thinkpad

hushable, 4 months ago in Got a semi-new ThinkPad E14 for less than €200

lucky you, the E14 is a solid laptop

Intel or AMD?

lenathaw, 4 months ago

Intel, I’ll share the specs on the post

breadsmasher, 4 months ago in Got a semi-new ThinkPad E14 for less than €200

Is it a big company you work for?

I asked for my laptop to be wiped, clean OS installed etc. They just swapped me for an upgraded, newer they had come in. My previous one, which wasn’t itself old, would go out to the next person who needed one.

Its a very small company however

lenathaw, 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago)

very big company, I was told they go through hundreds of laptops each quarter. Seems like keeping them in stock is more costly than selling them to the employees or sending them for recycling

tiramichu, 4 months ago

I had the opposite experience.

When I worked for a smaller company I was able to buy multiple developer-spec macbooks for just a couple hundred apiece.

Now I work for an enormous company and they absolutely will not let any employee keep old machines at all.

I’m sad about that :(

But happy for you ^^

gravitas_deficiency, 4 months ago in Got a semi-new ThinkPad E14 for less than €200

lol yeah I’ve gotten old work machines using this strategy before. If the hardware is solid, it can be a really great way to get a 1-2 generations old laptop for almost nothing.

Elkenders, 4 months ago in I'm looking at buying the USB C charging port mod by MikePDiy but should I be be buying the 65w or 90w version for my X200s?

What wattage is your original power supply?

CorrodedCranium, 4 months ago

I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. It’s 65w

Elkenders, 4 months ago

Might support faster so I guess also depends on what power brick you’re using for the USB C charging.

fuckwit_mcbumcrumble, 4 months ago

If you haven’t done this already a 65 watt adapter should be plenty. The only benefit to a 90 watt adapter is the faster charging speed, and if you remove the battery it will still run the CPU at full speed. With a 65 watt adapter it should throttle the CPU to it’s slowest speed.

The biggest down side to the 90 watt adapter is that you have to use a ~80 or greater charger because the second the laptop draws more than 65 watts it’s going to trip OCP on your charger and shut it off.

solrize, 4 months ago in I'm looking at buying the USB C charging port mod by MikePDiy but should I be be buying the 65w or 90w version for my X200s?

Not familiar with X200S but on some closely related models, swapping out that connector requires taking the laptop completely apart and putting it back together, a big pain in the neck that can go wrong in too many ways. The power connector on my X220 is flaky and I currently use the X220 with a dock (that has its own power connector) rather than face the prospect of a likely multi-hour disassembly and reassembly. I suppose I will attempt it sooner or later if I don’t get a newer laptop first.

CorrodedCranium, 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago)

I saw a few disassembly guides and it doesn’t look too complicated. Definitely doable with an afternoon.

I have also been meaning to replace the thermal paste on my laptop for several months now.

I have another device in the X series that is quite similar I plan to use for practice.

This is also for the sake of practicality not necessity. I already have a USB C adapter cable I use and a dock I regularly use.

solrize, 4 months ago

Yeah spending a whole afternoon on it sounds realistic, but seems like way too much trouble for a laptop this old. I will try to get an afternoon of quiet time to work on it. What a nuisance. I certainly wouldn’t do it just to switch from a working power brick to a USB charger, but you do you. Please post afterwards to report how it works out.

As a simpler alternative, you could try this cable, with the cylindridical plug replaced: www.adafruit.com/product/5452

CorrodedCranium, 4 months ago

That’s what I meant when I said I had a USB C cable I use. It’s the same as that but from Ali Express.

solrize, 4 months ago

Ah ok, but in this case I don’t see the need to install a USB-C connector on the laptop. Just install a suitable barrel connector on the cable.

CorrodedCranium, 4 months ago

The idea is to have one charging cable for all my devices

solrize, 4 months ago

Well ok, seems like a lot of work, but I’m interested in hearing how it goes. Have fun! I wonder if one cable plus a small adapter could handle it without changing the laptop port.

