Second-hand thinkpad x301 owner's thread.

Only until the CMOS battery dies. That's when you'll have a brick on your hands.

Good luck.

 

Hi, I just bought my x301 and plan on using it for the next four years at college. I was wondering if the stock 120 gb ssd is significantly inferior to a modern ssd. I use a modern ssd on my main computer and would like a similar experience on the x301.

 

Cool. Thanks

 

I have a Sata SSD in my X301. With a more modern bios, I am told the X301 can run at SataII speeds. So, you can upgrade. I find the stock SSD to be fine. Plus, it has proved to be very reliable. My X301 was nearly three years when I bought it and I've owned it for nearly two years. The drive (and everything else for that matter) hasn't skipped a beat. I think you'll be happy with your Thinkpad.

 

please guys I need to get my fingerprint reader to work in windows 8.1 I tried a lot of Lenovo finger print software versions but nothing work please if anyone can help I will be grateful

 

Hi there.

I am considering buying used x301 and got few questions. Hope you can help with answers ;]

1. Is 128 gb SSD reliable? Since it is second hand laptop I am a bit worried about potential failure and rather costly 1.8" drives.
2. Can it play 720p and 1080p youtube videos without stuttering? There was some divergence in this matter in this topic ;] Can you also state which OS are you using?
3. Is anyone succesfully running linux on x301?
4. Do you experience eye fatigue or other discomfort after long work with x301? I am a bit worried about display flickering, as I tend to be sensitive and picky when it comes down to displays.
5. Are there good alternatives to x301? I am also considering x200s (hard to find with high-res display) and t400s (a bit more expensive and larger) and dell d430 (lower screen resolution).

I would also be gratefull if you could take a look at the photos here at the bottom of the page and tell me if you see any defects or glitches. 800 zł is about $270 btw. It seems rather pricey for this condition and worn out batteries, so I am not sure about it yet.

Thanks for help.

 

1. No idea. I have a 120GB that is 5 years old and still seems to be in great shape.
2. W7 Pro. GMA 4500HD graphics has its limits. 720p no problem. 1080p not quite.
3. Not a Linux user. No idea.
4. I've run my practice on my X301 for nearly 2 years and any strain is from overwork, not the display. It is not, however, comparable to a modern IPS panel.
5. The IPS X230 is a decent notebook but I don't like the size and I prefer the X301s keyboard.

I looked at the photos. I don't see any of the cracks at the lower end of the display bezel that many of these units have. I've seen more than a few units with display issues like hot spots, so it's something to look for. I think there are quite a few stock photos on that page so its hard to be sure what is the actual unit. I don't see a lot of scratches on the cover like these are prone to have. Keyboard looks fairly unused. My unit shows a lot more use on the keyboard, trackpad and palm rest.

 

Thank you for reply! It is helpful.
Real photos are clickable, they open in new tabs. Also seller states that display is without any bad pixels, so i just might go for this particular model. Thanks for checking it out.

One more thing: is there a backlight bleeding on x301? I've seen some photos where it seems like quite an issue there.

 

Glad to see the thread going strong. 9 months along my X301 is performing flawlessly and I couldn't be happier with it.

 

I'm running Windows 8 and 1080p Flash is no problem at all. CPU usage is at 30-40%.

The X301 has NO backlight bleeding! There is some light leakage at the top and bottom, though only noticeable on black background and when viewed at an angle. (which won't do anyway due to TN)

 

I am truly tempted to go W8 on my X301. I am using an W8.1 Asus M80TA as my carry along note taker and I just got my secretary an All-In-One running W8.1. I have a Nokia 928 with WP8. It would be nice to have the same OS on the X301. W7P has been so damn stable though, it's hard to consider doing anything to it. Maybe I'll look for a retail upgrade on ebay once the second wave of 8.1.2 changes get implemented in August.

I, like you, have no real light bleed.

We are a small and unique group. I still don't see anything that makes me want to give up my X301. I have to admit that I like the Yoga, but not enough to get rid of my X301.

 

I can definitely recommend upgrading to Windows 8. Coupled with a fast SSD (Crucial C300/Intel X18-M and the likes) the system just feels so much snappier. You barely even notice the weak CPU. So it's an upgrade worth looking into in the future.

 

hello, has anybody here tried msata to micro sata adapter? Does it work?

 

Just want to thank Bronsky, 600X, and all the fine folks in this thread for educating me about the Thinkpad X301. Just got mine (mainly due to this thread), an almost mint test unit from a store (at least that's what the reseller said), the previous week for about $267 and I have never been so pleased with a laptop purchase as much as I am with this classic.

