T61P Motherboard upgrade options

[HitsOfMisses]

I suspect motherboard failure on my T61P & am thinking of replacing it. It has T7500 processor & 14.1" TFT standard display. On the MB it says: Planar FRU Part Number: 42W7650

The google search comes back with various part numbers for the same MB.
1.) What is the difference?
2.) Can I replace it with the latest part number & will it still work with my existing componenets (BIOS, HDD, etc.)?
3.) Can I upgrade it with any other newer model MB?
4.) The new MB costs around $400 on e-Bay whereas a refurbed would cost me about $250. Are refurbed reliable?
5.) Can anyone recommend a reliable dealer?
6.) I've experience assembling/fixing Desktops & so far done a few minor laptop upgrades. Is it very complicated/difficult to replace it on your own? I'm little worried about breaking those delicate, plastic coated data/power connectors.
7.) Is it possible to get the support/upgrade diagram that lists how to replace the MB?

Thank you!

[richk]

That is a 4:3 motherboard and they are REALLY hard to find. The 4:3 (not-wide) models will not take any other shape. As far as I know, the only 2 part numbers that are an exact match are 43Y9046 and 42w7650. 43Y9046 is just a new number for the same board. I believe board numbers 44C3926 and 4W7874 also have the same GPU and will also use a Penryn processor, but they are also hard to find. If you don't need the GL GPU with 256MB graphics memory, the GS GPU (128MB video memory) boards are a little easier to find, may be a little cheaper and fit just the same. My notes say I have one in stock, but I would need to check. As far as the service manual, look here:

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 545_03.pdf

[kamaleon]

I thought there never existed 256MB gpu T61 boards at 4:3?

[Radioguy]

I'm sorry to threadjack, but since it's a similar question....What are the planar options for the chassis that's in my signature? (T61: 15.4")

I remember this being posted before more than once, but I didn't have a great deal of luck with a search. I also believe one or more of the T61p boards with discrete graphics were the best that could be inserted, but I'm uncertain if there was just one type, or the FRU no.s for those.

Thanks for any help.

[richk]

There is a 4:3 256MB board. There isn't a 14.1" wide-screen 256MB

[Kamika007z]

I hate to say it, but there isn't a 256MB 4:3 board.

I have the T61p 4:3 and it has the FX570M running the Penryn-compatible (newer thermal sensor) board with only 128MB of video memory but I have not seen the 256MB model exist anywhere, not even in the service manual parts lookup.

[Worzyl]

I hate to say it, but there isn't a 256MB 4:3 board.

I have the T61p 4:3 and it has the FX570M running the Penryn-compatible (newer thermal sensor) board with only 128MB of video memory but I have not seen the 256MB model exist anywhere, not even in the service manual parts lookup.

Doesn't the FX570M work in the same way as the V5200's in that the memory doubles up?
eg: V5200/V5250 has 256MB but multiplies to run at 512MB via some dual dynamic thingy...thing....

[Kamika007z]

You mean like shared memory? Most likely, but its base is only 128MB.

[richk]

All the documentation I can find indicates that all 256MB nVidia Quadro FX 570M systems (4:3 and 15.4" wide-screen) have 256mb video memory. I do not have one here to confirm.

[Kamika007z]

Hi richk,

Could you share which form of documentation you are referring to?

I'd be curious to see it.

Thanks!

[jketzetera]

I have had both 15.4" widescreen T61p as well as 14" 4:3 T61p with nVidia FX570M GPU.

The 14" 4:3 versison GPU has a 64-bit bus (compared to the 128-bit bus of the 15.4" widescreen) and also half of the memory (128MB vs 256MB).

This results in approx half of the performance in 3Dmark06.

Interestingly enough, the VRAM chip on the 14" 4:3 motherboard was a 256MB one but the GPU only used half of the capacity.

[Kamika007z]

Well if that's the case, then we should hack the system to use all of it!

[Worzyl]

I have had both 15.4" widescreen T61p as well as 14" 4:3 T61p with nVidia FX570M GPU.

The 14" 4:3 versison GPU has a 64-bit bus (compared to the 128-bit bus of the 15.4" widescreen) and also half of the memory (128MB vs 256MB).

This results in approx half of the performance in 3Dmark06.

Interestingly enough, the VRAM chip on the 14" 4:3 motherboard was a 256MB one but the GPU only used half of the capacity.

So the 4:3 only uses 128MB even though it originally is a 256MB?

[kamaleon]

Last time I checked the tabook I didn't see any 4:3 258MB, but maybe that's a "turbo cache" thing indeed - they have 128 onboard and can use another 128 from the system adding to a total combined of 256. But it seems there's a lot of speculation on this issue, it'd be good if someone can shed a light for good.

[Kamika007z]

Take a look at this as reference and discuss



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[kamaleon]

Just checked the Tabook, it clearly says the FX 570M uses Turbocache memory. So that's probably the explanation.
BTW, it didn't list any T61p 14" 4:3 using the FX 570M so the Tabook ain't all that

[Worzyl]

Take a look at this as reference and discuss



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

That's interesting:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-Qua ... 938.0.html

...it does say 256MB but I couldn't see the 128MB 570M.

[eatbuckshot]

Hmm I have a, t61p 14", it does only use 128MB and 64-bit according to gpu, and the performance suggests so...

I'm not quite sure if it's true that it's a 256MB chip and it's only using half.. I would fathom that each gpu memory channel is 64-bit, and if they had two chips totalling 256MB they could run them with 128-bits as the larger widesreen version does.
I'm feeling that the engineer's couldn't figure out a way to cram another series of circuit traces for the additional memory channel and memory on the motherboard, or it wasn't financially feasible.

anywho, i've been on a search for these mobo's too actually to replace my qxga t60p 15", and to fix my t61p 14" mobo.
I found some on ebay for 280-300$
http://computers.shop.ebay.com/Computer ... 86.c0.m282

the cheaper ones i'm assuming are just the integrated graphics, and for some reason his description on some of them say t60p, even though the part number suggests otherwise

[TuuS]

The 14" T61p board has the nVidia FX570 chip with 128mb video ram, but the 15.4" version has 256mb.

If you're looking for the nVidia board for a full screen unit, then you can be sure it will have the less reliable first generation GPU, as I've never seen one of the full screen models manufactured in the timeframe when the new GPU was introduced. What you'd want to look for is one that has a documented new board replaced by Lenovo, but even then, it's not certain the replacement board would have a new generation GPU.

I also believe that the process of replacing the GPU can put stress on the board. If you were looking for a widescreen board, then I'd advise getting a virgin board from a unit with date code of 08/08 or newer, however if the GPU was replaced properly, and no collateral damage was done, then you should have a good board in the end.

If reliability is your main concern, then grab a board with Intel graphics, but since most who are going to be swapping parts to make the best possible thinkpad have performance in mind, then you probably want to get the nVidia board, they really are much nicer then the Intel.

I woudn't mind a 14" FS T61p board myself.