Thinkpads Forum

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

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.

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 ?

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.

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.

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 ?

A3roNoob wrote: 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.

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.

A3roNoob wrote: 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.

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

A3roNoob wrote:I have a last question. If I put a motherboard with a Intel gpu, will the heatsink from the nvidia chip be compatible ?

Yes.

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.

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.

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