T21 Video Artifact Problem - Pics Inside

[Harryc]

I am working on a T21, 2647-CSU running XP (fresh install). It has a small problem that has me searching for an answer, unsuccessfully so far. On a black or very dark background I see 4 or 5 smallish (1/4 inch square) blocks that I'd describe as square in shape, with tiny moving horizontal lines inside. They are very dim. These squares are spread out (horizontally) across the bottom of the LCD about 1/3 of the way up. It's very hard to describe, maybe I'll try to capture a Pic and upoad it later.
Anyway, I personally did not do anything to the machine beside add 512MB RAM, install widows updates, updated the BIOS to the latest, and installed Thinkvantage power management and system update. Even so, I believe these artifacts were there when I first powered up the machine.
What I've done so far to troubleshoot -
Updated BIOS
Ran PC-Doctor for DOS, the version specifically for T21's. It failed S3 2D Engine Test, S3 3D engine test, and S3 MM Engine Test. It passed Video memory, pages, VGA controller, and VGA-Color DAC tests.
Ran Memtest86 for a few loops - no errors
Plugged the T21 into it's dock and ran it to an external LCD. The artifacts show up on the LCD too.
Installed the MS video driver for the S3 Savage video

Any ideas? Full systemboard replacement? Any components I can look at as a cause?

[Harryc]

Pics added -

http://mysite.verizon.net/hjc56/snapshots/artifact.JPG
http://mysite.verizon.net/hjc56/snapshots/artifact2.JPG
http://mysite.verizon.net/hjc56/snapsho ... 2807_a.JPG

[tfflivemb2]

If it is showing up on the external LCD, too, then I would guess that it is a problem with the GPU, which would mean systemboard replacement...unless you have a really strong magnifying glass and can check the solder joints of the GPU...

[Harryc]

Yeah thanks for the confirmation. I was thinking 'systemboard' but was hoping for the best. If anyone has a good T21 board, please reply to my thread in marketplace.