Signs your IBM ThinkPad SL Series needs this repair
- No picture on the laptop screen or on an external monitor
- Vertical or horizontal lines, blocks or random colours
- A picture on an external monitor but not on the built-in screen
- Freezes or crashes during games or video
- The underside of the laptop gets very hot
- Startup chime or lights but no display
How we fix your IBM ThinkPad SL Series
We start by connecting an external monitor. That tells us straight away whether the fault is in the screen and its cable, or in the graphics system on the motherboard.
Graphics chip faults are often caused by heat cracking the tiny solder joints under the chip. We repair these on our rework station or replace the chip where needed, then clean the cooling system to help stop the fault coming back.
How long it takes
We diagnose most graphics faults the same day and tell you how long the repair will take before we start.
Good to know: Keep the vents clear and have the fan cleaned now and then. Heat is the main cause of graphics chip failures.
Lenovo's low-cost small-business ThinkPad of 2008 to 2010, sold as the SL300, SL400 and SL500 and built without the usual ThinkPad roll cage. More about the IBM ThinkPad SL Series
Common questions
Is a graphics chip repair cheaper than a new motherboard?
Usually, yes. Repairing the chip keeps your original board, which is normally the more economical option.
Will a graphics repair affect my files?
No. Graphics repairs don't touch your storage drive, so your files stay where they are.