NVidia GPU replacement identification?

[DRobinson]

This may be out there, but I did not find the answer I was looking for via search.

I have a few 14" WS T61 with Nvidia graphics. A couple are bad gpu for sure. But, 3 are great graphics still. I was looking at one and the DOM was mid 08. But, there was a red stamped date on the internal shield where the HD goes of 2009. Could it be that this machine has had it's internals replaced?

Is there a way to tell that a GPU is from a good batch other than DOM on the underside of chassis?

[TuuS]

Sounds like a question for me lol

Here is how I confirm a laptop has a good gpu, first step is the date on the bottom of the laptop, if it's 08/08 (year/month) or later and this is NOT a lenovo refurbished unit, it was built with the good GPU. Second step is to confirm the serial numbers in the bios to the bottom label. If they match the next step would be to look at the GPU itself. I've seen the dates vary but most NVS140m chips are about 08/24 (year/week) and most FX570m are 08/25, but I've seen them vary from 0820 to 0829 on original boards. Also check the upper ram socket to see if there is an extra mac address label attached, this will indicate a warranty board was installed. They will also often have an orange "serviceable used part" sticker on the bottom of the board somewhere. Some of them got new gpu chips, some didn't, it's just a matter of luck.

Also, the gpu date alone isn't conclusive evidence, there were many factories making these chips and many production lines and it would be impossible to update everyone at the same date so no doubt there are good and bad chips with the same date, however the boards originally installed in 08/08 units used the updated chips. Prior to this date the chips were mixed as failures sharply declined starting about febuary 2008.

Also beware of boards refurbished by 3rd parties that have been known to use Fake GPU chips from China.