Certainity45, 4 months ago in I'm looking at buying the USB C charging port mod by MikePDiy but should I be be buying the 65w or 90w version for my X200s?

Most likely doesn’t matter. If you prefer to maximize charging speed then 90 watts but in theory it will worn out the battery slightly faster.

Have you librebooted your X200s?

CorrodedCranium, 4 months ago

Have you librebooted your X200s?

I have. Is that relevant somehow?

Certainity45, 4 months ago

Just curious. Did you replace the WSON-8 with SOIC-8?

CorrodedCranium, 4 months ago

It’s been several years and I also did my ASUS C201P around that time so I’m not sure sorry. I can double check when I open it up though

hexagonwin, 4 months ago in [T400] Not booting, lights flickering

I would take it apart and dry/wash all the components ASAP. If you’re sure you won’t damage it, you can even clean the board with special chemicals or water. You might’ve shorted something. Hope you get it fixed :)

Jumuta, 4 months ago in [T400] Not booting, lights flickering

let it dry and have a look at the motherboard for damage i guess

pastermil, 4 months ago in [T400] Not booting, lights flickering

Sounds like some serious hardware damage, man… Maybe it’s time…

hellfire103, 4 months ago

Yeah, I’ve talked it over with a friend and (of all people) the school librarian. Here’s my plan:

1. Wait a week and see if the T400 (hostname Amethyst) fixes itself, which is how I managed to resurrect my Acer (hostname LapisLazuli) last year.
2. Transplant the RAM and SSD into LapisLazuli, which should be compatible and will receive a massive performance boost from it.
3. Once I have enough saved up, buy an old ThinkPad to replace it. This will become Amethyst-II, and could be obtained second-hand from my institution.

Grass, 4 months ago in Some replacement part models for the T430 if anyone is interested

I don’t have one, but thanks for making this. It’s such a godsend when you just search for a fix and there it is, perfectly fitted for the device and ready to print.

Evv1L, 4 months ago in Power X270 with USB c charger?

@schizoidman I saw X270 and X230 mods on Reddit that replaces Lenovo's power connector to USB-C.

Artemis, 5 months ago in Thnkpad collection

Very cool collection!

pineapplelover, 5 months ago in Best place to buy a new ThinkPad X1 carbon

Ebay

metiulekm, 5 months ago in Thoughts on Green Cell batteries? (Thinkpad T480)

As a data point, I have a Green Cell battery in my X220. I have bought the battery on July 24, 2022 and I have been using my X220 regularly but lightly. The battery was marketed as 6600 mAh at 10.8 V. As of writing, the OS reports design capacity of 73.26 Wh and current capacity of 60.6 Wh:

<span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_NAME=BAT0
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_TYPE=Battery
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_STATUS=Discharging
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_PRESENT=1
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_TECHNOLOGY=Li-ion
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_CYCLE_COUNT=0
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_VOLTAGE_MIN_DESIGN=11100000
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_VOLTAGE_NOW=11783000
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_POWER_NOW=28726000
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_ENERGY_FULL_DESIGN=73260000
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_ENERGY_FULL=60600000
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_ENERGY_NOW=54960000
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_CAPACITY=90
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_CAPACITY_LEVEL=Normal
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_MODEL_NAME=45N1023
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_MANUFACTURER=SANYO
</span><span style="color:#323232;">POWER_SUPPLY_SERIAL_NUMBER= 9001
</span>

AlmightySnoo, 5 months ago

So 82.7% left after 1.5 years, that’s cool I think!

(especially given that they offer only a 12 months warranty)

Certainity45, 5 months ago

X220 uses 18650-cells, which are superior. Either he uses it always on charger or the cells are really bad quality.

Nevertheless, has nothing to do with your T480 since it has LiPo batteries, not 18650-celled.

solrize, 5 months ago in Thoughts on Green Cell batteries? (Thinkpad T480)

No idea about green cells. I’ve done ok with Dr. Notebook batteries from battdepot.com.