Second-hand thinkpad x301 owner's thread.

LENOVO X301 SECOND-HAND OWNER'S LOUNGE

While most of the threads on this site are dedicated to the"latest and greatest" notebooks, there are a few threads that are dedicated to the resurrection of high quality notebooks that still have quite a bit of life left in them and still have a productive future in store for them. This thread is dedicated to second-handThinkpad X301 owners. I think that the buyer of the original X301 might be different from the current owners of the brand.


WHY A SECOND-HAND THINKPAD X301.

There is probably no higher quality used "business-class" notebook on the market today, selling at such a reduced price. When introduced in August, 2008, the X301 with a 128GB SSD and SU9400 1.4ghz Core2Duo CPU sold retail for $2,599. Today, that same unit sells used, in excellent condition, for ~ $450.

The X301 was fitted with a 300 nit WXGA+ (1440 x 900) display. With a 6 cell battery, the notebook weighed a mere 3.3 lbs. Notebook review called the X301's construction "as solid as you get in build quality."

I guess it really depends on what you're looking for, but if you're looking for a durable, ultraportable with decent performance, an antiglare matt display, a keyboard that is second to none in a portable notebook that can fit easily in your briefcase ... oh, and you don't want to spend a lot of cash, take a look at the X301. I bought mine a couple of weeks ago on Ebay for $425. It has the specs listed above with a 6 cell battery and optional 3 cell OD Bay battery insert. If you're lucky and don't mind paying a bit more, you might be able to find one with a bit of its warranty left. The X301 came standard with a three year depot warranty.

There are other models of the X301 that are equipped with a 64GB & 80GB SSDs or 250GB conventional drive. Some models were equipped with the SU9300,1.2ghz CPU,. These variants can usually be purchased for less money. It is not unusual to see a 64GB, 2GB RAM, SU9400 model selling for $350 or less. In its later production years, the X301 was offered with a 1.6ghz SU9600 CPU. The newer models cost a little more but are the most likely to still have some warrantyleft.


SETTING UP THE X301.

One of the advantages of owning a used Thinkpad is <st1the extensive support available to you from IBM. Recovery disks for my unit were availablefor under $44 from IBM. I had mine in 3 days. The X301 was originally sold with 32 Bit V<st1ista Business, so you'll probably want to upgrade to W7. Since the X301 was also sold in a W7 version, all of the proper drivers and software are available. If you like, you can use Think Vantage to update all of the drivers, etc., automatically. I was able to use an old copy of W7 Professional upgrade on my X301.</st1</st1 [SIZE=3]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]The only software I have elected to forego is Lenovo's PowerManager, Wireless Program and System Migration. For now, I also decided to wait before installing the fingerprint reader. Lenovo.com is a great resource.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]


[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]MINI REVIEW OF MY X301[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Here is what Notebook Review thought of the X301 when it wasreleased. [URL]http://forum.notebookreview.com/notebook-news-reviews/300914-lenovo-thinkpad-x301-review.html[/URL] I agree.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]The first thing I noticed about the X301 is how light it is. Mine is a shade under 3lbs with the OD out and the 6 cell battery. My unit is a model 2774HDU. For all of its lightness, the X301 does not feel delicate. It feels just the opposite: it feels solid.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]I could have done without the rubberizing treatment on the lid and the palm rest. The only scratch on my X301 is on the rubberized lid. If it was plastic, I could have probably polished it out.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]
The keyboard alone is a reason to own the X301. The 13.3" notebook is the "sweetspot" of portable notebooks IMO. The keyboard is smallest I have found that can still permit serious typing for a full workday. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]
I have been using an Acer 3820TG for the past 2 years. At the time, I was doing a lot of work involving aerial images and needed the graphics power. These days, I'm writing a lot more. Although I like the <st1<st1Acer <st1Island keyboard, I decided that I wanted something with a better typing action and was looking for a display with higher resolution as well as a 16:10 aspect ratio. The X301 was perfect. I like the extra display real estate, as it permits me a better view of my document formatting and I can work on documentsside-by-side.
</st1</st1</st1[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3][SIZE=3]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]I bought my X301 with a 6 cell battery and a 3 cell OD Bay battery. From the cycle count, it looks like the 3 cell (23.7wh) was almost never used. The 6 cell (43.8wh) , however, shows some signs of wear. It has lost approximately a third of its capacity. Even with the reduced capacity, I am getting about 5 hours of battery life with the 6 Cell and OD bay 3 cell in place. That will do for now, but I will be replacing the 6 Cell eventually. With both batteries in place, the weight goes up to 3.5lbs, still .5lb lighter than my Acer.
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]When I first handled the X301, I was convinced that it was smaller and thinner than my Acer, which feels clunky next to the Thinkpad. It is an illusion, created by the lightweight. They are nearly identical insize.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o<o
[IMG]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt20/luigisante/IMG01196-20120804-0907.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt20/luigisante/IMG01195-20120804-0906.jpg[/IMG]


