Previous thread: >>51243060
Other business laptops are also welcome in /tpg/ (e.g. Dell Latitude/Precision, HP EliteBook/ZBook).
If you're looking for purchase advice, READ THE BUYERS GUIDE FIRST. Then post, stating budget and requirements (e.g. size and performance).
Don't buy anything OTHER THAN T, X AND W SERIES if you want the Real ThinkPad Experience™
----
P50/70 release is imminent.
----
Why ThinkPad? (also applies to other business laptops)
>They’re really cheap when you buy a used one.
>Keyboards feel excellent while typing (yes, even the newer ones).
>Great durability thanks to the inclusion of rollcages and use of glass fiber reinforced plastic for the chassis. The keyboard is splash proof and spilled liquids will drain out.
>Utilitarian design - e.g. indicator LEDs, 7 row keyboard layout on older models.
>Docking solutions that easily turns your laptop into a desktop.
>Easy to repair, upgrade and maintain thanks to readily available service manuals for almost every model. Spare parts are easy and cheap to obtain.
>The best trackpoint (that red thing on the middle of the keyboard). Great for those who type a lot or hate swiping their fingers all over a touchpad.
>Excellent GNU/Linux & *BSD support.
----
Used ThinkPad Buyers Guide:
http://ktgee.net/tpg
EPP discount for new ThinkPads (USA only, usually 15%+ off):
http://pastebin.com/TdZByAXS
ThinkWiki - Info on ThinkPads and running GNU/Linux on them:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki
ThinkPad service guides w/ tutorial videos:
https://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/
Hi guys, like my Thinkpad X1 mini?
>>51260494
apart from the chicklet keyboard, looks ok
Should I get win 7, 8.1 or 10 on my x230t?
Things like battery life, performance and ease of use matter.
Also thinking of dual booting it with looneex, but I never actually used it, which distro should I get? I was thinking mint or Ubuntu.
What think pad should I buy tjinking w520 or t410.400-500$ 14-15 nice screen, dedicated gpu,light cad,programming,vidya like having big specs that I will never need.
>>51260494
What is that? Name/Model number? I have a thing for small computers.
>>51260802
Some obscure chink netbook using an Atom N270.
No idea where they sold it or if they even sold it.
>>51260494
Seems very un-ThinkPad
>>51260818
>Atom N270
Aw. I'm actually posting from one right now. I don't mind them too much, but that wouldn't be any sort of improvement.
I really love the form factor of my Dell Inspiron Mini 910, is anyone still making 9" laptops?
Really I'd be happy if I could just swap the N270 for a Cherry Trail or i3 but that's not going to work for obvious reasons.
>>51260537
I'd go with win 7
>>51260537
Lubuntu is awesome, I shill it every chance I get. Same "just werks" philosophy, repos, and compatibility as Ubuntu, none of the Unity and Amazon bullshit.
Looks a little plain at first, but just takes 5 minutes to make it look nice. Simple menus for turning the taskbar dark grey, swap the generic "web browser" shortcut icon for firefox's, add LXTerminal to panel and we're good to go.
Pic related, I like it at the top though you can move the taskbar to whatever side of the screen you like.
I run it on crap hardware, I run it on nice hardware. It's nice~
Do you have stickers on your ChinkFad?
>>51260927
i had an aspire one with that, at the time it was great for a bit of browsing, just weren't that great for videos though, and i was surprised that it could even run windows 7.
>>51260537
i'd go with 7 but do an upgrade to 10 just so you have the option before microsoft revoke the free upgrade, also it'd depend on how much you're going to use the touchscreen as 7 isn't that great for touch while 8 and 10 are.
my 1st gen x1c fuckup find no battery replacement
What's the best way you guys have yone about putting an SSD in an X220? Not sure whether to add an additional M.2 or to just replace the HDD. Do either of them support SATA 3?
>>51261261
No.
>>51261789
I have both mSata (there is no M.2) and HDD for large files (VMs, ISOs, etc.)
>>51261789
I bought mine with SSD already, there's no other storage so I guess it went into the HDD slot
>>51261802
Sorry yeah, mSATA. Just wondering whether it's worth it with the saturation of SATA2 and SSD's although this 5400RPM HDD that came with it is so shit slow I'm tempted either way.
>>51261836lucy@harold ~ % sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdb :(
/dev/sdb:
Timing cached reads: 9910 MB in 2.00 seconds = 4957.09 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 680 MB in 3.00 seconds = 226.42 MB/sec
lucy@harold ~ % dd if=/dev/zero of=output conv=fdatasync bs=384k count=1k; rm -f output
1024+0 records in
1024+0 records out
402653184 bytes (403 MB) copied, 1.8088 s, 223 MB/s
Thinkpad X220, Arch Linux, SSD is Crucial M550 128GB in mSATA II slot
>>51261881
Excellent, thank you very much. Certainly going to be a decent improvement either way.
Good for 16GB of ram in a t430?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233587
Is the W series generally considered better than the T series?
I have a T410i that's dying. I'll be looking to spend a few hundred pounds for a workhorse, including light vidya and photoshop (my t410 struggled running games from 2000-2005).
What do?
>>51260537
Just got Ubuntu Studio for my W700ds, digitizer works out of the box, plus it comes with non-free software to help you ease into Linux.
>>51260434
Would win10 run fine on my T420?
>i5 2520M 2.5GHz
>4GB
>Intel HD graphics
I don't wanna run games or anything. Just a smooth experience with all the animations and stuff.
