Thinkpads Forum

(Also posted in T400 forum)

I have a slight problem with the onboard sound in my T400 (sound would occasionally sound broken up, usually at startup or resume from sleep, tho' it only lasts for 10 seconds at a time), and I called Lenovo about it. They've sent a guy out to replace the motherboard, which will most likely mean it is a refurb.

Would you trust a refurb motherboard in a laptop that otherwise had few problems? I'm concerned about 1) the stress to the machine during a board replacement, and 2) where the hell do they get refurb boards from? Sounds skeery!

- Tim

Admin note: T400 thread locked; duplicate posting

tbessie wrote:(Also posted in T400 forum)
...

You should then ask the mods to combine the threads. There is no reason to have the same discussion in two forums. Or worse, have part of the discussion here and the other part over there.

basketb wrote:You should then ask the mods to combine the threads. There is no reason to have the same discussion in two forums. Or worse, have part of the discussion here and the other part over there.

One word: coverage.

In my defense, I almost NEVER do such a thing (being an old Usenet hand and knowing the evils of crossposting). But the fixit guy will be here today, so I was seeing if I could get an answer quickly.

If the mods combine them, are they seen in both places, or only one? I was trying to get an opinion from both people who may have done this with the current crop of T-series machines, AND in general, thus, the two places.

- Tim

OK, coming back to your original question(s).

1. What makes you think that the repair guy will bring a refurbished board, rather than a new one? is this something they are known for? (disclaimer: I don't have any experience with on-site warranty)
2. I think you don't have an option but to accept the refurbished board (if you want to have the issue fixed), as, if I remember corrently, this is stated in their warranty T&Cs.
3.

...I'm concerned about 1) the stress to the machine during a board replacement,...

Wouldn't the stress be the same even if you got a new non-refurbished board?

basketb wrote:OK, coming back to your original question(s).

1. What makes you think that the repair guy will bring a refurbished board, rather than a new one? is this something they are known for? (disclaimer: I don't have any experience with on-site warranty)
2. I think you don't have an option but to accept the refurbished board (if you want to have the issue fixed), as, if I remember corrently, this is stated in their warranty T&Cs.
3. Wouldn't the stress be the same even if you got a new non-refurbished board?

Thanks for your reply - to address your questions:

1. I spoke to him on the phone, and he said 90% of motherboards they send him for replacements are refurbs (tho' perhaps he's thinking of other parts, not motherboards... I will find out when he gets here)

2. Yeah, it sucks. It's kind of annoying how you buy a new computer, it has problems, and they give you a used part for it instead of suck it up and give you a NEW board. I mean, it was broken to begin with.

3. Yes, true, but I was combing thoughts - part of it is, would you go to the trouble and worry of having a system board replaced, for the problem I described (occasional, relatively isolated sound distortion that only lasts a few seconds)?

- Tim

I have checked this question before with a reliable servicing vendor and there is nothing you can do about it. They guarantee to bring a working board; they do not guarantee a new part. ... JDH

jdhurst wrote:I have checked this question before with a reliable servicing vendor and there is nothing you can do about it. They guarantee to bring a working board; they do not guarantee a new part. ... JDH

What did your vendor say about:

1) Proportion of new boards to refurbs?

2) Reliability of refurb boards to be without flaw, compared to new boards?

- Tim

With some very modest exceptions, when they replace a board for one of my clients, the boards work. True for the board replaced in my own T41. So I cannot answer your question except to say this. Board fails; call vendor; board replaced; computer works. .... JDH

Who is to say a new board will last longer than a refurb one. After all, your new board died.
They state they will supply a working board, not a new one. Personally I have never had any problems with their refurbed parts and I have had quite a few.

carbon_unit wrote:Who is to say a new board will last longer than a refurb one. After all, your new board died.
They state they will supply a working board, not a new one. Personally I have never had any problems with their refurbed parts and I have had quite a few.

Well, my board didn't die... just had a l'il glitch, is all.

For some reason, it just strikes me as wrong that when you get a piece of hardware that doesn't work (anywhere from a little glitch, or the system not working at all), that it ought to behoove a manufacturer to replace it with a new one... if you bought a new car, and the engine didn't work quite right, you could be certainly within your rights to demand a new engine, or a new car, not a refurb engine or car, don't you think?

- Tim

I'd like to get new parts too but that is not how it works. We can argue all day and they will still supply refurbed parts. Besides if it works what is the difference. Electronics can fail whether they are new or refurb. If it fails again within warranty they will replace it.
T400's have not been out very long. So it is not like they are giving you a 2 year old used board. It is quite possible it came from a unit that was never even fired up. Refurb has a wide scope.
Let them fix your unit and get on with using it.

tbessie wrote:For some reason, it just strikes me as wrong that when you get a piece of hardware that doesn't work (anywhere from a little glitch, or the system not working at all), that it ought to behoove a manufacturer to replace it with a new one...

If Lenovo always replaced broken parts with new ones, Thinkpads and warranties would cost a lot more than they do now in order to allow Lenovo to make the same amount of profit. They would be so much more expensive that you probably wouldn't have bought your T400 in the first place. Using refurbished parts is a way to keep the prices low for customers. Most if not all other computer manufacturers do the same thing.

I would accept a used part for all the above reasons. That said I had a T400 board replaced two weeks ago and it was brand new.

Brad

Refurbs most likely come from repaired and tested boards that were swapped out of dead systems. Of course, it depends on what the problem was, and whether they have a refurb available or not. If not, they use a new one.

If I have a choice, I would not accept a refurbed mobo (from anyone) for the simple reason that you really don´t know the history of that mobo, for example the gpu may have been overclocked and even though still working it will probably have shortened life-span, it may die right after your warranty expires. Assuming that the mobo change is weeks or even months after the purchase of the ThinkPad, the chance for something similar to happen is even greater (note, however, there is no such estimation as to when some hardware component is supposed to fail AFAIK).

Cheers

Marin

I just checked on the Lenovo / IBM site for the FRU of my system board, and see I could get a new one (in case I am just too worried about the used one that was installed) for around $400.

Does anyone know - should I decide to dot his completely nonsensical thing - a cheaper way to get them from Lenovo? Do CPP discounts apply to FRUs, do you know?

- Tim

What you need to ask yourself is whether you really need a NEW board that badly that you'd be willing to disregard the fact that swapping it yourself would void the warranty on the machine altogether...

AFAIK, no "usual" discounts apply to FRUs.

As previously stated by other members, these machines are almost new, chances of you getting a new board are quite good as it is.

How long of a warranty have you purchased with this ThinkPad to begin with?

ajkula66 wrote:What you need to ask yourself is whether you really need a NEW board that badly that you'd be willing to disregard the fact that swapping it yourself would void the warranty on the machine altogether...

AFAIK, no "usual" discounts apply to FRUs.

As previously stated by other members, these machines are almost new, chances of you getting a new board are quite good as it is.

How long of a warranty have you purchased with this ThinkPad to begin with?

Good point regarding the warranty.

My warranty lasts until October 2010 (2 year).

- Tim