[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Here is the Thinkpad next to the Acer. The biggest difference is that the Acer keyboard is more spread out, but typing on the X301 is a significant improvement (and I liked the Acer). My only complaint is that the notebook I bought had been used so little that the space bar is still very tight and clicks too loudly when hit. A very minor complaint indeed.
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]Where the Acer leaves the X301 in the dust is in power. My Acer is powered by a first-gen Arrandale I5-540M overclocked to 3.66ghz. It has Sata II HD capability while the X301has only Sata. And still, it boots only10 seconds slower than my Acer.

[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6bSqXOFnWE&feature=plcp[/URL][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]<o<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]

Not a bad showing for a midrange ULV processor that is a generation behind my Acer's Arrandale. I find that, for most things around the office, the X301 is my notebook of choice. The only exception is any function that involves graphics. The X301's 3DMark06 score is 712 (up significantly from the X300's 475). The GMA 4500HD would be fine for a powerpoint presentation but forget anything involving 3D graphics or rendering. I still go back to my Acer (HD5650 GPU and 3DMark06 of ~ 9,800) when I occasionally have to run Matlab (loves the OC'd Arrandale) or models (love the OC'd AMD GPU).
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times New Roman]The display on the X301 is decent. I love the matt display. It eliminates the glare from my office windows. The viewing angles are very tight, so it has to be perfectly adjusted for maximum brightness, which is a PITA. Although it is rated at 300 nits,it is a bit less bright than my 3820TG's display, which is rated at 220nits. I am assuming that some of the brightness is affected by the matt display. The color on my Acer is balanced. Anybody have a color profile for the X301?[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt20/luigisante/IMG01194-20120804-0904.jpg[/IMG]
<o
<o[SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times New Roman]But, unlike the Acer, the non-glare display lets me use the X301 outside while having coffee in the morning.

[IMG]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt20/luigisante/IMG01197-20120804-1150.jpg[/IMG]

In all, however, the display is fine. I particularly like the higher resolution. (and, yes ... for those of you who noticed, that is Wordperfect on the screen). [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE]
<o
[SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times New Roman]Another picky complaint is that the X301 has no Express Card or SD card slots. I like to use the SD card to sync my notebook and slate. Now, I use a USB thumb drive instead. [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]

MODIFYING THE X301.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]The Core2Duo processor in the X301 is not very powerful. I would not recommend a used X301 for power users who are running demanding applications. Where the X301 shines is in the typical office application or on-line research. Even at those tasks, it would be nice if there was a way to give it power boost.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]
A series of threads by Nando4 has some interesting suggestions for increasing power and undervolting the X301.
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][URL]http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/595343-keep-x301-buy-x1-3.html#post8258800[/URL] (Idling at 4.6 to 5.2w)
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][URL]http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/595343-keep-x301-buy-x1-3.html#post8259289[/URL] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000](ICS 9LPRS393AKLFT PLL in the X301)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][URL]http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/595343-keep-x301-buy-x1-3.html#post8259289[/URL] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000](Feasible Mods to the X301)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][URL]http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/595343-keep-x301-buy-x1-4.html#post8750678[/URL] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000](Dual IDA Modded Bios)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][URL]http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/595343-keep-x301-buy-x1-5.html#post8751247[/URL] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]
[URL]http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://forum.51nb.com/thread-941380-1-1.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DX301%2B2.13%2Blenovo%2Bpll%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dubuntu%26hs%3DtCu%26sa%3DN%26channel%3Dfs%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D639%26prmd%3Dimvnsfd&sa=X&ei=XrgWUKKHBq6UiAf18YDwAg&ved=0CE4Q7gEwADgK[/URL]
(X301 Successfully Pinmodded)