I think I may have just bought a FrankenPad, /g/. I won a W520 for $350 last night, which I thought was a good deal. But when I looked up the machine type this morning, the screen and processor are different from mine (mine is 1920x1080 and has an i7-2760m, while the machine type is listed with a 1600x900 and i7-2720m everywhere else). Is it likely that the machine was upgraded from the factory, or is this someone's project? If the latter, should I cancel the order?
>>51262750
It runs good on a T61, as long as you have 4 GB ram you'll be fine
>>51262774
If it was someones project, it has been well loved and treated with care. That looks like a pretty nice machine for the price. I would keep it.
>>51262786
>T61
Damn, then I've got nothing to worry about. Thanks anon.
I wanna get a x220 tablet, how good is the pen, and is the hinge weak at all?
>>51262886
Bog standard wacom UD. The old 256 levels of pressure is dated but usable for most things. However, as per usual advice with the X220/X230t, the accuracy of the cursor turns to complete shit near the edges, especially the bottom one. There is a firmware update to help and calibrating a lot of times also helps but it's inevitably a quality control issue whereby all of them are like that (previous models didn't have the issue though)
As for the hinge, it's smaller (and thus seemingly weaker) than previous iterations (the X61t you could pick up by the display with the weight of an Ultrabase attached) but should be more than fine. You can lift up the machine by the screen. I haven't tested an Ultrabase or slice battery and picking up the X220t by the hinge because I don't have those accessories but I imagine it shouldn't snap off
Just beware the rubber tabs on the sides of the keyboard and keep it in the back of your head to look for them should they snap off
>>51262774
A later iteration without being labelled perhaps, usually they increment the processor because the previous model is discontinued and the new one is the same price due to being its replacement
>>51262634
Yes normally, W series have a better GPU and can have a 1080p display, though they are 15.4" and will be considerably heavier.
I'd wait to see what deals there are for Black Friday.
>>51262774
If it was eBay the seller probably picked a W520 that had a matching processor clock speed, didn't check.
How's the build quality on the T540p? I read around and people seem to hate the monitor, is it really that bad?
>>51263157
It was eBay. So it's possible that the machine will get here and end up having the shittier specs? I'm sort of confused right now.
>>51263227
If it's ebay and the machine has shittier specs than the listing, just return it. Ebay is good to the buyer in cases like that.
Is there a difference between the X220 bios and X220t bios.
I found a patched version 1.4 bios for the x220, but I'm not sure if it will work on the x220t
>>51261261
w520
1920x1080
$400~ etc. etc.
ordered a shirt for gf and got them for free
>>51263661
From what I just read from the README.txt on the bios file, it is compatible with all x220 versions
>>51263730
>covering up the ThinkPad sticker
>>51263782
>needing constant reminders that you own a thinkpad
desu senpai
>>51263854
>implying the ThinkPad sticker doesn't just look cooler than 99.7% of stickers available
>implying the sticker on the lid is used as a reminder rather than the one on the palm rest
>>51261261
Only the default ones. Stickers make them look like the laptop belongs to a 15 year old
>live in New York
>thinkpad ships from Minnesota
>it's been 7 buisiness days UPS!
>SEVEN DAYS! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>51263730
Holy shit go back to tumblr fucking cyber-autist
>>51261015
Can you give me some tips on how to and what to pimp up my lubuntu? Been using it for my school laptop for 2 months now.
Is it also possible to add a icon that shows remaining battery?
Just want it to look a bit nicer. It looks a bit to cold, old and unpleasant out of the box.
>>51264100
You have a tracking #? Be wary of people on eBay. If it takes too much longer, open a case.
>>51264226
Yeah I have the tracking number but it's just been sitting in NJ for the past two days.
Should I buy a T420 for $150 or a T450 brand new for $500? I want to buy one laptop for university that will last me the entire time.
>>51264407
x220t for $150
>>51264407
>>51264533
I don't want to bother with the tablet and the x-series cost more.
My question is whether or not the T420 would last four years. The included battery has a 6.5 hour full charge with brightness off so it's still usable.
Would I be better off with a brand new T450 or a T420, considering the prices. My budget is $500.
>buy business laptop
>put unprofessional stickers on it
why even bother
Whats the best x series thinkpad and what upgrades should I make?
>>51264946
x220 is pretty rad IMO
my friend has x230 and he's complaining about the lid being flimsy (he had to replace the screen 2 or 3 times already)
also, x220 is the last one to have non-cancer keyboard
upgrades? ssd, obviously, IPS panel, and if you need them RAMs, you can try sticking in 16GiB
>>51264946
X220 if you want price/performance. You can pick them up nice and cheap, then use a bit of cash to upgrade to 8GB RAM if it hasn't already got it, a better/newer battery (depending on current size and condition), and maybe an SSD.
>>51263730
where2cop sweet vaporwave stickers
>>51264999
>>51265009
I already got an x220 didn't think it was top tier though, problem is everytime I boot it up everything flashes and I have to turn it on again
>>51264999
>my friend has x230 and he's complaining about the lid being flimsy
literally uses the same fru as the x220
>>51263199
Like the older thinkpads.
Watch the louis rossman rant if you want, he points out that the new design is logical
>>51265043
maybe he got some shitty one, dunno
but if I take my x220 and his x230 and touch the edge of the lid, then mine is rather non-flexible, while his starts to bend quite easily
>>51265084
the plastic rf window at the top of the x220/230 lid is known to break and be fragile in general
>>51265134
I don't mean the plastic at the top, I mean the whole lid. Mine is rather sturdy, and his bends easily - that's why he had to replace the screen, the plastic is a bit more forgiving to being bent than the screen. Not that it broke completely or whatever, but he started getting some artefacts/jitter at the corners of the screen.
>mfw the x230t I apparently bought while being drunk as fuck just arrived today.
