All my A series ThinkPads have finally died!

[Neil]

Not too many years ago, I had four different A series machines. I think there were 2-A31p, an A31, 2-A22p and an A30p. I had either audio or video issues with all of them, and had gotten rid of all but the A30p, which has had a VRAM issue for as long as I've owned it. It would work fine as long as I didn't try to use the full resolution of the display (1600x1200), or a display driver. I've been running Linux VESA @ 1280x1024 on it for years. Then a few months ago the audio stopped working, and now today I tried to boot it up to test a PATA HDD, and the display won't even light up any more.

I really liked the A series format, especially the 3 spindle A3x machines. Guess it's the end of an era for me. I still have way too many ThinkPads to consider trying to get another A3x... if any still exist that don't have issues of one kind or another.

[MikalE]

RIP. I will be sad when my T series start going.

[aptivaboy]

My condolences. I felt the same way when my I-1450 died wayyy back in the day, the loss of a good and faithful friend. On the plus side, there are plenty of A series pads on the Bay of Evil. There are several IBM-made G-series that I'm considering right now. You can probably find a nice A series there if you really want another.

Bob

[ajkula66]

I feel your pain.

There's a link to an A30p motherboard in one of the other threads for something like $10...I'd give it a shot if any of them are still available.

EDIT here you go: http://www.ebay.com/itm/252004157023?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

[Neil]

Arrgh, George, now you've gone and done it! I wasn't even going to give a thought to repairing the A30p, just let it RIP. Now, I'm really tempted to replace the system board. Maybe those boards will sell out before I decide to buy one...

[aptivaboy]

2 of 4 are still left! C'mon, bring it back to life!

[kfzhu1229]

I feel your pain.

There's a link to an A30p motherboard in one of the other threads for something like $10...I'd give it a shot if any of them are still available.

EDIT here you go: http://www.ebay.com/itm/252004157023?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

That was the link i found and bought!!
It is a misleading title because judging from its tv out pott and part number it is indeed A30p
And I will keep you updated if it is good or not after it arrives

2 of 4 are still left! C'mon, bring it back to life!

FYI i bought the two

[kfzhu1229]

Okay tested the two motherboards. Yes both of them are working flawlessly but only one of the two is the 32mb VRAM A30p version. I don't know how your luck would be but getting a A30p motherboard for that cost is unbelievable and there are nowhere else who sells that kind of motherboard.

[Neil]

Thanks for the update... I went ahead an bought one of the boards Monday this week. Just couldn't resist. Will have to wait until next week to see whether I get a "p" board or not, but doesn't really matter too much for me, as either will be so much better than what I've had for several years.

[kfzhu1229]

Thanks for the update... I went ahead an bought one of the boards Monday this week. Just couldn't resist. Will have to wait until next week to see whether I get a "p" board or not, but doesn't really matter too much for me, as either will be so much better than what I've had for several years.

http://hackaday.com/2011/02/24/heat-gun ... es-laptop/
You can try these things. I mean since you don't have to stick with it, it doesn't hurt if it breaks completely but you will be much appreciated if this rescued it.
One thing you can tell straight ahead without part/type number is the extra TV port on A30p motherboards. Go to HMM and download the manual for this model to have a detailed instruction set of how to disassemble and reassemble properly

[danikayser84]

Yeah, I think it's ridiculous how an eBay seller will list an A31p motherboard in untested condition for like $100+ sometimes (not even a complete A31p is worth that much yet TBH)

At one point I had an "A31p" but the motherboard was replaced with a standard A31 one (there was a hole where FireWire and S-Video normally would have been)... I'm never going to sell my A31 or A31p (the former is a bridge machine between the old/vintage world and the modern world, too)

[kfzhu1229]

Yeah, I think it's ridiculous how an eBay seller will list an A31p motherboard in untested condition for like $100+ sometimes (not even a complete A31p is worth that much yet TBH)

At one point I had an "A31p" but the motherboard was replaced with a standard A31 one (there was a hole where FireWire and S-Video normally would have been)... I'm never going to sell my A31 or A31p (the former is a bridge machine between the old/vintage world and the modern world, too)

A30p is also a bridge. While A31p supports more current application due to its SSE2 capability and packs twice the amount of VRAM and maximum RAM, Pentium III - M 1.2ghz outperforms the standard 1.8ghz Pentium 4 - M by up to 25% overall and in terms of multimedia instructions, that 1.2ghz tualatin gives 6 times the benchmark than the 1.8ghz Northwood and it is indeed right because that tualatin plays 720p better than that Northwood even with the help of the FireGL V7800 which gives twice the amount of frames than 7000 in gaming.
Yes the P4 heats up 50% crazier but with its copper fan A30p and A31p gets a tie in terms of temperature and congrats for IBM to think of the cooling through (both machines sits below 70C under load with fan7 set to kick in at 60C on A30p because A30's default setting is to start cooling at 80C)
Both are great machines if without the famous problem of GPU desoldering and in the case of A31, if also without error 1802 and 1803 (1803 is not solvable by bios mod)

[Saucey]

Hope you get it working again.
My A31p has been dormant for years, wonderful machine, though I think it has artifacts every so often at boot. A reboot would make it go away, like an old Nintendo machine.

