T61 nVidia thinkpads being repaired N/C [until March 2011]

[hhanoem]

Hello,

Does someone know what the middle number means of a nvidia chipset.
what means the 975 in G84-975-A2

thnx

Henk

[eecon]

Hello,

Does someone know what the middle number means of a nvidia chipset.
what means the 975 in G84-975-A2

thnx

Henk

The date code above it printed on the chip is more important .... post everything you see on the chip if you can.

[SaberX]

Well today i took the CPU fan off for a good cleaning and some new Artic Silver.
I took down the info off the GPU and i think i still have an old board.

T61 Type:6457-4XU Date:07-09

NVIDIA
U707C281 0730A2
S Taiwan
NC3885 . 00W
G86 - 740-A2

The system runs great.Fast and cool with no signs of any GPU problems.

[eecon]

SaberX .... Yes you do have the re-fixed Nvidia GPU based on the chip's date code of the 30th week of 2007 (0730A2) plus the 740 in the part number. The newer Nvidia NVS140M GPUs have 741 and a date code representing July/Aug 2008 or later.

However, your cleaning of the fan and proper use of Artic Silver should keep it running okay. Many of the failed units were reported to have been very dirty.

[SaberX]

Thx "eecon" i learned a nice bit about the Nvivia problems here...
This T61 is a nice system but i'm in need of something smaller.So i put up a post looking to trade it for a 14" T60/61 or X60/61.

[eecon]

Thx "eecon" i learned a nice bit about the Nvivia problems here...
This T61 is a nice system but i'm in need of something smaller.So i put up a post looking to trade it for a 14" T60/61 or X60/61.

FWIW, Here is the Nvidia GPU info from my T61 built in July 2007 that had failed and was repaired at my home under onsite warranty with a replacement mainboard containing the newer fixed Nvidia GPU:

Old board FRU 42W7652 H5-5W with old Nvidia Chip marked on top as:

NVIDIA
23N3GH 0723A2 (23rd week of 2007)
A TAIWAN
NB9055.00W
G86-740-A2

New board FRU 43Y9047 H5-6W with new Nvidia Chip marked on top as:

NVIDIA
30N383 1030A2 (30th week of 2010)
A TAIWAN
N2R857.01R
G86-741-A2

[kaede]

my nvidia here written
33N3FP 0733AZ
taiwan NC5199 OOW
and its half dead now.
nvidia ftw!!!

[eecon]

Informative reading:

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gpu-g8 ... 10856.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sour ... hic+defect

All old news that those of us, including myself regarding my July 2007 T61, who purchased any laptop from any mfg should have known about but were too lazy to checkout the latest tech news on a weekly basis.

I learned my lesson and now do check the latest tech news about any product I consider purchasing .... amost daily.

As for my T61 purchase in July 2007 under a cloud of self-ignorance, it was only by sheer dumb luck that I also upgraded to a 4-year onsite warranty for an extra $200 over the 3-Year Depot warranty offered as standard through my educational faculty/alumni portal. Last month, with only 3 months from expiration, that extra $200 more than paid for itself when the mainboard finally failed ..... a rate-of-return of over 200% (if I had to pay the current US$500 repair rate myself).

With Bing and Google so easily available for research investigation, consumer ignorance is no longer a valid excuse today for buying potentially defective proctucts .... IMHO.

[hhanoem]

code on the chip:

Nvidia
U712B438 0749A2
S TAIWAN
P36918.00w

G84-975-A2

Can i replace this with a G84-950-A2?

What means the number in the middel 975?

thnx

[eecon]

code on the chip:

Nvidia
U712B438 0749A2
S TAIWAN
P36918.00w

G84-975-A2

Can i replace this with a G84-950-A2?

What means the number in the middel 975?

thnx

This is a T61p .... correct? The date code for your 975 chip is Dec 2007 which still puts it in the batch of vulnerable GPUs. What is the date code on the 950 chip?

