t41 faild gpu possile fixes(HELP)

[hansolo669]

OK my t41 just fell victim to the gpu failure. now what i want to know is:
-can i replace my motherboard with a t60(or t60/p) motherboard
-can i replace my motherboard with an r51 or r52
-will xga screens work on sxga motherboards
-will a t3x motherboard work?
-also does any one have an idea on other ways to fix this problem
-and what motherboards will fit in my machine
thanks

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

1) Don't think that a T60 motherboard is going to fit inside a T4x base; don't have a T60 system to compare with my T41, but that's my gut feeling.
2) R51 motherboard should work. There are some posts here which discuss that swap. Search for "r51 motherboard" and "r52 motherboard" in the T4x forum.
3) XGA screen should work as long as the LCD ribbon cable is also from/for an XGA system.
4) I don't think that a T30 motherboard will work either (see #1).
5) GPU solder bond problem is repaired by reflowing and/or re-balling. You can either take the "professional" route and have a company do this for you (especially re-balling; I don't think that the average person has the capability to do this) or try the home-brew remedy of using a hot-air gun and infrared thermometer.

[hansolo669]

thanks rkawakami i shall look into obtaining a r51/52 motherboard

[Harryc]

There's a couple of caveats that you should be aware of if you decide to replace a T41 board with an R51/52 board. First, there is a firewire port on the R51/52 motherboards that will not have a cutout on the T41 chassis. In the case of an R52 board, the CPU and RAM needed are not compatible with those from your old T41.
Here's a good thread for your situation, however if you decide to go with an Intel board, be aware of LCD swap concerns if yours is SXGA+.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=65505

[virge]

Just to add my $0.02...

I'm pretty sure the R52/T43 motherboards have one Express Card and one PCMCIA slot. The T40-T42 machines have two PCMCIA slots. Not sure about the R50-R51. I think my old R51 only had one PCMCIA slot.

[RealBlackStuff]

The R52/T43 motherboards DO have one Express Card and one PCMCIA slot.
R50/R51 are almost identical to T40-T42 and fit without any problems (except a hole for Firewire [only on some R5x]).
Especially the R50/51 mobos with Intel GPU are highly recommended.

[hansolo669]

wow thanks guys really big help. seems like the r51 is the way to go, hopefully one of those motherboards pass by might way

one more thing how can you tell if your display is xga or sxga?( i have a 14in t41)

[ajkula66]

What's the 7-character model number of your T41? 237?-???

[RealBlackStuff]

Check in the Display Properties/Settings.
If your display is SXGA+, it will show 1440x1050 as max. Resolution on the slider.
If XGA, it will be max. 1024x768.

[hansolo669]

ajkula66: type: 2373 S/N: 99 - tlfdf
and thanks realblackstuff, now i know i have an xga, max is 1024x768

[Harryc]

...and thanks realblackstuff, now i know i have an xga, max is 1024x768

Perfect candidate for an R51 Intel board. TR451 ... Post any questions to the thread I linked to earlier and you'll be in good hands.

[hansolo669]

ok i found a r51motherboardwill this one work or do i need a different one(i think it will but just checking)
i like tr451(or tr541?)

[Harryc]

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-LENOVO-R51-INTE ... 0271351275

The parts manual lists part# 93P4201 and 93P4202. I am not sure about the auction that you linked to. 93P4202 has Gigabit Ethernet, so I'd go for that part number. You can probably do better on price if you are patient.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 53115.html

[ajkula66]

Agreed with Harry, that's a LOT of money for an Intel-based board...

[hansolo669]

Agreed with Harry, that's a LOT of money for an Intel-based board...

hmm, ohh well good things come to those who wait...

[RealBlackStuff]

That machine started out extremely basic:

Product: ThinkPad T41 2373-4NF [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: P M 1.6GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024X768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, Open bay, Wireless upgradeable, Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip(TCPA), 6 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

How about this mobo? http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibm-Thinkpad-R50-R5 ... 0353389837

[hansolo669]

That machine started out extremely basic:

Product: ThinkPad T41 2373-4NF [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: P M 1.6GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024X768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, Open bay, Wireless upgradeable, Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip(TCPA), 6 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

How about this mobo? http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibm-Thinkpad-R50-R5 ... 0353389837

wow, thanks

[hansolo669]

thread reviing time:
are the 15 inch and 14 inch r51 motherbords the same(by the same do they use an removable extender for the hd and ultra bay) or are they two diffrent bords

[ajkula66]

All T4x/R5x boards are of the same size, 15" units have an extra piece called interposer card that is NOT a part of the board itself.

[scr71822]

Here are a few I punched up:

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Lenovo-ThinkPad ... 1e59e0e570

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-R51-14-MotherBo ... 4147dc5b75

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-15-R51 ... 2558134718

All said to be working some with guarntees all under 80 bucks

[hansolo669]

thanks

[hansolo669]

heres a quesstion is the ati gpu on the r51 motherbord more reliabile than on the t41?
also is the radeon 9000 and fireGL t2 more reliable than whatevers in the t41?

thanks

[ajkula66]

No, no and no.

The only fairly reliable graphic cards are X300 and V3200 used on T43 and T43p respectively.

Truth being told, some of the late (spring 2005 on) T42/p motherboards have the same enhanced GPU support originally seen on T43/p, but you'd have to specifically inquire about it with the seller. The support looks like several red dots around the GPU area.

Good luck.

[hansolo669]

No, no and no.

The only fairly reliable graphic cards are X300 and V3200 used on T43 and T43p respectively.

Truth being told, some of the late (spring 2005 on) T42/p motherboards have the same enhanced GPU support originally seen on T43/p, but you'd have to specifically inquire about it with the seller. The support looks like several red dots around the GPU area.

Good luck.

hmmm.... time for some more ebaying
also t43 in a t41 base?

[ajkula66]

Yes, with a couple of "gotchas"...

CPU, fan and RAM are different.

T43 has a different PCMCIA setup than the rest of the T4x machines as well.

T43 is picky about hard drives and throws errors on boot when non-approved ones are used...

Personally, an Intel-based board from R51 may be your best bet...

[hansolo669]

Yes, with a couple of "gotchas"...

CPU, fan and RAM are different.

T43 has a different PCMCIA setup than the rest of the T4x machines as well.

T43 is picky about hard drives and throws errors on boot when non-approved ones are used...

Personally, an Intel-based board from R51 may be your best bet...

i found a t43 bord quit cheep; a new fan woldnt be hard to find (wold it?) ramis cheep now adays and i have an orginal tp hd
but i think the r51 intel bord is the best bet as i alred have the parts for it, also just windering but what is the graphix speed like compared to whatever ati chip is in my t41? (will edit when i find the chip)

[RealBlackStuff]

You will not notice much (if any) difference between the R51 integrated Intel gfx and the T42 ATI gfx, unless you had a T42p.
Intel gfx uses up to 128MB shared RAM for display, so it might actually be better in some cases.
It's intelligent use of RAM, only takes what and when it needs it.

[hansolo669]

You will not notice much (if any) difference between the R51 integrated Intel gfx and the T42 ATI gfx, unless you had a T42p.
Intel gfx uses up to 128MB shared RAM for display, so it might actually be better in some cases.
It's intelligent use of RAM, only takes what and when it needs it.

thanks relly clears that up .
intel ebaying away!!!!

[hansolo669]

omg more editing

should i chance it on this one? http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-THINKPAD-R51-MO ... 3633wt_939

it says it was pulled from a working system with a good chance it works so? just wanted to get a secons opnion

[ajkula66]

It also says "untested"...and at $25 I'd be scared...

My $0.02 only...