IBM Thinkpad T40 Common ATI Video Graphics Fault

[3PEEPSproduction]

mine does sorta the same thing, just if I move it just a little bit or bump what ever it is on, the picture jitters then stops and wont do anything, the keyboard stilll works and i can turn on the light at the top and everthing else but the screen stays the same :/ and the only way for it to start up is if hold it the right way. I dont know what to do and U was wondering if you did, thanks

[flash4tech]

@3PEEPSproduction - Sounds like the same problem. Try gently pressing the left hand side of the palm rest or squeezing with finger and thumb underneath, if it affects the problem it's likely the same problem with the solder on the GPU chip.

[nickpaton56]

Thought you might be interested in how we at Reflow Repairs solder the refurbished graphics chip from a T40 Thinkpad back onto the motherboard after we've reballed it.

The video was made using our own macro camera system, and we're watching the tiny 0.5mm diameter solder balls melting and soldering onto the motherboard, as infrared bottom and top heat is applied.

Thanks too for your excellent video which shows all the typical symptoms of an unsoldered graphics chip.

[antimatterXXXIII]

@nickpaton56 What about losing half the graphics memory? My 64mb A31p is down to 8,and now the backup A31 has gone from 32mb to 16mb. Will popping in the oven really possibly work? Note, the A31 has good graphics, just lost half its RAM, while the graphics on the A31p are awful - but it POSTs and runs..I can remote into it fine.

[flash4tech]

@antimatterXXXIII - Never come across that issue - reflow wont help.

[berkaherzinki]

hey thank , i have the same problem

[samssoftwareuser]

i fixed mine by putting a lego peice on the chip then putting the keyboard back on, the force fixes it!!!

[flash4tech]

Good cheap bodge to get it working but it's not really good in the long term and will not fix the problem. I've opened up a fair few of these laptops to find cardboard placed inside underneath the palm rest ;-)

[GlycerinZ]

@flash4tech Try pulling the motherboard out and putting it in the oven @ 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. After that pull it out and let it cool off for 20 minutes.  I had a similar problem where the video would not show up every time, I tried this last week and afterwards, the board POSTs every time now! goodluck.

[haroonmasood1]

@samssoftwareuser thanx for ur guide... ive also fixed mine by the same method.. really thanxful to u

[pfraning]

i've encountered the same thing wtih my r40 how do you fix it?

[flash4tech]

In plain english - the mainboard has to be removed and placed into a special oven and heated gently. This will have an effect on the solder on the mainboard components, often known as reflowing. The graphics chip is positioned on the mainboard just to the left of the touchpad under the palm rest. Over time with constant heating and cooling down, many users pick up their laptop from the front, causing chassis flex, also having an effect. Repairs are hit and miss even with the correct tools.

[merijnwitje]

it gets worse if the laptop and the graphics card gets hot

[flash4tech]

Yep thats generally the reason for this happening - heat screwing the poor soldering up.

[cheesequesadillaz]

I had that issue with my t-40. After some forum searching, I found a remedy!! (for me anyway)

If you put a piece of cardboard or plastic or something similar, and position it over the ATI chip located just under the keyoard....Then screw the keyboard down tightly over the chip, you are effectively securing the pins that have come loose from the flexing of the keyboard.

I'm typing this on the pc I fixed using the same method 2 years ago.

Feel free to ask me anything!!

[flash4tech]

Good bodge up but not something I would have done with a clients laptop. The solder on the chip on yours must have gone in such a way that you have been very lucky.

[theofficalmiga]

I have this exact same problem with my ThinkPad T40, except the screen often blanks out, and applying pressure to underneath the Alt key can sometimes fix it, or sometimes the chip causes the entire computer to crash. Plus, it seems now that my processor's overheating, even after replacing the thermal dye many times.

I got a different motherboard for the T40 with a new Pentium M, I can't wait for these problems to be fixed.

[wjli2]

Solder reflow is fairly easy nothing technical. T60 doesn't have this problem, since lenovo thinkpad have included an internal magnesium rollcage which prevents motherboard flexing. T61 with the nvidia gpu, have a high failure frequency like most laptops that used a faulty batch of nvidia gpu.

[flash4tech]

Yeah not difficult using the right tools which cost a fair bit. The repair is similar to the problems with the Playstation 3. But from experience it is hit and miss and will often take far to long to be financially viable - unless your a DIYer. Since these laptops are getting quite old now I dont really see the point in going to all that trouble. Yes your correct the T60 doesnt have the issue - I own one which has the ATI chip.

[nickpaton56]

@flash4tech Not entirely true. I run Reflow Repairs in UK and agree that reflowing - i.e. resoldering - is at best a temporary repair.

We reball every chip which involves removing the chip, cleaning off the old solder balls and replacing with a new set, and then reflowing (soldering) the refurb'd chip onto the motherboard.

We use the best German manufacturered Infrared reflowing equipment and the repair is as good as new, and in the long term very reliable.

Not a hot air gun in site!

[flash4tech]

@nickpaton56 - A useful post at last ;-) When I used to do IT disposal and refurbs it was never financially viable to spend time doing component level repairs. When you're taking delivery of 100+ laptops at a time it was a case of soak test, repair if viable, clean, data cleanse and install OS before turning the pile into cash as fast as possible.

[flash4tech]

This isnt my laptop - I repair them for a living but this one was a personal purchase for family. It was delivered and produced these faults within the 1st hour of being powered on - made the video for proof to show to the seller who was adamant there wasnt ever a problem.

[libed91]

try overflowing the motherboard with hot bursts of air, i had a similar problem and it helped.

My T41 is still one badass laptop.

Does your picture go blank or fuzzy if you shake your laptop and if your laptop freezes then?

[flash4tech]

What does the anti-static bag have to do with a video chip overheating ?

[libed91]

he probably tought that some external forces harmed the motherboard somehow and now it is overheating.

LOL XD

I have heard that overflowing the motherboard with hot bursts of air can sometimes help with this kind of problem (i presume that overheating is also caused by this problem).

I have IBM T41 and i think that ibm's kick ass

[Daniel5478]

Maby if you didn't have it on a big thing of plastic it would not do that?