X2100 USB Type-C and barrel connector charging

[Yao2000]

Would like to get any feedback from any X2100 owners on usage of the USB type-C and barrel connector charging:

1) Any issues with USB Type-C charging? does it work perfectly with 65w Type-C power adapter or does it need 90w

2) for the standard barrel connector, will 65w work or does 90w required?

Thank you for any feedback.

[atagunov]

I still haven't got my X2100 but my understanding was it doesn't have USB charging, just a normal round barrel connector. I also understand this is a relatively power-hungry machine, so 90 might be best anyway.

[Yao2000]

I still haven't got my X2100 but my understanding was it doesn't have USB charging, just a normal round barrel connector. I also understand this is a relatively power-hungry machine, so 90 might be best anyway.

much appreciated for your feedback! Where did you order your X2100 from? XY Tech or Jacky? I hope you get your machine soon!

i read on XY Tech website that USB Type-C charging is capable but needs high power USB Type-C adpater. It would be a shame if it were not capable of charging via type-C. https://www.xyte.ch/thinkpads/x210-x2100/

And its a low-power 10th Gen U CPU, also a shame that it requires 90w power adapter, the same as 35w TDP Ivy Bridge CPU from year 2012.

[L29Ah]

X210 works from 65W PSU just fine, i doubt X2100 is any different as it has the same cooling.

[Yao2000]

X210 works from 65W PSU just fine, i doubt X2100 is any different as it has the same cooling.

thanks for this information. that is strange then. a guy i know who has the X2100 is having issues charging from 65w PSU both barrel connector and USB Type-C.

then again, he also didn't finiah the V25 bios update and Jwire's EC bios update.

you are right, if the X210 with 8th gen Intel works fine, then the X2100 should as well.

thanks again.

[atagunov]

Okay, my impression now is that X210/X2100 motherboards don't "natively" support for USB-C charging. However we know that you can add USB-C charging basically to any Thinkpad by spending a few $$ on a small card. That card ends up being connected to the machine "in parallel" to the round barrel jack.

This is the source of info on 90Wt vs 65Wt: https://www.xyte.ch/2020/08/04/x2100-august-update/

As the laptop tend to draw a huge current on boot, please only use a 90W original charger (included in the box for full builds) or a 65W charger with a 6/9-cell battery. I’ve also been personally investigating a viable 65W small USB PD charger. For now, any 65W charger seems to work fine but at 25W PL1, the machine seems to exhibit hiccuping (charging status alternates between on/off rapidly). At <15W, the machine seems to charge just fine.

It seems both 65Wt and 90W configurations are viable but at home I'd stick to 90W for peace of mind and stability. 65Wt USB-C setup seems more geared to going out and about. And finally these small PD boards that cost a couple $$ and USB-C chargers.. yes they probably work, but good old round-barrel is indeed more reliable. Switch back to it if you have trouble with USB-C setup.

Finally this PD charger being a separate board means you still have to plug 2 cables: one for power and one for your "docking station". So you can either use USB-C power + USB-C "docking station" or round barrel + USB-C "docking station". Correct "docking station" should give you keyboard/mouse/external audio card - if you want it - and monitor. Sadly no "power button" though I've got a vague plan on how add an extra power button. No power button means you have to open the machine to switch it on even when docked..

P.S. I'd probably stick to round-barrel by choice

[jwise]

X2100 can do USB-PD but I haven't tried it much -- I use a PD emulator with a round-barrel output.

I recommend using a 90W charger. Something is very weird with the charging system on X2100 and it can draw much more power than it seems like it should. 65W chargers will cause the machine to bounce on and off battery at high load while charging.

[Yao2000]

X2100 can do USB-PD but I haven't tried it much -- I use a PD emulator with a round-barrel output.

I recommend using a 90W charger. Something is very weird with the charging system on X2100 and it can draw much more power than it seems like it should. 65W chargers will cause the machine to bounce on and off battery at high load while charging.

Jwise! thanks for this feedback. It is what I am hearing from another x2100 owner as well. The USB type-C port isn't responding well to charging from even 90 or 100w USB-type-C 20v power adapter.

Also, 65w Thinkpad barrel connector power adaper is also having charging issues. it seems the 10th gen intel for some reason requires a lot of power. As opposed the 8th gen X210 which seems to accept the 65w barrel connection power adapter quite well.