Thinkpads Forum

Hi, Its my first time posting here... I am just wondering if anyone can give me advice to replacing my 4965AGN wifi-link card in my x61 to a wifi-link 5100/5300? I've heard that the newer ones have better support, lower power consumptions and lower temperatures! Ever since i got my x61, the palm rest area has always been blazing hot on the right side. so i assume its the wifi card. Does anyone know if I can replace the card? Also does anyone know if its actually better to change to newer ones? thank you very much!

I replaced a 4965AG with a 5300 on an X41T. First and foremost, you need a hacked BIOS. Search the forums for more information.

shareme99 wrote:Hi, Its my first time posting here... I am just wondering if anyone can give me advice to replacing my 4965AGN wifi-link card in my x61 to a wifi-link 5100/5300? I've heard that the newer ones have better support, lower power consumptions and lower temperatures! Ever since i got my x61, the palm rest area has always been blazing hot on the right side. so i assume its the wifi card. Does anyone know if I can replace the card? Also does anyone know if its actually better to change to newer ones? thank you very much!

AFAIK you'll need a modded BIOS -- then again you're supposed to need a modded BIOS to stick an F3507g in the X61, and I didn't, so who knows...

As for the temps: if switching cards isn't an option, you can install an auxiliary fan in your X61. They were about $30 on eBay last time I checked, and should be pretty straightforward to pop in.

Also, make sure you've enabled power management support on your WiFi card. Running it in PM mode 0 will *definitely* heat up the palmrest, but I barely notice any warmth when it's in modes 3-5.

shareme99 wrote:Ever since i got my x61, the palm rest area has always been blazing hot on the right side. so i assume its the wifi card.

I'd be doing some selective testing, such as disabling the card in the Device Manager, to see if it is the 4965AGN card causing the blazing heat

I have an X61 with an 4965AGN, which I have used a lot, and I'm not having palm rest heating problems.

shareme99 wrote:Does anyone know if I can replace the card?

See the X61 Hardware Maintenance Manual.... http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 62866.html

Cheers,

Bill B.

ThinkRob wrote: As for the temps: if switching cards isn't an option, you can install an auxiliary fan in your X61. They were about $30 on eBay last time I checked, and should be pretty straightforward to pop in.

What is an auxiliary fan? can you show me an example? I assume its like a fan where you can install into the machine to cool down the wireless card?

ThinkRob wrote: Also, make sure you've enabled power management support on your WiFi card. Running it in PM mode 0 will *definitely* heat up the palmrest, but I barely notice any warmth when it's in modes 3-5.

Where can i see and enable this? is it lenovo's power manager or in Window's 7 device manager?

loyukfai wrote:I replaced a 4965AG with a 5300 on an X41T. First and foremost, you need a hacked BIOS. Search the forums for more information.

I assume that will void my warranty? I still have around 2 years on my warranty.

*Thank you for your replies guys!!!

shareme99 wrote: What is an auxiliary fan? can you show me an example? I assume its like a fan where you can install into the machine to cool down the wireless card?

Part #27 here. Basically it's small fan that was shipped on X61(s) configs that included WWAN to help cool down the cards. You can install it on any X6x though.

You can get them on eBay, like so.

Where can i see and enable this? is it lenovo's power manager or in Window's 7 device manager?

I don't use Windows, so I have no idea what level of control is available under it. From what I recall reading, it'd be in Lenovo's Power Manager, but I can't say for sure.

I assume that will void my warranty? I still have around 2 years on my warranty.

In theory, yes. In practice, it's very very unlikely. They're not gonna checksum the BIOS of every machine that they service, and provided that you don't start off your service call with "Hey, so I was flashing the BIOS with one I downloaded from some dude on a forum", I *really* doubt they'll notice.

Really, make sure that it's the WLAN causing the heat up. You may use the Device Manager to disable it.



If you're going to do it, get yourself a set of good mini screwdrivers, and take your time if you're not familiar with such disassembly (read thoroughly the HMM linked above by Bill).

I spent quite some time trying to unscrew the original Mini PCIe adapter, almost stripping the heads. Then I bought a new, and presumably better, set of screwdrivers and viola, it's done.

Also, Lenovo recommends using new screws, but it's unlikely and uneconomical. It's okay (if you ask me) to re-use the screws, but you may like to get some Loctite (the blue one) and tip the screws a little bit before re-screwing them back in.

P.S. Ooops... I meant "on an X61T" in my original post. I changed the WLAN adapters on both boxes and had a mix-up.

Off Topic:

ThinkRob wrote:AFAIK you'll need a modded BIOS -- then again you're supposed to need a modded BIOS to stick an F3507g in the X61, and I didn't, so who knows...

Really? You are running an F3507g in an X61 with a standard BIOS?
Two questions:
1) Is it the latest X61/s BIOS?
2) Did you tape any pins or do anything "special" beyond inserting the card and installing drivers?
Thanks.

EOMtp wrote:Really? You are running an F3507g in an X61 with a standard BIOS?
Two questions:
1) Is it the latest X61/s BIOS?
2) Did you tape any pins or do anything "special" beyond inserting the card and installing drivers?
Thanks.

Indeed. It is the latest BIOS. I taped pin 20.

Thanks for the responses guys. I've found an option in thinkpad's power manager..where i can change the power savings for PCI cards. I've changed it to maximum power savings and i'll set it sit for a night and see if it heats up again. Also I am just wondering...why is a hacked bios needed in order to change to newer cards? can't i just plug it in and windows should be able to detect it? if i do need it...can someone link me to where these hacked bios are? thank you.

I found out that it really does cool the wireless card down if I turn it to maximum saving in power manager. But i'm still hoping to get a 5100/5300..can someone point me to the right direction?

shareme99 wrote:I found out that it really does cool the wireless card down if I turn it to maximum saving in power manager. But i'm still hoping to get a 5100/5300..can someone point me to the right direction?

Personally, I'd just grab one off of eBay.

shareme99 wrote:I found out that it really does cool the wireless card down if I turn it to maximum saving in power manager. But i'm still hoping to get a 5100/5300..can someone point me to the right direction?

Is this the power manager settings in Vista / Win 7. Is there a thinkpad based power manager too, where is it?

paul*robertson wrote:Is this the power manager settings in Vista / Win 7. Is there a thinkpad based power manager too, where is it?

Inside the thinkpad based power manager. Its where you set the options of each profile. =)

I have an X60. Does no-1802 LiveCD work on the X60 or doe sit brick it like it did to someone's X61?

I think you can make use of the modded BIOS...?

http://forums.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=55837