/tpg/ - ThinkPad General

Previous thread: IRC: #/tpg/ on irc.rizon.net

Other business laptops are also welcome in /tpg/ (e.g. Dell Latitude/Precision, HP EliteBook/ZBook).

New to /tpg/ or looking for purchasing advice? (hint: use the advice request template, it makes life easier)
pastebin.com/nBqTEbHn

If you're looking for purchase advice, READ THE BUYERS GUIDE FIRST. Then post, stating budget and requirements (e.g. size and performance).

Don't buy anything OTHER THAN T, X AND W/P SERIES if you want the Real ThinkPad Experience™

For freefags who don't mind a slower PC and need LibreBoot:
T400 - 14", normal size
X200 - 12.5", ultraportable

For normal users who like the classic keyboard:
T420 - 14", normal size (supports CoreBoot)
X220 - 12.5", ultraportable (supports CoreBoot)

For users who want to hardmod and get objectively better specs (and want to keep the classic keyboard):
T430 - 14", normal size
X230 - 12.5", ultraportable (supports CoreBoot)

For users who want the best specs, like the modern style, and want the best specs:
(The touchpad is replacable on all of these with a hardmod)
T440 - 14", normal size, ULV (worse processor, much better battery life!)
T440p - 14", normal size
X240 - 12.5", ultraportable, ULV (worse processor, much better battery life!)

Used ThinkPad buyers guide:
ktgee.net/tpg

xsauc buyers guide:
dankpads.com

EPP discount for new ThinkPads (USA & Canada only, usually 15%+ off):
pastebin.com/JVwVGVTW

Helpful links and resources (Wiki, lookup tools and wallpapers):
pastebin.com/DYjEnVq1

Other urls found in this thread:

stallman.org/stallman-computing.html
pastebin.com/GanLXED0
forum.notebookreview.com/threads/elitebook-8740w-ultimate-upgrade-guide-msata-mod-gpu-upgrade-cooling-and-etc.780243/
twitter.com/NSFWRedditImage

First for T420 keyboards

Asking again since it got lost in last thread. T430: Nvidia GPU or not? The Nvidia models seem to be at a premium price

I do not plan on doing any eGPU things also

They're barely 30% better than integrated and run far more power. Highly advise against it.

Alright, going to pass on that then. Paying up to $100 more for just a slight increase over integrated is not something I want to do.

new thinkpads aren't bad beyond the keyboard and price

prove me wrong

What screen should I get to replace the shitty stock 1366x768 screen on my T420?

I agree, but with how cheap older models are to buy broken and refurbish yourself, it just isn't worth it.

The Alienware TN for sure. 1600x900 but with how good the viewing angles are you'd think they're IPS.

Don't forget to buy an HD+ cable as well.

get a 1080p panel with the conversion mod

I'm this guy requesting advice on max ram and how to overclock the cpu
Specs are 8gb ram i7 2640m on a t520

This desu. The 1080 converter is hard to acquire sometimes

OK thanks. Is there a model number for that?

About to upgrade my W500's CPU to a T9900
>his laptop doesn't have a 3GHz processor

No, mine has a 4.2GHz processor.

any good recommendations for an SSD for my x230? Don't know either how much storage I'm going to need... If I had a huge collection of hand drawn moving pictures, i would definitely store them on an external flash drive.
I try to keep the price as low as possible.

LP140WD(TL)(G1)
Dell DP/N 3NPR6

it is night and day, really nice panel.

I like them.
I set up a few E6420's with quadcore i7's only to find out they don't get past $200 now.

bang/buck ratio for light college work w/ linux: x220 or x230?

Depends, are you a freetard, and what level?

No: 230
A bit: corebooted 220
Stallman: librebooted 200

whichever you can find that's cheaper

I really want a Thinkpad W700 (preferably the DS variant) but that fucking beast is almost impossible to find. Why is that?

it was really expensive on release so less were produced and sold

x230 for future proofing and less wear on parts

The ds is a terrible meme. The screen is terrible and it's a garbage device. Why do you want it

not that guy
but I would get an irc client on that second screen or a musicplayer or a terminal doing som other stuff
its easy to get rid off

Is €150 ok for a X230 with 8GB RAM but no trackpoint? Those cheapo replacements on Ebay work ok?

Or you can buy an external USB monitor that has a stand, folds up, and isn't absolute garbage

There's a plastic stick extension between the trackpoint and the cap. Make sure it isn't missing.

does stallman even use a thinkpad any more?
I thought he used that chinese RISC laptop

he went back to a librebooted thinkpad

Anyone know any good keyboards with trackpoints.

Looking for one to replace my KB+Mouse at work

stallman.org/stallman-computing.html

autism is strong with him
i have a feeling that poor little stallman won't live to see his liberated world

I have a T430 with the i5.