Pretty rad to be honest, but I don't know what to think about the keyboard yet.
The keystrokes feel a lot better than on the older ThinkPad models, but the layout is pretty ass. Who the fukc thought that it would be a good idea to remove, among others, the forward and back button?
Also, no faces on that think to post yet.
>>51265302
>tfw I like the page up down much more than the forward back
pls anon
>>51265351
No, fuck you.
You had the page up and down buttons on the old keyboard layout already.
>>51265302
>forward and back button
Fuck em. Accidentally press it on a web form and 8/10 times the form is cleared.
>>51265369
Give it to me, then.
Just picked up an E545, haven't had a Thinkpad since the P3 days and it's good to be back, I love this thing.
Question, it has an A6 dual-core 2.9 with the integrated Radeon 8450 APU or whatever, can I punch this thing out to the A10 quad-core 2.5? Will it make much of a difference? It's already pretty good, probably one of the best laptops I've owned, got a good deal on it too.
It even plays my games decently but Borderlands Pre-sequel lags just a tad in some scenes and I wonder if the A10 will help that.
I already upgraded the memory to 6gb for now and it runs all my programs well.
>>51264407
T450 imo, so long as it doesn't have an i3
>>51265043
It just needs to be replaced
>>51265302
I don't mind it at all, I think the X230 is a great laptop, keyboard feel isn't that bad.
I am just too used to page up/down being on the top right
Sucks that the forward/ buttons had to go
>>51265552
whoever snagged that t450s for $533 on the outlet before me go fucking kill yourself faggot
>>51265770
>T450 imo, so long as it doesn't have an i3
It has an 95 but it's the 4th gen 4300U. After looking into the difference between the 4300U and the 5200U, it's basically the same processor barring the 14nm vs 22nm. I don't know how significant that is, though. I suppose it be a tad warmer?
Do you really think that the T450 for $499 would be better than a T420 for $150-$170? It is brand new, lighter, better battery life, more powerful by a bit and way more efficient and all of that, but is it justified?
>>51265812
>>51265552
didn't mean to quote
X250 for $530 refurbished or T450 for $499 brand new?
pls quick anons
same exact specs except for T450 having 4300U and x250 having 5200U
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-ThinkPad-W520-15-6-i7-2-4GHz-8GB-160GB-SSD-2GB-NVIDIA-1920x1080p-HD-LED-/262134239555?nav=SEARCH should I buy this /g/?
>>51266252
Buy the T450 and give the X250 to me pls
>>51266367
which is better?
>>51266414
Dunno, but I'm only looking at X-series right now
I could buy a Lenovo thinkpad X61s for 45 euros
Am I getting a deal or am I just misreading that buyer's guide ?
>>51266434
i fucking lost it. still have that T450, though. I'd really rather have an x250.
>>51266490
>X61s
>2015
are you serious
>>51266507
So would it be better to shell out 90 for a T500
>>51266501
os hit nevermind i got the x250 back.
fucking hell should i do it or not?
>>51266490
don't bother, the oldest to now is T400/500 and X200.
>>51266539
I'd spring for it.
is a t420 good enough for university? I only have $200 and the x220 is too expensive. :c
Would a 90€ T500 be worth it ?
>>51265029
verycoolshirtz.com
X220 vs T420
AFAIK, the x220 is lighter and has a longer battery life.
Bought an x200t for $104. Mint condition. 4GB Ram 250 HDD. Did I fuck up? I mean I know there will always be linux distro that it can run but should I have gotten a x220 instead?
>>51268084
No that's pretty good. Maybe about $20 more than what you should have paid.
>>51268122
Really? Where can I find them that cheap? I was on eBay and all the ones in the $70-90 price range had missing HDDs (which is fine) but they also had worn out shiny keyboards which makes me sperg out.
what kind of thinkpad can I buy for 100 dollarydoos? gonna install and play around with mint and debian, doesn't have to be a speedin semen demon
>>51268478
an x200 variant
W520
1920
160 gb ssd
1000m 2gb
Mint condition
9 cell battery
i7-2760QM
450$
Good deal should I hop on it?
>>51269072
go for it. i got the same deal few weeks ago cept with 256ssd. not regretting a thing
Should I buy a refurbished T61 for $105 off pf Amazon?
I need it for general use like Internet/schoolwork.
is $154 a good price for a T420, 6.5 hour battery, 1600x900, 4gb RAM i5-2520M 320GB HDD. it's a single stick of 4gb too so i could add to 8gb very easily.
>>51269310
Definitely, I got mine for £165 but with 500GB HDD instead
>>51268478
Something in the --00 generation, maybe a --10 if you get lucky. Pic related, loaded T510 that I scored for $95. I was originally looking for a T500, but couldn't find any that were well equipped, in good condition, and $100 or cheaper. Looked forward one generation and saw this baby, which turned out to be even better than the listing suggested. The seller didn't list the screen res or GPU and the keyboard on the unit in the pictures had some faded letters, but the one I got was practically untouched.
>>51269264
>T61 for $105
Maybe if it's got the 1920x1200 screen. Wouldn't consider it otherwise, that's a bit much to pay for a Core2/DDR2 laptop, especially one that could be a time bomb if it's got the dedicated GPU.
>>51269310
Bretty gud, I'd go for it if the pictures look good.
I have a X220i tablet it cost $120. 8gb ram i3 proc 250gb ssd (I upgraded the hdd to ssd). only thing is the battery looks a bit cracked and maybe even bulging. It seems to work alright and the battery works too. Should I be concerned about the battery? Is it worth replacing?
>>51269637
>>51269264
I personally would not buy a T61 at all, especially considering 1680x1050 T500s can be found for about $50 more, are a generation ahead, offer a noticeable performance increase, and also don't have any longevity issues.
