So my laptop recently died. I was wondering if the machine can be of any use to me without repairing it.

I was wondering whether it can be used as a 'headless server' without the graphics card. I'm guessing the lack of graphics would cut down on my administration options and perhaps the value of the broken laptop would be better sold and then a more suitable device bought instead.

Anyone done anything interesting with their machines that fell on the nvidia sword?

you won't be able to boot the laptop without having a functional GPU.

Unfortunately the cannot be used until fixed, but they usually are worth fixing.

If your interested in fixing it, I have the parts you would need.

even i too have one, T61 15.4 with failed NVS 140 M, the local laptop repair center in India tried to replace a different IC but it failed, was wondering whether one can get good nVidia NVS 140 M that can be replaced in the motherboard instead of replacing a complete MOBO.

I was told by the repair center, that they do chip level replacement and for most laptops an equivalent IC would work fine, but my laptop didn't even respond.

finally i ended up with buying a used T61 14 Wide to swap my RAM and HDD, but am still in possession of my old one...hope to review it one day!

Thanks
Param

You can replace the GPU on the system board. to do so it would involve removing the system board, shipping it to a board remanufacturer, about $100 (usd) plus the cost of the chip (perhaps $100 or more), then return shipping.

However the extreme temperatures involved in this type of repairs can easily damage the board, so a good used board with the updated GPU would be a more reliable option, as well as costing a lot less and of course it would be an immediate fix. If you sent your board off to get rechipped, then got it back and it didn't work, then you have more shipping, RMA forms, etc... so the only time I'd recommend having a board rechipped is if you have a model that is unavaiable with the updated gpu, such as the 4:3 ratio models where your only hope of an updated gpu is to get one installed, or find a board that was already rechipped.

If you were thinking that it's an easier job to replace the chip then to replace the board, then you couldn't be more wrong.