It is truly a beautifully built device, especially for me, who uses it as a secondary mobile machine to my main desktop rig.

Got a weird unit though, as its clearly indicated to be an X300 on the monitor bezel, but its hardware specs all point to an X301, especially with the displayport at the back. Also, I cannot check its warranty status on the lenovo website despite plugging in SN and model number properly.

Mine comes with a 120GB 5400 hard drive though so boot takes quite a while, but once all is loaded, it runs very smoothly and quietly.

My only real concerns, aside from the boot and load times, are the short batt-life (I get about 2.5 hours from my old six cell) and the really tight viewing angles (necessitating the need to constantly adjust the screen). Incidentally, all the adjusting just makes me appreciate the buttery-smooth hinge all the more. (I can't believe I get so happy with a hinge. Oh, but what a hinge!)

The smooth rubbery feel of its surfaces is also fantastic, love to caress it. Anyway, just wanted to chime in with my thoughts. Hunting now for a good bay battery and new six cell for this. Still thinking if I need to get an ssd.

Thinkpad X301 ftw!

 

Glad you like your "new" notebook. Now you know what motivated me to start this thread.

I had the same issue with the battery that came with my X301. Sounds like your unit is in great shape. Great price too. I've had my used X301 for nearly two years now and still absolutely love it. My only real advice is to seriously consider an SSD. 600X can probably give you a better suggestion than I as I'm still using the Sata unit that come with my X301. Congratulations again and welcome to the club.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome Bronsky. It's because of you and this thread that I came upon this gem of a unit. I can imagine many years with this notebook despite its outdated specs. It just feels so oldschool tough and hardcore, without any flab and excess flash. Very manly. It has soul. Character. A true classic. (I am waxing poetic over this now, unbelievable.)

My plan is to get the ssd and some new (original) lenovo batteries both the six cell and bay 3-cell. Funny thing is, these upgrades will end up costing double the purchase price I paid for the unit!

 

Stock batteries were too expensive for me. I went with an aftermarket 6 cell. Cost $30. http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...thinkpad-x301-owner-s-thread.html#post8852535 It works fine. I don't use the Lenovo power program anyway, preferring the Windows version. The beauty of this notebook is the ability to have such quality at such a low price.

As far as the specs, I don't think I need any more power from the CPU. It is, after all a 10W TDP CPU. http://ark.intel.com/products/36697/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-SU9400-3M-Cache-1_40-GHz-800-MHz-FSB (First Ultrabook?) Compared to other 10W CPU's the C2D still performs quite well. I'm noticing that the GMA4500HD graphics are starting to struggle a bit with the more graphic intensive tasks but that is to be expected.

 

Since we're talking about performance, I'll be receiving another X301 soon which will be Pin modded, so it has 1,86GHz instead of 1,4GHz. The problem is that it doesn't run stable, so I've asked someone to install a switch which allows me to revert back to 1,4GHz at any given time.

I might also try to push the boundaries and use the dual IDA BIOS to get it to 2,13GHz and in addition increase the voltage (if possible). That should provide quite a leap forward in terms performance. Also due to the higher FSB the GMA4500 will be faster as well because it gets overclocked together with the CPU.

 

Hmmm.. maybe the compromise of a new aftermarket 6-cell and original bay battery (as i'm wary of the reported aftermarket bay battery issues) would be a more sound financial investment. Furthermore, methinks the ssd would really wake up this classic.

You see, I am seriously eyeing the new x1 carbon or thinkpad yoga and just might pull the trigger next month. Was thinking of the t440s or x240 but these latter two just don't have enough appeal or "character" for me. They have none of that excited feel the carbon (or this x301) brings. Thinking that instead of plopping down $1.5k for a new unit (and all its buttonless touchpad issues), I will just spend about $300 on my unit to make it fly..

Re overclocking, I'm quite happy with the cpu and graphics and methinks an x18m ssd is all it needs to remove the lags I sometimes experience with it.

 

Hi Guys,

I have just decided to purchase an X301, Type 4057-V2A and I hope to receive it by the next weekend.

Never seen one in the flesh, so not sure what to expect. I read somewhere they have a GPS unit nuilt in. Can you tell if my one has that option? And is there any upgrades worth considering for this model by looking at the configuration?

Cheers.

 

I've read all of the posts in this thread! Now my question is about using a Crucial M550 256gb mSATA SSD to upgrade my wife's X301. The M550 is available for a little more than the older M500 and is supposed to have better performance. I would use the adapter recommended by others on this thread.

Does anyone see an issue with this idea?

Is there any issue between 3.3v and 5v requirement for the M550?

