T40 not so reliable ?

[DrThinkpad]

Hello everyone,


I've heard a lot from the past few days that the T4X series were the less reliable Thinkpads ever made, T40 being the worst. Why is it so, apart from the fan not covering the graphic card GPU and the need to reflow if you flex the mobo too much ? What can I do to increase my laptop's lifespan ? I would be kinda deceived if it would not be as much as a tank as I wish a T series would be...

[ajkula66]

Well, to begin with, always lift it with both hands to avoid putting pressure on the case.

Install so-called "long fan" to enhance cooling.

Pray to entity of your choice, and often.

[underclocker]

Well, to begin with, always lift it with both hands to avoid putting pressure on the case.

I'm not sure least reliable is accurate. Most fragile may be more on target. T4x's were designed to a thinness and light weight that history has proved to have come at the cost of durability.

Not flexing the case, by always lifting with two hands, will nearly ensure you don't have the loose GPU issue.

Additionally, the USB ports are sensitive to static electircity discharges. Touch a metal surface elsewhere prior to inserting a USB device into your machine.

I've had several T40's and other T4x's over the last 5 years and I've never had one fail on me. (I have purchased already failed unit's though.)

Enjoy your T40.

[richk]

Every machine has a part that is most likely to fail. On T30 machines it was the memory slots. On the A2x machines, it was the power circuitry. You are more likely to hear from people whose machines have broken.

[pianowizard]

Every machine has a part that is most likely to fail.

But the T40-42's problem is the most detrimental, AND it happens even to fairly new machines.

[richk]

I think the ones that fail right away are machines carried with one hand while the machine is running or the lid is open. They were never intended for that.

[DrThinkpad]

Every machine has a part that is most likely to fail.

But the T40-42's problem is the most detrimental, AND it happens even to fairly new machines.

I know you don't really like the T4x series, reading your previous post... anyway, any proof on that ? Any other reason why you don't like them ?

[pianowizard]

any proof on that ?

You can find lots of proofs on this forum. I've been here for over two years and have read countless horror stories. Like others said above, if you handle this T40 very carefully, it should last fairly long. If I were you, I would use this laptop exclusively on a desk, and buy another lighter and more durable Thinkpad for mobile use. The X2* is dirt cheap these days, and the X3* and X4* are also very affordable, often under $350.

Any other reason why you don't like them ?

None.

[SteveS]

richk wrote:

I think the ones that fail right away are machines carried with one hand while the machine is running or the lid is open. They were never intended for that.

Why not? Now that we know about this failure mode, we treat these machines better, but living in the corporate world, I have many times moved from meeting to meeting with my laptop open and running. And frequently, I had other items to carry, such as engineering prototypes, requiring me to support it with only one hand. If Windows actually resumed from standby mode instantly, you could make a case that the user should always close the lid. But this is not the case, and the delay in recovering from standby is lost time. That is reality, and should be the use model that IBM tested these too. Sorry, but I don’t accept coddling the laptop by both hands when moving it is a real world use model.

It would be curious to know if IBM saw the GPU bond failure mode while the product was still under design. Having managed the engineering design projects for many items, I know that sometimes you find a flaw late in the design cycle, and are pressured to “ship it anyway” in order to hit the product launch window. It also might be a case of manufacturing process compatibility. Perhaps the engineering prototypes were produced by a small run prototype vendor, and the GPU issue did not show up.

[pianowizard]

If Windows actually resumed from standby mode instantly, you could make a case that the user should always close the lid.

One can go to "Power Options Properties and choose the "Do nothing when I close the lid" option.

[SteveS]

BTW, even with the GPU reliability issues, I still consider the T40 series to be one of the best, if not the best laptop ever designed. We have many Dells, HPs and Compaq users in my company, and the reliability is definitely a degree lower. After have dealt with several T40 series units, I decided to try out a X40 – intrigued by the light weight and compact design. In addition to having a general lack of component availability (try to find a genuine 8 cell battery on e-bay), it is obvious that many tradeoffs were made in the design to achieve minimum weight. Most noticeable is the key actuators in the keyboard only have one moving arm versus the two in other keyboards. The action is just not smooth, and I found out the hard way that is it very easy to break off a key when cleaning a dirty keyboard, something I never did with a T4x.

[SteveS]

BTW, even with the GPU reliability issues, I still consider the T40 series to be one of the best, if not the best laptop ever designed. We have many Dells, HPs and Compaq users in my company, and the reliability is definitely a degree lower. After have dealt with several T40 series units, I decided to try out a X40 – intrigued by the light weight and compact design. In addition to having a general lack of component availability (try to find a genuine 8 cell battery on e-bay), it is obvious that many tradeoffs were made in the design to achieve minimum weight. Most noticeable is the key actuators in the keyboard only have one moving arm versus the two in other keyboards. The action is just not smooth, and I found out the hard way that is it very easy to break off a key when cleaning a dirty keyboard, something I never did with a T4x.

[ajkula66]

It's difficult to argue the fact that T4x series are one of the most versatile laptops ever, not to mention prettiest. However, their failure rate-due to GPU issues-has been high enough to become scary.

I've just bought an out-of-warranty T41 for my daughter and am typing on it right now. The only reason I've gone for a machine with no warranty was the fact that I've known the original owner for years, and was familiar with the fact that the laptop in question has never left his desk, let alone had been lifted with one hand.

At this point in my life I would never buy a T4x with no warranty from someone I don't know, unless the price was absolutely ridiculous. And I remain a T43 buff, as I tend to find their set of issues less of a headache when compared to T40/41/42.

A well-cared-for example is still difficult to beat, even with much more durable T6x ThinkPads now approaching $500-600 range for average machines, since T4s are lighter, prettier (in my opinion) and quite sufficient for most people's needs. At today's bargain basement prices, they are excellent value for money, but one has to exercise real caution when purchasing one of them, especially if the unit is out of warranty.

Just my $0.02

[KristianJ]

Why not? Now that we know about this failure mode, we treat these machines better, but living in the corporate world, I have many times moved from meeting to meeting with my laptop open and running. And frequently, I had other items to carry, such as engineering prototypes, requiring me to support it with only one hand. If Windows actually resumed from standby mode instantly, you could make a case that the user should always close the lid. But this is not the case, and the delay in recovering from standby is lost time. That is reality, and should be the use model that IBM tested these too. Sorry, but I don’t accept coddling the laptop by both hands when moving it is a real world use model.

I have never been able to see the wisdom in the "grab it by the corner" method. Even at 5-6lb, you're not holding it anywhere near its centre of gravity (which will of course shift further away from where you're holding it as the lid is opened). Add to that your holding of other things and IMHO it seems like a recipe for disaster if you lose your balance.

Also, one is more or less applying a concentrated load on one spot, which over time isn't going to be productive.