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]For now, my X301 is completely stock and it is working perfectly. The extra power you might be able to achieve by OC'ing the SU9400 (requires a pinmod) and running the Dual IDA Modded Bios, will probably be something I explore when I have more time.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]I'll be happy to post any links on this page, so they're easy to access. I'll get the basic stuff as soon as I can, like a shop manual, etc. Any other suggestions, leave them below and I'll add them to the first page.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
<o[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]
Bronsky[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]<o

Added Links:

* Replacing the X301's 1440 x 900 display with a 1280 x 800 AFFS display from a Fujitsu 5010. [URL]http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo/595343-keep-x301-buy-x1-6.html#post9015058[/URL]
</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o</o[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]</o[SIZE=3][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/SIZE]</o[/SIZE]

 

The X301 is SATA II. What ssd's do you have in the Acer and X301? The Samsung ssd Lenovo used in the X301 is pretty slow, some of the difference is down to the cpu too.

 

Thanks for starting the thread. I am currently looking into picking up a x301 very soon. Did you ever track down the Middleton bios? I need a bios without the whitelist.

 

Yep. He was leaving for vacation for August like the civilized europeans do. He said he'd get me a copy when he gets back.

I have a 1.8" 128GB Samsung micro SATA SSD in my X301 ... PN 41W0518. The Hardware Maintenance Manual lists SATA drives only for the 2774HDU.

 

I love my X301 and all, but may be parting with it now that I've decided to keep my X230 tablet. It's under warranty until 1/2013 and I just installed a Crucial 256gig SSD. PM if you are interested. Selling at cost. It's literally brand new (97 battery cycles).

It's a fantastic machine, but I just don't see myself using it much.

 

I am looking for a sleeve for my X301. Preferably one made specifically for the X301 that fits it like a glove. Leather would be nice. I'm just looking for something to protect the rubberized outside of the notebook when I put it into my briefcase. Any suggestions?

Edit: I'm using an "incase" MBP 13" neoprene sleeve for now. I haven't found anything leather that I liked better.

 

I used to have an X301. I sold it and got an X1. X1 was way faster but I couldn't live with the screen resolution. Eventually I sold it when I found an SU9600 X301. Only after I got this second X301 I now appreciate what an amazing laptop it is. I have upgraded mine to 8GB ram and an Intel 310 G3 series 160GB SSD.

 

The battery that came with my used X301 was three years old and had lost about 25% of its capacity. At full charge it had only 3300mWH available. This translated to under three hours of battery life when away from the office. Since the whole idea of the X301 is portability, that was clearly not going to be acceptable. I did my homework and found a nearby distributer of aftermarket batteries. For $30 I purchased a 6 cell, 4200 mWH battery. My concern was that it would not fit as well as an OEM battery or that it would not charge properly. I was plesantly surprised to find that my concerns were completely unfounded. The battery fits beautifully - like the original.







Battery life is up to 4 hours now. With the 3 cell OD Bay battery and some energy conservation, I am getting approximately 6-7 hours. I also have the original battery which will give me another 2.5 if I need it in an emergency. Try that with an ultrabook.

I could not be more pleased with my X301. The more I use it, the more I like it. The keyboard is just starting to break in and my typing is as fluid as I have ever felt on a notebook. To be sure, the display is not the best. Viewing angles are very tight. The display could use calibration. But as a mobile device for productivity, it is incredible.