[tannerj]

My T61p bit the dust on this one today out of the blue, with no prior symptoms Got the 1 long, 2 short beeps out of it after pulling it apart.

It looks like I'm SOL on the repair service Lenovo was doing for out of warranty machines.I also really don't want to deal with a reball or reflow... I'm much more comfortable replacing the board, but I want to try and make sure I get one that has the fixes implemented after July 08 production.

According to Lenovo's parts lookup for my unit, the board FRU I have now is 42W7653. I noticed a few posts back someone posted their newly replaced board's FRU, but it was for a T61, and I'm not sure what the differences are when it comes to the system board (if any).

If someone out there with a T61p manufactured after July 08 (shows YR/MO on bottom) wouldn't mind punching in there machine on lenovo's site and posting back the "System Planar" FRU, I would greatly appreciate it!

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... sLookup.vm

[eecon]

The T61 and T61p use different Planar FRUs numbers (mainboard) so you can't compare.

As to your question, both my July 26, 2008 and Aug 23, 3008 T61p units incorported the latest, as far as I know, Planar FRUs 44C3931 from the factory. The corresponding Part Number is 44C3930 which should be nested in your EEPROM on line 40 as part of the original mainboard's S/N listing. You'll need a bootable Lenovo Hardware Maintenance Diskette (only available to Lenovo service techs) and an external USB 3.5" Floppy Diskette Drive to find this info. Any shop that services Lenovo can check that info for you ..... probably at no charge as it only takes a couple of minutes.

Note, however that simply having this FRU does not guarranty you have the "fixed" Nvidia GPU as they started using these board numbers in early 2008 both with and without the late-July "fixed" Nvidia GPU units that were released by Nvidia to the mfgs (during July of 2008). To be absolutely sure as to what Nvidia GPU (fixed or non-fixed) is on your T61 or T61p machine, you have to remove the fan/heat sink combo and read the actually date code on the Nvidia chip itself (as described earlier in this thread).

And FYI ...... If I was in your position, I'd probably go this route below as I only use my units docked at home:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-pri ... 481#M57171

[rumbero]

According to Lenovo's parts lookup for my unit, the board FRU I have now is 42W7653. I noticed a few posts back someone posted their newly replaced board's FRU, but it was for a T61, and I'm not sure what the differences are when it comes to the system board (if any).

The T61 and the T61p mainboards are different due to their specific components. Other than that, the physical layout of the boards within each different form factor (14,1" vs 15,4" vs 14,1 widescreen) are fully compatible, regardless of the logical entity called FRU and whether it is a T61 or T61p.

Said that, it is a well known and recommended secret tip to replace any broken nVIDIA based T61(p) mainboard by a physically matching Intel graphics board. Did this myself, and i was definitely not the first one to do that. Intel graphics runs much cooler and is more than sufficient for daily non-gamer/graphics usage.

[sebastek]

here is the info from my machine:

T61
07/11
7663-CTO
NVS140M
GPU BIOS: 60.86.3E.00.00
board FRU: 41W1489

GPU marks:

NVIDIA
U708C825 0735A2
S TAIWAN
NC5484.00W
G86-740-A2

my case update:

the system failed again, turns on, black screen with only backlight, garbage image (lines and incorrect colors) on external monitor, despite the problem the system can load the OS.

Problem:

The fan assembly was slightly bended in the GPU area, didn't make good contact with the GPU core. I corrected the problem, reflow again, put new artic silver and installed TPFanControl V.062 with this profile:

Level=22 0
Level=33 1
Level=38 2
Level=45 3
Level=50 4
Level=53 5
Level=55 6
Level=60 7
Level=66 64
Level=77 128

all those temps are in celsius.

the system works fine again, medium temp on basic workload: 54 celsius, intense workload (CAD, games): 65 celsius, temps according to TPFanControl, CPUID hardware monitor reports higher temps. (about 60 on basic workload, 70 or higher on intense workload).

I hope this info could be usefull to you guys.

Sebastek.

