R51 cracks in the armor

[healtoejoe]

I am a new user on this forum with an R51 i've had 3yrs+ with zero problems. Yesterday I was using it and the screen showed a "salt-and-pepper" pattern in rectangles of random size and location across the screen. Then the cursor became a small rectangle of blurred "salt-and-pepper". After a reboot all was well. Since however, I am having the same problem as well as the screen going dead completely.

The problem occurs after bumping the machine or lifting the base by one corner or the other thereby slightly "bending" the base. It doesn't take a big bump or "bend" to initiate the problems mentioned. If I keep the machine still it operates like the draft horse it has always been.

In the 3+ yrs I have never replaced the battery and it is very weak, could this be the problem? Reading other threads I can't find my precise issue but the motherboard seems to be a possible culprit in similiar cases, could it be her?

Thank you for your thoughts.

[Harryc]

This is a loose GPU issue. Either replace the systemboard or send it out to a reball service for repair. Superior Reball is one such service.

[healtoejoe]

What would be the cost/effort of replacing/cleaning/servicing?? the systemboard myself. I use the R51 daily in my business and can't afford to send it in and suffer the down time.

You are up and at'em early, Harryc (It's 5 am here - I very grateful for your input

[Harryc]

If you want to replace the systemboard yourself, I'd recommend starting with a thread in the Marketplace forum asking for one. I'd also recommend replacing the board with one that has an Intel GPU. These boards do not have the loose GPU issue. Cost, I'd guess between $80 to $125 depending on the seller and what it is. What is the machine type/model of youir R51? (see the sticker on it's bottom)

Here's another alternative

That way you could fix your machine with zero down time, then sell it.

[healtoejoe]

I can swing that cost. I'll check the Marketplace for more info and kindly thank you for your suggestions.

[Harryc]

See my edit to the post above for 'another alternative'. That one appears to be sold, but you get the idea ...

[healtoejoe]

I had actually looked at this machine earlier and considered a purchase. Have since looked at possibly upgrading once this current R51 gives it up. Am looking at this machine: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... id_string= it would be hard to shell out the bucks but sure nice to have the disc space, new battery life, and speed.

If you have comment or suggestions on this machine, I'm all ears.

[schen]

I had actually looked at this machine earlier and considered a purchase. Have since looked at possibly upgrading once this current R51 gives it up. Am looking at this machine: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... id_string= it would be hard to shell out the bucks but sure nice to have the disc space, new battery life, and speed.

If you have comment or suggestions on this machine, I'm all ears.

Can you just list the machine or the Type number, since linking to a "wish list" requires someone to log in to an account?

[healtoejoe]

Sorry the link didn't work. I went back through the Lenovo site to reconfigure the Thinkpad. Turns out, the R series Thinkpad looked better so I configured an R500 with the attributes I want and it came out cheaper than the SL with the discount. Still $1,400+ however javascript:emoticon(':(')

I made a pdf of the configuration and will attach in an e-mail if you're interested and send me your address. In a nutshell it has 2G RAM, a 320 G hard drive, pentium core duo processor, 15.4 in screen.

I will wait a while before purchasing a new machine. In the mean time I have taken some advice from Harryc and contacted Brad. He will be sending me a shipping box and I will send him back my laptop (minus the hard drive) and he will replace the system board at a much more reasonable price than the factory quoted.