Thinkpads Forum

I bought a X200: 2 ghz Intel CPU, 2GB RAM, 250GB

Erare wrote:I bought a X200 with 2.4ghz Intel CPU and 4GB RAM with an Ultrabase

Any comments on the ThinkPad?

Congratulations with this small ThinkPad. It is gold middle - not slow X200s model with ULV CPU and not so power hungry NV CPU T9xxx model. Take care of it and it will serve you faithfully!

Erare wrote: What should I do etc?

Use it for work and fun;) As you advance you can understand what you want. More RAM (it can eat up to 8GB - but not all DDR3 sticks can be used). Or may be finger print reader or WWAN (you have cleared System unit serial number on 2nd photo - may be you already have one).

Erare wrote: I was already thinking of replacing the trackpoint from eBay.

Why? What's wrong with it? If you thinking about ultranav (trackpoint + touchpad) - alas X200 haven't this option (only X201). Moreover X201's palmrest with touchpad can't be connected to X200's mainboard.

Erare wrote: And how about the ultrabase?

If i were you i'll not sell ultrabase. DVD is not very usefull nowdays but it can help one day. DisplayPort also can be used to connect to big screen. Main concept is that X-series is the ultraportables - for people who travell alot. But it is wery good idea to return to home, drop Thinkpad to the dock with already connected keyboard, mouse and big monitor and do not think about WXGA resolution. May be one day you can think about 2 docks - for home and for office:)

I meant the nub is a bit worn, I think I can get a new red nub from ebay for like $1.

Should I get the 4 cell battery for less angle? I am not used to an angled keyboard (i prefer the keys to be level), but it looks like the 6 cell and the 9 cell both raise the laptop. I currently have the 9 cell.

It came with a 100GB HDD, was planning to replace it with a 120GB SSD.

Should I install tpfancontrol, I had to on my x120e cause it was so loud, I will probably do it on this one too.

I noticed the screen is a bit more yellow than my Mid 2010 15" MacBook Pro, probably because this thinkpad x200 has a CFL screen.

The left touchpoint button feels mushy, maybe due to lots of use? should I replace the keyboard? Or is there anyway to make the button stiff again?

I find that 1080p youtube videos are a bit choppy. I will try to install the OS on the SSD and update the drivers, hopefully that will fix it. Does anyone know if the X200 can play 1080p on youtube?

Erare wrote:
It came with a 100GB HDD, was planning to replace it with a 60GB SSD.

Don't. Unless you can grab an old Intel X-25E, all small size SSDs are slooooooooooooooooow...and likely quite old/worn at this point in the game.

Should I install tpfancontrol, I had to on my x120e cause it was so loud, I will probably do it on this one too.

I would.

I find that 1080p youtube videos are a bit choppy. I will try to install the OS on the SSD and update the drivers, hopefully that will fix it. Does anyone know if the X200 can play 1080p on youtube?

With that CPU it most certainly should.

Whoops, I meant 120GB.

Is there anyway to get rid of the 1080p choppiness? Other than using a youtube app? Would updating the drivers help?

Erare wrote:
Is there anyway to get rid of the 1080p choppiness? Other than using a youtube app? Would updating the drivers help?

You should set the Power Manager (if you don't have it installed, install it NOW from Lenovo's site) to "Maximum Performance" and make sure that power saving mode on the wireless card is disabled. Updating the Intel graphics driver might help as well.

Here are the BIOS versions for the X200. After clicking on the link scroll toward the middle of the page to see a complete list of X200 BIOS versions. Looks like you have the most recent one.

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... uj48uc.txt

Here is the drivers page for your X200 (from Lenovo Support)

http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product ... nkpad-x200

Erare wrote: I see TP wiki has the following CPUs for the X200

Which CPU is the T9xxx you are referring to?

Interesting... You can download HMM here. This is very usefull manual if you are planning some upgrades with your ThinkPad. In "Parts list" section you can see different parts which was shipped in X200's. CPU is soldered on mainboard - so search for different mainboards. There is some T9xxx (T9400, T9550) CPUs here.

Erare wrote:
I see TP wiki has the following CPUs for the X200

While ThinkWiki is an excellent resource in many respects, it's also tremendously incomplete in many areas...

I was playing around with the X200 and I decided to transform it into a "Chromebook". Other than the necessary drivers for Windows 7, the only other install is Google Chrome.

http://i.imjkgur.com/kEIoJXcl.jpg





What do you think? Any other suggested programs?

I ordered a 5 pack trackpoints for $1 on eBay, and a new HDD cover for $1 as well since this one has a small crack. Both should be here about a month.

I thought about getting a 4 cell battery on eBay, decided the price wasn't worth it for such an old laptop. And I read the new 3.22 BIOS blocks third party batteries, seems like a shady move by Lenovo. Should I downgrade the BIOS? Where is the BIOS download page?

If you want to use it as a Chromebook, you may want to try arnoldthebat's Chromium OS installs. They usually work pretty well on machines with intel graphics.

I will give that OS a try.

The two cracks in your pic are in the (very delicate) keyboard bezel.
Very easy to break when it's lifted up from the thin end.
Cheap to replace.

OTOH, it really adds no structural stiffness to the laptop.

I guess you are right about that.

Sorry, you're right - should wear my reading glasses more often.

I would get a new base rather than try to repair it.
Should take less than an hour to swap - the first time probably longer.