Another successful X200 -> X201 transformation.

[yak]

I just completed installing an X201 (i5-560M) system board in my X200.

For anyone attempting this in the future, the board fits nicely although I was left with two screws after the job was done.

The boards differ mostly on the front side, where X201 has an additional speaker. The X201 board is shorter there. There is one screw that was holding the X200 board to the base that has been moved on X201. The hole for that screw has a small pin next to it. This pin has to be broken off because the X201 board has no hole for it (the X200 does). This picture shows the pin under X201 board:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q ... directlink

The slot you see there is the lower mini-PCIe port and the big black "thing" is the X200 speaker (removed from its socket).

If this pin isn't removed, the board's corner will be elevated and it will push up the palmrest (yeah, that's when I spotted the problem, after almost puting it all together).

Here's a broader view:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/f ... directlink

Yes, it's possible to put the screw in there as seen here but I ended up not doing that. The palm rest has plastic pins that hold the board down.

This picture also shows the other screw that can't be put in. It should be in the black plastic hole inside the ExpressCard cage as seen here when X200 board was still in:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/F ... directlink

Other than that it's a straight swap and everything works as expected. I'm still waiting for a new WiFi card to arrive, the one from X200 won't work with the new BIOS.

I had to set the machine type and serial number using the Maintenance Diskette. The latest version has an USB-stick installer so you no longer need to have a floppy drive (finally!). I used some X201 type that I found on the web that had similar configuration. Serial numbers are pointless on frankenpads so I set it to 1234567.

Final view:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j ... directlink

Of course, it has the awesome matte AFFS display too.

Bonus: comparison of palm rest connectors:
X200: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U ... directlink
X201: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g ... directlink

[chongyixiong]

First of all, bookmarked! It's the first time I've seen pictures and it helps greatly in the visualisation process.

Congrats on the new Frankenpad, and I have a few questions:

1. How much did the whole getup cost?

2. What was the main motivation to upgrade to the X201?
My current Thinkpad X200 with the P8600 still runs fine and maxed out with 8GB of RAM and an Intel SSD, I don't see the need to upgrade but I would really like to know if it makes a huge difference..

3. Glad that the fingerprint/touchpad thingy doesn't really work as I really, really love the Touchpoint. No idea why people would want to use the touchpad as it's just so much more tedious. And that's why I can't buy the X220/230 because they seemed to come with the touchpad by default.

[yak]

Yeah, I couldn't find any pictures either so I took some myself.

Total cost was about 220 USD (170 board, 40 palm rest, 10 wifi card) but if you're patient, I'm sure you can find better deals on ebay. This cost was ok for me so I pulled the trigger. I still have the P8600 board, X200 palm rest and Intel 5100 wifi card so I could get some of that back by selling them.

If you have a palm rest without a fingerprint reader then you can keep it. Otherwise you will have to get a new one because (as the final two pictures in my post show) the connectors are different and you won't be able to connect the fingerprint reader. I opted for a palm rest with both a fingerprint reader and a touchpad. A fingerprint-only version will probably be cheaper.

IMHO, touchpads are good for things like casual browsing on a couch and such. When working with text, I prefer the trackpoint as well. Now I have the option to use what works best at any given time. Also, the touchpad on X201 doesn't get in the way when typing because it's small.

Why the upgrade? This is my main and only machine that I use for everything including work as a software engineer. I multitask heavily, especially when docked with a 24" monitor. I already maxed out everything else in it: Intel 3rd gen. SSD, 8GB RAM, matte AFFS display. I noticed that I hit 100% CPU utilization for several minutes every time I compile my project. I needed it to be faster. Initially I planned to get an X230 but the screen resolution is disappointing.

I regret now that I didn't benchmark the compilation process before I took the X200 board out so I can't back it up with any numbers but it is noticeably faster. Thanks to hyper-threading the OS shows 4 processing units instead of 2 in P8600 and none of them go over 80% at any given time. The CPU also has a turbo mode (overclocks to max. 3.33 GHz if needed). The overall load during compilation remains under 50% giving me plenty more power to multitask efficiently. I encountered no heat problems so far. There's more or less no difference in fan behaviour compared to X200.

The Intel HD Graphics are also noticeably faster than GMA 4500MHD from X200. I sometimes play TrackMania NF and even after bumping up the settings I get a higher framerate. Of course, any recent game will choke it easily but you probably know that.