Not sure what it is, probably the GPU, so I got two 'for parts' machines, luckily one worked and the second had an ok screen to use.
Every so often I am on the lookout for A3x machines.
Whenever a seller has one, and doesn't post MTM, I ask for it.
Sadly no UXGA machines when I browsed them, but I do help out the seller with information so they can get a better sale for us collectors.

A30p is also a bridge. While A31p supports more current application due to its SSE2 capability and packs twice the amount of VRAM and maximum RAM, Pentium III - M 1.2ghz outperforms the standard 1.8ghz Pentium 4 - M by up to 25% overall and in terms of multimedia instructions, that 1.2ghz tualatin gives 6 times the benchmark than the 1.8ghz Northwood and it is indeed right because that tualatin plays 720p better than that Northwood even with the help of the FireGL V7800 which gives twice the amount of frames than 7000 in gaming.

I've heard PIII's beat Pentium 4's but did not know by that much... very interesting. I think i need to get an A30 then!

[kfzhu1229]

From I noticed my A30p machine is notably more responsive than that A31p in Windows 7 and that A30p gives me less frame drops in 720p video than A31p for some reason. Once you do games, the trend is reversed.
In terms of response time, that PIII 1.2ghz is indeed 25% FASTER than 1.8ghz P4. It may no longer be the case if you get the 2ghz instead while PIII 1.26ghz and 1.33ghz are impossible to be on sale

[RealBlackStuff]

If you are talking about the same Pentium-III-M CPUs as in a T23, I have spares!
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&p=788388

[kfzhu1229]

If you are talking about the same Pentium-III-M CPUs as in a T23, I have spares!
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&p=788388

Yes it is the same. 1.2ghz is widely available but not 1.26 and 1.33

[Neil]

Well, the "new" system board arrived in today's mail, and I've installed it in my old A30p. It's alive again! Well...almost. The board seems to have a graphics defect or VRAM corruption. Here is a picture of the IBM splash screen:

http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/Neil_ ... 8.jpg.html

I was able to boot a Windows 2000 install disk, but the install dialog was so corrupt that I could not proceed with installation. Here is a picture of that:

http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/Neil_ ... t.jpg.html

I've contacted the seller to see about an exchange or refund or whatever. It wasn't a big investment, so not much of a loss, but the old A30p isn't much better off now than before swapping boards.

[kfzhu1229]

Is it A30 or A30p? (Hint look at the tv ports)
And also i feel sorry for grabbing the 2 good motherboards from that seller... I have a motherboard that works just fine but displays lines only during post or playing videos with gpu acceleration. Unfortunately i fully destroyed it a week ago hoping to reflow the GPU solder
Yes you should try to ask for reship his/her last one.
A3x machines are great. I tried to sell a A31p i restored a few weeks ago but I found out I couldn't. There are just so many things good about these machines.
As for the sound problem, I was having it as well on my A30p (the device disappeared from the device manager) only to find out my antenna was shorting the sound card and worked fine after rerouting the antenna

[Neil]

Is it A30 or A30p? (Hint look at the tv ports)

Well, the board I received has both Video-In and Video-Out ports.

[kfzhu1229]

Well you have A30p!
As for installation, why don't you try your original copy even though there is a chance you will end up with inaccessible_boot_device?

[kfzhu1229]

Well if you want you can try reflowing it by a heat gun on your original motherboard and if successful apply it to the newer one?
Also idk if you are interested but I have a A30 mb as I mentioned like I killed it when trying to reflow and I also have a A31p motherboard with USB ports in unknown condition that tends to lock up randomly, if you have good luck it works or else it freezes before it can finish post but GPU and audio are 100% intact. If you think you may be able to squeeze some life out of them, I can give you at the cost of shipping

[ajkula66]

The board seems to have a graphics defect or VRAM corruption.

VRAM corruption.

Hopefully you'll get them to replace it, and the next planar will be OK.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

[kfzhu1229]

Well I guess one of the ways to get around that is to use a dock with a GPU and use it as a desktop

[Neil]

The seller has responded with the option to return the defective board for a refund, as they have sold out, so no option for a replacement.

I'm tempted to just keep the defective board. It's working better than my old one, which doesn't even power up the display (LCD or external). I won't be able to restore the A30p to working order, but at least I'll be able to turn it on once in a while. Have to decide by week's end whether to return or not

[kfzhu1229]

Actually do you have a great working LCD? If so you can go ahead and return the motherboard and then swap the remaining unit with my A31p. It has 100% working motherboard but a 14.1" non-IPS SXGA+ in horrible (It was an attempt to replace the CCFL tube but ended up with lots of fingerprints and dust inside the LCD and the LCD was barely sealed but working condition. Everything other than the bad but working LCD works perfectly. PM if interested

[wujstefan]

Neil: I think I should have either A30 or A30p fully working mobo I just don't need. I can share for shipping costs only, just need to test it first.

[Cigarguy]

Got my first A31 the other day for $15. Spec wise it was pretty anemic but everything works and it's was physically in pretty good condition. Upgraded RAM and CPU to 2.2. Waiting to find a good monitor to replace the XGA screen. Terrible screen. I'm in no rush.

[wujstefan]

SHARP UXGA screen?

[ajkula66]

Waiting to find a good monitor to replace the XGA screen.

Do bear in mind that you'll need a matching cable and preferably a matching inverter as well.

[Cigarguy]

Do bear in mind that you'll need a matching cable and preferably a matching inverter as well.

Thanks for that. Did not know this. I'll keep that in mind.