X200s motherboard upgrade question

[jos828]

Hi everyone,
I have been a longtime reader of these boards and have a question that i can seem to find an answer to. I have x200s, which I love and have put a good amount of money into as far as upgrades (screens, batteries, dock). Problem is the motherboard is showing signs of dying. I have a 7465-CTO with a WXGA screen upgraded to an AFFS. Also has a fingerprint reader if it matters. Ideally, if i am going to replace the motherboard, I would like it to be an upgrade. I have come across a few posts indicating that an x201s board would fit as long as i also replace the palmrest. However, i am worried about the compatability of screen connections. I found a good deal for a i5 system board for $145 (http://www.alancomputech.com/ibm-lenovo ... y2172.html). Any thoughts if this will work? Thanks for the help ahead of time.

[MrTilman]

Hi there,

I'm not quite sure about the screen connector because the X201s has a WXGA+ panel. The basecover should fit (looks like all of the ports have the same position). However, you will have to flash the BIOS of your new board because of the whitelist.

Kind regards,
Tilman

[jos828]

Thanks for the reply. That's what i was worried about. If i am correct, the x201s is only wxga+ and my x200s is a ccfl wxga. I am not sure if there is a difference in the connections to the system board. If i had to start replacing the display to be compatible, then i might as well get a new laptop. Since the x200s did have an option for wxga+, i'm thinking the connection to the board is the same. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Brad]

All X200, X200s, X201 and X201s complete LCD assemblies will fit and work with any of the bottom sections. The WXGA+ LCD assembly is thinner. The complete LCD assembly would include the correct inverter for the LCD type.

When going from X200, X200s to X201 or X201s the wireless card would need to be replaced or the BIOS updated with a modded BIOS to work with the new X201 X201s wireless card.

Brad

[jos828]

Looks like i am good to go then. Put an x201s palm rest, wifi card and system board into my x200s, and i should be golden. Thanks for the help!

[jos828]

Upgrade was a success. For some reason the fan on the new motherboard was a bit crooked and tough to get in, but i now have an x201s i5 in a x200s shell. However, i am having a strange issue that i am hoping someone here might have some ideas.

After the upgrade i hit the power button, thinklight flashed along with the indicator lights, but no boot. No beeps, post..nothing. The battery light and on light stayed illuminated, but no windows. Opened it back up, played with a few connections and bam it worked. Now 3 days of running flawlessly, this same thing is happening. I open it up, play with the lcd cable connector to the motherboard a few times and i can get it to run, but it typically happens again. Can't seem to replicate it...It is running now, but who knows for how long.

One thing i did notice while running it for a few days is that my screen will dim slightly (not like when its dimming itself to conserve power) and immediately turn back up. Will a bad lcd cable or slightly bent pin on the connector cause this? It looks pretty worn... perhaps issues from a bad liquid spill a couple years ago? Otherwise, i am clueless...

[Brad]

When the issue occurs if you disconnect the LCD cable then restart does the X200s boot?

Brad

[jos828]

disconnecting lcd cable from mobo and powering on results in nothing... no lights, no fans, no attempt to boot...

Although i think i discovered the problem shortly after my last post. After putting everything together i got it booted and started putting in the last of the keyboard screws while windows was loading...turned one screw tight, screen got lines and computer shut-off. Unscrewed and it turned back on. Im wondering if i put the wrong sized screw somewhere.. think i might take it all apart and make sure i got everything in order..its how you learn i guess!

[RealBlackStuff]

Get the HMM, which has all the illustrated dis-/assemble details, incl. screw-sizes:
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 632_10.pdf