>>51269072
Good it seems. I got the exact same config for $350, except with a 500GB HDD. I also don't really know what condition it's in- seller says "excellent" but the photos were kinda shitty. I'll have to wait and see what it looks like when it gets here.
...this is now my battlestation. now complete with a thinkpad X600
>>51269780
It's bulging as in expanding? You let it stay at 100% for too long, allowed it to warm up, and it's now a bit messed up. You're not supposed to let li-ion batteries stay at 100% for long periods of time, if at all if you can help it. Li-ion batteries are toast once they start to expand. Replace it with anything once you have an extra $20-$50. Charge your batteries to only around 80% if you can help it, as that will ensure that the battery lasts for as long as possible. Never let your batteries reach <5% or >95% if you can help it.
>>51260434
When are we going to get some P50/P70 reviews in? I mean not like I'll buy one, but I want to know what we can expect in a few years' time.
>>51270094
>confederate battle flag rug
>>51270094
urgh, i really cannot take one fucking decent shot by night with that zoom. in fact, should bring a halogen lamp.
>>51270196
i admire your sense of observation! it's accurate, myself i haven't noticed this.
>>51270153
alabama IT guy/10
>>51270153
Well, the xx20's are basically the best thing to buy right now for the price and they're 5 years old in a few months. That's a long time to wait.
this is now a /tpg/-related cringe thread
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiVUProagTo
>>51266252
that t450 sounds more like a t440, get the x250 even though its keyboard is worse than the other chiclet gens
>>51270474
How is this cringe?
>>51270503
I ended up buying a T420 for $154. The new ones just aren't worth it yet, IMO. Buy an xx50 next year as they will probably be below $500 on average just like the xx40's are right now.
>>51260434
I'm thinking of getting a Thinkpad but I'm afraid it will make me a meme. Is it worth the risk?
>>51270535
I bought a maxed out t440p for $400, and a maxed out w530 for $500. w540/1 is absolute shit compared to w530 and below, and t450s doesn't even quad core.
>>51270552
if you're worried about becoming a meme it's likely you are already one
sorry lad
>>51270474
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TidRpVWXBE
True horror
>>51270474
Looks like a typical Thinkfan, a gay furfag.
>>51270566
What exactly makes the W540 shit but the T440p not shit?
>>51270234
>they're 5 years old in a few months.
This is kind of depressing. It's basically been 5 years since Lenovo last released a computer with a proper 7-row keyboard, and moreover it's been 5 years since /g/'s 16:9 shitstorm.
>>51270528
He does so many autistic things it's great.
>my main uses.. video editing and second life primarily"
>"as you can see, I love me my sandy-bridge, eheh B)"
>says folks at all let alone a lot
and he just sounds like some kid that spent a week on /tpg/ and talks about every single thing about it as if anyone cares and isn't just watching the video for his autism
>>51266507
The L7500 models can tolerate an almost 100% overclock, but it takes a little work...
>>51270474
>picks at the expresscard
we have a genius in the making
>>51265812
Oh... That's probably a T440, as they use 4th gen Core processors, T450 use fifth and have the regular track pony/touchpad back.
Sounds sketchy, where is this "new T440"
T420 should be a blast at $180, you'll have extra cash for upgrades
>>51266534
Haha no, especially since T500 ram is cheaper
>>51267542
More than enough
>>51270094
>600X
Fixed that for you anon
>>51270630
shitty off center keyboard and shit display, t440p has the same power in smaller form and just enough cooling to not throttle if you dont get the gpu
>tfw x301 was the best made thinkpad
>tfw keknovo will never make an updated version of it ever again
>>51269072
Get a w530 for $500 if you can, gpu is double the power of the w520 if you get k2000m, and better form factor, cooling etc.
>>51270689
http://psref.lenovo.com/PSREFUploadFile/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad%20T450/ThinkPad_T450_Platform_Specifications_v467.pdf
link related, the T450 can sometimes come with an i5-4300U
>>51270823
Heh, I wonder if they were just extra stock of T440's that didnt sell and they did a trackpad n sticker swap.
>>51270779
I'd argue the X201 is the last hurrah for Lenovo ThinkPads, but X300 I have is just damn sexy to type on. It is the best keyboard and over build quality of the Core 2 Duo era.
I honestly wish the X1C3 felt as good as my X300, it just doesn't, idk, i guess im not used to it being so thin.
>>51271190
>Heh, I wonder if they were just extra stock of T440's that didnt sell and they did a trackpad n sticker swap.
oshit
>>51271190
over-engineering - the image
>>51271316
I hope to get an NASA Spec'd A31p, but I not sure if I want to pay ThinkPad PowerPC prices.
hey /tpg/
cant afford gayman computer, looking at eGPU options.
anyone point me in the right direction?
running a x220
-best budget gpu to run SWTOR?
-how significant is the difference between 1333mhz vs 1600mhz or even 1866mhz in regards to performance? (following link is to modded bios for x220 http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/x220-custom-bios-1-40-release.782077/)
-does a external display provide better performance?
thanks
>>51270779
>Off-center keyboard
As someone who works with numbers, I personally appreciate the numpad a lot. That's the one downfall of my W520. I've sometimes thought about getting a bargain-basement T540 just to work on large Excel sheets. Agree with the screen though.
Speaking about screens, I'm not sure about the X301 but the screen on my X300 is pretty trash. The rest of the computer is fucking godly though, especially for early 2008. Keyboard is easily the best of any Thinkpad, and that's saying something.
