X220 Ram Slots
Thinkpad X220 disassembly steps:
Upgrading the X220’s memory is easy to do. Flip the notebook upside down (put a towel down so the lid of the notebook doesn’t get scratched) and remove the battery. There is a relatively large user-accessible panel in the center of the chassis – unscrew the two Phillips head screws holding it in and gently pull it off. The Lenovo ThinkPad X220 notebook has a 12.5″ anti-glare display with a 1366×768 resolution and is available with the new Sandy Bridge processor options including Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 2nd Gen Intel Core i processors. This notebook can handle up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, but most configurations will ship with the 4GB. Detailed specifications - ThinkPad X220. Also, make sure you get ram pair that has the same speed rating, i.e. 1333 MHz DDR3 ram should pair with 1333 MHz ram, and 1066 MHz ram with 1066 MHz ram, in either slot 0+1 or slot 2+3. Current: 2 x W520 ET, 2 x X220 i7, T420, X230 i5, T420s, MacbookPro, Dell Venue 11 Pro, Dell XPS 8930, X1 Yoga 3GEN.
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Prepare tools, shut the laptop down, and unplug the external power supply,
Remove the battery, memory, and the hard disk,
Remove the screws in the red circle at the bottom of the X220.
Then you can remove the keyboard.
The X220 C surface after removing the keyboard, it seems very simple.
Then loosen the data cable connecting the palm rest and the motherboard.
Remove five screws that securing the palm rest, press both sides of the palm rest toward the inner surface to loosen buckle that connects the palm rest to the D shell, and then you can get the palm rest up toward, and then gently push it towards you, you can remove the palm rest.
After removing the palm rest, the lower left corner of the C face is as shown below: just a 54 ExpressCard slot, which doesn’t need now, and also cannot be removed.
The lower right corner of the C face is as follows:
The part connected by the black and gray antenna is a mini PCI-E wireless half-height card.
Red and blue antenna convergence is a non-occupation miniPCIE full-height card slot.
The round part is the motherboard back-up battery (BIOS/COMS battery).
The long object below the motherboard back-up battery is a Bluetooth card.
Unplug the plug that connects the backup battery to the motherboard, and remove the motherboard backup battery.
Remove the antenna on the wireless card, and loosen a screw you can pull out the wireless card.
The Bluetooth card can also be pulled out just by loosening one screw.
Remove the keyboard dock (commonly known as the C shell).
First, unscrew the screws at the bottom (marked below).
Then remove the antenna embedded in the keyboard base, and the two screws marked below.
Then remove the screen on the right and the motherboard cable.
Finally, press both sides of the keyboard base toward the inner surface to loosen the snap joint, you can get out the keyboard dock.
Remove the top cover part from the D-shell base.
Note first remove the following marked X220 bottom and the four screws in the rear.
Then remove the cable that connects the screen to connect the motherboard on the left.
You can easily remove the entire top cover screen part (note the red gray two antennas on the right, you need to take them out from the D-shell before removing the top cover).
Then remove the X220 stereo speaker system, this is very simple, unplug the cable that connects the speakers to the motherboard, and then loosen one screw.
At this point, you can begin to separate the motherboard and D-shell.
Remove the five screws marked below.
The screw at the top is to secure the external power socket.
The two at the left are inside the ExpressCard slot.
The remaining three screws directly secure the motherboard on the D-shell. They are easy to be removed.
Then is to dismantle the two screws near the VGA.
Finally, according to the official description, place the wireless hardware switch in the open position, and then slightly curve upward the right motherboard (the side with a wired LAN port), to get the right motherboard out from the D-shell.
Then you can pull out the entire motherboard towards the right and take it out.
The front view of motherboard after removing the fan (the side of the keyboard installation location)
The rear view of the motherboard without the fan (the side where the CPU resides)
A family photo of X220 removed parts.
X220 motherboard front view
The red box is the back of the CPU.
Yellow boxes are the keyboard yielding water channel. One is at the lower left corner of the CPU. The other is at the top left of the right card reader.
Four blue boxes are cable interfaces, two cables used to connect the screen top cover to the motherboard and palm rest cable and keyboard cable.
Four green boxes are respectively the SATA hard disk interface, full height mini PCIe card (WWAN card or mSATA device), half-height mini PCIe card(Wi-Fi card), and the interface used to install the Bluetooth card.
Three white boxes are respectively for the 54 ExpressCard port, stereo speakers interface and motherboard backup battery interface.
X220 motherboard rear view
Two red boxes, the above is the front side of the CPU, it’s GBA packaged, so it can’t be replaced directly. The below is the PCH (Platform Controller Hub).
Two yellow boxes are two memory slots.
Three green boxes are the motherboard external power DC jack, fan power connector, and the expansion interface (used to connect the dock or docking station) from left to right.
Two blue boxes are battery connection interface and SIM slot.
A close-up of the back of the CPU
The parts on the back of the CPU still look very seductive.