All in all, it was well worth it for me.

Also, I forgot to say this in my initial post: I didn't have to reinstall Windows (7 Pro 64-bit). I already backed up all my data and had the installation DVD ready but I let it boot just to see what happens. It started normally, without any BSODs. The resolution was low because it switched to a generic video driver. Many things didn't work out of the box due to missing drivers but System Update quickly fixed that. I also had to re-activate Windows. Other than that it works fine since then.

[marYn]

very interesting tutorial, I've bookmarked and maybe I'll do the same in future. thanks for your effort to put it all here!

[dedalus]

Thank's for your post yak, was very helpful (in particular the picture). I did the same a week ago with my x200. I replaced the old MB with a new one with a i5 processor. I did only two different thing from you. I changed the bios to clear the white list and use my old wi-fi card and I do not cut the part of the MB under the palm rest (the reason is that i do not have the right tool to do it (don't know even what it could be) and it doesn't seems a big problem for my palmrest.
For who is interested the bios i used (and worked) was the bios found in this post:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=98022
(linked to: http://www.sendspace.com/file/vlsg42)
Moreover I have to fill the part number and serial number of my new MB (which was void) in order to use the system update tool.
For that i use the USB version of the Maintenance Diskette, which you can find here:
<URL removed as the HMD is really not supposed to be publicly distributed>
I'm still waiting for the integrated camera (which wasn't in my old x200) and the SSD.
I have only one issue. When the fan is going to start (and not all the time!) it make a strange noise (very very low, I have to put my ear near the fan to hear it) like scratching and I feel on my palmrest some vibration (again like scratch on the plastic) . This is goes on for just a second.
Maybe is the part of the MB that I haven't cut. Cutting it maybe will eliminate the vibration under the palmrest, but it doesn't imply that there aren't any longer. This vibration seems very odd to me, it's like the fan has some difficulties to start.
Any one has a clue about that?
I will try to open again and the PC and mount again the MB, maybe something is compressing or touching the fan.

[yak]

Hi dedalus! Nice to hear the mod worked for you as well.

I do not cut the part of the MB under the palm rest (the reason is that i do not have the right tool to do it (don't know even what it could be) and it doesn't seems a big problem for my palmrest.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I did not cut the MB. I just broke the small pin protruding from the bottom case. The case is made from magnesium so it wasn't hard to break. I used a flat screw driver. Without the pin the MB lays flat.

Moreover I have to fill the part number and serial number of my new MB (which was void) in order to use the system update tool.

Yeah, machine type wasn't set in my board either. Not sure now which version of the Maintenance Diskette I used (probably i7tm25us) but it was one of the recent ones with a USB stick installer. I almost bought a USB floppy drive before I found it because older versions only worked with a floppy (didn't work from a CD either).

I'm still waiting for the integrated camera (which wasn't in my old x200) and the SSD.

I was thinking of getting the 2.0MP camera from x201 as currently I have the 1.3MP one from X200 but I use it only occasionally and 1.3 is decent enough. If I didn't have any, I would get the 2.0MP of course.

SSD is a must for someone looking for upgrade options these days. I got mine pretty long ago and can't live without it .

I have only one issue. When the fan is going to start (and not all the time!) it make a strange noise (very very low, I have to put my ear near the fan to hear it) like scratching and I feel on my palmrest some vibration (again like scratch on the plastic) . This is goes on for just a second.
Maybe is the part of the MB that I haven't cut. Cutting it maybe will eliminate the vibration under the palmrest, but it doesn't imply that there aren't any longer. This vibration seems very odd to me, it's like the fan has some difficulties to start.
Any one has a clue about that?
I will try to open again and the PC and mount again the MB, maybe something is compressing or touching the fan.

One idea. Make sure the antenna cables aren't touching the blades.

[dedalus]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I did not cut the MB. I just broke the small pin protruding from the bottom case. The case is made from magnesium so it wasn't hard to break. I used a flat screw driver. Without the pin the MB lays flat.

Actually you were clear enough and the picture too . I don't know why I get it wrong. Fortunately I haven't cut my MB at once. I'll will cut the pin when I'll mount the camera. Hopefully very soon.

Yeah, machine type wasn't set in my board either. Not sure now which version of the Maintenance Diskette I used (probably i7tm25us) but it was one of the recent ones with a USB stick installer. I almost bought a USB floppy drive before I found it because older versions only worked with a floppy (didn't work from a CD either).