>>51271773
you can buy an expresscard numpad or something, some other anon has it
memepad retro should be based off of the x301 desu, quad core options 3:2 screen and updated shit
>>51271699
>eGPU
Not worth it at all.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3TX39N6551
good deal?
honestly just want something that will last 2+ years with a ssd and 1080p res
>>51272099
no way
go on eBay.
>>51271699
Why don't you just check out the Logical Increments guide and build something in the $300-$400 tier? It would be a better use of money than rigging an eGPU onto a 5-year-old computer that was originally designed to do nothing more than programming and PowerPoints.
>>51272371
yeah, old thinkpads are really just a cheap way to get a durable laptop that is still powerful enough to do anything that isn't intensive. Even a $300 tower would shit all over any thinkpad that has ever existed
>and most laptops
>>51272408
I don't think something for $300 would "shit all over" any Thinkpad. At that price you're looking at bargain basement AMD processors and CPUs. You're not going to be getting much more than 10 FPS on modern games with the kind of hardware you can get at that pricepoint. Might be able to play TF2 on max, though.
Source: my Y510p had about 80% better performance than my friend's $350 "poorfag special" minitower (we bought our computers at the same time), albeit at three times the price.
>>51272574
You can easily build a PC that would destroy any thinkpad ever released for $300, yes.
Using used parts would make this even more true.
>>51272099
Holy fuck that price, it better be flawless!
I was able to get by with my X61 when I bought it in 2011 til about 2013, thats when the W700ds took over.
>>51272745
Theoretically yes, but in practice, no.
Maybe models pre 2013, but I doubt one could build one better then a well spec'd T530.
>>51262570
Well I bought it anyway.
>>51272828
In terms of price-performance, you can easily build something that will best a W530, but if you're limiting yourself to $300, then you'd have to try awful, awful hard. And this, of course, assumes you already have a spare monitor lying around so you can see what's running off your tower, or that you're able to grab an old CRT for free from the local e-cycler. It also assumes that you will pirate Windows since Linux has nogaems, but this is always a risky endeavour.
I'd say that, all things considered, to even MATCH a Windows-equipped W530, you'd probably have to spend closer to $500.
>>51273262
if it's all used parts, you'd be able to do it really without a problem.
so i just received a T420 from a friend who didn't want their thinkpad. I installed windows 10 and it seems only the 32-bit version installed. Looking at the system info, it says the cpu supports 64-bit. I'm pretty sure I selected to put the 64-bit version on my USB drive.
>>51273286
Are you taking shipping into account when you cobble together a bunch of used parts from different sellers?
Are you taking the cost of your time into account as you wait weeks for the parts to pop up on Craigslist?
Hey /tpg/,
I recently reapplied the thermal paste on my T420. Ever since I did it, I've been getting weird graphics glitches.
Certain parts of the screen flicker and make the computer unusable.
I'm not sure if it's a software issue or a hardware issue. As far as I know, no thermal paste got anywhere near the pins. I even reapplied it again to make sure it was all nice and clean.
About to reinstall arch on this thing, what do if the errors persist?
>>51273433
might've knocked the screen ribbon loose as you were taking it apart
>>51273433
In other words, you fixed something that wasn't broken, and now it really is broken.
>>51273286
If that was true, /g/ would have a lot more used budget gaming/PC builds, but they don't, and even if so it would be hearsay.
>>51273300
Sounds like you funked up
>>51273262
Though its a pain in the ass to get Windows legally whiling having a valid COA if you can find a person who shows their COA recklessly.
>>51273433
check the GPU heatsink, I accidentally bent the heat pipe on an intel T61 and it had an LSD slideshow due to it overheating I presume.
>>51273450
wait, thats probably it.
This happens if black colors are shown as green or red.
>>51273525
It's a plain T420 with no dedicated GPU, and I'm pretty sure I covered the CPU lid properly.
Looks like it's a similar problem though.
>>51273450
The ribbon isn't nearby, but thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.
>>51273461
yep, sigh
How heavy is a T420 with a HDD, integrated graphics, and a 6 cell?
I'm considering taking out the HDD and putting in an mSATA SSD just to make it lighter and use less power/be faster
>>51273574
the GPU part, it might of been slightly bent.
>>51273579
using an mSATA SSD instead of a 2.5" HDD is like going from stress to epin dabs.
DO ET FOR THE DANKPAD MEME!
>>51270801
Any specifics I should look for in a 530?
>>51273574
>yep, sigh
I was going to troll, now I just feel bad.
Ribbon is still the most likely problem, it could have gotten jostled or damaged during disassembly. If the connector didn't get dislodged, missed putting back some shielding maybe?
...describe in more detail what exactly is flickering, in what pattern, etc. Eg, LVDS noise will look different from a fucked GPU, etc...
>>51273579
i'd say around 4-5 lbs?
>>51273616
can i pls have one of your thinkpads
>>51273678
should be like 4.75
>>51273616
The iGPU is on the CPU die, and I'm 99% sure I didn't bend the CPU itself. The spot where the GPU is on a T420 with a GPU is empty on my T420, because it doesn't have one.
>>51273629
Here's an example, when I was writing this, part of the text in the reply box starting flickering like crazy, while the entire rest of the display carried on normally.
It seems like a software problem, because if it wasn't, then the whole screen would likely be glitched out.
Another example is when I have a terminal emulator open, it (and it alone) will flicker like crazy. If I hold down a key, it'll stop. I'm guessing the constant input of a char changes the way the screen refreshes and keeps it from flickering, but I'm not too familiar with this.
Also at times, half the screen goes black and there is a bit of pixel glitching at the edges of the blackness. This only seems to happen for a few 1-2/60Hz.
I'm not familiar with LVDS noise, but I don't think its a fucked GPU.
