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45 lines
2.3 KiB
45 lines
2.3 KiB
Title: Thinkapd x301 Restoration: Hardware Mods
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Author: Alessandro Mauri
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# Thinkapd x301 Restoration Project: Hardware Modifications
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As I have to tear at least one Thinkpd down I thought that doing some hardware
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modifications would be a good idea. Some things I would like to do are:
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1. A display mod, the stock x301 display is decent but for 2008 stadards.
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As far as I know there are no good options for a display mod, as the x300
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and x301 screens were made specifically for these laptops, but maybe a
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good AFFS screen can be found and substituted.
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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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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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power efficiency
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4. Full repaste, very basic, much needed.
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5. Changing the default wifi card to a "freedom respecting" [Atheros AR9382][wf]
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card, from 2010 it has a maximum speed of 300Mb in download and god-knows in
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upload. Certified under false brands as [RYF][ryf] hardware by the fsf is
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is very well supported by open-source drivers.
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6. Use a microSata to MSata converter in order to use faster and more modern
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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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## Display Panel Replacement
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Easily the hardest mod of all, since no direct swaps are possible the only way
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to proceed is heavily modifying either the case and/or the eDP cable (which
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let me tell you is not fun). But after all that trouble you can end up with a
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really nice AFFS display as shown here:
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This image was taken [from this forum post][affsforum]
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[usbc]: https://www.electronics-lab.com/usb-c-pd-module-provides-9v-12v-15v-20v-sells-1e/
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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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