X200/X201 hybrid

[ThinkRob]

So I'm back to using ThinkPads, and my current one is...

Well I couldn't find one that was what I wanted, so I made one.

I wanted the LED-backlit WXGA+ display from the X200s. I wanted a ULV processor. I did want a Core i7. I wanted 8+ GB of RAM. I wanted more (larger!) WWAN/WLAN antennas. And I wanted it all to fit in the X200s case (thinner and lighter than the X200).

Solution?

Well if you look on the X200/X201 parts list, you'll notice that there is indeed a ULV board matching my needs (a couple with the U5400 chip).

So I got that. Then I got an X200s and ditched the existing board. I added the antennas that I wanted, and I replaced the board with the one I ordered and...

... oops. The fans are different. Turns out while the case of the X201(s) and X200(s) are compatible (board-wise), the fans are not. More specifically, the X200/X201 uses a thicker fan than the 's' variants, and the X200(s) and the X201(s) use different heatsink designs.

Back to eBay. Pick up a fan with the FRU 60Y5424. That's a low profile one that'll fit the X201 board design.

Add that, re-assemble everything and we're all good (hardware-wise.) Boot up with the HMD, nuke the serial, product, and type, and we're all set (UUID was already non-existent when I got the board).

In summary: the X200 and X201 boards are compatible, as are the tablet/'s' boards. If you go across generations/variants you'll probably need to get a new fan, but apart from that it's easy (though time-consuming). So if you can't find what you want, assemble it yourself!

[RealBlackStuff]

Join the club!
Did you see this: Another successful X200 -> X201 transformation ?
Pay attention to breaking off the support-point at the front-right-corner of the mobo-support.

[Tasurinchi]

I also have a Hybrid, but my work was more humble than yours, took a working X200s with WXGA+ with a palmrest in horrible state, took a working X201 with a screen in dirty state, swapped the screens and voila!

Now it has 8GB and Debian running like a charm! Love this X201

[91011]

The lid swap is the easiest and cheapest way to go but be aware not all x200s machines have a 1440 LCD.
If there is no seam on the lid running left to right in front of the Lenovo/TP logo it is a 1440.
If there is a seam it's 1280.

I've done three (two are available) and prefer the name 'x2faux1s' over 'Hybrid'.