Is T420 master race?
>>51273719
>Here's an example, when I was writing this, part of the text in the reply box starting flickering like crazy, while the entire rest of the display carried on normally.
Not the screen or cable. It's the GPU. Too bad.
>It seems like a software problem, because if it wasn't, then the whole screen would likely be glitched out.
Screens aren't big dumb framebuffers anymore. They're constantly running high-level geometry commands. Yours is now running them incorrectly, or being fed bad data.
If it was a software problem, it would have happened equally before and after fucking with the hardware.
>I'm not familiar with LVDS noise, but I don't think its a fucked GPU.
I'm not saying it's a fucked GPU, but it's a fucked GPU.
I just want a laptop I can run zBrush smoothly on. Any suggestions around $2000~$2700?
>>51273719
Oh derp.
>>51273621
GPU options, FHD display?
>>51273715
No. :s
>>51273778
YES!!!
>>51273871
Damn. Even though the iGPU is on the CPU die? What a pain in the ass, no clue how just reapplying the thermal paste could fuck it up like that.
>>51273924
Well, it's now working already, so no harm disassembling and inspecting carefully what might have gone wrong, yes? The problem might be obvious....
[assuming of course you have not already done so]
>>51273955
er, s/now/not/ working already
Damn autocorrect.
>>51273955
The thing works, but it does the flicker every once in a while so it's a pain in the ass.
Reinstalling my OS as we speak, and if I still have trouble with it, I'll do an autopsy and post results. Thanks for the help :)
>>51273778
Sure, if you can't afford one of these.
>>51273991
...and of course, there's always static damage. It's real, though /g/ likes to pretend it doesn't exist.
Most big chips these days are pretty well protected against it, but that doesn't mean freak static accidents don't still happen.
Static doesn't often kill ICs. Usually it just makes them 'act a little funny'....
![maxresdefault[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/o9cPprK.jpg "maxresdefault[1].jpg")
thoughts, /g/?
>>51274044
Don't people wear vinyl gloves or something to avoid static?
ok. so i finally got 64-bit on the T420. I need to install the drivers for the Intel HD Graphics 3000 card. Will the win 8.1 drivers from lenovo's support site work?
>>51274005
ENTF
>>51274153
>Don't people wear vinyl gloves or something to avoid static?
...
yeah, they ground themselves by wearing plastic shoes, and shuffling across carpet to make the best possible contact.
>>51274130
Looks like its good for gaming! :D
>>51274044
I think anon was really unlucky to static damage his laptop.
kinda funny I have to admit as I don't take much precaution onto desktops/laptops and haven't had a problem.
>>51274394
usually the only problem I had with drivers are the trackpoint drivers, so yeah you should be good.
>not just downloading System Update
>>51274537
>I think anon was really unlucky to static damage his laptop.
>kinda funny I have to admit as I don't take much precaution onto desktops/laptops and haven't had a problem.
Same here. I take very little precaution working on mobos aside from working on a dissipative surface and running a humidifier when it gets really dray. Oh, and the floors are hard wood.
I've never damaged a mobo, processor or GPU, but I have definitely killed many discrete transistors and random driver chips with static. They have no ESD ring protection the way almost all VLSI does.
>>51274537
hmmm... i've never heard of system update (i just got my T420 so i'm unfamiliar with thinkpads). I'm taking a quick look at it right now.
>>51274576
Its like IBM and Lenovo's driver finder, it works good for the most part (except when it comes to the trackpoint...), just check what software you want, it should download the correct version.
You'll have to download power manager separate if you want it to work via 8.1/10 and have to right click and run it under compatibility mode during the install.
>>51274571
Yeah, I had gotten the antistatic strap and everything when i built my first desktop, sadly the family computer I was upgrading from had died either by shock or that it was shit shit (I have really really bad luck with HP computers).
>>51274044
>>51274537
>>51274571
>>51274625
Just finished reinstalling my OS completely. Haven't noticed any glitching or weird behaviour yet. Looks like it might have been a spooky software issue, or the problems just haven't cropped up again.
Weird. I'll keep you guys posted if something fucks up again.
Once again, thanks for all the help.
>>51274641
FWIW, I hope I'm wrong and you're good to go. Good luck, anon.
Here's a photo of the sucker.
>>51274641
Thanks friend
>>51274670
nice
>>51274670
damn I'm fucking stupid
>>51274641
Oh, since iGPU uses system RAM... might want to run a memtest on that guy. Hey, can't hurt right?
>>51274710
you tried
>>51274005
but I can and i sold it because it was so lame
>W520
>i7-2760QM
>16GB ram
>1920x1080 15.6"
>Quadro 1000M
>brand new genuine 9 cell (6-8 hours)
>120GB SSD
>500GB HDD
>like 7.?lbs with 9 cell
$450 in great shape, sold for $475.
went to
T420
>i5-2520M
>4GB ram
>1600x900 14"
>brand new legitimate 6 cell (7 hours)
>320GB HDD
>4.5lbs with 6 cell
$150 in great shape, could easily sell for an extra $25 or so.
tl;dr W520 isn't worth it
retards are talking shit on our machines, saying chromebooks are better
>>51273951
>>>51273951
>>51273951
>>51274841
i'd say i put a good reply out there
>>51274841
who cares? Plebes gonna plebe.
>>51274841
Thank God, fewer faggots will be bidding against me on ebay.
>>51275773
Oh, don't worry. There's always me!
>>51275790
Are you the asshole that's been buying up x200 laptops the last week. It seems like I can't get one for less than a hundred dollars lately.
>>51275816
Naw. Nothing after the X61 is worth buying.