Can it drive two 1440p monitors? I have the official lenovo docking station.

"drive", maybe.

But it does not support more than one external monitor unless you have the dGPU.

that hasnt been updated in years

>plastic stick extension between the trackpoint and the cap
Worst case scenario it is?

You won't be able to attach or use the trackpoint without it. I'm sure you can find it somewhere, just be aware that you need it.

how could you recommend the x240 with only 1 slot for ram??

I've got a 250gb mSATA for OS and a 1TB spinning rust for data storage. Works breddy gud.

I'm going to upgrade my T430 with an i7 3630QM
Is that a good choice or will it affect temps/battery life too much?

Stop recommending the x240 and the t440
Reeeeeeeeeeeee
They are fucking shite.
The nodded 440p 8s the only 40 series thinkpad that should be considered.

Read the fucking OP retard, they're fine options if you are looking for large batteries and a ULV. Stop being autistic, the OP literally says what the major downsides are.

My overclocked 3840QM runs fine.

Note I have the dGPU heatsink in an iGPU model.

>30%
you're full of shit. It's much faster than that, especially since it has it's own vram and it's overclockable.
Get 5400m option user, but only if it has 2GB of vram.

It's 40% better, yet still absolute dumpster tier compared to even the lowest end of current gen mobile graphics. Fuck off retard.

what the fuck are you comparing, you stupid bitch?
Do you realize intel driver offloads the iGPU and puts it's load on CPU? Ever heard of hw/sw modes of t&l processing?
Try running fallout 4 on hd4000 in the highest clocked version (i7-3940xm - 1,35GHz). I fucking dare you.
NVS5400m with 2GB vRAM in my previous T430 was handling it fine at ~30FPS. Under HD4000 it was 1-6FPS in open areas + it was crashing all the time.
You don't even understand what these numbers mean. Kill yourself

I have a W530 and can confirm you're full of shit.

Didn't really think of the T470. It isn't much bigger physically than the X1 and I don't mind the extra weight
Now to find a half decent Thunderbolt 3 enclosure

w530 doesn't come with nvs 5400m option. Off yourself, shitstain.

>The better GPU must perform worse
user...

Where are some good places to buy old thinkpads and parts?

>Do you realize intel driver offloads the iGPU and puts it's load on CPU? Ever heard of hw/sw modes of t&l processing?
it means benchmark meme numbers are faked because of that. Intel iGPU is fucking TRASH and it fully depends on CPU performance.

what is that supposed to mean?
we are comparing hd4000 iGPU and nvs 5400m dGPU. Who gives a shit about your w530? Are you retarded?

Can't you move this shit to a new pastebin next time
For freefags who don't mind a slower PC and need LibreBoot:
T400 - 14", normal size
X200 - 12.5", ultraportable

For normal users who like the classic keyboard:
T420 - 14", normal size (supports CoreBoot)
X220 - 12.5", ultraportable (supports CoreBoot)

For users who want to hardmod and get objectively better specs (and want to keep the classic keyboard):
T430 - 14", normal size
X230 - 12.5", ultraportable (supports CoreBoot)

For users who want the best specs, like the modern style, and want the best specs:
(The touchpad is replacable on all of these with a hardmod)
T440 - 14", normal size, ULV (worse processor, much better battery life!)
T440p - 14", normal size
X240 - 12.5", ultraportable, ULV (worse processor, much better battery life!)

I'm telling you that your fallout meme is bullshit, you retard. If my W530's K2000 doesn't perform that well in Fallout there isn't a chance in hell the NVS does.

no, they are not an option.
they are worse than 30 and 20 series.they are fucking trash, the only model that is an improvement is the t440p, t540p, which are the actual succesors to the t4** and t5** models.

again, who gives a shit about your w530?
>If my W530's K2000 doesn't perform that well
that's probably your system isn't configured as well as mine is, gpu isn't overclocked as well as mine, you're using other game version (the newer the slower it is on low-end gpus) or you're a faggot and your laptop is throttling during gameplay?
I don't know senpai. Maybe I was testing the game at 1280x720 res and everying at low while you were trying to run it at high and full hd res?
Do you realize now how stupid your previous statement is?
Say you're sorry and silence yourself.

Does the x220t support coreboot?

>goalposts
>goalposts
>more goalposts
l m a o

hmm, T470 with 1440p screen modded into it or T470s?

The T440/X240 are about 5% worse CPU wise for the i5 variants, and have more battery and power bridge. They certainly are options. The only huge downside is the single RAM stick in the X240, but most people don't run 16GB anyway. There's no need to shove every user into the same use case. They're still decent, cheap machine.

You're a fucking retard. Enable your tripcode so I can easily filter you and your bullshit, bitch.

>bitch
>fuck
>retard
>bullshit
>fucking
what a colorful vocabulary. Try not to spend all your neetbucks in one place.

