used T40 - GPU failure propability

[kajencik]

So, I recently aquired an used T40 in great working condition (no GPU issue so far), with a radeon 7500 GPU, and I'm just curious:
What do you think is the propability for the GPU to fail? Is it for sure it will fail after some time? Should I get a replacement motherboard already and don't wait when it will happen? (And An additional question: the radeon 7500 in my R40 is working well too with no sign of failure, does the R40 and T40 have the same propability of a GPU failure?)

[ajkula66]

In my experience, GPU will not always fail, it depends on how the unit has been treated from day one.

My daughter's T41 with Radeon 7500 has been sitting on her desk for almost a year now after sitting on the original owner's desk for about four years, and is doing great (knock wood) apart from the battery that has died. That machine is on 24/7/365.

On another note, somewhat sturdier design of R40 makes them less prone to mobo flex, and subsequent GPU failure, although I have seen them die from this issue.

Hope this helps.

[sojourner]

with a radeon 7500 GPU, and I'm just curious:
What do you think is the propability for the GPU to fail? Is it for sure it will fail after some time?

I appreciate your concern. Having two T41's here the GPU issue has been on my mind too!

There was a poll taken a while back and about 41% of people with the 7500 had a failure. That's quite high in my opinion but after much thought have concluded (with regard to my two units) I'll adhere to the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"! And, if there is a failure it can likely be fixed!

To answer your question about having a backup MOBO (just in case); I've considered that myself and would likely go that route if the price is right!

In the mean time I just handle the TP with care and PRAY!

[underclocker]

Some T40's are entering their 6th year of service now. I have one and it's just perfect.

Unless there is some cause other than flexing for the GPU failure, like repeated on/off cycles (heat up / cool down cycles) - which I haven't heard hypothesized yet, then a well cared for unit should be fine for years to come.

[beeblebrox]

I think the main reason for GPU failure in the T40 series was the heat/cooldown cycle that killed many notebooks. Apart from holding it with one hand.

I have 2 colleagues who had a T40 in a docking station 99.99% and still got the flexing, so it was a thermal issue.
Interestingly they have a Radeon 7500 with short fan, i.e. the 7500 has no cooling at all. And they did quite a lot of CAD stuff.

In my opinion the poor lead free soldering stuff that was introduced by 2003/2004 by law is the main cause. Those soldering joints are just too brittle and weak. AFAIK since the T43 series they used a better, advanced soldering tin mixture for production.

I heard that Sony had quite a large financial write-off for their GRX Vaio series due to slot problems. Reminds me of the T30 slot problem.

[richk]

I agree with the lead-free solder analysis, and carrying the machine with one hand is certainly a big part of the problem. I don't agree about the heat-up/cool-down being a contributing factor because many R5x machines use the same graphics chip and I think I've only seen one failure, and that machine had been dropped. The R5x machines have a thicker, plastic, more-rigid case. Also I have seen almost no failures on 15" machines. In those machines, stress on the right side does not flex the same part of the motherboard. If heat-up/cool-down were the probllem, I would expect the same level of failures in R5x and `15" machines.

[generalachoo]

When you say since the T43 does htat include the T43?

[ajkula66]

One of the reasons 15" units are less prone to failure is better cooling in my opinion.

Funny how different people have different experiences: I have seen quite a few failures on R5x units, and all of the affected ones were 15" models...

I'd tend to think that heat/cool has to do something to do with the whole disaster. That's a problem that has been "inherited" from A3x series, with A31p being the most affected model.

And yes, new soldering "technique" if you will started with T43/p, but can also be found on some very late T42 units.

[sktn77a]

I've had a 33% graphics chip failure rate (1/3) with 14" T4x models and 100% failure rate (1/1) with 15". Small "n", agreed, but it's data, nevertheless.

[frankiepankie]

I have a T40 (2373-8CG ) for almost 2.5 years i think (bought used, so it is even older ) and i haven't had any problems with GPU or so

[SteveS]

Buying a replacement part for one that has a high failure rate is always a good question. In the case of a motherboard, you are looking at an expensive part, and if you pay to have someone replacement, you are probably looking at a price greater than the machine is worth.

You might just want to wait and see if it fails. If you really love the T4x series, then you have an option at that time. While some members complain about the noise, the T43 series do not seem to have the GPU solder failure problem. At the rate the prices are dropping, in a year or so you probably will be able to buy a nicely equipped T43 in good shape for about $250 – roughly what a tested used T4x motherboard goes for today.

[ciorbarece]

It totally depends on how you threat your thinkpad. I had the flexing problem on my t40, that was because I always lifted the notebook with one hand from the left side.

Changing the mobo didn't help, because after a few hours it broke again, because the case pulled the mobo down again and broke it. Only replacing the whole case of the TP helped (thx to ibm support).

After that I was careful, and never lifted the TB with one hand again. The t40 still works like a charm, and showed not a single problem since then.

You should take a look at the case, if it's bent down on one side. If this is true, then you will get the flexing problem, and changing the mobo alone won't help. This is espacially a problem with used TPs.