>>51275835
I only like them for their libreboot support. It's nice not to have to worry about Management Engine.
Should I wait till black Friday or cyber monday to score a w520 w530? Do they ever sell them refurb still?
How good are x201s?
I found one for 215 eurodollars.
But if had a 1280x800 screen, can I retrofit a better one?
>>51277426
Typing this post from a 2010 x201 (i7 620m). Only gripe is that it is sata 2, doesn't make that much real world difference but it is the only thing I don't like about it.
Looking at getting a thinkpad yoga 14, hoping for a black friday deal in the UK. Will amazon be the best place to look?
now that there's a skylake model i was hoping they'd discount the broadwell model
What are the soft "footpads" at the bottom of the ThinkPad called? Where can I buy them?
One of them fell off my ThinkPad X200 and it's bugging me.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X220-Core-i5-2540M-2-6GHz-4Gb-320GB-Windows7-IPS-Dispaly-X230-/231747355225?hash=item35f5380259:g:aYoAAOSwNSxVeTLe
Yay, nay?
>>51277445
Would I be better off with an x220? I'd like to utilize my ssd properly, the tablet part of the x201 is nice but a gimmick.
>>51277445
X201 is nice, i run gentoo on it without ssd because ssd is overated.
It already boots up quick enough and don't really wanna compile on ssd.
>>51274571
Have never damaged anything with static, builded over thousands of computers.
>>51277717
Can you find the FRU in the maintenance manual?
do you think skylake will be worth waiting for? I believe the T6 series comes out in January with them.
>>51276310
They definitely won't give you any major discounts on a used machine.
If I put Coreboot on my T420, would I be able to use an Ivy CPU?
I'm not really knowleadgable about BIOSes and the Coreboot page is not extremly clear about it, but I guess I'd need a hardware flasher and to mess around with code and editing stuff.
Anyone has any experience about it? I'd do it just for the HD 4000.
>>51274841
Eh for non specific tasks, Pixel > X1C imo
But I do like the trackpoint on this fucker... keyboard feel however...
>>51276310
I'd say wait, yeah, maybe get a low end machine with the optional GPU and get dat SSD/RAM at a good price during black friday.
Who knows, maybe Dell will slice their M4800 to cheaps
>>51277715
I usually check bfasds.net for my deals, its a US site so I am unsure if it'll be useful for ya mate.
>>51278170
I believe they'll make the performance variants of the T series,
no clue if they'll make a W550
Quick
T450s with dedicated GPU (graphics programming), it's a 940m, how shitty is it exactly?
>>51278723
>If I put Coreboot on my T420, would I be able to use an Ivy CPU?
No
>>51279300
>http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-940M.138027.0.html
Seems like a decently capable chip.
>>51279356
Neat, you think it might be worth waiting for the T460 series? Or should I just go for one right now?
>>51279398
Depends on the price. New ThinkPads are expensive as hell and /tpg/ tends to advise against them. And as far as performance goes, I don't think there'll be drastic improvements, and I'm certain the new series will not have a better price/performance ratio.
Make your decision on what you intend to use the machine for.
>>51279429
>the new series will not have a better price/performance ratio.
*Compared to older models.
>>51279429
Well I just said it's graphics programming and I really would like a thinkpad, but the options with dedicated GPU's are extremely limited.
>>51279327
Actually yes, it's supported by coreboot. http://www.coreboot.org/Board:lenovo/t420
>>51279447
I'm not familiar with graphics programming, but the W series should provide better and more powerful options than a T series.
Bought an SSD for the T420, but I don't have 7mm rails to make it fit. Should I just DIY something with the 9.5mm rails and fit it into the slot, or would it be viable to just put it into the ultrabay? I want to use it as a primary drive.
>>51279560
They have Quadros, that's more geared towards CAD and modelling. I mainly need dx capabilities and the latest shader model.
>>51278081
no but you can check the parts list:
https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd000835
>>51279702
>latest shader model
Then you'll probably need a DX12 capable machine. Look up possible graphics cards available in T series and the DX level of each.
>>51260434
What's the maximum possible RAM a T420 with an i5-2520 can support? The model page on the Intel website says it can support 16gigs on 2 memory channels, but I recall reading that the T420 can only support 8gigs.
>>51279776
this is the latest one available pretty much
>>51279562
shove it in and put some paper or something to support it desu senpai.
desu it just senpai s.
No really, it doesn't matter with an SSD
Is it just me or does the T420 only take one DIMM? Maybe it's just a specific model.
>>51280135
It has 2. The other one is under the keyboard.
I think I may have broken the audio jack in my T410. (sound only plays through the right speaker for my head phones. I checked the balance levels on my headphones and they are both equal.) Probably a shit question but I was wondering what I should do about it.
>>51280232
Did you try the headphones with your phone or something to make sure it isn't the headphones that're fucked?
>>51280245
I tired a set of earbuds but i don't think I could base it off that. I don't think it's the head phones, though it may be the 6.5 to 3.5mm adapter im using. It actually plays through both speakers sometimes but the connection is really loose (it was cheap), so moving it just slightly cuts audio from either speaker or both. When I tried a different adapter it just plays through the right speaker.
Just bought a T420 with i7-2620m CPU, 500GB hard drive, 1600x900 screen and 4gb RAM. put a 4GB stick from my old laptop into it and its working fine showing at 8gb :) Runs beautifully.
>>51280107
Did that, thanks senpai
Used some cotton swabs, it worked
Is 105 euro a good price for T400 ?
1440x900
C2D P8600 2.4ghz
2gb ram
ATI mobiliti HD 3470
hdd 160gb
Win 7 pro
half year warranty
>>51280311
Did you try a different pair of 3.5mm headphones? Its easy to diagnose if its the port or the phones.