 

I got two of these baby.... don't ever want to part with it... The only thing that lets the machine down is the LCD (as said), PATA optical drive interface, no SD card slot or expresscard slot. I have all the accessories for my X301, 6 cells, 3 cells, 3 cells drive bay battery, travel bezel.

Another great thing with the X301 (as opposed to the X300) is the provision of the Displayport, which can support 2560x1440 and 2560x1600 resolution. I connect my X301 to my iMac 27 and Dell U2711. If you use the displayport to 2 x displayport splitter, you can support 2 x 1920x1200 (U2410) with the single displayport out, which is really neat.

ThinkPad X301 with qHD output | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

I just got an x230 within the past two weeks and have been debating whether or not I should let go of my x301. I'm not a collector by any means, but this machine is definitely a nice collectors item...

I also have a T400s, but that was quickly replaced when I found more desirability in portability from the x301. Such a great machine.

 

i have recently bought a second hand x301 in good condition. I have been using a t60p with a 1600x1200 ips panel for about six years now. The biggest draw back of switching to x301 is the screen. I would be very happy to see some mod to upgrade x301's screen to a ips screen of an equal or higher resolution.

 

I'm afraid no such screen exists.

 

There is only the Fujitsu T5010 screen, which is an AFFS. Downside is the resolution of 1280x800. I will swap the screen when I feel like it, but at the moment I want to enjoy the 1440x900 pixels.

Yes, I indeed have an X301 now:


(Click to enlarge)

It has a NEW German Keyboard. The old one was already shiny. What dazzles me the most is the fact that it is rubberized. Now how's that for a change? A rubberized Keyboard!

Also, I replaced the damaged speaker grills with custom metal ones.

I'm still waiting for my SSD to arrive, I ordered a new Crucial C300 from the US, might take a while to arrive.

 

@600X. What is your impression of the overall feel of the X301? I am curious about the X301 and have heard good things about the detail on it such as the rubberized palm rest and a better set of speakers compared to other ThinkPads.

 

I'll give my short impression on it.

The first thing you will notice is its light weight. When you pick it up, it feels even lighter than my X220, which at 1,4Kg is already in Netbook range.

Nevertheless, it's still extremely sturdy, on the inside it looks like the T60 with a magnesium (I think) Rollcage. Feels very stable.

The overall feel it gives me is a very, and I mean very high end one. The rubber coating is not like the one on the X200 or anything, it is actual rubber like on the 600X. But, it's much more scratch resistant. It's really a joy to hold it in your hands.

Sometimes I feel tempted to just touch it the whole day.

Apart from the LCD cover it is completely rubberized, so yes, the Palmrest is rubberized, the bottom side is Magnesium (thanks lead_org), but it is slightly rubberized too. Heck, even the battery is rubberized! And have I mentioned the rubberized Keyboard yet?

Speaking of, it has a very good tactile feel. Keys have a very low sound, just like in the old days. I prefer it to my X220 Keyboard.

The Speakers are top-notch as well, I only got to test them using Ubuntu, but boy, the volume those things can reach! Sound is very filling, you can actually hear the bass. I'd say they are on par with the 600X Speakers.

Just a few words about the screen. It is very sharp, sharper than my X220 IPS. The resolution of 1440x900 is a big plus and very comfortable to work with.

Black however looks more like gray and viewing angles are at best 5° vertically and about 45° horizontally. You can view it from 179° horizontally, but it will be half distorted.

Colors on the other hand, are BETTER than on my X220 IPS after a calibration. Colors such as pink or purple are much stronger, almost as if it had a wider color Gamut.

These colors look very dirty and muted on the IPS. I was really surpised.

 

The bottom case of the ThinkPad X301 is magnesium.

