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    Off-lease Thinkpads available from Lenovo?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by MattB85, Jun 6, 2010.

  1. MattB85

    MattB85 Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't like widescreen notebooks. The Thinkpad T61 and T61p are as far as I can determine the last best notebooks with a 14.1" SXGA+ screen. Does Lenovo Financial Services make off-lease notebook computers available for sale anywhere? The T61s with the 4:3 screens were discontinued in 2008 if I recall correctly, which means there should still be some out there on corporate leases. Other manufacturers (notably Dell) have websites set up where you can buy older off-lease hardware from their financial services groups, and I'm hoping there's a way to do something similar for a Thinkpad. I'd love to find a loaded 14.1" SXGA+ equipped T61p with a Penryn CPU.
     
  2. erik

    erik modifier

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  3. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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  4. MattB85

    MattB85 Notebook Evangelist

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    Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the links...I'll have to keep an eye on those pages for a T61.
     
  5. LaptopGun

    LaptopGun Notebook Evangelist

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    Don't get a T61 with a Nividia GPU. Happy hunting
     
  6. MattB85

    MattB85 Notebook Evangelist

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    Why? Do they tend to have issues? I was looking for a T61p with the 128MB FX570M GPU.
     
  7. TheDudeComputes

    TheDudeComputes Notebook Consultant

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    The nvidia GPU had a heating issue in all implementaitons (all brands). Several brands (such as HP) have done recalls on certain models that were especially bad. It tends to loosen from the motherboard over time as a result of heat-cool cycles. The problem is, the machine you really want (T61p) only has nvidia GPU. My T61p has been fine, but it is only 2 years old.
     
  8. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    The faulty nvidia GPU won't loosen from the motherboard. Instead the electromigration problem within the GPU die that uses the low lead eutectic solder is what causes the failure.
     
  9. LaptopGun

    LaptopGun Notebook Evangelist

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    Both T61 with discrete graphics and the T61p have Nvidia graphics cards with known design flaws and manufacturing defects. As the others have said, the solder holding the GPU core together weaken and crack from heating up and cooling down. Thinkpads in my opinion are better than other laptops given their great cooling systems, but that doesn't mean they're immune. They just last longer