[eecon]

Sebastek ..... but your date code of the 35th week of 2007 on your Nvidia chip means it still carries the bad genes of the pre-July/Aug 2008 Nivida "not-fixed" GPUs.

Just keep things as clean as possible and the temps cool like you're doing.

[tannerj]

Just got a message from someone selling a replacement board... manufacture date on the gpu was the 23rd week of 2008. As far as I can tell, that places it in June, can someone confirm this?

[eecon]

Just got a message from someone selling a replacement board... manufacture date on the gpu was the 23rd week of 2008. As far as I can tell, that places it in June, can someone confirm this?

Take a pass on it .... it's only the first week in June. Nvidia GPUs prior to mid-July 2008 were the bad ones .... look for at least the 30th week of 2008 (starting July 20th 2008) to be safe.

[tannerj]

Thanks for all the help guys. Unfortunately I was only able to find about half a dozen t61p mobos on ebay, all the sellers I got responses back from had earlier manufacture dates on the chip. I'm calling time of death on this poor fellow. Maybe the selection will change down the road as more of these guys start to be decommissioned, but I'm kind of figuring a lot of the good boards aren't available as they are good boards, and have no reason to be pulled from what are likely perfectly good machines.

Sad day. This is my first Thinkpad to completely bite the dust, and while I was aware of the risk, I was surprised at how abruptly it failed. I'm also sad to see the best resolution display I'll ever have go away (1920x1200 WUXGA), as my replacement options right now top out at 1680x1050.

[RealBlackStuff]

Consider a mobo with Intel graphics.

[eme2k]

If you have a T61p (built before 08/08) with no video problem (yet) and warranty is about to expire in a few months, can it still be sent in for a replacement on the possibility that it may be using the defective GPU? I did not read MIGR-75087, but I would assume if your machine has the defective parts from Nvidia, then it should be sent in for replacement regardless if it has failed or not.

[eecon]

If you have a T61p (built before 08/08) with no video problem (yet) and warranty is about to expire in a few months, can it still be sent in for a replacement on the possibility that it may be using the defective GPU? I did not read MIGR-75087, but I would assume if your machine has the defective parts from Nvidia, then it should be sent in for replacement regardless if it has failed or not.

Lenovo will not perform preventative maintenance under the terms of it's warranty for this Nvidia defect.

It has to fail first.

End of story.

[Dummvogel]

I have a T61p with the 3 Beeps.

The Board was replaced under warranty in August 2010 for the same errorcode. I am out of warranty now, but disassembling my Thinkpad revealed the board they used for replacement was a "Serviable Used Part" with a G84-950-A2 with Date Code 0802A2.

What to do now?

[eecon]

I have a T61p with the 3 Beeps.

The Board was replaced under warranty in August 2010 for the same errorcode. I am out of warranty now, but disassembling my Thinkpad revealed the board they used for replacement was a "Serviable Used Part" with a G84-950-A2 with Date Code 0802A2.

What to do now?

This is big news!

You got screwed with an "un-fixed" Feb 2008 date coded Nvidia chip still soldered onto the replacement mainboard.

Note that the mainboard does not matter .... they all are "used" service replacement boards at this point, however the Lenovo contract repair center stiffed you with a board that had not been updated with a post Aug 2008 Nivida chip.

There are reports that Lenovo contract repair shops in Asia (particularly in China and Vietnam) were using old stock mainboard with the old Nvidia chips as late as one year ago, but this is the first reported incident outside that region of the world that I know of. The Chinese customers were complaining that they were used as a dumping ground for the old stock Nvidia chips while the western nations were getting the good stuff.

You should log in to the official Lenovo Forum at the link below, post your situation and also send Mark Lenovo a PM (also read the first message of that long thread over there):

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T61-and-pri ... 537#M57313

Again, this is big news ....... Thanks

[Amigaman]

Hi,

I have a T61p with the 3 Beeps.

