Second-hand thinkpad x301 owner's thread.

It's apples and oranges, really...

Unless you already have an AC router - in which case 7260 is a no-brainer - 8GB of RAM is more of a meaningful upgrade.

 

i dont know. probably i do the 2.13g mod first...

 

Keep in mind that you won't be able to use Skype anymore, unless you are running Windows 8.

 

first time hear about this. is it the 2.13g mod problem?

 

Yes, I wrote about it a few pages back.

 

The question should be "do you really need that 8GB of RAM?". In my case a speedy WiFi is more important as I often copy large files from my server or watch HDTV over WiFi- that's why I'm replacing my 5100 with 450Mbps Atheros card (I don't have AC router and do not really plan to upgrade my Linksys E4200 in near future).
As for RAM- I've got 4GB stick for really cheap and added to my X301 (totalling 6GB of RAM)- a big improvement from 2GB but really...most of the time it's idling... I believe 4GB would be more than enough for everyday use (you won't be doing heavy 3D stuff or picture/video editing with this processor anyway)

 

Here's a pic of my overclocking switch:


(click to enlarge)

 

X600, This is really cool. I have thought about it but didn't get any realy move. Where exactly did you put that switch? Do you still need to remove something to get to it?

 

Question on the UltraNav driver:

I use the central button to scroll. On my T42 I can scroll when holding the central botton: push to scroll, release to quit scrolling.
However on this X301 the behavior is a little weird. I have to press and release the central button to scroll, and another press/release to quit scrolling. It became a "toggle" behavior which really annoys me.

Since I simply move the msata SSD drive from T42 to X301 I cannot go back to the T42 to compare.

Have you guys experience the same? Did I set my UltraNav differently?

Thanks
zhangwu

 

The driver on my t440s seems to be different than the one of the older Thinkpads, but check what the trackpoint button is set to do for scrolling in the mouse>ultranav settings. It CAN be set to make that button emulate the behavior of pushing the middle button on a regular mouse.

 

Only the black cover needs to be removed. (either burn it or cut it) Refer to the links in the first post for more information on overclocking.

 

I can choose to have it to be scroll but then I cannot click with middle button to close a tab as before...
Things just seem to have been changed.

 

If I may suggest, consider using touchpad for scrolling. I know it's difficult to abandon every day customs, but scrolling by simply placing two fingers and moving them on touchppad is really convenient. You can also use fully customizable one finger side-scrolling (scrolling zones).

 

I thought my X301's keyboard had let me down today. I was working on an important document under a tight deadline when the K key would not register a "k" and seemed not to be compressing properly. I figured I would be changing the keyboard anyway, so I mashed the key a bit to see if I could free it and I heard a crunch and the key compressed. Micro-shards of salt went shooting from the underside of the key as the "k" started registering again. Now, the KB is working perfectly.

Note to self: no more eating soft pretzels at my desk while working on the X301.

 

Ha! I did have to replace my X301 keyboard about a month or so ago (it survived the glass of water I spilled on it, but after the glass of cola, it bit the dust). It was amazing the difference it made. I feel like I have a brand new system!

 

Just want to share an experience with an non-Lenovo 6-cell battery that I had purchased just a little over a year ago. It ballooned to the point where I could not take it off from the laptop. I had to really forced it out and hoped that I would not damaged the body. Wondering if anyone else had this problem? I am assuming either I got a bad unit with low quality cells or that the Thinkpad Power Manager does not work with a non-Lenovo battery.

600X, this happened after you were kind enough to send me the color profiles. Apology for not replying right away.

 

It's a good thing that nothing had happen with the battery, a case like yours doesn't sound very safe if the outer casing had expanded considerably from the heat. I'm still using the original battery in mine and even though it is shot I'm still able to take it in and out from the system with little effort. If I was in your shoes I would stop using it before it becomes a potential fire hazard, exploding batteries is probably not what any laptop owner would want to go through.

The Power Manager should still be able to detect the non-genuine battery but will probably constantly nag you for using one.

 

I've not had any problem with my aftermarket unit. I don't use power manager however, relying on the W7 power features instead. PM is the only Thinkpad program that I do not use. I did have it on, however, when I first got my replacement and I never had a problem with overcharging.

 

Does PC3L-12800S memory work with X301? The 4gbx2 modules from ebay won't boot to the "thinkpad" sceen.
They are CT1264BF160BJ.8FN from Crucial... If any one happen to have them can you confirm if they should work?
Thanks!

 

I am kind of used to the "toggle" action now. Yes the touchpad scrolling is not bad but it's just not a "thinkpad" thing.

 

Can you easily access the switch without unscrewing?

 

You have to use DDR3 1066MHz (PC3-8500) modules for it to work, anything higher and the X301 will not recognise it.

 

Hey guys,

I'm looking for the ICC files that you guys are using, would somebody please send me the links to them? I'd like to try all of them to see which works the best on my X301.

Thanks in advance

 

snap..........

 

You need 5 posts to get pm capability. Then I can send a Dropbox link.

 

I bought my first x301 on ebay last night and I am looking forward to using a windows machine again. I think the last pc that I owned was about ten years ago. The mac fanboys are becoming a bit overbearing!

 

Great review! You sold me on buying one last night on ebay

 

How long do plan on using the X301 as your primary computer?

