd doing this from memory, so don't quote me), when a merom is idle, it will throttle down to 800mhz, but the penryn can throttle down almost infinitely lower and respond back very quickly. The temperatures are controlled by both the original analog sensors and a more advanced digital sensor which only the Penryn board can read. Unfortunately since the schematics of these boards are not available to the public it's difficult to say exactly what this means in the real world, so the best advice I can offer is if you are building as a hobby and want the best, get the Penryn board, or if you just want to fix a laptop and money is most important, get the merom.

I hope this explanation is sufficient to answer your questions.