Another T61 dying

[A3roNoob]

Hello everyone

My ThinkPad T61 died today due to nvidia chip (it should happend someday). So, I need to change the motherboard. I can't afford a mobo with Intel graphics because it's too expensive in France. But there are a lot of T61p mobo with nvidia FX570M. So, my question is: a T61p motherboard would fit in a T61 case ? If yes, which CPUs are compatible ?

Spec of my T61:
TYPE 6457-4UA
15.4" Wide
mobo fru: 42W7652
CPU T7300

Thank you for your answers

[brchan]

T61p widescreen motherboards and T61p standard (4:3) motherboards are not interchangeable, so you need to make sure that you get the one with the correct size. Sourcing a defective free FX570M motherboard can be tricky, though. If you want, you can try this method to re-flow and possibly fix the nvidia gpu problem: http://www.computerrepairtips.net/how-t ... therboard/. If you are careful and follow all the instructions, you may just end up with a working motherboard again. Many people had similar success when using this method on desktop graphics cards as well.

[A3roNoob]

Bake a motherboard isn't a usual thing I guess. I will search another way to fix before do this.
I've found this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/IBM-T61-MOTHERBO ... 56655f79b9

It seems to be a 14.1" board but the vendor says "MOTHERBOARD ITSELF CAN ALSO BE USED IN A 15" CHASIS". Is that true ?

[brchan]

The part number is an intel motherboard for 14.1 4:3 ratio T61 thinkpads. The seller is incorrect by saying it will fit in the 15 inch models, so it will not work in your system.

[RealBlackStuff]

That eBay guy is not lying, but as usual, is only telling part of the truth!
That is a 14.1" non-widescreen T61/Intel mobo, which will fit in a 15" non-widescreen T60 chassis, but only after you apply some chassis mods!
But it will NOT fit in a 15.4" widescreen!
Download the HMM here, to find the proper mobo P/N or FRU numbers: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 546_04.pdf
Intel 15.4" mobos: 42W7651 (Merom), 42W7875 or 44C4238 (both Merom and Penryn).
Merom CPUS: T7100/T7300/T7500/T7700/T7800
Penryn CPUs: T9300/T9500/X9000

And baking a mobo is a waste of time. If you are lucky, it just might work for 3 minutes, 3 days or 3 weeks, but after that it will crash again, guaranteed!
Unless you replace the GPU with a guaranteed original nVidia chip, dating from 2008/08 or later, there's no way to fix it, other than replacing the mobo.

[A3roNoob]

Thank you guys for your answers.
So I will continue to search a new motherboard, not too expensive and not too far frm France.
But is it sure there is no way to fit a T61p 15.4" wide mobo in a T61 15.4" wide chassis ?

[ajkula66]

But is it sure there is no way to fit a T61p 15.4" wide mobo in a T61 15.4" wide chassis ?

You misunderstood.

T61/p motherboards are interchangeable within the size, so 15.4" are fully swappable.

However, 14" standard and 14" widescreen boards will NOT fit your frame.

[A3roNoob]

T61/p motherboards are interchangeable within the size, so 15.4" are fully swappable.

OK, I understand now It expand my search zone.
Maybe I will take a T61p mobo if nvidia gpu aren't fautly in these ones.

[ajkula66]

Maybe I will take a T61p mobo if nvidia gpu aren't fautly in these ones.

Well, unless you find a *proven* 08/08 or later board - which is going to cost you an arm and a leg - you're much better off with an Intel one.

Good luck.

[A3roNoob]

I have a last question. If I put a motherboard with a Intel gpu, will the heatsink from the nvidia chip be compatible ?

[ajkula66]

I have a last question. If I put a motherboard with a Intel gpu, will the heatsink from the nvidia chip be compatible ?

Yes.

[A3roNoob]

Hello again, I bump my topic because I need a confirmation.
I've found this board on ebay:
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Laptop-Lenovo-Z6 ... 58ac0938d0

According to the bid, it's a Z61p motherboard. But on this website http://t61.wikispaces.com/home#motherboards it says the 44C3931 board is from T61/p. So, this board is really for Z61p or is just an error?
Sorry if it's a dumb question but I don't want to do wrong.

[RealBlackStuff]

The Z61/Z61p are variants of the T60/T60p, NOT the T61.
In other words, no way!
for 15.4" T61/T61p you can use these mobos:
Intel ........ NVS140 ... FX570M
42W7651 - 42W7652 - 42W7653 (Merom)
42W7875 - 42W7876 - 42W7877 (Penryn)
44C4238 - 44C3928 ...............(Penryn)
There may be others and that 44C3931 is unknown to me.

[A3roNoob]

Thank you
I believed that because it seemed have the same shape of the T61/p board.