Thinkpads Forum

Just a quick question.

I have an X200s shell, can I drop the tablet version of the X201 in there?

No -- cannot fit.

Thank you!

Another question this way:
Can be X201tablet motherboard fitted in X201s / X201?
Or may be X200tablet in X200s / X200

I feel that you answer NO, but i have ordered this already;)
I know that in X6x series this swap can be made with some minor limitations.
And i thought this can be made in X20x series.

PS
I do this because i can't find X201(s) notebook with core i7 LV, but there are plenty of tablets (and their motherboards) with this processors...

FryPpy wrote:Another question this way:
Can be X201tablet motherboard fitted in X201s / X201?
Or may be X200tablet in X200s / X200

No -- the issue is tablet vs. non-tablet, not X200[s] vs. X201[s].

For the purposes of this discussion, the X200 base is same as X201 base, and X200s base is same as X201s base. Because of the smaller fan on s-boards, s-boards fit both s and non-s bases, but non-s boards fit only non-s bases.

It is possible with modifications. I don't know the specifics, but -=SeB=- in the german thinkpad forum did it once. You have to modify your base cover (the tablet boards don't have the usb port near the fan assembly, which has as a result that the fan and the whole board sit lower in the base) and you will have a hard time connecting your display, the board connector is wired different as it also has to contain signals for digitizer, power switch etc.
Also, he didn't manage to boot it without a power supply (after that it was fine).
I wouldn't do it, but if you already ordered it you can give it a try (but you should definitely ask SeB for specifics).

Why did you want the LV-i7 in the first place anyway? Every i5 in X201 series (except the ulv ones) is faster than that low voltage i7. I had a X201 with i5-540M and then switched to a X201T with i7-640LM. I can tell you, the difference is noticable. Also, I missed my oppertunity to switch to a i5-560 board for a reasonable price

Boggler wrote:It is possible with modifications. I don't know the specifics, but -=SeB=- in the german thinkpad forum did it once. You have to modify your base cover (the tablet boards don't have the usb port near the fan assembly, which has as a result that the fan and the whole board sit lower in the base) and you will have a hard time connecting your display, the board connector is wired different as it also has to contain signals for digitizer, power switch etc.
Also, he didn't manage to boot it without a power supply (after that it was fine).
I wouldn't do it, but if you already ordered it you can give it a try (but you should definitely ask SeB for specifics).

Why did you want the LV-i7 in the first place anyway? Every i5 in X201 series (except the ulv ones) is faster than that low voltage i7. I had a X201 with i5-540M and then switched to a X201T with i7-640LM. I can tell you, the difference is noticable. Also, I missed my oppertunity to switch to a i5-560 board for a reasonable price

I have noticed your answer only now, after i have done this swap. AND YES it is not straightforward but not as complicated as doing T60/1 quadcore Frankenpad
Yes today i have got parcel with all goodies - 802.11ac router and some thinkpads hardware. Now i am on vacation far from the town, so all things except X20x will wait for vacation end. Now i haven't all necessary equipment to do this mod excellent, but only good screwdriver i have and it is fine for this

YES - X201T haven't 2nd left USB and the fan is sitting in other place, But i haven't noticed that mainboard sits lower. YES i have tried to put HSF from X201 to X201T mainboard - but power connector don't want it. It must be reworked or fan body must be rebuild. May be using tablet mainboard in X201s is more adequate way.
Interesting - that with X201 HSF there is a space to place 2nd left USB and connect it to the connector where 2nd right USB in tablet connects. More interesting that on X201 mainboard there is traces for that (right) USB connector too (but it is unsoldered).

OTHER BAD THINGS
- X201T have standoffs for video interposer board. And they are prevent normal connecting of flex PCB cable of X201 LCD. Right way is to remove this standofs. But i havent right equipment. And i have removed metall bracket (it is glued to) from flex PCB.
- there is connector fo stilus switch and it is prevent normal sitting of tablet mainboard in nontalet chassis. It must be removed and mainboard must be insulated in that place.

In X6x the video connector was universal and can be used for finger print and wacom or for bluetooth. Wacom lines (LPC) can be connected or leaved unconneted without problems.
But now there is some troubles.
It sees bluetooth module in LCD - but can't swith it on / off. It thinks that bluetooth must be connected to bottom connector???.
Touchpad works well, but fingerprint reader didn't find in device manager (they're all sit on palmrest connector in X201) - i think not all lines in that connector populated in X021T mainboard (but it is not a problem).
I don't test it on battery (only on AC) - i do it when i find battery for X201.

