Thinkpads Forum

hi everyone.
im aboutto buy an t61p i found some on ebay, this forum etc. but im worrying about faulty nvidia gpus.how can i determine is gpu working well or faulty?

The only way to be sure is: DO NOT BUY any T61 with nVidia GPU.
You can buy ANY T61 with Intel GPU.
See also this: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=99943

alitahriki wrote:im aboutto buy an t61p i found some on ebay, this forum etc. but im worrying about faulty nvidia gpus.how can i determine is gpu working well or faulty?

Ask the seller for the date code shown on the right of the machine's serial number, which is listed on a sticker at the bottom side of the machine.
If it is earlier than 08/08 (YY/MM=August 2008), than reject the machine. If it is 08/08 or later than it should be a safe buy.

Ask the seller for the date code shown on the right of the machine's serial number, which is listed on a sticker at the bottom side of the machine.
If it is earlier than 08/08 (YY/MM=August 2008), than reject the machine. If it is 08/08 or later than it should be a safe buy.

what about faulty ones? can we repair them ? or we have to change mobo ?

Motherboard swap is the only known cure for the nVidia problem...

I have a couple good ones. I'll probably post the in the marketplace if I don't sell them in the next couple days, but you can shoot me a PM if your interested and I'll give you the models and specs.

Also, if you get a replacement motherboard, you need to check the date on the nVidia GPU chip, to make sure it is dated from 08/08 or later.
This very long thread has all the info: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=93357

what is fru. of non-faulty t61p motherboards? i have a t61(not t61p) can i change my mobo with t61p motherboard with nvidia gpu on it?
edit: i mean: 256 mb fx570m

rumbero wrote:If it is 08/08 or later than it should be a safe buy.

Unfortunatelly not...

alitahriki wrote:what about faulty ones? can we repair them ? or we have to change mobo ?

There is a chance for succesfull repair, but it`s a hard nut to crack.
If you want to be sure that TP61/p with nVidia GPU, will live long and happy, you have to check date cod ON GPU, not the computer. If DC is over 2010, there wil be no problem in working of this GPU. Every GPU produced before 2010 is faulty, no exceptions.
Ofcourse, the only way to check it, is to dissasemble whole computer.

Sliwiec wrote:If you want to be sure that TP61/p with nVidia GPU, will live long and happy, you have to check date cod ON GPU, not the computer. If DC is over 2010, there wil be no problem in working of this GPU. Every GPU produced before 2010 is faulty, no exceptions.

Please do not spread any such FUD unless you can cite some reliable sources to claim the validity of this statement.

As has been clearly outlined in forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=615393#p615393, forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=634258#p634258and also forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-prior-T-series-ThinkPad/T61p-exhibiting-1-long-and-2-short-beep-and-black-screen/m-p/368771#M55090, the nVIDIA soldering material issue has been solved for GPU's produced starting with the 30th production week of 2008. All T61(p)'s produced starting August 2008 are equipped with known good nVIDIA GPU's.

what if i buy a motherboard from lenovo ? can they send me a faulty-gpu motherboard ?

A mobo from Lenovo will cost you ca. $575.-
If you have that kind of money to spare, go ahead.
But you'd be better off looking for a newer machine, like the T420, T520 or W520 series.
Mind you, those are all widescreen (T4 = ~14", T5/W5 = ~15").

alitahriki wrote:what if i buy a motherboard from lenovo ? can they send me a faulty-gpu motherboard ?

There have been some reports that Lenovo has installed used systemboards, but I believe they were the result of a dishonest service facility in a foriegn country. A Lenovo board should have a good GPU, but it will most likely be a used (repaired) board, as new boards are no longer manufactured.

This is speculation, but it's my opinion that you can't replace these chips and end up with a board that is reliable as a good (untouched) board. In the old days of electronics, you could resolder on a board dozens of times and do no harm, but with current microelectronics, I think any time you do work like this on a board, you're risking doing other damage. In support of forming this opinion, I've seen many repaired boards fail within a year. I've had machines brought to me to fix where people have paid a staggering price to get a board repaired (not just thinkpads), and ended up with other components failing. I'm not saying they can't be effectively fixed, but what I am saying is I'd prefera good untouched board from 08/08 or newer unit over a lenovo $575 board. If the Lenovo board had even a year warranty, then I might consider it, but I know someone who got one fixed under warranty and it died just over 60days later and wasn't covered.

It makes no sense to buy a board at that price if you have an alternative. I usually get $150 for an Intel board with matching heatsink, which I demonstrate as working in the unit before it's sold, whith photos and screenshots, and I run the unit 24/7 for at least a few days to make sure there are no thermal issues. I also currently have a complete unit with 08/08 date code and T9300 penryn cpu (less hdd) listed in the marketplace for $350.

If you have a pre-august 2008 system, it's not doomed to fail. Most run fine, but you definitely should clean out the cooling system and replace the factory thermal paste with some Artic Silver #5. This alone has shown to make it run a few degrees cooler. Also avoid unnecessary heating/cooling. Booting and shutting down several times a day should be avoided on any computer, especially one of these. The lead substitute materials tend to crack if heated and cooled to often. A properly cooled unit running 24/7 would probably last as long as any competitors machine even if it had the less reliable nVidia chip. Obviously no one wants to have a questionable part in their system, but if I was given the choice of a good tested used board with the old GPU for $100, or a refurb board for $575, I'd gladly accept the former. You could replace it five times and still be ahead, but most important, if you use it properly and keep an eye on your temp, it could last the life of your unit, and even the $575 board may not do that.

I'll also add that Lenovo actually has a much lower failure rate on these nVidia chips then other manufacturers. I believe this is a result of better cooling

RealBlackStuff wrote:A mobo from Lenovo will cost you ca. $575.-
If you have that kind of money to spare, go ahead.
But you'd be better off looking for a newer machine, like the T420, T520 or W520 series.
Mind you, those are all widescreen (T4 = ~14", T5/W5 = ~15").

i dont want widescreen i want qxga.this is why i stuck in t61 :/
but with in conclusion it seem im going with an w701 or w701ds :/ thanks everyone for answers
love from turkey !