I already had a USB floppy (I've a lot of old hardware crap) but I could't find the driver for W7, so I used a USB memory stick

One idea. Make sure the antenna cables aren't touching the blades.

I'll check this too when I'll receive the camera. But its a strange noise that it goes just for a second. I'm afraid that it is something mechanical. I'll update the thread once I've checked in to these.

Thank you for the help.

[dedalus]

Finally an update!
I received the camera and the SSD and mounted them. I followed your instruction to mount the camera, but since one of the tape holding the antenna was very long I had to unscrew also the bottom screw of the LCD monitor, in order to raise the LCD panel completely and remove the tape. The camera now works fine.
I removed the pin and partially the noise of the fan is gone, not completely. I’m thinking is something wrong with it and I’m planning to replace it.
What happened last time I opened it (and tried to solve in the past 2 weeks) is an audio problem. The audio now is noisy. Not with every sound but only with some kind of frequencies. Moreover the built in mic is not working at all. The OS is seeing it, it seems to work properly but there is no way to make it functioning. Using an external mic plugged in the 3.5 jack do not solve the problem. With the earphone plugged the sound seems better though.

[bretahrnek]

I just completed installing an X201 (i5-560M) system board in my X200

HI,

thinking about the same upgrade with my X200.

what I did till now is I've only upgraded my web cam to X201's cam which is 2mpx.
Now I've upgraded audio board though that will have a modem also.
Audio doesn't works even through jack 3.5 plugged in.
Any idea why?

I know that X201 had stereo speakers and X200 has mono only, but at least one should work.
http://hrnek.com/audio.PNG (120KB image)

speed of sd card reader from X201 compare to sd card from X200 is incredible.
Now I can reach 95MB/s easily...

Admin edit: Change large inline image to link.

[bretahrnek]

Total cost was about 220 USD (170 board, 40 palm rest, 10 wifi card) but if you're patient, I'm sure you can find better deals on ebay. This cost was ok for me so I pulled the trigger. I still have the P8600 board, X200 palm rest and Intel 5100 wifi card so I could get some of that back by selling them.

Hello mate,

I'm just wandering where did You sourced Your planar from. As I'm seeking for one couple months now and cheapest one I found was around 400 USD.

[mctsofpr]

This is the latest verision of IBM/Lenovo Maintenance Diskette/PenDrive

<URL removed as the HMD is really not supposed to be publicly distributed>

[tagumcity]

x200 transformation to x201 success! The system board replacement is a mild task. Most of my effort was applied to chasing down the hardware maintenance disk and making the USB bootable disk. I'm satisfied with how well it worked out. I'll upgrade the Intel SSD (r3500/w8600 IOPS) to a Samsung 840 Pro (r100000/w78000 IOPS). Other enhancements will be a USB 3 flush fitting express card and maybe a touchpad. I've been running linux for years and this thinkpad does well.

[zetxx]

Hey all, Im on my way to do the same thing that you all already do, my simple question is can someone can confirm that this http://www.ebay.com/itm/360611934286?ss ... 1423.l2649 MB will fit in x200

[yak]

Hey all, Im on my way to do the same thing that you all already do, my simple question is can someone can confirm that this http://www.ebay.com/itm/360611934286?ss ... 1423.l2649 MB will fit in x200

Unfortunately this seems to be an X201T (Tablet) board which will not fit into X200/X201 chasis.

Look at the ports -- first port after the heat sink is VGA which matches the Tablet version.
Non-Tablet X200/X201 have a USB port between the heatsink and the VGA port.

Here are some pictures showing this:
X201 Tablet: http://www.itechnews.net/wp-content/upl ... let-PC.jpg
X201: http://www.notebookcheck.net/uploads/tx ... 374_00.jpg

[zetxx]

argh, i see the differences now, thank you, will look for other mb

[zetxx]

I can confirm another successful transformation with board that holds I7 processor.
this is the link to ebay from where i bought the motherboard: http://www.ebay.com/itm/140796634119?ss ... 1439.l2649
and the product title was (im putting it in case if the product is missing from ebay): IBM LENOVO X201s i7-640LM LV (2.13GHz) MOTHERBOARD SYSTEMBOARD 63Y2074 .

I can confirm that the only difference in setup was the screw in the front of the motherboard.

The only problem was setting the machine type and id, but with hardware maintenance disk and little bit digging in google everything went well.

