Thinkpads Forum

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I've posted, would have sooner, but like I think most people now everything's been flipped upside down. Atleast on one good note over the past 3 years I've had to use my x220T as my exclusive computer, it's been running nearly 24/7 for that whole time as well, I have to say Lenovo made a darn good machine, the fan is starting to make a little noise at times, but the added fan controller program has mostly fixed it.
But I wouldn't expect most modern desktops to last this long under so much use. Only thing I feel the machines missed out on which would have made them much more expensive is gaming level onboard graphics, but hey, like they say, nothing is perfect eh? Anyways, I realized and had been planning on getting a base or docking station for my x220T, it has the extended 9 cell battery so the ultrabase 3 should still fit it fine right? I got a 90w PSU so it shouldn't be a issue powering it. and I can take advantage of a extra optical or HDD, I see some brand new going for about $90.
I also see docking stations like this one with a really massive PSU and 6 usb ports? I'm guessing they are hubs, but I don't know if they actually disable the onboard USB ports or not. https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad- ... 47&sr=8-19
And then I spotted this cheap port replicator with many old ports but no DVI that I don't have any information on at all and seem more of a curiosity than anything. They're cheap, but I don't know if they'll fit a x220T with extended 9 cell batteries. https://www.neweggbusiness.com/Product/ ... lsrc=aw.ds
Anyone have any words of advice or more knowledge on all these before I make a decision?

Don't get the Port Replicator without DVI; it's garbage. For the same price or just a bit more you should be able to get the Mini-Dock Series 3 with DVI, DisplayPort, Audio Ports, additional USB and an integrated lock.

However, to make the Series 3 docks compatible with the Tablet you have to remove the little piece of plastic as shown here:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/w/images/2/2c/ ... s3Mod.jpeg

The Ultrabase Series 3 is supported by the Tablet without any mods, and it is the only compatible dock that has the drive bay if you want that optical / extra HDD. Another alternative is the Mini-Dock Plus with eSATA (not the USB 3.0 version), which gives you an external SATA port.

You can get any of the USB 3.0 docks as well, but, unfortunately, the USB 3.0 will only function as 2.0 with your X220 Tablet.

For a pretty comprehensive survey you can read here:
viewtopic.php?p=797093#p797093

Thanks for the heads up on the port replicator, I guess that super cheap one I linked last are really only for people that needed vintage serial and parallel ports. And thanks for the forum link, I don't think one can get anymore comprehensive than that.