X31 newbie with questions.

[runningman]

Hello all. I've recently purchased a used X31 (2672 / 1.6ghz) with 1GB RAM, 40GB HDD, X3 Ultrabase with CDRW, running Windows XP Pro SP3. I'm very happy with my little laptop, but I'm sure it could be even better?!
Therefore, I have a few questions for the forum.
1. What is the procedure for undervolting the X31, and would I gain any extra time from it? I'm currently getting around 2hrs 50 mins at full charge with what I believe is the standard battery, and I have the setting for battery use in Access IBM and Windows set to maximum battery life when unplugged.

2. Does changing the processor speed in Access IBM from fast, to medium, to slow have any impact, as I've not noticed any?

3. What is the most significant and cost effective upgrade I could make to improve performance

4. I'm considering installing Ubuntu, initially on a dual-boot basis, but if it is as good as the Linux fans say, maybe full-time.
Any thoughts and experiences on whether using this OS or other Linux distros' actually increase performance over Windows would be greatfully received.

5. Any other tricks I've missed?

Thanks in advance for the advice and suggestions

[sjthinkpader]

Not only CPU but lower the LCD brightness, set HDD spin down and LCD blanking (not screen saver) timers.

The Power Manager is better than Battery MaxiMiser in setting profiles. Officially Power Manager support starts from X32 but it should work on a X31. If you do use Power Manager, you may need a later version of Access Connection program as well.

I have a X30 set to lowest CPU setting while on battery and the fan hardly comes on at all.

[runningman]

Hi, thanks for the very prompt response! Sorry if I appear a little uninformed, as I'm new to this Thinkpad thing, but where do I access these functions? Via Windows, or Access IBM?

Many thanks in advance for the useful info'

[shighfield]

4. I'm considering installing Ubuntu, initially on a dual-boot basis, but if it is as good as the Linux fans say, maybe full-time.
Any thoughts and experiences on whether using this OS or other Linux distros' actually increase performance over Windows would be greatfully received.

I'm new here as well but just wanted to let you know Ubuntu fully supports my X41 right down to the tablet functions out of the box, so I'm quite sure you won't have any issues with the X31 and Ubuntu. As for performance increase... A nice maintained Windows is just as quick as a *nix IMO. I dual boot both and just use whatever strikes my fancy that day.

So I offered no help here.

[sjthinkpader]

Hi, thanks for the very prompt response! Sorry if I appear a little uninformed, as I'm new to this Thinkpad thing, but where do I access these functions? Via Windows, or Access IBM?...

If you already have Battery MaxiMiser loaded, just click on the battery icon on the System Tray in the lower right. Power Manager works the same way. You can find the Power Manager download in the X32, X40 list.

[miggy]

I've bought my X32 (1.8GHz CPU w/ 2M cache) six months ago.

a. Undervolting/underclocking
Notebook Hardware Control - http://www.pbus-167.com/
The CPU works perfectly stable on x6 (600MHz) 0.700V (instead of 0.956V). At 1.8GHz it seems to work at as low as 1.056V, but I haven't throughfully tested that yet. Temperatures have dropped about 5-10 degrees Celsius.
Take a look at the "Aggressive undervolting (X41 Tablet - Pentium M 758 LV)" thread.
And although I have Speedstep enabled in BIOS, I use Netbook Hardware Control to manually control multipliers and voltage.

b. Fan control.
TPFanControl - http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~schmitzr/donate.html
Turn the fan off manually if you prefer absolute silence. If you prefer lower temperatures - kick the fan up.

c. Battery Life.
Doing light work (light web browsing, Office, PDFs) I'm getting about 5 hours battery life w/ screen brightness set to lowest and wireless ENABLED, at 600MHz / 0.700V. Dimming the screen is probably as important as underclocking the CPU. With CPU running at 1.8GHz and on maximum screen brightness I'm getting about 2 hours on battery.

d. Upgrade
Probably a faster HD (especially if you have a slower, 4200RPM HDD installed). I have got a 160GB ST Momentus 5400.3, it's quite fast (probably the fastest 5400 drive around) and the drive heads are totally quiet, but platters are not. Take a look around the forum and read about 2,5" ATA SSD drives, some of them are actually considered good (read speed >70MB/s, great random access time, silence - but some SSD-related and lack-of-cache-related problems).
I'm also using 2GBs of RAM (2x1GB).

e. Keyboard customization
I use ThinkVantage Keyboard Customizer to map missing Windows key to right Ctrl key.

I hope it will help... Good luck.

[tanstaafl]

I know it's an old thread, but...

Regarding the X31 2672...I just bought one cheap, 2672-REU, and it has a BANIAS processor. This banias chip requires more voltage than the DOTHAN processor in the X32 at its maximum frequency, so do not expect the 2672 X31 to undervolt to the same low voltages as the X32 when running full out at 1.6ghz. But at the lowest frequency the voltages are close to the same for Dothan and Banias Both Notebook Hardware Control and RMClock work for undervolting my X31 (Windows XP), but NHC shows the processor temp whereas RMClock does not, for some reason.

[sjthinkpader]

More important is the amount of power that each machine draws. X31 runs at lower power than X32:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ng#p544000

[jronald]

I have only used the on board windblows tweaks on my sons with used but good batteries. His is over 8 hours.

This battery
http://cgi.ebay.com/Origin-IBM-ThinkPad ... 563761db26
And the standard battery.

Mine very mildly tweaked with NHC will run for better than 5 hours. Same battery set up.

Ron