[pinkpank]

Nice work, yak & zetxx!

I'm not sure if anyone still reads this thread all these years later, but I'm a long-time X200s user - and I have three of them since I like redundancy. Did I mention I like redundancy?

I've tried the X220 (didn't like the screen or weight), looked at X240 (too much $, new power plug, heavy & I don't like the keyboard), also have some X201 models (too heavy, screen low resolution) and have looked for X201s models (too rare and $$$). So I'm considering putting zetxx's board, the "IBM LENOVO X201s i7-640LM LV (2.13GHz) MOTHERBOARD SYSTEMBOARD 63Y2074" into my other X200s. Any idea if this will fit?

Note I'm trying to fit this X201s board into an X200s, both are "s" models. I'm not mixing any non-"s" case or screen parts into it. Also, I have several palmrests, WiFi cards and other parts from X200, X200s & X201 available. I'm a TrackPoint-only user.

If I'm not mistaken, the X200s (and X201s) has only two WLAN antennas and no WWAN or camera options, so my spare 6150 WiMAX card may (once again) not fit. But I can live with these two missing options. I would like to have two speakers, but I can't seem to find if the X201s actually added the second (stereo) speaker like the X201 did - can anyone confirm or deny this? (If so, it may be worth spending the extra $ on an actual X201s!)

From previous ThinkPad "surgeries" I think the "s" model is a lot tighter, so I want to make sure this works before I dole out $180 to Malaysia to gut a perfectly good $200 X200s and end up with what's essentially a single-speaker, pseudo-X201s $380 FrankenPad! (I have no X200 models left, and the X201 is already a "Core" model, so the board would have no other use for me.)

Thanks,
pinkpank

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to the forum.
These threads always get read if someone posts afresh!
X200 and X201 mobos fit in each others bases, so very likely the same applies to X200s/X201s
The X200s only has one speaker, same as X200.

Seeing you have some spare parts, would you by any chance have the "battery-slider with 2 springs" (the one that's hidden under the fan) for an X200/X200s/X201/X201s?
PM me if you got one, please.

[pinkpank]

Hi, at the moment I have only complete machines - but if I "graft" an i7-640 board into one of the X200s frames, I'll have a spare SL9400 mobo. If any of the cases become "donors", tho, I'll post it here!

I was trying to determine if the X201s has one (like my X200s) or two speakers (like my X201). If it has two, I'd possibly wait for a cheap or beat-up X201s chassis to come my way rather than butchering an X200s - since we do sometimes watch movies on these.

Thanks!

[harryK]

X200s and X201s bottom bases are exactly the same, and don't allow a second speaker. The motherboard will fit perfectly, but for some inscrutable reason your microphone will not work, or it will work but will be inaudibly soft (at least in Linux, but I believe in Windows too).
Morale: you will have to replace the IO card as well with one from an X201 (X201 and X201s IO cards are the same). You want 60Y5407 or 60Y5408

[ccondor]

When I did the i7 board swap, I noticed the same with the speakers. I really wanted to use the 2 speakers from the another X201 so used a rotary tool to grind down the bottom chassis ridges where the 2nd speaker would fit (like the X201 bottom) and small drill bit for the sound exit holes and was good to go with stereo (fortunately its metal alloy and did not crack although care and safety equipment should always be used).
X200s(1440x900)-X201s still my fav thinkpad.

[pharmachris]

What an excellent thread! I am curious as to whether the same procedure could be done for the tablet to tablet versions of the x200 and x201? I love my x200t and would really like to have something more than what the C2D has to offer.

Also if it were possible, what would the board numbers be that I should keep an eye out for on ebay?

[febacb]

I tried to replace my X200t MB with a X201t system board (i5-560M) and fit it nicely in. But while turning it on, the display stays black. If I disconnect the display and plug in an extern monitor via VGA, the system boots nicely without me having to reinstall Windows.

Any ideas, why the old display does not work? I would say that the display is intact since it still works with the genuine mainboard, maybe they are incompatible?

Thanks in advance,
febacb

[Bibin]

I just put an X200 palmrest on my X201. Just a word of advice - if anyone wants to keep the fingerprint reader functionality, the mount is the same, so you can pretty easily transplant the electronics. You'll have an extra cable to tape up from the trackpad but it's not a big deal.

