How widespread is the GPU issue with the T4x series?

[gherritwhite]

Hi there,

I'm a short time reader, first time poster. Recently I was fortunate enough to acquire a used T40 (with the Radeon Mobility 7500) and a used T42 (with the Radeon Mobility 9600). From what I've been gathering on the web, it looks like these particular models have been hit with the same GPU BGA solder issue that was the bane of my existence as an Apple G3 iBook user. So I had a couple of questions on my mind about them:

a) Just how widespread is this issue? Is it limited to a specific manufacturing batch, or specific variants in the T4x series? I read on ThinkWiki that units with the RM7500 are most affected, but that seems to be more of a rough observation than anything else.

b) Are there models in the T series to look out for which are less affected by this problem?

Thanks in advance. It kind of sucks that just as I've started to enjoy using a ThinkPad, that I once again have to worry about the GPU dying on me, and the subsequent hunt for a motherboard replacement.

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

A lot has been written about these issues in the T4x forum, you can use the "search" function at the top of the page and you'll come up with dozens - if not hundreds - of hits.

Briefly, any T4x machine with ATi graphics can become a victim of GPU detachment. Models made after spring of 2005 (all T43/p and some of the late T42/p units) had improved soldering process in place to reduce the odds of GPU detaching itself. While T43 machines with Intel integrated graphics are safe in the respect of GPU failures, they do develop Southbridge failures - another common ailment of T4x/R5x ThinkPads.

Never lift the machine with one hand from the corner, and keep it running as much as you can, just shut the LCD off when not in use. Keeping the temperature stable - at least in my not-so-modest opinion - helps prolong the life of these ThinkPads.

Enjoy!

[gherritwhite]

Thanks for the reply and welcome!

I've been doing some further research here on your recommendation, and from what I've seen it looks like people with 14" T4x ThinkPads with SXGA+ displays are SOL. It looks to me that currently no 14" R52 motherboards with Intel integrated graphics support them.

I did have an idea though - what if I replaced the SXGA display on my T40/42 with an XGA display? Presumably that would work with a 14" R52 Intel IGP motherboard?