x220 - is it really that bad (for some)?

Hi,
at the moment I am thinking about getting an x220 with i5 and IPS, but there are several reported issues that stopped me from doing so. Would you be so kind to tell me what's true and what's just complaining on a very high level?

- deformed lower display border when getting hot
- 50hz display flicker
- CPU whine
- Fan revving up/down continuously

Best regards

 

I can't speak to the rest of the issues (not having an X220), but I will say that "CPU whine" (in some form or another) has been present in every single laptop I've owned since at least 2004.

 

1. Don't have this issue.
2. Is an intel driver defect. There is a simple workaround
3. With the latest bios 1.16 and 1.17, if you have the cpu on balanced mode, and reduce fan noise dynamically, the laptop is basically silent.
4. The pulsing is audible if you are using a higher cpu mode, or if you're in a REALLY REALLY quiet room, and you're trying to hear it.

 

X2 ( 10 char )

 

What ist the workaround for the 50hz? Uninstalling the power manager?

So basically, all of you would recommend buying the x220?

 

The only issue I've run into is the mSATA port not working. But we've just gotten word that that will be fixed shortly with a BIOS update. Beyond that, I'm EXTREMELY happy with my x220.

 

No, go into msconfig, select the startup tab, and disable:

c:\windows\system32\igfxpers.exe

 

1. Don't have this issue.
2. Have this issue. But don't notice any flicker. Only know at 50hz when checking settings so I'm not concerned.
3. Don't notice any CPU whine.
4. Quiet fan, only fan pulsing noticed in a "silent" room

 

Thanks for solution to #2

 

Same with floz23.

And...

I'm planning to buy another unit, that's how happy i am with the x220.

 

Zuzler,

There is clearly a problem with the x220 for many people. The machine over throttles and pulses in an odd way, which can be annoying. The latest communication (below) from the Lenovo Forum provides an update on what the engineering team are doing about it. But as yet, they haven't figured out what is actually causing the problem.

Re: X220 cpu throttling problem
Options
06-21-2011 04:00 PM

der72,

I really appreciate your frustration on this, and you are asking valid questions, but unfortunately they can't reasonably be answered until we have worked through the problem and know what the solution will be.

1) What is the root cause of the problem? - that is being investigated. Keep in mind that Lenovo can have dependencies on Intel and other suppliers as part of the investigation process.

2) What solution will be developed? - This can't reasonably be answered until we have the answer to question #1, which we don't yet have.

3) When will the solution be available? This is impossible to say until we have gotten root cause, and know what the fix will be and how the fix will have to be delivered - whether it would be a driver, a BIOS update, or ?

Please understand that this issue has our full attention and we will resolve it, and will provide meaningful updates as soon as they are available.

Mark (Lenovo Forum Administrator)

 

Throttling only happens in the i7-2620. The rest of us are enjoying our machines wholly.

 

Sucks if you need the application for color adjustment however My saturation is bumped up in this program, so I can't disable it.

 

Can someone please clarify: Do all the X220 displays flicker at 50hz? If so, or even when they do, is it not possible to change the refresh rate in the Intel Graphics Adapter Control Panel? If that is a "no," as I guess it is for lack of an alternative mentioned, and the "workaround" is to disable the entire Graphics Adapter Control Panel, I agree with othersteve, losing the display controls really sucks, especially for video and color graphics.

(What was I thinking getting this "modern" ultraportable, that doesn't have USB3, doesn't have working mSATA SSD support, throttles, or overheats, sometimes? Getting me thinking, glad I hung on to both of my Sony Z13's )

Does anyone know if there is a fix going on for the 50Hz flickering by either Intel or Lenovo? Anyone know if it is likely to be an early "teething pain" of the HD3000 Integrated GPU with any monitor, or is it related to the particular screen Lenovo uses for the IPS or is it something else that something other than "hope" gives you reason to believe a remedy that allows you to control your desktop color is coming? Finally, finally, finally...just curious, is it just this computer, this screen that has the problem, or has it been noted on other SB/HD3000 based systems, at least others from Lenovo?

 

It's an Intel graphics thing. Even my T400 did it on 4500MHD, that's a product two generations ago.

 

To be fair, not everyone notices the flicker. I haven't yet...

 

Honestly, I can't say that I have those issues. The CPU throttles according to use so it's low-power when it needs to be and bumps up the multiplier when a CPU-intensive task is ongoing. The fan problem, I do not have and the X220 overall is a neat little laptop for its power.