[salamisami]

Count me in Took me 2 faulty x200 motherboards until I resolved to try installing the x201 motherboard i had kept in my drawer all the time thinking it was broken

PS. As a nice extra I noticed the 'inverter whine' is now gone! And I thought it was coming from the inverter board! Nope, apparently its a flaw in the X200 motherboards. Now I can adjust the brightness freely without worrying about going insane from the tinnitus-like noise.

[emeraldgirl08]

You can add my Frankie as a successful transformation as well!

I just got done transplanting the X201 motherboard and I am in BIOS adjusting the time.

EDIT:

For reference the components I bought and used in the swap are:

• FRU 63Y2062 (X201 motherboard)

• FRU 60Y3231 Intel 6200 wifi module

• FRU 60Y5422 (Fan/Heatsink)

• FRU 60Y5407 (X201 audio soundboard)

Total cost for me was about $52 and an hour to get the swap done (excluding time for W7 installation, windows updates, and creation of a Macrium system image). The wifi module is one that apparently came out of a T410 so it has a Lenovo FRU. I also broke the pin (that Yak described in the first post) using a screwdriver. It sounds major but if left in the motherboard will rest on top of the pin. I chose to break that tiny pin off in order for the motherboard to be flat against the X200 bottom casing.

I thought the swap was not difficult at all. Typing on it now

[emeraldgirl08]

Inspired by the success of another member (Lomax) I would like to do something about the TN screen of my X2001 Frankie. It currently has a CCFL screen and is terribly dim in comparison to the LED panel in my Acer c720. I have to adjust the brightness settings to 15/15 during daytime hours to compensate with the X2001. I am considering putting an LED-backlit X201 tablet panel in its place. The replacement panel would be a Toshiba LED IPS panel (FRU 27R2491). I am not sure if I would need to change out the LCD Cable Assembly? If so would anyone know which type of cable assembly I would need? Thanks.

EDIT:

Here is a post from the Lenovo forums that indicates it is possible.

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-T ... 611/page/2

I went ahead and ordered the x201 tablet panel (FRU 27R2491) and an LED board (FRU 45M2812) to replace the current CCFL inverter. Not sure if it is necessary however the LED board was relatively cheap at $5. Looking at the HMM it seems there is also a specific LCD cable assembly for the LED vs the CCFL backlit panels. I am going to order the LED cable assembly (FRU 44C9991; HMM pg. 228) soon. Should have the panel and LED board later this week. Keeping my fingers crossed

EDIT (6/30/2015):

Finally after receiving all the parts I ordered. Not successful. The X201 tablet LED panel (FRU 27R2491) and the LCD cable (FRU 44C9991) have different amount of pins/pin slots. The amount of pin slots (?) on the LCD cable assembly is around twice the amount of pins on the back of the x201 tablet panel. Also the x201 tablet panel would not fit into the X200 top housing. It was a smidgen taller vertically. Gently attempting to get it to fit did not work. I left it alone as any more force exerted would simply crack the LCD panel. So...I have an X201 LED backlit tablet panel that I have absolutely no use for :/

Just got done putting the CCFL panel back in my X2001 Frankie. It's role will be a backup laptop while my c720 will continue to carry me through my last year of undergrad studies. Cheers!

[FryPpy]

I have done such mod but all way around;)

Transplant X201s mainboard to X201 body.
Main goals of this mod
1. get cooler thinkpad by using bigger heatsink from X201.
2. get screen with all antennas and webcam.
2+. get IPS / MVA screen as a trade off WXGA+ one from X201s.
Seconday goal
3. get stereo speakers.

All went as simple as possible. Goals #1 and #2 have been achieved. But now i am waiting a kit (LCD cable + invertor from X200) to do 2+.

But goal #3 is stuck:( Have tested 2 pairs of speakers and 2 I/O cards and no luck. Have reinstalled drivers from this thread. And only left speaker is working (for both left and right channel). This HDD was tested with X201 tablet and both speakers works well without driver reinstallation.
Last try is to reinstall OS completely from scratch.

I really wanted to use the 2 speakers from the another X201 so used a rotary tool to grind down the bottom chassis ridges where the 2nd speaker would fit (like the X201 bottom) and small drill bit for the sound exit holes and was good to go with stereo

Can you remember any special things to do to get stereo? What OS did you used at that time?

[tarvoke]

emeraldgirl did an amazing jorb and I am the proud owner of her Frankie / X2001, this is truly a work of glory.