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Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

X200/X201/X220 (including equivalent tablet models) and X300/X301 Series
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myuusmeow
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#451 Post by myuusmeow » Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:39 pm

Hey nitrocaster, thanks for the mod! I'm the guy that bought the pre-done i5 X230 board + bottom chassis from you on eBay last month, and I finally was able to install it today (the first screen I bought from win0win arrived cracked which delayed things a few weeks...)

I ended up buying a AUO B125HAN02.0 from phylliswei on eBay. They list it as a "LP125WF2-SPB4" but it's really an AUO screen if you read the description.

One thing though, is I think something's going on with the slot 1 of RAM (the one that's on the left when you're using the laptop) and the FHD mod. With one 8GB stick in Slot 2, everything's fine. Whenever there's a stick in Slot 1, the screen is black 95% of the time until it flashes a picture and returns to black (so I can still tell it booted into Windows). I know both sticks are good since I was just using them in my old X230. Anyone have any ideas?

Other than that, the screen seems to work great. 1080P on a 12.5" screen at 100% DPI scaling is surprisingly usable. Not much smaller than my desktop's 4K at 28"!

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#452 Post by Thinkpad4by3 » Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:57 pm

myuusmeow wrote:Hey nitrocaster, thanks for the mod! I'm the guy that bought the pre-done i5 X230 board + bottom chassis from you on eBay last month, and I finally was able to install it today (the first screen I bought from win0win arrived cracked which delayed things a few weeks...)

I ended up buying a AUO B125HAN02.0 from phylliswei on eBay. They list it as a "LP125WF2-SPB4" but it's really an AUO screen if you read the description.

One thing though, is I think something's going on with the slot 1 of RAM (the one that's on the left when you're using the laptop) and the FHD mod. With one 8GB stick in Slot 2, everything's fine. Whenever there's a stick in Slot 1, the screen is black 95% of the time until it flashes a picture and returns to black (so I can still tell it booted into Windows). I know both sticks are good since I was just using them in my old X230. Anyone have any ideas?

Other than that, the screen seems to work great. 1080P on a 12.5" screen at 100% DPI scaling is surprisingly usable. Not much smaller than my desktop's 4K at 28"!
Now I need to try that after my X240 FHD Fiasco.
Thinkpad4by3's Law of the Universe.

The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#453 Post by nitrocaster » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:54 am

myuusmeow wrote:
Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:39 pm
One thing though, is I think something's going on with the slot 1 of RAM (the one that's on the left when you're using the laptop) and the FHD mod. With one 8GB stick in Slot 2, everything's fine. Whenever there's a stick in Slot 1, the screen is black 95% of the time until it flashes a picture and returns to black (so I can still tell it booted into Windows). I know both sticks are good since I was just using them in my old X230. Anyone have any ideas?
I guess the motherboard is (or went) semi-bad. PM sent.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

proze
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#454 Post by proze » Sun Jul 16, 2017 7:21 am

I've sent payment, nitrocaster, and eagerly await the mod! Thanks so much!

Raccoon
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#455 Post by Raccoon » Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:43 pm

If I want the screen to shut off when the lid is closed, will I need to find a way of making the "external" display power off?

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#456 Post by Thinkpad4by3 » Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:49 pm

Raccoon wrote:If I want the screen to shut off when the lid is closed, will I need to find a way of making the "external" display power off?
Hook up a transistor between the "moon" LED and the screen power source. Or possibly between the sleep switch.
Thinkpad4by3's Law of the Universe.

The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#457 Post by nitrocaster » Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:57 pm

Raccoon wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:43 pm
If I want the screen to shut off when the lid is closed, will I need to find a way of making the "external" display power off?
If you use Windows, I made a service that solves the problem: https://github.com/nitrocaster/monsw
Thinkpad4by3 wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:49 pm
Hook up a transistor between the "moon" LED and the screen power source. Or possibly between the sleep switch.
When the machine goes to sleep mode it shuts down all displays, so there's no problem. However, when it's set to not sleep when you close the lid, the external display won't be disabled. You have to monitor lid switch signal to handle that case. I'm thinking of patching coreboot to convert dock DP#2 into eDP so that you won't need all these hacks such as dual display mode and monsw.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

StallmanIsMyWaifu
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#458 Post by StallmanIsMyWaifu » Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:45 pm

Sorry if this has been asked but do you know if this will work with the upcoming Libreboot release for the x220?