 

@600X. Nice summary :thumbsup: I had a 600X for a short-time 2 years ago. I was impressed with the build and really enjoyed the speakers as well. The only contention I had was I did not know what to do with it! I had 3 other ThinkPads at the time and I did not want a large 'ThinkPad Burger!' I eventually sold mine to a forum member at thinkpads(dot)com. If the X301 feels as sturdy as the 600X I am even more curious about one for sure!

 

I have been using TPfancontrol to control my fan speed as well as to monitor the overall system temperature, but recently I have came across something strange. Basically every temperature sensors are normal, except the one for BUS, which sometimes seems to increase at a slow and steady rate, regardless of the fan speed. Just wondering, anyone who uses tpfancontrol experiences the same issue? Thanks in advance.

 

Have you replaced the screen on your x301 yet? How easy is it? I just cracked the screen on mine and need a replacement.

 

My SSD hasn't even arrived yet (thanks a lot US First Class mail) and I haven't worked on it since I replaced the Speaker grills.

I won't be exchanging the screen any time soon, simply because I already have an IPS in my X220 and I really want to enjoy those 1440x900 pixels on the standard screen.

Replacing it is very difficult, you will need to solder your own connector.

 

We needed another notebook at work for a new employee. Went looking for another X301 and there was only 1 in the auctions and prices were up on the other X301's for sale. Maybe starting this thread was a bad idea. Wound up picking up a T410s instead.

 

Too bad you missed this one: 13 3" Lenovo ThinkPad X301 Laptop Core 2 Duo 1 40GHz 4GB 128GB SSD WiFi Win7 Pro | eBay

(scroll down)

 

I actually saw that one but couldn't bring myself to bid on a glossy fire engine red X301. Nothing screams "professional" more than a glossy red notebook.

 

I apologize for bringing this thread back from the dead. I have acquired an excellent condition x301. I love this thing but the screen's viewing angles are absolutely killing me. I may possibly have access to a working fujitsu affs screen and willing to do the swap if you can give me some guidance. you mention it is difficult, what is needed? I can solder no problem and read schematics. What else would I need to get?

 

Nothing really, you just need to solder your own adapter under consideration of the following PIN Layout: (X301)


LVDS Cable Pin Number Motherboard Pin Number.




**********************************************************************


LVDS PINS ( Low Voltage Differential Signal Pins)


**********************************************************************




PIN 39 : TXCLK_UN 2

PIN 38: TXCLK_UP 3

PIN 37 : TXOUT_U2N 4

PIN 36 : TXOUT_U2P 5

PIN 35 : TXOUT_U1N 6

PIN 34 : TXOUT_U1P 7


PIN 33 : TXOUT_U0N 8


PIN 32 : TXOUT_U0P 9


PIN 31 : TXCLK_LN 10


PIN 30 : TXCLK_LP 11


PIN 29 : TXOUT_L2N 12


PIN 28 : TXOUT_L2P 13

PIN 27 : TXOUT_L1N 14

PIN 26 : TXOUT_L1P 15

PIN 25 : TXOUT_L0N 16

PIN 24 : TXOUT_LOP 17



************************************************************************

BACKLIGHT CONTROL PINS


**********************************************************************

PIN 17 : PANEL_BACKLIGHT_CONTROL 26

PIN 16 : PANEL_BACKLIGHT_ON 27


**********************************************************************

Power Supply Pins

**********************************************************************

PIN 1 : VCC_3V 38

PIN 3 : VCC_3V 37

PIN 18 : VCC_EDID 36



**********************************************************************

EDID - I2C INTERFACE

**********************************************************************

PIN 19 : SPWG_EDID_CLK

PIN 20 : SPWG_EDID_DATA


*********************************************************************

LEDBACKLIGHT POWER SUPPLY AND GROUND PINS


********************************************************************

PIN 8: VOLTAGE Backlight 20V 33

PIN 9: VOLTAGE Backlight 20V 32

PIN 11: VOLTAGE Backlight 20V 31


PIN 12 : VBL_RETRUN_PASS( Ground) 30

PIN 13 : VBL_RETRUN_PASS (Ground) 29

PIN 15 : VBL_RETRUN_PASS (Ground) 28







/

*********************************************************************

Analog and Digital Ground Pins

********************************************************************

PIN 5 : GROUND 40

PIN 7 : GROUND 39

PIN 23: GROUND 18

PIN 40: GROUND 1

I'm sure you'll find the Fujitsu Pin Layout somewhere too.