 

I understand what the issue is, normal 2.5" drives use 5v, but the old X40 with its 1.8" drive for example operates at 3.3v. mSATA runs at 3.3v as well. It would make sense to assume that the X301 port runs at 3.3v, since it's a 1.8" drive, albeit a SATA, not IDE like the X40.

So basically if I'm not mistaken you should be able to use a 3.3v adapter. If you want to use a 5v adapter, make sure it can convert the voltage down to 3.3v, just in case it is necessary.

 

The m500 and m550 will work in msata with the aleratec adapter. The 550 is 37% faster (than the m500) according to the below benchmark and 35% more in cost. Personally, I'd save the money. I feel that the m500 in my x301 is plenty fast and I mostly wait on CPU anyhow, even overclocked at ~1.6GHz.

Speed Test Crucial M500 240GB vs M550 256GB CT240M500SSD1 CT256M550SSD1 - UserBenchmark and

Here's my benchmark result on the m500 on my x301 for comparison.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...nkpad-x301-owner-s-thread-28.html#post9550370

 

To the ssd users coming from hdd, Is there a night and day difference between hdd and ssd? I am flip-flopping in settling with my stock toshiba 120Gb HDD or buying a 160Gb X18M in ebay.. argh. (Don't want to take the adapter route either, for less complexity).

On a side note, my officemates keep oohing and ahhing when i whip out the x301, hehe. Top of the line, I always tell them.. 5 years ago!

 

In one word, yes.

I have a Crucial C300 in my daughter's X301 and that thing flies for its vintage.

YMMV.

 

I have a C300 in my main X301 as well. A HDD doesn't even compare.

The overclocked X301 I was talking about is currently sitting on my desk. The switch works, whenever pull the trigger the CPU overclocks to 1.86GHz. (stock 1,4GHz) I'm currently installing Win 8 on it. It has a Micron P400e SSD, which feels even slightly faster than my C300. Currently, it doesn't run stable at 1.86GHz, but I've got the feeling that it's due to the RAM. I'll order a 1600MHz 4GB stick soon and test the overclocking again. I have the dual IDA/no whitelist BIOS installed as well, so I might try 2.13GHz if I get it to run stable at 1.86GHz.

 

Thanks for the replies, ajkula66 and 600X I think I'm sold then. I have a hunch that all the wait times/ lag in my x301 are due to the hdd and not the cpu. Your oc's are awesome 600X, just not much use in my case as all I do is word, powerpoint, surf, and watch some series.

I am really more concerned about battery life, just not sure where to get reputable oem ones on ebay.

 

Just picked up an SU9600 X301 from a local pawn shop (who had it selling for $399) I played dumb and took it for that, I don't know if he really knew what he had. It is in perfect working order, despite minor scuffs around the edges and now when I go out to remote data centers I don't have to bring my clunky T430. HALLELUJAH this thing is fantastic. I have ambition in changing the stock SSD in it. When I have time I will be putting in a crucial 256gb SSD ASAP.
To anyone who doesn't own an X301.. you should. This thing is a beast and a half, and shreds for a little tyke. :thumbsup:

 

I'm having an endless loop of problems. It started when I did a driver update with the built-in Lenovo updater. A new display driver was installed. Now every time the machine is turned on the driver has to be reinstalled.

I went to the Lenovo website and downloaded and installed the display driver package 7xd558ww.exe. After installing this now the machine wants to install both a Standard VGA Graphics Adapter and the Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family. After the drivers are installed the installation says they are "ready to use". When I go to device manager and click on display adapters it lists "Standard VGA Adapter". If I look at the driver it is 8.15.10.2555 dated 10/13/2011.

At this point the display resolution is 800x600. If I attempt to change it by right clicking the screen and choosing "screen resolution" the only higher resolution I can get to work is 1280 x 800 (which is okay). The display on this screen is listed as "(Default monitor) on Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family". After this all is well until the next time I start the computer. Then the whole process starts over again except the computer starts with the 1280x800 resolution. After the normal bootup the display drivers take another minute to install (again).

Any ideas how to fix this?

 

Here's some more info:
Computer is X301 (2774)

HDD just upgraded to Kingston SKC380S3/120G SSD (this had no effect on the video problem - new drive was cloned from old drive)

Bios is 3.09 (6EET49ww) dated 2009-11-27
There is an update to 3.16 available on the Lenovo website. Should I do this update?

Sorry for all the wordiness here but I've spent hours trying to work thru this problem and am stumped.

 

I'd definitely do the BIOS update. These updates usually fix some bugs and make sure the machine is running as well as it can.

As for your video problem: Your first mistake was using System Update. I have had many problems with that software in the past (it usually screws up my systems) which is why I always install every driver individually. Depending on your OS, you only need to install a couple of drivers to get a basic fully functioning system.