Yes you stupid retard, focus on everything that is not important. You'll win this discussion for sure.
Saged and hidden.

>le sage
>le retard
you need to go back

Anyone know if you can get LibreBoot working on the X230?

Only coreboot

you can't.
And you shouldn't. Coreboot degrades CPU performance.

>soldered ram
>shit keyboard
>shit build quality
>shit processors
>battery is actually not that good.
>shit assembly

>libreboot
>coreboot
same shit. Avoid it. If you're concerned about your privacy may may visit a psychiatrist.

single ram stick means degradation of iGPU performance by about 40%. No thanks.
Touch trackpoint buttons are literally cancer. Quality is also lower than x230/t430.

k

>And you shouldn't. Coreboot degrades CPU performance
Interesting, where can I read more on this?

I have sensitive IP data, nothing wrong with wanting to keep business info private

>he fell for the "modern thinkpads have a worse assembly" meme
>making up all this utter bullshit

The X240 has TWICE the battery life at half the total capacity.

Can a t420 dedicate the dgpu to a vm?

>x230

No one is unironically buying any xx40 series and not swapping their touchpads out immediately. Quality is not lower, that is a shitty meme that only retards who have never touched both series of Thinkpads believe.

You're too late, pajeet. We're not poor enough to resort to softmods and shittier hardware.

>I have sensitive IP data
So? How is it related to lenovo BIOS?
If governmental agencies are allowed to use stock lelnopevovo BIOS images then how does it matter in your case?
Quit being a retard and use your laptop like a normal human being.

>single ram channel
>single stick
>ULV cpu
>2017
ahahahha

>not swapping keyboards while keeping better hardware
kys

>He thinks a ULV CPU with the same performance and less power drain is a downside.
>16GB RAM meme
ahahahha

it is

>meme

>same performance
in your dreams, buddy.
>le meme benchmarks
kill yourself. ULV trash fully depends on turbo frequency, which is way about the nominal 15W TDP and it WILL cause overheating and throttling, because the stock heatsink in x240 is not designed to handle 25W + iGPU TDP for long periods of time.
>16GB RAM meme
more like dual channel master race. 16GB is also not bad if you're running vms on it.

>no expresscard slot
>no eGPU option
consider your x240/t440 meme as done, bankroupt and finished.

it is. the only thing that is not shit about the t440 and the x240 are the screens.
you need to stop.
the t440p is ok.

The T440 can't even take an FHD display

For some reason the X240 can.

What the fuck was Lenovo thinking?

Wrote an objective model guide for the next OP.

x240/t440 not recommended, instead t440p/w540/t540p are if you want the modern look and wanna swap the touchpads out.

pastebin.com/GanLXED0

literally nothing from stopping you from swapping in a good fhd panel

why do you trust stock lenovo panels, the majority of the time they are absolute shit anyway

Looks good, merge it in to the new buyers pastebin?

Yeah give me a sec, I'm adding a bit about CPU upgrades.

Best fucking answer
Should be on the OP

I would say that is a bit harsh
The wacom digitizer has it's novelty
The second display should of been an IPS panel
And Lenovo had the GPUs whitelisted, which sucks when the M6400 and 8730W can be upgraded

I would still get another W700ds

>says 5 year old dGPU sucks compared to new iGPU graphics
>implying you're going to buy a new laptop with that card
>photos shows a comparison of a current mid-tier desktop gaming graphics card to a notebook graphics card 4-5 years old that was optimized for business

I'd recommend a 2570p over an X230 after having one
Same goes with the E6440 > T440p

>doesn't like criticism
>wants people to have a tripcode so he can filter them
Just go to lainchan and be king of their tech thread there

>no mentions of the 8760W & 8770W master race
>no mentions of the shit display on the T420
>no mentions of the M4700 w/ MXM upgrades
>No price mentioning of 3K T540p/W540p

Where are some good places to buy old thinkpads and parts?

It's a model guide, not a price guide.

Explain the MXM upgrades? I know what it is, but I'm assuming there's a specific GPU upgrade you're referring to that I don't know about.

xx20/xx30 all have shit stock displays, I guess I'll add that in.

>2570p over an X230
careful there, you'll trigger the autists

Guys
Say I have more money than brains

T460p or P50?

Thank you.
Dells are more reliable to accept different GPUs, they benefit from having Alienware under their facilities and can use GPUs originated from alienwares
HPs on the other hand, are somewhat limited, but can still be used.
I think both do require BIOS flashing, but it's not like you need a Pi for most of them.

>forum.notebookreview.com/threads/elitebook-8740w-ultimate-upgrade-guide-msata-mod-gpu-upgrade-cooling-and-etc.780243/


Good. It is a better machine even with the middle button and no IPS panel.