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#459 Post by nitrocaster » Mon Jul 17, 2017 3:09 am

I guess it will, just like with coreboot.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

skyguardian18
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#460 Post by skyguardian18 » Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:21 pm

Just wanna say that you do a great job :D
Anyway, have you got the X220T/X230T?
I found an X220T i3 .ver for 270 USD on the local market.

phage
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#461 Post by phage » Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:38 pm

If you use Refurb.io, they have cheaper prices on better X220T's, depending on the config of the one you're looking at, @skyguardian18

remir
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#462 Post by remir » Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:10 pm

StallmanIsMyWaifu wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:45 pm
Sorry if this has been asked but do you know if this will work with the upcoming Libreboot release for the x220?
Thanks for asking! That is one of the reason why I haven't made the decision to go for this mod yet. That and the fact that I haven't got a X220 yet. But that should get fixed soon.

Nice name :) .
nitrocaster wrote:
Mon Jul 17, 2017 3:09 am
I guess it will, just like with coreboot.
Awesome!

xash
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#463 Post by xash » Wed Jul 19, 2017 4:46 am

nitrocaster wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:57 pm
Raccoon wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2017 4:43 pm
If I want the screen to shut off when the lid is closed, will I need to find a way of making the "external" display power off?
If you use Windows, I made a service that solves the problem: https://github.com/nitrocaster/monsw
Trying to make it work in Sierra, - it works from time to time out of the box with ultrabase 3. :D
x220: i5-2540M / 16Gb / 240Gb+128Gb M.2 / Bt4.0 / WiFi5Hz / MacOS Sierra / 1290x1080 nitrocaster full hd mod

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#464 Post by nitrocaster » Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:32 am

I've just cancelled 13 unpaid pre-orders.

When you receive payment instructions, please, make the payment within 7 days. Or, if you changed your mind, let me know that so others won't wait for their orders.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

boutch55555
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#465 Post by boutch55555 » Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:54 am

nitrocaster wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:57 pm
I'm thinking of patching coreboot to convert dock DP#2 into eDP so that you won't need all these hacks such as dual display mode and monsw.
Would that work with existing boards by just disabling the dummy display ? If not, would it be possible to flash an old board with a new firmware to allow it ?

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#466 Post by nitrocaster » Thu Jul 20, 2017 12:43 pm

Yes. All revisions have a compatibility mode which can be activated when we have that patch.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

Mrtn
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#467 Post by Mrtn » Sat Jul 22, 2017 10:14 am

Mrtn wrote:
Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:37 am
xash wrote:
Fri Jun 30, 2017 6:42 am
jfyi2: ultrabase 3 works only with 1 external monitor. Internal screen is blank.
Q: Can I use docking station with this mod?
A: You can use UltraBase Series 3 without any problem. However, when using Mini Dock Series 3, the internal display will go blank (and second DVI/DisplayPort on dock will be non functional). To overcome this issue, you can tape a row of DP#2 pins inside the docking connector. A guide for this will be posted soon.
Hmm, UltraBase 3 should work fine?
I'm in doubt about buying a UB3 or taping the pins of my MiniDock 3.
I've received a UltraBase dock, but got the same problem. My internal display goes black when I put my laptop in. Sometimes there's a blink of my windows on the screen. Could it be a missed solder point? I don't notice any other problems...

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#468 Post by nitrocaster » Sat Jul 22, 2017 10:23 am

No, if you got image on display your soldering if fine. Maybe there are different versions of the same dock, IDK.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

Mrtn
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#469 Post by Mrtn » Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 pm

nitrocaster wrote:
Sat Jul 22, 2017 10:23 am
No, if you got image on display your soldering if fine. Maybe there are different versions of the same dock, IDK.
Then I'll start playing with tape!


One other question:

Had anyone tried this mod with Coreboot? It looks very interesting but I don't know how the mod reacts on it.

remir
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#470 Post by remir » Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:24 pm

Mrtn wrote:
Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:00 pm
Had anyone tried this mod with Coreboot? It looks very interesting but I don't know how the mod reacts on it.
It should work. Source:
StallmanIsMyWaifu wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:45 pm
Sorry if this has been asked but do you know if this will work with the upcoming Libreboot release for the x220?
nitrocaster wrote:
Mon Jul 17, 2017 3:09 am
I guess it will, just like with coreboot.