The Board was replaced under warranty in August 2010 for the same errorcode. I am out of warranty now, but disassembling my Thinkpad revealed the board they used for replacement was a "Serviable Used Part" with a G84-950-A2 with Date Code 0802A2.

How did you confirm that the board was a "Serviceable used part"?

Ross..

[Kamika007z]

Hi All,

I'm glad to know that Lenovo is setting things straight and fixing the issue.

Quick question though, I am unable to find any information on Lenovo's site regarding "MIGR-75087". Anyone know where I can read about this on their site besides the forum posting?

Thank you!

[eecon]

Hi All,

I'm glad to know that Lenovo is setting things straight and fixing the issue.

Quick question though, I am unable to find any information on Lenovo's site regarding "MIGR-75087". Anyone know where I can read about this on their site besides the forum posting?

Thank you!

Nope .... Lenovo pulled it a long time ago from the public viewing area .... for obvious reasons. Use Google or Bing to get the bits and pieces .... try "Nvidia Defective GPU" as your search paramenters.

[eecon]

How did you confirm that the board was a "Serviceable used part"?

Ross..

As for me, the contract Lenovo service tech brought the replacement board in a white box that said "reconditioned serviceable used part" right on the box. I did not look for any similar tagging on the board itself, although it had a later FRU and Part number than my old board and the Nvidia GPU already soldered onto it looked new with a newer series number (G86-741-A2 vs G86-740-A2 with a date code of 1030A2, which is the 30th week in 2010).

[Amigaman]

[As for me, the contract Lenovo service tech brought the replacement board in a white box that said "reconditioned serviceable used part" right on the box. I did not look for any similar tagging on the board itself, although it had a later FRU and Part number than my old board and the Nvidia GPU already soldered onto it looked new with a newer series number (G86-741-A2 vs G86-740-A2 with a date code of 1030A2, which is the 30th week in 2010).

I see, thanks for the info. My T61p has just gone in for an NVidia repair (Thank you Lenovo ANZ!) but it is a depot repair so I can't watch them, but I will check the date code on the GPU when it returns. I suppose I need to put arctic silver on it anyway!

Ross..

[eecon]

I see, thanks for the info. My T61p has just gone in for an NVidia repair (Thank you Lenovo ANZ!) but it is a depot repair so I can't watch them, but I will check the date code on the GPU when it returns. I suppose I need to put arctic silver on it anyway!

Ross..

Yes please .... let us know the codes you find on the Nivida chip. For the T61p series I believe the old chip would have G84-950-A2 and the newer ones after mid-July 2008 would be G84-951-A2, however the date code is the most important. Note that the numbers on the T61 vs the T61p chips will be different.

Here is a photo of my newly replaced T61 NVS140M chip just before the onsite service tech placed thermal paste on it for re-assembly .... Note the location of the date code 1030A2 (30th week of 2010):

[Bánh mì]

On April 19th 2011, the tech I spoke with in Atlanta (USA) was very happy to try to get the case started under that MIGR and even seemed slightly familiar with it. Unfortunately, because I'm currently getting no beeps at all, my T61p is not eligible for this repair. The 1-long, 2-short beep code pattern is what they're looking for and would have to be seen at the depot for out-of-warranty service under MIGR-75087.

FWIW, the troubleshooting steps suggested were to first try powering on with just AC power (no battery). When that failed, he asked me to remove AC (and still no battery), press power 10x in a row and then press-and-hold for 20 seconds. Then reconnect and try again.

As a last-ditch attempt before offering optical drive, dock, etc on the Marketplace, I will be removing the RAM I put in to see whether I can get it to a Long-Short-Short state and start the call again.

That's BS. You were shippped a laptop with a known manufacturing defect. I got one pre June 2008 too and though I have a warranty going to the end of the year if it fails down the line Lenovo will eat the laptop or fix it. It came with a design defect, which would not hold in court based on their business of arbritraily applying a cutoff. In fact they penalize people like myself who did buy and extended warranty. I am peeved dispite no issues seen yet with the Nvidia card.