IBM ThinkPad Users' Group

[Azrielsc]

what you want to do with it wor?.. anw i not sure if i should replace the motherboard anot.. should i replace it?

Was thinking of using your spoilt T61 as a "hanger queen" for my office, as we have a few T61s still being deployed.

You can get a quotation from Lenovo for a new motherboard (doubt it will be cheap) or you can go to SLS and see if there are any 2nd hand motherboards for sale. Stripping a thinkpad is very easy as everything is modular.

 

[tmuch1]

Was thinking of using your spoilt T61 as a "hanger queen" for my office, as we have a few T61s still being deployed.

You can get a quotation from Lenovo for a new motherboard (doubt it will be cheap) or you can go to SLS and see if there are any 2nd hand motherboards for sale. Stripping a thinkpad is very easy as everything is modular.

I checked with Lenovo earlier, their quotation are crazy.. 500+ for motherboard . maybe I will head down to SLS to check.

 

[Azrielsc]

I checked with Lenovo earlier, their quotation are crazy.. 500+ for motherboard . maybe I will head down to SLS to check.

If your T61 has the dedicated Nvidia graphics card, u got to be careful because the nvidia is known for its problems!

 

[cscs3]

I checked with Lenovo earlier, their quotation are crazy.. 500+ for motherboard . maybe I will head down to SLS to check.

Is about 180 to 200 in Sim Lim.

 

[tmuch1]

If your T61 has the dedicated Nvidia graphics card, u got to be careful because the nvidia is known for its problems!

when I press the power on it didn't startup so is the motherboard spoil right not the graphic card?

 

[tmuch1]

Is about 180 to 200 in Sim Lim.

2nd hand? which shop? If its less than 200 I will replace the motherboard!

 

[hello8985]

Is about 180 to 200 in Sim Lim.

but is 2nd hand prolly wun last...

 

[Azrielsc]

when I press the power on it didn't startup so is the motherboard spoil right not the graphic card?

Try this:

1. remove the battery and unplug AC adapter
2. press power ON button for 30 secs at least
3. plug back the battery and the AC adapter
4. power ON as normal.

 

[Binaltech]

For those using thinkpads, is the in-house power manager program reliable when configuring the lifespan of your battery? Is it safe to leave your battery in the laptop (for those removable kind) and let the power manager ensure it does not overcharge? Even if leaving it there the 24/7?

Anybody bought the ultraslim 90W travel adaptor? How much is this?

Thanks!

 

[Ideasmiths]

I checked with Lenovo earlier, their quotation are crazy.. 500+ for motherboard . maybe I will head down to SLS to check.

I just came across a guy who is selling off a T400 at $299 at ebay.com.sg. I think he dropped it from a high place, case crack, LCD crack, DVD gone case etc But laptop he claim still working if connected to external LCD.

So if the motherboard same size....just swap and you got a T400 working inside a T61 ha ha.

 

[Ideasmiths]

For those using thinkpads, is the in-house power manager program reliable when configuring the lifespan of your battery? Is it safe to leave your battery in the laptop (for those removable kind) and let the power manager ensure it does not overcharge? Even if leaving it there the 24/7?

Anybody bought the ultraslim 90W travel adaptor? How much is this?

Thanks!

new batteries like the newer thinkpads since 2005 very safe to leave 24/7 365. Each battery has advanced circuitry that stopped charging at a threshold. In fact, if you take out the battery, some lenovo speed will drop by 50% due to bios settings.

Leaving these batteries in the compartment will seldom overheat due to usuage,more likely due to design. If you have T or X series and don't place too near wall, good circulation etc, the heat will dissipate well. if not, the flowback of air will heat u your battery slightly. If worry, get those curveballs that raise the backside slight to give good ventilation.

Ebay.com.sg got one guy selling a 90W travel slim lenovo kit for around $88. Don't get those from Sim Lim or dubious seller, these are fakes and one of them tried to electricute me last time because of bad earthing.

 

[Binaltech]

Thanks the reply!

currently i'm doing the charging / discharging cycle so as not to spoil the battery whilst in office. Since it could be left in the battery compartment 24/7 365 then i'm going to stop that routine.

 

[cscs3]

2nd hand? which shop? If its less than 200 I will replace the motherboard!

Is 2nd hand. I find a little expensive. unless you must have back the Thinkpad, otherwise newer and faster CPU can get many brand around $699 or lower.

 

[cscs3]

when I press the power on it didn't startup so is the motherboard spoil right not the graphic card?

Did the battery/power/Charging LED light at LCD turn on before you press power on button?

 

[Azrielsc]

Thanks the reply!

currently i'm doing the charging / discharging cycle so as not to spoil the battery whilst in office. Since it could be left in the battery compartment 24/7 365 then i'm going to stop that routine.

Charging & discharging a Li-ion battery can cause more problems. U only do the charging/discharging method for the older NiHM batteries...

 

[Ideasmiths]

Thanks the reply!

currently i'm doing the charging / discharging cycle so as not to spoil the battery whilst in office. Since it could be left in the battery compartment 24/7 365 then i'm going to stop that routine.

The new batteries, just like iphone and others, last longer if you do frequent small charges/discharge. ie constant use. However, each time uses the battery life will suffer a small permanent decay. Even if you don't use it, it will still suffer decay, especially the biggest enemy heat.

Once every month, I will do a full battery reset using the power manager by charge 100%, full discharge, then full charge 100%. This will gives the most accurate timing when in use. In the past, the old batteries if show 2 hours, can suddenly drop to 5% in the next 15 minutes. This inaccuracy is due to the chemical in the battery long time never 'exercise'. That's why do reset. But don't do too often.

 

[cscs3]

Charging & discharging a Li-ion battery can cause more problems. U only do the charging/discharging method for the older NiHM batteries...

Correct. Do it only when think pad power management program prompt you to do so.

 

[Azrielsc]

We have 4 sets of T61s in the office Some of my colleagues removed the batteries and used only AC power and some just left the batteries in the laptop 24/7 with the AC adapter plugged it. In the end, 3 T61s had their batteries replaced at the 3 yr mark. The last T61's battery that is still not replaced till date (4th year), was always in the laptop, regardless of whether it was plugged to AC power or not.

 

[Ideasmiths]

We have 4 sets of T61s in the office Some of my colleagues removed the batteries and used only AC power and some just left the batteries in the laptop 24/7 with the AC adapter plugged it. In the end, 3 T61s had their batteries replaced at the 3 yr mark. The last T61's battery that is still not replaced till date (4th year), was always in the laptop, regardless of whether it was plugged to AC power or not.

T61 is a good engineered laptop, a tough workhorse.

The next series after that the T400, X200 and so on, the batteries have designed and current capacity values that you can see from the power manager. So now when I buy lenovo, I don't look at charge cycle anymore, i look at the current capacity vs the design capacity.

Comparing lenovo vs other brands in my office for the past 10 years, I still continue to use lenovo.........

 

[suffian]

Display Port

Hi the T420 does not have a HDMI port but a Display Port instead. Is using a display port-hdmi adapter the only soultion to ooking up to your HD tv? And where is a good place to buy such an adapter? Thanks