Thinkpads Forum

Looking to replace a T42 that's down for the count. Looking to replace it with a T60 or T61 with Intel graphics. May consider a T43 if the price is right. My main concern is reliability. Just about any screen type is fine, but no 15" XGA.

Must haves: 1GB of RAM (one stick please), decent battery life (1-2hrs), good physical/functional condition, power adapter, wireless adapter
Would be nice to have: C2D T7xxx-series, 2GB RAM (matched pair), recent-model hard drive, port replicator
Don't care for/want: DVD burner, more than 2GB of RAM, "p" models, Flexview, hard drives >80GB, discrete graphics

I have not been following the trend with these model laptops as of late, so I do not know what something like this would go for. I'm guessing $200-250 since I'm asking for a relatively low-end model to replace a T4x-series. Maybe $150 for a T43?

I really can't be too negotiable on the price, as it's not my money. The T42 that it's replacing has a dead motherboard, which leaves the owner without a PC for school work.

Let me know if you have something along these lines! Thanks!

pm sent or see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=93381 -can downgrade hard drive to save you on price.

Mike

YGPM

Definitely intel graphics T43/T60/T61 are the most reliable in terms of detaching chip issue. Just returned a T61p with a nVidia GPU to Lenovo service for MB replacement.

sjthinkpader wrote:Definitely intel graphics T43/T60/T61 are the most reliable in terms of detaching chip issue. Just returned a T61p with a nVidia GPU to Lenovo service for MB replacement.

ouch.....................

Ron

sjthinkpader wrote:Definitely intel graphics T43/T60/T61 are the most reliable in terms of detaching chip issue. Just returned a T61p with a nVidia GPU to Lenovo service for MB replacement.

Ouch, sorry to hear it! One correction, though--the T60s haven't had any GPU detachment/failure problems. That was limited to the T4x series; the T61 GPU problems were not by and large related to detachment, but rather due to poor chip fabrication by Nvidia.

sysiphus wrote:One correction, though--the T60s haven't had any GPU detachment/failure problems.

This is true, the T60's with ATI X1300 run about as cool as the Intel integrated. I've never heard of any issues with either the ATI X1300 or ATI X1400. The only issue with the ATI V5200 and ATI V5250 is that they can run hot, especially in 14" machines.

PM me if you'd like an Intel integrated R61e for $250 plus shipping. It's in excellent condition and I've upgraded it to a Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz. It will outperform similarly equipped T60's due to its more recent generation video and mobo chipset. More info is below. This is a great machine.

Product: ThinkPad R61e 7650-84U
Original description: Celeron M 540 (1.86GHz) --> now Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz CPU,
512MB RAM --> now 2GB RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HD, 15.4in 1280x800 WXGA LCD, Intel ingegrated video X3100,
CDRW/DVD --> now DVD burner, 802.11bg wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, Secure chip, 6c Li-Ion battery (good cond.),
WinXP Pro COA, Recovery partition is intact, Lenovo 65w AC adapter

Alternately, I recommend this R61i from another forum member with similar spec's and the same cost --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=93422

Either machine would be a nice upgrade.

dorronto wrote:sjthinkpader:"Definitely intel graphics T43/T60/T61 are the most reliable in terms of detaching chip issue. Just returned a T61p with a nVidia GPU to Lenovo service for MB replacement."

ouch.....................

Ron

It was a few days out of warranty. They replaced the MB FOC after I explained the beep code. The paper work in the return box said: "engineering change". Definitely don't buy a T61 with nVidia chip if you can use something else.

The 15.4" screen on those R61s is a deal breaker I'm afraid. The form factor is just a bit much to be hauled around to class IMHO. If they were 14.1" I'd have jumped on the offer.

As for T61s with the NVIDIA chipset, I have not had any issues. I configured quite a few T61s for my friends in school a couple years back, and no complaints there either. Heck, two of them had the fan bearings sieze up, and worked fine playing StarCraft 2 for weeks before replacement. I guess it's a crap shoot.

I have a T61. PM sent.

Are we in limbo on this..just curious what's happening since I have a nice basic T60 waiting in the wings..

Thanks,
Ron

Ended up getting an offer for a T400 that fit the price range (see signature). Couldn't pass it up, and I bet anyone else here would do the same

Thanks everyone!