 

Good question! I really don't know. To keep maintenance costs at a minimum on our tech, we normally get rid of our units once the NBD onsite warranties expire. My X301 is the exception. Everyone else is using the T4xxs series or 7 Series Latitudes. I do a lot of work out of the office, so I needed something with a lot of battery life when I bought this unit a couple of years ago. Since then, I considered replacing it with a Thinkpad Yoga. I was interested in a Wacom penabled notebook/tablet combination. But, I got a small companion tablet instead (Asus M80TA). The X301 does everything I need my notebook to do. It hasn't skipped a beat. I am looking longingly at the new fan-less Helix 2 Broadwell M series which is due out in November, but we will have to see.

 

I've installed 1600MHz and it works ok for me. It does not have original stickers on it so I cannot comment on the exact model though.

 

OK, trying again...

By the way, how many display variants were there in the x301, and how many do you guys have color profiles for?

 

Hi , possible to get you to PM me the color profile and Bios mod for the X301. I have to say that, having owned many Thinkpads , the X301 is the best all around model I have ever owned Thanks for all the info you have shared in the thread.

 

Question: Which after market battery do you guys recommend as the original ones run a little high?

 

Oh yes, also, is Windows 8 recommended, and if yes, where can I find a reliable list of drivers?

 

There is only one display.

I can recommend Win 8, I mostly used the Win 7 drivers and some X220 Win 8 drivers.

 

My X301 has been out of commission for a while. I was getting repeated BSODs so I just stopped using it. I tried everything to get rid of the BSOD including formatting the system completely starting new but to no avail. I am wondering if my hard disk is corrupted. What's the best option to get a new HDD put into this?

 

I would do some system checks first, do a memory test to ensure that it's not the RAM modules failing. Download Memtest86+ and let it run on startup. If that passes you could then verify the HDD condition by using SMART reading programs such as CrystalDiskInfo for example.

If the hard drive is on the way out then I would recommend getting the latest mSATA SSD + 1.8" SATA adapter to replace the ailing drive (like mine) as generally its much easier to get on todays market and typically it is faster than the stock Lenovo 1.8" SSD drives.

 

Funny, I've had the first glitches ever on my X301 the past few weeks. I've had it just shut down. No BSOD. It just shuts down. It's happened 3 times. All 3 times were on battery but that might not mean anything. Once, I got a bios screen and no activity from the SSD, which made me suspect a weakening SSD. Since I have the original one, it could be time for an upgrade. Was also thinking it could be integrated graphics shutting down the unit too. What display driver does everyone have. If I change over, it would be a good time to think about windows 8.

 

I am kind of worried that it might be my integrated graphics failing too that's causing the BSODs. I dont recall if my machine just shut off without a BSOD since its been quite a qhile since I used it last..

 

I would check RAM and HDD first (as previously suggested) as failing video chip is very unlikely. Do a memtest and for a hard drive- a heavy I/O test (the SMART feature will not show anything useful on SSD disk). It might be SSD (flash resource) goingin out of the window...

 

Since I received a few requests asking for the color profile and modded BIOS, I just wanted to update you guys on my situation. I am currently studying in the UK and no longer have time to keep sending people stuff. So from now on please don't ask me for the files anymore, I won't be handing them out. Thanks for your understanding.

 

I have the color profile on Dropbox and can send the link to anyone with PM privileges. I also have the "fusion install' file. If that is the nodded bios, I can put that up too.

At least you can still go to Scotland without a passport.

 

Are these BIOSes and Color Profiles a steal (private etc.) or can you be prosecuted for distributing them? Why won't you just make them public?

 

One of the color profiles belongs to me (the Spyder one) and the other one is private. Though the owner wanted to make it publicy available, he never got around to doing it, so I won't make it public either.

The old dual IDA BIOS was a request by me. It is based on the original newest lenovo BIOS and it simply adds dual IDA. It was given to me so I could do what I want with it, however, lenovo owns the BIOS and we have tempered with it, so anyone who is smart would avoid posting it in public. Same goes for the new dual IDA BIOS. It is based on the MDL no whitelist BIOS (credits go to them) but asked for dual IDA to be added to it as well, making it a sort of "fusion" BIOS which has been through many hands. It would also be wise not to post this in public either. Hope that makes things a bit clearer as to why I don't want any public links.

 

Got it. Thanks for clearing this out.

 

Okay ... more on the shutting down. It just did it again, unplugged on my patio. My notebook remains on and plugged in all day long at my office and never shuts down. It seems to occur when I've left the keyboard alone for awhile, occupied with other things. I'm beginning to suspect that the problem is with sleep or hibernation. Anybody having issue with that?

 

Thanks. Ran the Memtest yesterday which failed initially, then passed after re-seating the ram modules . I ran the tests from Hiren's boot usb disk.

Which software shud I use for heavy I/O test? And I don't have a SSD but a regular old 120GB SATA drive.

 

Take your pick: 14 Free Hard Drive Testing Tools (Updated September 2014)

 

Dont waste youre time. Buy a New msata SSD and a Adapter msata 1,8''.

Gesendet von meinem Nexus 4 mit Tapatalk

 

Just watch out for cheapest adapters on e-bay. I've got one similar to the one mentioned here ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...nkpad-x301-owner-s-thread-41.html#post9727956) by Furydrone and it did not work. I've noticed some minor differences from mine and his. Then I search for the exact one (we know it works, jus a bit more expensive) and came across Mini PCIe PCI-e mSATA 3x5cm SSD to 1.8" Micro SATA Converter Adapter Card | eBay. Did not receive it yet so I cannot comment on it but the mSATA SSD model is the same so fingers crossed