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@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ modifications would be a good idea. Some things I would like to do are: |
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2. USB-C charging, cheap USB-C PD power delivery [boards][usbc] can be used |
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instead of the default charging connector, they signal compatible power |
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supplies to deliver 20V thus charging the laptop. This is very cool because |
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it allows old Thinkpads to be charged via modern chargers, which are among |
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it allows old ThinkPads to be charged via modern chargers, which are among |
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other things, much more efficien and light. |
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3. Cleaning the fan bearing. The old bearing is, well, old and it makes an |
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awful sound. This is not only very unpleasant but also lowers cooling and |
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@ -27,6 +27,62 @@ modifications would be a good idea. Some things I would like to do are: |
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SSDs, this will increase the responsitivity of the machine by a lot. |
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7. Upgrade the bluetooth module from 2.0 to 4.0, this is not only for better |
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speeds but also for better power saving. |
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8. New third party battery, this is also needed on most old laptops |
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## The Easy Stuff |
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This stuff is rather easy, calling replacing a card a "hardware mod" is a |
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stretch but better put it here than somewhere else. |
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In general a good resource for simple modifications and general informations |
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about the ThinkPad x301 is the [Mc Donnell Tech webstite][donnell] |
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Let's begin with the battery, the ThinkPad x301 came with three battery |
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[options][batteries]: |
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- Battery 49, 3 cells, 27.3 Wh |
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- Battery 49+, 6 cells, 43.2 Wh |
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- Bay Battery 50, 3 cells, resides in the UltraBay Thin slot, 23.7 Wh |
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The best _new_ option is to get some third party battery with 6 cells more |
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or less equivalent to the 49+. As for the UltraBay battery, they don't make |
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them new, and buying a new old stock costs an eye and a liver. Also having a |
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DVD reader in 2021 is comfy. |
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Buying a new battery can cost you upwards of 50€ and I'm not really sure about |
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the difference between the third parties, I'll have to do some more research |
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on that. |
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Moving on to WiFi, the preinstalled one is an Intel 5XXX wifi link something |
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something. Not bad but not great, some other options are: |
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- [Atheros AR9382][wf], good driver support but _average_ speeds, also this |
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chip is used in [freedom respecting][ryf] hardware |
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- [Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300][centrino] (FRU 60Y3233), better speeds and |
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power efficiency, unsure about driver support and "freedom respect" |
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- [Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Plus Bluetooth][ac7260] (FRU 04W3814), as |
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the name implies it has bluetooth builtin and even greater speeds, again tho |
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I'm not sure about drivers and freedom. Also a [hardware mod][ac7260mod] may |
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be required for it to work. |
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**NOTE:** all these cards can be installed only after flashing a new BIOS with |
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the device whitelist removed, a good resource on that is once-again |
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[Mc Donnell's website][donnell]. |
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Onto Bluetooth, there are a couple of [FRUs][fru] (cards) that will work out of |
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the box (and for all I know at all), there are: |
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- The preinstalled BT 2.0 boards |
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- [FRU 60Y3303][bt1] bluetooth 4.0 from Foxconn |
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- [FRU 60Y3305][bt2] bluetooth 4.0 from Liteon |
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One of the 4.0 cards will serve me nicely, as far as I know there is no real |
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difference between the two so no stress in picking one or the other. |
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Finally the [micro SATA][usata] to [mSATA][msata] converter board. The x301 |
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originally used a micro SATA SSD or HDD, these come in a non-common 1.8" |
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format which to my knownledge manufacturers no longer use. So the idea is to |
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use a [commercially available][umconverter] converter board along with a |
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[3D printable caddy][caddyfile] (source [here][caddy]) in order to use |
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common mSATA SSDs. |
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## Display Panel Replacement |
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@ -43,3 +99,16 @@ This image was taken [from this forum post][affsforum] |
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[wf]: https://static6.arrow.com/aropdfconversion/3819c6435740abdd592c1d40adffdfba809ffe79/ar9382.pdf |
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[ryf]: https://ryf.fsf.org/ |
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[affsforum]: http://thinkpads.kr/xe/?mid=gallery&document_srl=80883 |
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[batteries]: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd013390 |
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[centrino]: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/it/it/ark/products/59474/intel-centrino-ultimate-n-6300-dual-band.html |
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[ac7260]: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/it/it/ark/products/75439/intel-dual-band-wireless-ac-7260.html |
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[ac7260mod]: https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/49wjv1/x220t_and_intel_wirelessac_7260_installation_woes/ |
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[donnell]: http://x301.mcdonnelltech.com/ |
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[fru]: https://support.lenovo.com/it/it/solutions/ht118572-what-is-a-field-replacement-unit-fru-service-part |
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[bt1]: https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-Bluetooth-Thinkpad-60Y3303-60Y3305/dp/B07XQ8MHCC |
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[bt2]: https://www.amazon.it/Adattatore-Bluetooth-Thinkpad-60Y3303-60Y3305/dp/B07XQ8MHCC |
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[usata]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#Micro_connector |
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[msata]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#Mini-SATA_(mSATA) |
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[umconverter]: https://www.amazon.it/Sconosciuto-msata-Express-Converter-Adapter/dp/B01AP5RSZY |
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[caddy]: https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/e0rbfq/thinkpad_x301_msata_adapter_caddy/ |
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[caddyfile]: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3996754 |
