Thinkpads Forum

Hi Guys,

I've got a T61p that is out of warranty, and as Murphy would have it the motherboard needs to be replaced. All due I would assume to the [censored] NVidia cards overheating. From what I could see on the lenovo specs when I do a warranty lookup the machine came with part number 42W7653. It also had the NVidia Quadro Fx 570m.
I received a quote from Lenovo for the repair and accepted without really checking up on the part number. I assumed that they would replace my motherboard with the exact same one. Received it back and now when I turn it on I noticed that the graphics card is different. It says "mobile intel 965 express chipset family" in device manager. I then had a look at the stlip for the repair and noticed that the part number is 42W7651. That seems a bit fraudulent to me that they would replace it with a completely different type. I had a discrete graphics card and now I have a onboard one. That severely hamperes my word. I bought this machine based on the proper graphics card.

How do I take this forward. Obviously there must be some price difference on the boards. The one I got seems to be about $390 and it seems the other one is about $775. If I go back I'll have to fork out more money to get it sorted out, but I originally thought I would get it back with the same specs and the price they quoted.

You should be entitled to a partial refund back if you were over charged I agree. You'd have to discuss that with Lenovo directly. The other issue is that I would recommend that you rethink wanting the discrete GPU systemboard for that machine since it is prone to failure. The onboard Intel GPU is much more reliable. If you absolutely need the discrete GPU, then that is another story.

Well I paid for the lower spec board. So it's not that I was overcharged. I just don't agree with them not telling me that they're going to be installing a lower spec board in my machine. They have no idea what I use it for, so based on that they must replace it with the exact same spec as it was.

If I take my car in for new tires, and I have 14" tires, I would assume that they'll be replacing my tires with 14". Not replacing it with 13" tires and then making it look like a very good deal.

I don't know the Lenovo part numbers, but I do know my machine and I could spot it immediately when I powered it on. If they quote me for part number xyz I would assume that is the exact same one that was in my machine. If I then accept the quote I would expect it back with the same specs it was before hand. Instead in this case they quoted me for the lower spec board without telling me that is the case.

You completely ignored my advice, so I will completely ignore your complaint.

The mobile intel 965 express chipset family IS the better motherboard for a long lasting laptop.

While you might be upset that your specs have downgraded a little, how are you going to feel if the new MB fails a month out of warranty "again"

Harryc, I think you guys are missing my point. I had the better motherboard, they replaced mine with a lower spec version. I'm not disputing that the lower spec will last longer.
What I'm saying is that Lenovo cannot just downgrade somebody without discussing it with the person. I have to be consulted by Lenovo before they make that choice. If they did I would have told them that my job requires me to have a proper graphics card in the machine.
By just silently doing this without telling me they are defrauding me. I will take this up with Lenovo directly, but I was just looking for some more opinions on the matter.

Before using big words like fraud, check again what was offered to you in the original quote.
If they offered you part #xyz instead of #abc, and you accepted that without further checking, then who is to blame here?

I'm with you there RealBlackStuff, but if you look at it from the customer side. I'm not the expert on the parts. I have no clue which part is which. That is why I trust them, the experts. If they tell me it's going to be $x to fix the machine I would assume that they would fix it to be the exact same as it was. I don't think it's my responsibility to go check on the part numbers that they are telling me they're going to use. If the change is something minor then fine, but going from a discrete graphics card to onboard I would see as a rather major change you have to inform the customer about.

I did not ask for a specific part. I took the machine in for them to tell me what is wrong, and then provide a quote to fix it. Not downgrade it, fix it.

Return it to Lenovo, ask them to put your old mobo back in.
Then buy a mobo that YOU like for half the price or less on eBay (or try our Marketplace), and swap it out yourself.

I agree with you that they should have replaced the motherboard with a T61p motherboard or informed you that they were going to susbstitute a different part. I would call Lenovo and discuss with them. However, your T61 (no "p" anymore) will likely last much longer than if they had replaced it with the "p" motherboard.

Thanks sktn77a. I was starting to think I'm the only person that feels they should have discussed it with me. I did call them and spoke to the manager of the service center that repaired it. He's going to investigate and come back to me.

I'll probably stick with the motherboard they installed, because it will last longer. I just can't use it as my backup machine for my graphics work anymore.