X220 Bios 1.21 Update Released

Just wanted to share the good news:

HTML:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/X220-cpu-throttling-problem/m-p/529503#M30602

Code:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN THIS RELEASE
  Version 1.21

[Important updates]
  Nothing.

[New functions or enhancements]
- Improved system performance when heavy program is executed with 65W AC adapter.
- Improved system boots time.
- Disabled keyboarding while the lid was closed to avoid unexpected key input
  when the computer was held with the lid closed.

[Problem fixes]
- Fixed an issue where the computer might not be booted from bootloader program.
- Fixed an issue where a 1820 error might occur at power-on when the external
  fingerprint reader device was attached to the computer while the integrated
  fingerprint reader was disabled in the ThinkPad Setup.
- Fixed an issue where the computer might fail to boot when connected the
  Smartphone with the USB port.
- Improved cooling fan noise.
- Corrected spelling mistakes in BIOS setup menu.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

- Improved cooling fan noise

Not sure what more they can do? It's already down from the 3500 rpm of 1.11 to under 2000 rpm most of the time under 1.19. Edit: Just read that it tackles the 'pulsing' issue.


- Improved system boots time.

More than Lenovo Rapid boot?


Would have thought that the 'throttling' issue would qualify as an 'important update' rather than 'enhancement. Eh, Lenovo? -)

 

mine sure improve the WEI

 

What is the TOLUD in this BIOS? 3gb or 3.5gb?

Thanks

 

Super curious as well.

 

Excellent update...I can play TF2 with a very solid, constant 70+ FPS!!!!!

 

I may be reading this incorrectly, but it appears the TOLUD is nearly 3.5GB. The first PCI bus entry I'm getting in device manager with 1.21 is xDFA00000 - xFEBFFFFF

reference:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/418851-diy-egpu-experiences-518.html (last post)

 

I just installed the new update to 1.21 and the boot time before the install was around 28seconds and now it is down to 22 seconds (I'm using the 128gb factory ssd).

 

I was getting 3DMark06 scores between ~ 5276 and 5300 before the
bios and after retesting Is got a score of 5367. And that is considering
my computer was hot at the start of the test from 3D graphics rendering.
Interesting result. The boot time is also noticeably shorter, at about ~20sec
now (I have the stock 128Gb Toshiba SSD).

 

Are you using Lenovo Rapid Boot?

Has the fan behaviour changed in any way (speed, temps, noise)?

 

Seems like some pretty positive feedback so far. I'll try it today and report back. Might have to retire 1.16.



Only neg I've seen...

"Since 1.21, after some games, sometime the fan will spin down but stay at 3000rpm (39°c) and never go under even after reboot (need to completely stop/start the computer to get back the non-whining 1900rpm at idle)

(It stay at 3500 for a few minutes before going down to 3000, but stay at 3000 for indefinite time, with 0% CPU)

(Fan speed : balanced, PM : 3.62)"

Out of curiousity, what graphics driver are you using?

I just noticed today that 2418 was released. I'm still on 2342.

 

I was playing League of Legends last night ... FPS wne up a solid 15~. I also did the lenovo intel HD graphics updates.

 

Fan still has a slight (not noticeable unless in a quiet room) wine under stress.
I would guess that if you are expecting this update to eliminate the fan noise
you may be disappointed, though personally I haven't found the fan noise to be
excessive for the x220...

 

I read that the update improves the 'pulsing' issue. It's never been an issue for me but was an issue for some.

The only thing I hear is the whooshing of the fan, still very audible even at 2k rpm (although not a problem for me). I guess the only way to reduce that further would be to install a quieter fan.

Will wait for more feedback before taking the plunge to 1.21

 

Ok, just installed and re-ran the WEI. My system now scores 5.8 on the aero graphics test. Previously it came in at around 4.3!

 

Random, but anyone getting better Trackpoint/trackpad performance with this update?

 

I'll test on my 90watt ultraslim later this evening, to see if I still have a jumpy touchpad.

 

my touchpad feels the same...

 

My trackpoint feels better, oddly enough. Don't know if it is just in my head though. Seemed to move around a little after I took my finger off. Now it just stays exactly where I take my finger off.



Bios = 1.16/1.21
Temp = 40/40
Idle = 5w/5w
Boot = 24sec/24sec

Wei = 1.16
7.1
5.9
4.7
6.1
7.5

Wei = 1.21
7.1
5.9
4.7
6.2
7.5

So not really much change for me.

The new graphics driver actually seemed to drop my performance so I switched back.

 

2361 straight from intel... not using lenovo's driver...

 

Do you guys think I should install the driver released by Lenovo? I had the new graphics driver from Intel ...

 

Can anyone release a Wifi card whitelist-free version of this BIOS?