 

Is that all? No problem.

 

I think I found it

Pin No. Symbol Function
1 GND1 GROUND
2 NC NON-CONNECTION
3 VDD1 Logic Power Supply : +3.3V
4 VDD2 Logic Power Supply : +3.3V
5 VDD3 Logic Power Supply : +3.3V
6 VDD_DEID EDID Power Supply : +3.3V
7 NC NON-CONNECTION
8 CLK_EDID EDID Clock
9 DATA_EDID EDID Data
10 GND2 GROUND
11 GND3 GROUND
12 NC NON-CONNECTION
13 RIN0- LVDS Negative data signal (-)
14 RIN0+ LVDS Positive data signal (+)
15 GND4 GROUND
16 RIN1- LVDS Negative data signal (-)
17 RIN1+ LVDS Positive data signal (+)
18 GND5 GROUND
19 RIN2- LVDS Negative data signal (-)
20 RIN2+ LVDS Positive data signal (+)
Pin No. Symbol Function
21 GND6 GROUND
22 RCLKIN- LVDS Negative clock signal (-)
23 RCLKIN+ LVDS Positive clock signal (+)
24 GND7 GROUND
25 VDIM PWM Brightness Control
26 VSW LED On/Off Control
27 NC NON-CONNECTION
28 HVGND1 GROUND
29 HVGND2 GROUND
30 HVGND3 GROUND
31 HVGND4 GROUND
32 HVGND5 GROUND
33 NC NON-CONNECTION
34 HVDD1 Back-light Power Supply: +12V
35 HVDD2 Back-light Power Supply: +12V
36 HVDD3 Back-light Power Supply: +12V
37 HVDD4 Back-light Power Supply: +12V
38 HVDD5 Back-light Power Supply: +12V
39 NC NON-CONNECTION
40 NC NON-CONNECTION

looks about right?

 

Well, there's only one way to find out...

 

Hey guys,

I have some news on the AFFS screen mod. It turned out that the screen in question is a Boe Hydis Viewiz AFFS screen. This basically makes it a Flexview. (attention to all Flexview farmers! )

It appears to be glossy but since its a Viewiz, it should be easily readable outdoors. You already have the PIN map for the X301, now after searching for HV133WX1-100 I have found following very interesting pdf. I uploaded it to MediaFire to avoid any problems.

HV133WX1-100.pdf

It contains every bit of information you will ever want to know about this screen, including the PIN map. I have already asked if someone is willing to solder the adapter for me. Once I have the adapter I'll get the screen, put it in my X301 and hope it works. I'll keep you guys updated!

 

It would nice to see the X301 chassis resurrected with an updated chipset and stellar screen. I miss mine, but I don't miss the screen. I was never a fan of the fan rpm on the X301 units I had.

 

I agree, the X301 chassis is simply amazing, however, it's extremely pricey as well. Keep in mind that these things used to sell for over 3000$, depending on the configuration. With people complaining about spending 1000$ on current ThinkPads, I don't see an X302 happening anytime soon. At least the X301 can be heavily modded in various ways.

Speaking of, I have found an unbelievably cheap deal on the Boe Hydis mod screen for my X301. It is currently on sale for 50€! Let me repeat that. 50 bucking €. And yes, the seller is in Germany, so all I have to pay is a few euros on postage. I am ordering it tonight, along with the LCD cable. In a matter of days the modded cable should be finished and ready to be tested.

Price paid for a brand new X301 Flexview package: 75€ + a tip for the guy who's doing the soldering (he really deserves it)

If I'm lucky I'll have a Flexview upgraded X301 by next week.

