Thinkpads Forum

I just bought a very clean T61 off eBay for $30 +$20 shipping. It is the 14.1" widescreen version and has a T9500 processor. Type 7663-CTO. One of the reasons I bought this is because it has a DVD multi-drive in it, which will allow me to run some of my old games that require the CD to be present. That plus I have a X61T also, so what the heck, why not.

I'm trying to figure out what GPU it has but not too sure how to find that info. Can anyone shed some light on how I can find out?

Currently running Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit, but thinking about going with Vista, mainly because the original Vista license sticker is still on the bottom with the product key.

Internet speed is a little slow, but I guess that's to be expected considering how old the Wi-Fi card is (Intel 4965AGN). Unfortunately, newer Wi-Fi cards won't work with old OS's. Oh, and I'm running AVAST antivirus, just in case. Don't plan on doing any financial stuff where I have to enter a credit card number with this laptop anyway so hopefully I should be good.

Download and run GPU-Z: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

You have either Intel GMA X3100 GM965 or nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M.
Go into Control Panel/Device Manager and look under Display adapters.

Does the nVidia quadro nvs 140m have 128 or 256mb of dedicated memory?

RealBlackStuff wrote: ↑

Fri May 30, 2025 5:06 am

You have either Intel GMA X3100 GM965 or nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M.
Go into Control Panel/Device Manager and look under Display adapters.

I tried that. All it says is: "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter"

Doesn't tell me much.

axur-delmeria wrote: ↑

Fri May 30, 2025 4:50 am

Download and run GPU-Z: https://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

Thanks, I'll try that.

GPU-Z identifies my GPU as a NVidia G86 M, which is none of the GPU's the T61 is most likely to use. Oh well, whatever. As long as it can run some of my older games I'll be happy. I still need to take the fan/heatsink off to renew the thermal grease. She's running a little hot at the moment.

G86M is the Geforce 8400M / Quadro NVS 140M.

dr_st wrote: ↑

Sat May 31, 2025 2:32 am

G86M is the Geforce 8400M / Quadro NVS 140M.

Ah, the infamous Quadro NVS 140M. Known to be prone to overheating and dying. I'll have to keep an eye on temperature then, if I want this laptop to live a while longer. But then, it survived this long, in who knows what operating conditions. Maybe I have one of the versions that NVidia fixed the problem? The heatsink/fan assembly looks pretty beefy to me. And it also looks like the CPU is in a socket rather than soldered down.

All T61's have socketed CPUs. The problem with nVidia GPUs of that period was an engineering and materials issue. Check the manufacture date of the laptop at the bottom-- 08/08 (2008 August) and later have the revised GPU (assuming that it's still the original board installed in that chassis).

Gonzaleitor wrote: ↑

Fri May 30, 2025 5:06 pm

Does the nVidia quadro nvs 140m have 128 or 256mb of dedicated memory?

128. Only the 15.4" T61p (Quadro FX 570M) has 256 MB VRAM.

axur-delmeria wrote: ↑

Sat May 31, 2025 8:06 am

... Check the manufacture date of the laptop at the bottom-- 08/08 (2008 August) and later have the revised GPU (assuming that it's still the original board installed in that chassis).

For the benefit of the OP also his planar may have been replaced with one containing a later-date GPU which is not prone to the fault. The only way to tell is to check the date on the GPU, a search of this forum will yield more information.

Thanks folks. I'll check my motherboards date when I open it up to repaste.

babblefish wrote: ↑

Sat May 31, 2025 12:06 am

RealBlackStuff wrote: ↑

Fri May 30, 2025 5:06 am

You have either Intel GMA X3100 GM965 or nVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M.
Go into Control Panel/Device Manager and look under Display adapters.

I tried that. All it says is: "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter"

Doesn't tell me much.

This means you don't have the GPU driver installed. You need to install the correct driver or your video performance will be unusably anemic.

astral wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 02, 2025 3:23 pm

babblefish wrote: ↑

Sat May 31, 2025 12:06 am

I tried that. All it says is: "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter"

Doesn't tell me much.

This means you don't have the GPU driver installed. You need to install the correct driver or your video performance will be unusably anemic.

Ah, good call. I'll go look for the correct driver.

babblefish wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:12 pm

Ah, good call. I'll go look for the correct driver.

There's a "Drivers" link at the top of the page, just below the site banner

axur-delmeria wrote: ↑

Sat May 31, 2025 8:06 am

All T61's have socketed CPUs. The problem with nVidia GPUs of that period was an engineering and materials issue. Check the manufacture date of the laptop at the bottom-- 08/08 (2008 August) and later have the revised GPU (assuming that it's still the original board installed in that chassis).

My T61 has 08/08 on the bottom. So I guess that means mine has the revised GPU(?).

babblefish wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 19, 2025 2:15 am

My T61 has 08/08 on the bottom. So I guess that means mine has the revised GPU(?).

Yes, if it's the original system board that came with that laptop.