 

Only thing I didn't like about the intel driver was the 0 brightness was too bright for me. At night I really like the darkness of lenovo's 0. Other than that, seems like people are getting better graphics performance out of them. My WEI went up .2 when I installed them.... if that even matters.

 

Anyone here using linux? And if so how are your doing your BIOS updates? I'm a linux only user and have been having a hard time.

Very Respectfully,
Garrett

 

1.21 does not fix the touchpad and the 90watt ultraslim adapter issue.

 

Noted. Updated my BIOS, no noticeable change with the trackpad/trackpoint. Sadface.jpg.

 

boot time increased . This is off topic, but does anyone know how to increase the speed of the trackpoint? i have it at the fastest option already but would be better if it could be a bit faster now that i got used to using the trackpoint.

 

No way other than software, AFAIK. I have the same problem, my tracking speed is set at the fastest.

Try increasing the sensitivity to a really light touch, that might do it.

 

Windows experience (i3-2310)

no change between 1.19 and 1.21

6.4
7.3
5.8
6.2
7.7

After changing GPU from 2321 to 2418 via Lenovo, it went up to 5.9 and 6.3

Got the same mSATA drive as you but my boot time is around 40 seconds. Running Rapid Boot strangely enough. Haven't disabled any services though besides Windows Search and Superfetch.

Idle CPU temp is more like 45 (21 ambient) but that's because the i3 runs warmer.

 

Yah, no rapidboot here. I have 38 services started at a fresh desktop as a reference.

 

Got rid of it but still around 40 seconds to boot to desktop. Yuck!

I have around 96 services after startup but so far only disabled the 19 'safe' service settings from Black Viper. I guess you must have done quite a few from the 'tweaked' list too?

 

Yah quite a few. I honestly don't use 3/4 of the services on 7. All the home networking stuff/home group... all disabled. Windows update, UAC, workstation, security center, etc... all disabled. Pretty minimal really.

 

I upgrade to 1.21 already





WEI become to 5.9

 

Download the ISO. Extract the image from the ISO using http://www.uni-koblenz.de/~krienke/ftp/noarch/geteltorito/geteltorito. dd that image to a USB drive and boot the USB drive.

 

Hey guys!

I am originally from the Sony VAIO scene and have been doing plenty of Insyde BIOS modding / hacking during the last months. I have been following the X220 eGPU issues since its release and have done some research with the knowledge I gained in BIOS modding.
Finally, I think I found a way to set TOLUD to less than 3.5 GB in X220 BIOS versions newer than 1.11 and make eGPUs work as they are supposed to. For confirmation I need to check and compare my results with an original 1.21 BIOS. I kindly ask one of you X220 owners to dump and send their 1.21 BIOS to me.

If you want to

- contribute in a research that may lead to a groundbreaking success for all X220 owners and eGPU users
- you have the know-how to create and boot from a bootable flashdrive
- you know how to use a dos prompt

just send me a PM and I give you further instructions. The process will take you 5 minutes and I can confirm if the hack works or not in a few hours.

Cheers guys!

 

Yeah!! It would be super nice!! But I can't do it..I am not good with DOS and bootable flashdrive.

 

how do you dumb and send the bios file

 

Is there any result? I'd love to help but I don't have a x220....

 

No result yet as I didn't get a BIOS dump yet. I will keep you guys updated on this. People that want to contribute, write me a PM.

 

i did bios update after i updated graphics driver from lenovo website and now wei:
7.1
7.4
6.3
6.3
7.6
fyi, system is i5-2520M, 8gb ram, and intel 320 120gb drive if that helps.

 

On bios 1.21, with graphic driver 8.15.10.2509 my WEI score is now the best i've seen sofar:

Proc: 7.1
RAM: 7.5
Graph: 6.4
Gaming graph: 6.4
Prim. HD: 7.9

 

I registered today to try to get in contact with you, but it seems that being a new member I cannot PM you. I have an x220t and would be willing to assist you. My email address is my forum name with no space (at) gmail.com

 

Alright, PM sent.

 

Hey pyr0, tried to create a dump using your instructions. Didn't go so well, check your PM and let me know if I did something wrong or you have an alternative method.

 

So, Pyr0, have you been able to mod the BIOS? I am pretty curious and excited about this!!

 

Looks like he's been busy lately. I haven't heard from him since.

 

Any news?

 

There's a new BIOS update (1.23, but someone said it says 1.24 in the BIOS when installed) which seems to have fixed the TOLUD issue. You can read today and yesterdays posts in this thread:

Request to fix TOLUD in newer BIOS files - Page 13 - Lenovo Community

Please report back with success or failure stories.

And the new BIOS is here:

BIOS Update Utility for Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), XP - ThinkPad

 

Any news? 10 characters.

 

I can confirm 2 things of the 1.23 BIOS:

a) The compatibility issue with Crucial M4 512GB halting and losing mapping table has been fixed;

b) 16GB RAM still works.