 

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

 

Hey everyone, I've been trying to find a good deal on eBay for a while and just cannot seem to get one. I'm looking for a 14" and under Thinkpad with a price of <$280. Some of the X301's meet this criteria. I'm just wondering if this laptop can play HD movies on Youtube and Netflix with ease. I like the size of this laptop but the T410 also has similar prices. Just wondering if some of the performance in the usual tasks that is lost by getting the X301 might be justified. Thanks.

 

X301 is a better offering in the respect of size, but T410 is a more upgradeable and powerful machine. It also sports a better screen - not that *any* of these LCDs are anything to write home about - and is definitely a lot quieter under load than X301.

If I were picking up one of them as my only laptop, it would be T410. On the other hand, no ThinkPad collection should be without X301.

 

Now that's something that makes silly old me downright jealous...

Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

It will easily do Full HD, partially thanks to GPU acceleration.

The X301 screen is in fact, contrary to common beliefs, "better" than the T410 displays. The catch however is that it needs to be calibrated. If you wish I can provide you with my color profile. Viewing angles, contrast etc. are roughly the same.

This is a comparison between the X301 and the X220 IPS display. I suggest you look away if you have a pony phobia:



The T410 allows the user to swap the CPU, but apart from that the X301 is just as upgradable. It's true that the X301 is not as quiet as it could be, but at least it stays really cool. You can use TPFC to switch off the fan. I only advise doing this if you have renewed the thermal paste, Lenovo's thermal paste completely dries up within in a short time in the X301.

Thanks, I have already ordered the panel but the guy who wanted to solder my adapter has become unavailable. However, I might have already found someone else who is willing to do the job.

 

The image quality between the X301 and X220 seems to be similar from the photos. I appreciate you posting them. I've heard some quality issues regarding on the T410 on these forums, such as poor construction etc. The specs are faster on the T410 but the weight might be around 1.5 to 2 lbs. heavier if I'm not mistaken. I think the 13.3" size should be good. I've used the X230 before and I found the 12.5" screen size to be small for long usage. Also, the X301 might get better battery life than the T410, maybe 1-2 hours more. Not sure about this.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the X301. I should just hurry up and get it .

Thanks for the great help.

Update:

Just bought the X301 with a 64GB SSD and Windows XP. I don't mind W/XP at all and since I plan to use this laptop for streaming and occasional typing, the 64GB should be OK for now. I can upgrade later. The price was $250 plus shipping.

 

Congratulations. You're going to love your X301. Nice price too. I've noticed that they're becoming harder to find too. I had to buy a T410s for my office last time as I could not find an X301 that I liked. The X301 is a far better notebook IMO, if you don't need the raw power of an I5 Arrandale CPU. I find the T410s display to be far brighter and with more contrast than the X301 but I have not calibrated the 301's display. Battery life on the T410s is abysmal, however, compared to the nearly 8 hours I can get with a 6 cell main, 3 cell OD Bay and spare main. @600x - any chance I could get a copy of your profile?

Congrats again. Now you know why I started this thread.

 

I've been looking at this thread for a while and have been interested in the X301 though I didn't really need it. I have a desktop and a T530 but now that I want to have a laptop at work, I decided to get something smaller. The T410 interested me at first but they probably weigh close to the T530 and get so-so battery life. The X301 seems to fit well. Your review helped.

I wonder how the battery life might be. The SSD might help with that along with the lower wattage CPU. I'm sure I'll have more questions after I receive it.

Thank you Bronsky

 

The X301 has an extremely low power consumption, however, its thin chassis does not allow high capacity batteries. A new 6c with 43Wh should last you about 4-5h of light surfing. Since the X301 is so awesome, you can also add a second battery by replacing the DVD-drive as Bronsky has done. It should add another 2-3h.

Regarding the display, it actually shows better colors than my X220 IPS screen. In order to do so it needs to be calibrated. Feel free to try the profile I am currently using Bronsky. I have uploaded it to MediaFire: link removed by author

 

Thanks.:thumbsup:

 

Sad news guys, the AFFS panel does not fit in the X301. It is not frameless and removing the frame will result in panel destruction. Also, the connector does not even fit physically, so no chance of getting that to work either.

