Thinkpad T40 $150 (possible shipping included).. good deal?

[agarza]

I'm looking for a used T40 laptop to use as a backup machine.
A dude is selling this:

ThinkPad T40 2373-82S P M 1.5GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 24x-8x DVD(slim), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), Intel 802.11b Wireless(MPCI), Secure Chip(TCPA), UltraNav, 6 cell battery, WinXP Pro

For 150USD + Shipping. The machine he said would sometimes not power-up, alleging the problem is because there is a problem in the motherboard with the video, the laptop would freeze up as a result, that was the diagnosis he got when he got the laptop serviced.

I'm thinking this could be a deal, since I could reflow the GPU problem which is probably the only thing it's failing on the machine.

I don't have the IR sensor nor the heating gun, but I could borrow the IR sensor for free.

Seller claims laptop is in very good condition. Some pics:
1

2

3

Is this a good deal? In the last pic you can see like some part of the LID is damaged, but what the heck.

[ryan1212]

This is not a good deal at all. It is very difficult near impossible to rework a bga without proper equipment. Their is one member of the forum who does it for $100 with a warranty and shipping.

The BGA heatgun or whatever is usually in no way a permanent fix. The only permanent fix is to have it done with proper equipment or replace the motherboard... Sometimes people get lucky with the heat gun but I would not expect it to work. Plan on spending $100 to get the BGA reworked.

[agarza]

Any other suggestion. 150USD + let's say 40USD for the heat gun sounds like a good deal. In case the motherboard fries I have a keyboard, palmrest, screen, HDD memory etc for my T42p

[ajkula66]

Wrong screen, worthless ram, slow HDD...shall I continue? You really shouldn't use any of this on a T42p, it would be a downgrade...

The only way this would be a decent deal is to get the machine going.

The one offered by underclocker is a better deal IMHO...

Good luck.

[Mike Blake]

Never mind picture #3. When you look at where the bottom of the LCD meets the top of the laptop in picture #2, you can see the LCD is bowed out in the middle, as if they warped it out of shape to make it fit.

Or am I seeing things?

[Tim M]

Never mind picture #3. When you look at where the bottom of the LCD meets the top of the laptop in picture #2, you can see the LCD is bowed out in the middle, as if they warped it out of shape to make it fit.

Or am I seeing things?

I think that's barrel distortion from the camera lens. Note the opposite curvature of the palmrest edge in the lower part of the image.

[Temetka]

Do NOT buy this machine.

IMO it would be a waste of money unless you have the proper gear to properly reflow the motherboard.

If it were $50 + shipping it might be worth looking into. $150 would be what I would pay for a fully functional T40.

[agarza]

Do NOT buy this machine.

IMO it would be a waste of money unless you have the proper gear to properly reflow the motherboard.

If it were $50 + shipping it might be worth looking into. $150 would be what I would pay for a fully functional T40.

AMEN. The general consensus is that is a no go. In the future I will *hopefully* get a US address so that I could order some stuff from eBay and possibly a new Thinkpad.
It's to hard to find a 'p' model in my country these days.

[agarza]

Have been looking over eBay for cheap T41p / T42p laptops.

suggestions on these ones:

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T41P-S ... .m14.l1308

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T-42p- ... .m14.l1318

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-T41p-L ... otohosting
with no shipping to mexico, maybe someone could hold the lap for me on the US?

or buy only the LCD:
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T42-14 ... .m14.l1318

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-THINKPAD-T40-T4 ... .m14.l1318

Or shall I use the marketplace. I need it shipped to Mexico with a reasonable price. I just want primarily to swap out the SXGA+ panel on my current T42p and have some spare parts.

[neenee]

Never mind picture #3. When you look at where the bottom of the LCD meets the top of the laptop in picture #2, you can see the LCD is bowed out in the middle, as if they warped it out of shape to make it fit.

Or am I seeing things?

I think that's barrel distortion from the camera lens. Note the opposite curvature of the palmrest edge in the lower part of the image.

Yup, it's barrel distortion. The bed, or table the laptop is sitting on has the same curve.