If its the port, I don't think changing it should be too much of a hassle, assuming its actually just the port and not something on the mobo.
Ok /g/entoomen, I considered an old X60 for muh freedom. I installed LibreBoot and Debian (main only) on it + an Atheros is now in it. Today I wanted to start it but when I connected the charger no LED lighted. When I pressed the boot button nothing happened. Searching the web for a solution i have found that it releasing any kind of static by pressing the start button multiple times should do the trick. It didn't. What now? Does anybody have a clue?
>>51280403
Not too shabby, but see if you can get it for ~80-90. What are you going to use it for anyway?
>>51280413
I'll be able to do that by the end of this month probably. good to hear changing the port wouldn't be to much of a hassle, I've been planning to get some replacement parts for my T410 because it's used and in pretty shitty condition (keys and touchpad are deteriorated). If this means anything the connection is so sensitive sometimes when I'm typing the audio shifts between right and left balance. what are the chances its the mobo
>>51280483
>sometimes when I'm typing the audio shifts between right and left balance
Sounds like its more than just the port. I'll leave it to an expert to advise further, but before you spend too much on upgrades, see if its actually worth it. You don't wanna spend on parts and have the motherboard die on you.
>>51280560
aight, I'll keep that in mind.
Guise, I was updating the T420 BIOS with the provided program from the Lenovo website, but it seems like it is stuck - it's at the stage Analyze old and new BIOS compatibilty, with In DXE main over the progress bar.
Should I just leave it there for more or is the BIOS fucked?
>>51280735
How long has it been stuck like that?
>>51280445
I need solid mobile computer. I was repairing 2 TOSHIBA C660 and ASUS N61Jv and it felt like it was made with lowest cost possible (asus was little better) from my research this price is good for my country it also comes with new battery 74 wh (not original but with year warranty)
>>51280810
A little more than a hour for now. Is it because I tried doing it from W10?
I was thinking of creating a bootable USB drive with the BIOS update and just shutting down now the laptop, should I do it?
>>51280838
I always recommend to people that you use the bootable USB option. Windows 10 might be the issue. If you can close the program, try doing the USB method.
>>51280826
ThinkPads are solid, but make sure the specs are sufficient for what you wanna do. If spending a bit more gets you a 2nd gen. series like the t420, it'd be a better buy.
>>51280855
I'll try that, I hope nothing is broken, thanks.
>>51280869
t420 will cost here ~180 euro and I don't need high performance I have gayman pc but I need mobile too
>>51280936
Check a T410 then. C2D's are pretty old now. Even a G1 i series is preferable. Don't want lag while shitposting.
If you're going for the C2D, upgrade the ram cause 2gigs is pretty small.
>>51280936
an i5-2520M with 4GB ram and integrated graphics isn't high performance
>>51280419
Stupid question, but is the charger plugged all the way in? I mean, the cord at the charger side not the wall. Is it actually working?
I had a field tech come out and replace just about every part of a W701 that wouldn't work. You guessed it-- problem was actually the cord to the power brick.
>>51281381
It could probably be the charger cord but on the other hand the battery isn't working too. And yes, the battery is charged, it was at 99 % yesterday.
Would be pretty shitty if I had to buy a new mainboard for this old thing.
Should I go for this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834319126
>>51281645
no fucking way. you can get one for like $150 at the same specs on ebay.
why do so many of you dorks use newegg? it's shit and eBay is the only place to go other than your local craigslist.
>>51260494
I would pay out the fucking ass for one of these built like a real Thinkpad. With good key switches, a roll cage, thick metal hinges, a matte screen, and a low-power/low-heat CPU. Even the shitty Core M would suffice. They just threw the entire palm-rest out the window for something almost classic looking, but why is it fucking white?
>>51281623
>It could probably be the charger cord but on the other hand the battery isn't working too. And yes, the battery is charged, it was at 99 % yesterday.
batteries don't last a whole day you know...
Anyway, with a cheap-ass voltmeter you can check both and not have to guess. But yeah, chances are you've fried or scrambled the main power electronics control.
...this honestly makes me want to stay the Hell away from coreboot now.
My T60p drained and now the screen is practically dead, it displays fine until it loads Arch then it turns off the backlight.
It's possible to discern things on the screen but it's too dark to see.
Image works fine on VGA output.
Anyone have any ideas?
>>51279807
All of the models can use up to 16 gigabytes of 1333Mhz DDR3. It's not dependent on the processor, but on the memory controller, which is part of the motherboard's chipset. I only know this because the T60p has Intel's fucking scam chipset that "supports" up to 4GB, in which "supports" means "The entire first gigabyte is not addressable at all and just enables dual-channel, enjoy your 8% performance increase!"
>>51281729
>batteries don't last a whole day you know...
When the laptop is powered off I hope they do.
>with a cheap-ass voltmeter you can check both and not have to guess.
Then this is what I will do.
>chances are you've fried or scrambled the main power electronics control.
Or maybe some cable is loose as I had to disassemble the entire thing last week to recover it from the libreboot brick. Is it even possible that a cable loosens by carring the laptop around in a bag?
>...this honestly makes me want to stay the Hell away from coreboot now.
If you go for a cheap old laptop (like I did) you don't have to be afraid. I would definitely buy a LibreBoot laptop from minifree.org when my main laptop (W530) breaks.
>>51281775
What about the memory controller on a T420?
Also, why does my memory say 664Mhz when both the sticks are above 1000Mhz? Do they have to have the same frequency? Am I losing performance?
>>51282376
>DDR3
>Double Data Rate 3
>Double
I'm sure you can work it out.
