Reball / Reflow service in Singapore / Malaysia???

[virusr]

Hi! I have a T42p (2004/2005).

I have only used it like a test machine to ‘try-out’ software, and watch DVDs or Anime, and is practically like new as I rarely carry it out the bedroom at all.

Then about a year ago the display would suddenly Freeze or disappear when:

1) You bump it.
2) It’s used for a while and when any pressure is applied to the keyboard area.
3) Will only work (sometimes) when pressing down on area near the track pad.
4) Can only be shut down by holding down the power button.

From this forum and others, the problem seems to be the common T4x GPU problems.

Where I am residing in a small country Brunei, where there is not one reliable laptop repair place that anyone knows of.

So with the help of a friend, I sent my laptop to friend in Malaysia to get it inspected at an IBM authorized repair centre. Much to my disappointment, the only thing that they seem transfixed to tell my friend is that my mobo is a goner and had to be replaced.

My friend tried to explain that this seems to be a common T4x problem (researched from online); a problem with the GPU. Still that so called IBM certified repair technician was adamant that it’s a mobo failure (without even taking a closer look inside). They just could not get the display to ‘light up’, so must be mobo failure. He tried to be ‘nice’ and advised my friend no need to spend unnecessary money for having a look inside, as he’s pretty sure about his diagnosis. He even went as far as to offer my friend MYR$ 500 (US$150) to buy the laptop.

I declined the ‘kind’ offer and insisted that I was glad to pay for them to look inside and give a report to confirm that it’s really a mobo failure. Even with that, same conclusion, mobo needs to be replaced. Well of course I declined to replace the mobo and thought to myself, if IBM’s authorized repair centers here are of no help to me, then who can help?

Finally last weekend, I muster up enough courage and took off the keyboard and had a look inside the laptop. What I found out seems unexpected.

When the display starts to freeze:

1) When I pressed the GPU (the one closest to the track pad, rite?), seems to make it work.
2) When I pressed the CPU (I assume that it is – the one covered by the metal plate of the fan), that seems to work also.

Of the above 2, when I installed back the keyboard, when the problem occur, seems that pressing on the keyboard area (near the DFCV keys) seems to rectify the problem more than the area near the track pad.

Hence now I am unsure if my problem is the classic T4x GPU problem, or in my case a problem with the CPU, or maybe both?

Assuming it’s the CPU that is the culprit, would the solution be also reball-ing or reflow-ing?

If yes, anyone (anybody) recommend a reliable source here in Malaysia or Singapore (best in Brunei) that understands this T4x problem and knows how to reball / reflow well.

It seems like it’s a common expertise over in UK and US, and cost wise is reasonably cheap too. So please any advice to my post is very much appreciated.

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the Forum.
Long story short: you do have a GPU problem, not with the CPU.
I have no idea about their quality of work, but you could inquire here:
TTE Electronics Sdn. Bhd. [Malaysia]
Address:
No. 6, Jalan Perusahaan Utama, Taman Industri Selesa Jaya Balakong Selangor 43300 Malaysia
Phone:
60-3-89622032

With your expected shipping expenses + repair costs, it might be cheaper to buy a replacement used/new motherboard.
(or send it in to the US or UK, where we know the folks that are doing it).

[virusr]

Hi! Thanx... Might look into it.....

Was that there's someone in Malaysia / Singapore who's skilled at reflowing or better reballing, since we are pretty sure its the GPU that is at fault here...

Freight costs not that big an issue as I have friends always travelling in and out of these 2 countries from Brunei.

Nevertheless, thanz again for the advice

[virusr]

One more thing.... I rechecked the bill/report and found that I was mistaken in saying it was an IBM authorized repair agent.

Actually it was sent in to an IBM service center. (IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd)!!!

So I am thinking now, what the heck??? Shouldn't IBM repair technicians know better than others since it is a known problem in their T4x series?

Sigh... it seems in my side of the world, the trade professionalism that westerners possesses and prides on is virtually non existent here....