I do have the non-detecting mSATA port, but with Lenovo announcing on the forums that a fix is ongoing, I will await judgment until it's fixed or not fixed by a BIOS update. Other than that, the notebook has been treating me well so far.

 

And the folks that do must *really* hate traveling in some parts of Europe...

 

I ordered the x220 nearly immediately after it went on sale. I also love the machine. I have the i5-2520 so haven't been able to reproduce the "throttling" problem with the GPU/CPU even when trying to stress it as much as possible

http://digitalchumps.com/featured-e...hrottling-the-full-details-and-breakdown.html

has more info on this as well as the official Lenovo forums but seems to mostly affect the i7 processor although I have seen a post or two concerning the i5, but I can't make it happen with mine.

My mSATA slot actually works and have an intel 80 gb mSATA in there now so seems like they changed something which will need a BIOS update to correct.

My IPS screen is great, I don't notice the flicker at 50 but can confirm it does happen on battery. I have a little bit of backlight bleed on this panel which doesn't bother me but some people are more sensitive to this than I and I only notice it in a dark room with black background.

I get about 6-7 hours of use using a 6 cell on battery doing standard web browsing, spreadsheet and word processing work so very happy with the performance and battery life.

My fan is great with the newer BIOS
(1.17) but was loud and on a lot before the BIOS update. It will get loud when I fire up a game and stress the system but that's the only time. When doing my normal work, I can't really tell the fan is even on.

If you're going to order now, I would avoid the i7 processor until they show they can fix the throttling issue. I don't have the other issues you talked about...no real problem with heat on this machine or warping of the bezel. I also don't notice the CPU whine but I'm 36 and maybe don't hear the frequency well anymore so someone with younger ears maybe more sensitive.

 

I ordered an i7 x220 during the April Doorbuster and it's the best laptop I've ever had by a wide margin.

1. I haven't experienced this issue.
2. It may not be the same issue, but the only times I've experienced a flickering is when my screen brightness is all the way as the laptop wakes from sleep.
3. Non issue for me.
4. The only times my fan is audible is when I'm playing a game. To be expected in an ultraportable.

 

Bull. It's an Intel with Lenovo thing. Your T400 is another Lenovo. Not all other manufacturers have this problem. HP and Sony are definitely not affected by this. When unplugged, the HPs and Sonys all report 60hz on the Intel control settings, not 50hz like the X220.

And if they haven't fixed it 2 generations ago, I highly doubt a fix is coming soon.

 

Well, talk about a buzzkill. Seriously, I do agree that i have had countless laptops running versions of Intel graphics up to and including the Arrandale version, and never had it down-cycle to 50 hz, and never had flickering issues.

Anyone else have other Thinkpads, particularly with SB cpus and HD 3000? Do they have the problem? I do hope it's a Lenovo/Intel issue because I have far more faith in Lenovo fixing it than Intel.

 

Well, this sounds quite good, actually

I think I'll give it a shot next week. And if it is without major flaws, I am thinking about replacing the HDD with an Intel 320 160 GB SSD and add some 4GB RAM. Is this a reasonable upgrade for the i5 version? Since I do not need the i7, I'd prefer the longer battery life with the i5.

 

Don't plan on getting the drive from Lenovo, it'll delay your order by 4 weeks. Also, some of those Intel drives (510 maybe?) were having issues with stalling out your system on boot. You might look into that before picking a SSD.

Regarding the RAM, you can get 8gb of RAM from Newegg for the same price as 4gb of RAM from Lenovo. Unless you're getting the RAM as a free upgrade, I highly recommend you don't get it thru Lenovo.

 

Yeah, I'd have gotten that stuff via my company anyways. I would have gone for any RAM which has 1333mhz and is cheap (Kingston, Samsung, don't care), and an Intel 320 160gb SSD. Those do not seem to be extraordinarily fast but are apparently the most reliable ones on the market.
Is that right or should I go for another model/manufacturer?

 

SSD's aren't my specialty, sorry I can't be more help on specifics. Check through some of the related threads on here and you might find more info.

 

No problem. You guys in here helped me out a lot already
I'll go ask in the techie section about the SSDs then!

 

Just got my intel 310 last night. Installation went without a hitch!

 

I just got mine in today. I have the light bleed with the IPS screen, but it's liveable and only noticed on pure black screen and nothing else. Other then that it is perfect. Everything works, no fan noise, no bulges or other physical imperfections, or any of the rest of the typical complaints. I'm quite happy with it thus far.