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#471 Post by Fusion » Sun Jul 23, 2017 8:23 am

nitrocaster wrote:
Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:32 am
I've just cancelled 13 unpaid pre-orders.

When you receive payment instructions, please, make the payment within 7 days. Or, if you changed your mind, let me know that so others won't wait for their orders.
Tip: Put them up on Tindie.
ThinkPad X220, i7-2640m, 16GB RAM, 120GB Kingston SSD, Intel HD3000, 12.5" WQHD, MacOS Sierra 10.13.2
ThinkPad W500 4063-VA4 CD2 Penryn 2,80GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 15.4" WUXGA, FireGL V5700, Win7u
ThinkPad R60 9461-DXG P-CD2 1,83GHz, 2GB 667MHz, 100GB HDD, ATI X1400@512MB, XP2 Pro

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#472 Post by nitrocaster » Sun Jul 23, 2017 8:48 am

Tindie only supports PayPal, so there's no advantages for me to sell on Tindie.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#473 Post by x3kcl » Sun Jul 23, 2017 9:01 am

In case no one answers, I would take one or two for sure.

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#474 Post by jmill » Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:41 am

Likewise. I am currently on the waitlist, but registered just to say "Thank you". This mod is amazing and breathes life back into an already very capable machine.
ThinkPad X230, i7-3520m, 16GB RAM, 1Tb Crucial MX300, 1Tb Samsung 850 msata, Intel HD4000, 12.5" FHD

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#475 Post by boutch55555 » Fri Jul 28, 2017 5:00 pm

So, nitro, just saying... The email got straight to junk on hotmail. Don't know if you're familiar with spam filters but you probably triggered a bunch of rules at once. Money amounts, percentage, word "paypal" multiple times, forum thread linked, list for personal info at bottom... The mail is perfect for a human but looks suspicious as f**k for a machine. I'd suggest you publish the email you're using so people can whitelist it / add to trusted senders.

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#476 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jul 29, 2017 2:04 am

Anybody using hotmail should consider this: hotmail is run by Micro$haft...
You know, the same nasty spycrowd that forces W10 down your throat?
Can't expect much good from them.

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#477 Post by nitrocaster » Sat Jul 29, 2017 3:38 am

boutch55555 wrote:
Fri Jul 28, 2017 5:00 pm
So, nitro, just saying... The email got straight to junk on hotmail. Don't know if you're familiar with spam filters but you probably triggered a bunch of rules at once. Money amounts, percentage, word "paypal" multiple times, forum thread linked, list for personal info at bottom... The mail is perfect for a human but looks suspicious as f**k for a machine. I'd suggest you publish the email you're using so people can whitelist it / add to trusted senders.
Wouldn't it be enough to just add my email address to whitelist?
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#478 Post by nitrocaster » Sat Jul 29, 2017 3:53 am

To all buyers who paid their orders but haven't yet received tracking numbers:
I planned to ship in bulk on July 27, but got a lot of stuff to do on my primary job. I know that many of you already prepared the screen and the machine itself. I'm sorry. But I'm working on it right now and I will post updates here ASAP!

Now, regarding the 3rd batch: I spent some time testing new design without the sense wire and it doesn't seem as easy as I expected. I guess I'm gonna need some time to do tests and make it reliable. Which basically means 3rd batch buyers are gonna have wait another month (or more), which I guess is not very good.
Alternatively I can just redo the same design and deliver it much faster. Also, when we finally get patched coreboot, you won't need to solder the sense wire. Let me know your thoughts.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

pamark
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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#479 Post by pamark » Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:49 am

I would say: go with the same design for third batch
I can't wait for my board anymore :banana: . I already have a screen.

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Re: Upgrading X220/X230 to FHD 1080p

#480 Post by nitrocaster » Sat Jul 29, 2017 5:49 am

Just for your information: I cancelled orders for 29 kits from the 2nd batch. If you're waiting for your payment email - check your spam folder.
Want to buy X220/X230 FHD mod kit? Read this before sending me a PM!
T60 | X230 i7-3520M FHD Win10

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