Link to the driver collection: Drivers and software - ThinkPad X301

I recommend following drivers if you are running Win 7:

-Conexant Audio Software for Windows 7
-Intel Chipset Support for Windows 8
-Intel GM45 Display Driver for Windows 7
-Lenovo Fingerprint Software for Windows 7
-UltraNav and UltraNav 2 Driver for Windows 7
-Lenovo Power Management Driver for Windows 8.1
-Power Manager for Windows 7
-Hotkey Features Integration for Windows 8

Only 8 drivers are necessary for the X301 under Win 7 for a basic fully working system.

Please also make sure you select the correct driver version, 32 bit Windows needs 32 bit drivers, 64 bit Windows needs 64 bit drivers.

And this time, don't clone your hard drive, do a clean install. But since you've probably messed up your system anyway, I guess that's what you were planning to do anyway.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll try to work thru the drivers and bios upgrades. I'd love to do a clean install but the computer is technically owned by my wife's employer and has software installed that we can't replace without going out and buying it at retail.

 

Try using the Intel graphics driver supplied by Windows Update, presuming you're running W7. Works fine on several of my ThinkPads from this era (X200s, X301, R500).

Obviously, YMMV.

Good luck.

 

Bios updated and recommended drivers installed. Windows update turned off. All is okay except video drivers still try to load on every machine start.

 

Love this thread! Bronsky, 600x and others have just been amazing in keeping all of us X301 lovers informed of what this little laptop can do :thumbsup:

Has anyone tried installing a Broadcom HD Movie Decoder BCM970015? I was curious to see if this will eliminate the choppy video playback that I sometimes see so I bought one from eBay and have installed the necessary Broadcom driver. It shows up in my audio driver but I can't seem to find the setting to adjust the card. Does it just automatically work?

To tell you the truth, I haven't seen any difference since installing it so either I have set it up wrong or there is no (or little) difference in performance over the Intel GMA 4500MHD.

 

Go to device manager, uninstall the video driver and reinstall the one from lenovo.

As far as I know it just works automatically, assuming the drivers are installed. The reason why you don't feel any difference is because there is none. The GMA4500 does the exact same thing the HD Decoder does. These HD Decoders were built for the T61 (X300) series or older, because their Intel graphics (X3100) did not support HD decoding like the GMA4500 does.

If your videos are running choppy, it is not because of the GMA4500. It must be due to something else.

 

No go. I've also tried uninstalling the driver and then letting windows download a new driver. I've tried uninstalling the driver and disabling the device. Everything gives the same result - driver reinstalls every time the computer is started.

 

When a system is that messed up I always do a clean install. Trying to save it might prove to be impossible. And even if you do, I'm not sure if it will run 100% efficient.

You can't run a computer without a graphics card, you will get no picture at all. The GMA4500 can easily handle Full HD flash, my CPU runs at 30-40% usage when watching a Full HD YouTube video.

What OS do you have?

 

I am on Windows 7 64 bit Home Edition. I do have to point out that the GMA4500 is fine for most videos is just I sometime see a bit of lagging or syncing problem with a higher resolution video. Most of my work is PowerPoint presentations therefore I would like to minimize any lagging or syncing issues. But again, this is something that happens once in a while.

So if I understand correctly, the Broadcom HD decoder does not replace the function of the graphics card but more as a supporting role to the built in graphics card?

 

Well, something like that. The Broadcom was built to provide hardware acceleration for videos so that the CPU didn't have to take the entire load. (which was sometimes critical when watching HD or FHD) Now this was a great thing back in the day, but with the introduction of the GMA4500, these Broadcom cards became obsolete because the GMA4500 had the same features already integrated, so it would be able to support the CPU with HD content.

Putting a Broadcom HD card into a GMA4500 device is useless because the device adds no new capabilities.

 

A quick question or two Guys.

Is the screen bezel wired up for the factory web cam, i.e. if the camera is not installed in the machine, is it just a matter of installing it in or do you need the dedicated cables or other parts as well?

Secondly, are there any colour profiles to set up the screen available?

Cheers.

 

I'm using 600X's color profile and I'm very happy with it. I can make it available if you want. It'll provide motivation to finally figure out dropbox.

 

That would be great, thank you .

 

It'll be a day or two as I'm in the middle of something. I'll let you know.

 

@seweryn - you need a few more posts so I can send you a PM. I think I have the drop box set up and I want to send you a like to DL the file. I think you need 5 posts.

 

Sure, will do .

 

Would anyone have any info on this?

 

Check your messages Seweryn.

 

Thank you Bronsky, message received .