Why LV i7 vs NV i5. May be because battery life and heat generation. I noticed how hot i5 (540M) but i don't notice that for i7 and with normal HSF from X201 it will be cool and quiet i tink. More over - in terms of performance i7 @ 2.13 outperforms T8300 @2.4 with which is in X61 and i am writing this text on it. If i can live with wide screen and can do IPS mod for this X201 may be it can replace X61.

I don't know german well. But i'll try to find SeB but when my vacation comes to the end and i can come to this mod with all forces. I coudn't find SeB's theme @ thinkpad-forum.de with google search

PS
The ugly dream - is to place X201 mainboard in X6x body.... but it is only dream...


--------------------ADDITION----------------------------------
I've got X200, X200t and X201 schematics and find out:
BDC_PRESENSE, BDC_ON, BDC_LED_S, WIFI_BUSY, BT_BUSY signals didn't connected to LCD connector in X200T motherboard. They routed to bottom bluetooth connector. So there is 2 ways out:
- connect BT module to BT connector in base wuth cable from tablet and remove BT module from screen.
- solder couple of wires and get this signals to LCD connector....
First is easy but there is no standoff for mounting BT module in bottom of thinkpad base
Second is interesting;)

I couldn't find X201t schematics. So i don't understand why fingerprint is not working. I think USB lines didn't connected to touchpad connector on X201t mainboard.

--------------------ADDITION----------------------------------
I can't find -=SeB=-'s posts about this mod (except 1 hint about he is doing this). Pls Boggler can you point me at this posts may be i can find some interesting info? Registering on german forum is a bit of pain for me

I have desoldered stylus connector and motherboard fitted more precisely at right top corner. I have broken (removed) standoffs near LCD connector and LCD connector fitted Ok.

Hi again and sorry for the late reply, I actually found this topic again while searching for X201T with Coreboot (I thought maybe you could use a X20xs WXGA+ screen in a tablet then...)

FryPpy wrote:YES - X201T haven't 2nd left USB and the fan is sitting in other place, But i haven't noticed that mainboard sits lower. YES i have tried to put HSF from X201 to X201T mainboard - but power connector don't want it. It must be reworked or fan body must be rebuild.

I don't have a x20x fan here right now but maybe the tablet vs. normal versions are quite similar so you could just switch the fans (you'd use the other heatsink with the original fan that has a fitting connector).

I don't know german well. But i'll try to find SeB but when my vacation comes to the end and i can come to this mod with all forces. I coudn't find SeB's theme @ thinkpad-forum.de with google search

Here is a link to his profile: http://thinkpad-forum.de/members/13759-SeB
If you have trouble registering (try a translation site) just send me a pm or email via my profile. I'm not very often in this forum otherwise. I could also create you an account if you provide me with an email address.

The ugly dream - is to place X201 mainboard in X6x body.... but it is only dream...

That would be it! Or better yet a tablet version: SXGA+ IPS screen with aftermarket multitouch glass and a X201T i5 board.
Or FHD on X220T/X230T of course...

I have no other tips, but I'm sure SeB can help you. Although I have seen you already managed to fix some issues and have a plan for bluetooth functionality. I don't have the schematic either, but maybe someone has. Just create a topic here or in the german forum (the people there can usually speak english). Maybe SeB, jal2, or el-safeh have the schematic.
If you happen to find it anywhere: I'd also be interested

FryPpy wrote:

Boggler wrote:
Why LV i7 vs NV i5. May be because battery life and heat generation. I noticed how hot i5 (540M) but i don't notice that for i7 and with normal HSF from X201 it will be cool and quiet i tink. More over - in terms of performance i7 @ 2.13 outperforms T8300 @2.4 with which is in X61 and i am writing this text on it. If i can live with wide screen and can do IPS mod for this X201 may be it can replace X61.

I have both, a 201 with the i5 CPU and a 201T with a i5 CPU. I did sold a 201T with a i7 CPU because of heat and battery use.
My experience, the 201 with the i5 CPU is running A LOT cooler than the tablet with its i5 CPU. Battery usage, I am getting about 7 to 8 hrs out of the 201 while I struggle to get 5 hrs out of the tablet. Maybe not a very good comparison as the actual battery condition is the biggest deciding factor but still...
Would be interesting to see if fitting a bigger fan would bring down the temperature. Then a bigger fan would draw more current and have a negative effect on battery life...
I did notice the difference in fan size on both tablets, the I7 CPU had a bigger fan than the one fitted on the tablet with the i5 CPU.