T60 with Windows XP

Message

wk5901 · #1 Post by **wk5901** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 4:50 am

I have suddenly been getting numerous horizontal stripes with the screen freezing.
I wonder if anyone can suggest what the problem might be.
Many thanks

TPFanatic · #2 Post by **TPFanatic** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:38 am

Does the machine continue to function with an external monitor? Screen problems could unfortunately suggest GPU failure.

#3 Post by **dr_st** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:42 am

Is it integrated GPU (Intel GMA950) or discrete chip (ATI X1300/X1400/FireGL)?

wk5901 · #4 Post by **wk5901** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 4:50 am

Thank you for both your replies. Sorry for the delay as I was under the total misapprehension I would receive an email notification of the reply!!
As suggested I have tried with an external monitor resulting funny colours with vertical lines after the T60 loads the XP screen when it then just freezes.
So this seems to be a GPU problem (rather than a hard disc failure).
I think the GPU is integrated with the motherboard. You Tube suggests after taking the PC apart using a hair drier on the GPU for about 6 minutes which is not a permanent fix.
The only way is a replacement motherboard which is not going to be economically viable.
Thanks for your help.

zoltan87 · #5 Post by **zoltan87** » Sat Apr 10, 2021 8:11 am

wk5901 wrote: ↑
Sat Apr 10, 2021 4:50 am
Thank you for both your replies. Sorry for the delay as I was under the total misapprehension I would receive an email notification of the reply!!
As suggested I have tried with an external monitor resulting funny colours with vertical lines after the T60 loads the XP screen when it then just freezes.
So this seems to be a GPU problem (rather than a hard disc failure).
I think the GPU is integrated with the motherboard. You Tube suggests after taking the PC apart using a hair drier on the GPU for about 6 minutes which is not a permanent fix.
The only way is a replacement motherboard which is not going to be economically viable.
Thanks for your help.

The gpu is definitely on the motherboard, what we would need to know whether it is the Intel integrated one (it's weaker, but don't usually experience the mentioned gpu failure with horizontal lines/artifacts on screen), or the Ati X1300/X1400 dedicated gpu variant. These Ati ones are more powerful, but the video ram can get corrupted after some time, resulting in screen problems that you mentioned.

Getting an other T60 motherboard shouldn't be too difficult, just search on eBay, or you could even put up an ad in the Marketplace section on this forum. In fact I have a a T60p Ati motherboard (the classic 4:3 aspect ratio variant), that I would be happy to sell you for a reasonable price, as I see you live in the UK too, so postage would be reasonable as well. Drop me a PM if interested.

wk5901 · #6 Post by **wk5901** » Sun May 02, 2021 12:32 am

Thanks for your recent reply. I am going to ask a basic question.
What is the difference between an integrated GPU (Intel GMA950) or discrete chip (ATI X1300/X1400/FireGL)?
Many thanks again.

#7 Post by **dr_st** » Sun May 02, 2021 1:32 am

wk5901 wrote: ↑
Sun May 02, 2021 12:32 am
What is the difference between an integrated GPU (Intel GMA950) or discrete chip (ATI X1300/X1400/FireGL)?

When comparing contemporary integrated and discrete chips, the discrete version usually has noticeably better performance in 3D games and applications; it typically supports more advanced standards (DirectX, OpenGL, Shader Model); it uses its own RAM and does not take from the system memory.

The downsides are typically higher power consumption and reduced longevity (it is not unheard of a discrete GPU failing after a few years; integrated GPUs rarely fail).

Of course, compared to modern designs, both the integrated and discrete solutions on a T60 (which is ~15 years old) are hopelessly outdated, so the performance advantages may be irrelevant, while the power consumption differences are still valid. However, a discrete GPU may still be desired, if one uses the T60 to play a specific generation of computer games (which I do).

If you are unsure which GPU you have - look at the machine type number (should be on a sticker at the bottom of the chassis, or if the sticker is gone, it can be checked in the BIOS). On the T60, model numbers starting with 19xx are generally integrated. Those starting with 26xx or 20xx would be discrete..

WarMachine · #8 Post by **WarMachine** » Mon May 17, 2021 11:39 am

wk5901 wrote: ↑
Sat Apr 10, 2021 4:50 am
The only way is a replacement motherboard which is not going to be economically viable.
Thanks for your help.

Hello,

I'm not sure the replacement of the motherboard wouldn't be viable. The ideal thing is to find a motherboard identical to the one you have in your laptop. Because if it's not exactly the same, your operating system may become unstable (or you could find a slightly different motherboard and you would at this point reinstall your Windows).

If you tell us precisely what model you have (that's written under the laptop itself, on mine for example, it's a 1952-CTO unit), we could tell you what motherboard you could buy (the best is to buy something in your country to avoid the taxes because it would not be cheap anymore).

I don't think you can easily find a similar machine with a nice price (a working machine of course). I'm looking for one from time to time with an SXGA+ screen and it's very difficult to find nowadays.

W.