Thinkpads Forum

I recall you used to be able to get specs for "configure to order" thinkpads on ibm website by using the serial number, but when I enter any CTO model it tells me nothing at all about it, and if I do a search for the serial number, it says "not found". Today I figured out how to find the date of manufacture and when the warrenty period ends/ended, but I can't find the detailed build sheet.


Also, can you tell if a t61 with nvidia has the bad graphics by the build date, or do you have to open it up to find a date? If so, are there any instructions on how to tell?

About the first question, I'm not quite sure. My thing is giving me some iBase error.

About the second, you can tell if it has the bad graphics by the models. The G84's and the G86's are stuffed, which means the following chips are stuffed:
570M
320M
1600M
FX 570
FX 1700
FX 360
FX 370
FX 370LP
NVS 130
NVS 135
NVS 140
NVS 290

It's a big list, but Nvidia screwed up the whole batch. The working models were produced August 2008 onward. I've missed a couple, but I'm doing this from memory here

XXXX-CTO is the Type number, as on the label on the bottom.
underneath that, newer Thinkpads also have something that looks like: PRODUCTID: XXXXW23
Go to Lenovo website, use the QuickPath and type in: XXXX-W23
That will give you the details.
When checking for Parts Lookup or warranty, enter TYPE=XXXX, Serial Nr= L3ADCDE without dash/hyphen (i.e. not L3-ABCDE)

Additional point of clarification to Rameneater90's helpful response:

T6X units with Nvidia graphics that carry a build date of Aug 2008 or later are indeed okay (on the bottom label just right of the S/N ..... expressed as 08/08 .... YR/Mo).

The good G84/G86 Nvidia chips will also have a July 2008 or later date code on the chips themselves (if you open things up to actually look at the chip).

Thus, some July 2008 built T6X units were also lucky enough to get the good Nvidia GPUs with the improved bumping/solder (tended to be late July built units).