Basically, it's over.

Sorry for getting your hopes up so high. I'm really curious though how Leo Kim did it. Perhaps one day I will learn his secrets.

 

Nothing for you to be sorry for...it was an excellent idea that never reached fruition, not at this point in the game anyway. At least you haven't destroyed anything during the exploratory stage, which is more than I could say for myself over the past decade or so...

 

Uhm yeah, about that...


(I might need a new Boe Hydis because mine fell apart)

 

Who's Leo Kim?

Better to have tried and fail then to never to have tried at all.

 

Basically, he is a god when it comes to ThinkPad screen modding. He was the guy who showed the world it is possible to put an AFFS screen into the X301 and the reason why I tried this whole thing in the first place. He is actually well known among many ThinkPadders.

This is his website or something: http://thinkpads.kr/xe/

This is the X301 AFFS screen mod post: gallery01 - X301 wide-viewing Angle LCD...

He's got plenty of modded ThinkPads.

Sadly though, he's the kind of guy who never answers his mail.

However, his work is god-like, his ThinkPads have the best screens out there. He has a T420 with Full HD IPS screen and recently added a X201 with Full HD IPS screen to his collection as can be seen here: http://thinkpads.kr/xe/index.php?mid=REVIEW01&document_srl=173817 and here: http://thinkpads.kr/xe/index.php?mid=REVIEW01&document_srl=174715

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he ripped that BOE Hydis apart, and put it back together piece by piece and simply squeezed it into the X301. Even though this would theoretically be impossible. He's Korean, so he's got screen modding in his blood.

 

Didn't know this was a Korean trait.

BTW, put your profile in my X301 and, if I'm not imagining it, the display seems significantly improved. Especially the blacks. They seem a lot deeper than the stock Lenovo profile. Thanks again.

 

I didn't either, but people keep saying it so it must be true. Apparently being Korean makes you excellent at screen mods. Whatever.

Anyway, regarding the color profile, your welcome! It removes the horrible bluish cast of the X301 screen. The screen shows very nice colors when the profile is active.

As for the X301 screen mod, it may be over for now but I haven't given up. Leo Kim has in fact inspired me again. If you don't find a panel that fits take one with a different physical size! You see, when looking for a replacement screen, people always assume they need the same size as the current screen and start looking for it. But often, such replacement screens do not exist. They are either too big, too small, or have a different aspect ratio.

However, who ever said you can't use them anyway? In case you still just don't get what I'm talking about, well, I'm thinking of putting the X220 IPS screen into the X301. That's right, sounds crazy right? Perhaps, but since it is physically smaller, I will have plenty of space. Also, it is frameless and extremely thin as well.

And in case you were wondering if I'm crazy trading the 1440x900 resolution for those pesky 1366x768 then just be told that the LG 12,5" Full HD IPS screen is becoming more wide-spread with every day that passes. It will soon be available in a Dell Ultrabook whose name I don't remember. But that's not important anyway. It is currently available in the Dell XPS 12.

I think I'm on to something here...

 

Found these things mentioned on one of his pages:

T420 FHD 13.3 (Leokim)
W700 8-bit RGB LED (by Leokim)
X201 11.6 FHD (by Leokim)

 

Hey guys, so I just received my X301. When I opened it up and held it, I was amazed. Truly amazing laptop in almost all the ways. As you guys were saying, it feels top notch. The rubberized finish on the palm rest along with the rest of the laptop is excellent.

The sound on this laptop is the best I've heard on a laptop. It is full and sounds rich. Very impressive.

The only con so far seems to be the screen. I am getting slight eye strain. Maybe the high PPI has something to do with it. I need to to increase the text size a bit.

600X, I would really appreciate if you can also provide me with your color profile. It's not to say this is a bad screen, it's just that the viewing angles are terrible. But the rest of the laptop seems to make up for it.