X220 D shell
X220 cooling system
The X220 cooling system fan is from Delta Electronics, the parameters marked above are DC05V 0.30A and 1.5W.
The cooling fan copper design
The cooling system consists of the fan and two copper heat pipes, heat conductor copper and fixed connective accessories.
The interface on the X220 motherboard that connects to the LCD cable.
The interface that connects to the palm rest
Here’s mini PCI-E slot
SIM card slot
X220 motherboard Gigabit Ethernet port
The only blue USB 3.0 port of the laptop
Both sides of the X220 motherboard use black insulation tape.
Uncover a corner of the black insulation tape. You can see the third-party chipset that USB3.0 uses.
The details around the X220 motherboard CPU
The VT1316MAF produced by Volterra semiconductor has never been seen before. It should be a new model.
Seen from the number, it should be similar to the VT1317SF, and it should be responsible for the CPU power.
Finally uncovered all the insulation stickers around the back of the motherboard.
Continue to the uncover the insulation tape around the memory.
Three copper contact switches marked with orange boxes are labeled as SW2, SW3, SW4. It should be used to determine whether the motherboard in place and a good EMC/EMI function together with the D-shell.
The question of the RJ45 Ethernet port location.
Careful readers can see the top right corner of the D shell, between the security slot module and the drive bays, there is a quite large empty space, which seems sufficient to place the RJ45 Ethernet port.
In the orange circle, the black plastic block is a battery locking device in the battery compartment, the height (or thickness) is not great, the space above it is empty, so it seems feasible to place the RJ45 Ethernet port above it.
Perhaps there is an alternative: shown in the blue strip below.
This long strip space is basically idle in X220/X220i, and it’s only used to place the cable that connects the right of the screen to the motherboard.
However, this area is used to place the stylus in the X220t or X220it. Therefore, the right part of the case of this region cannot be used to place the RJ45 Ethernet port.
In the figure above, the orange box is the battery lock switch. The green area is occupied by the security slot module, and the white box is where the screen hinge lies.
The RJ45 port is placed at the top of the battery lock switch, as shown below.
So in order to ensure sufficient lateral space, the safety lock module must be removed to screen hinge direction, the best design is the safety lock devices and screen axis placement as one solution.
Join our plan to get a free laptop part, such as battery, keyboard and more.ThinkPad X220 Resources
The Lenovo ThinkPad X220 is an ultraportable notebook computer built on the Intel Sandy Bridge platform. Configured with a Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, 12.5-inch WXGA (1366×768) IPS or TN LED backlit display, optional integrated camera and multiple wireless options, the ThinkPad X220 provides an excellent balance of mobility, performance and connectivity.
The resources assembled here are intended to help owners get the most out of their ThinkPad X220. Please use our contact form to suggest any additions or changes.
MACOS INSTALLATION
Installation guide for macOS High Sierra 10.13 on the ThinkPad X220 is available here
IPS DISPLAY PANELS
Non-tablet models of the X220 and X230 shipped with either a standard 12.5-inch “TN” TFT display or a 12.5-inch extra bright wide-viewing “IPS” TFT display. Both varieties have a native resolution of 1366 x 768.
The IPS display is generally considered the far superior option providing a brighter image, higher contrast and much better viewing angles than the TN display. Video demonstration
Five versions of the 1366 x 768 IPS display panel are available:
- LP125WH2(SL)(B1) – the B1 IPS panels sometimes have issues with image retention or “ghosting” after a static image has been on the display. Some users have also reported a backlight bleeding issue with these panels.
Manufacturer part number: 0A66673
FRU: 04W3462, 93P5674, 93P5675 - LP125WH2(SL)(B2) – the B2 IPS panels are less likely to have issues with ghosting or backlight bleeding however they do not have the mounting rails on the sides needed to install properly in an X220.
- LP125WH2(SL)(B3) – the B3 IPS panels are less likely to have issues with ghosting or backlight bleeding and include the necessary side mounting rails for installation in the X220. (Recommended)
Manufacturer part number: 0A66702
FRU: 04W3919 - LP125WH2(SL)(T1) – the T1 IPS panels were not originally installed in the ThinkPad X220 but are completely compatible and include the necessary side mounting rails. (Recommended)
Manufacturer part number: 0A66690
FRU: NA
Note: LP125WH2(SL)(T1) panels can be found in the screen assemblies of the ThinkPad Twist S230u. The process to remove the panel from the screen assembly is explained here. - LP125WH2(SL)(T2) – the T2 IPS panels do not have mounting rails that align properly with the X220.
Note: When purchasing a LCD panel we recommend contacting the seller first to verify the part number of the unit they will be sending. Many merchants will advertise a particular part number but send a “compatible part” instead.
A method to repair a common malfunction with IPS panels is described here.
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FHD (1920 x 1080) DISPLAY MODIFICATION
FHD (1920 x 1080) panel installation kit is available here
RAM SUPPORT
- The ThinkPad X220 supports up to 16GB of 204-pin DDR3 1866MHz PC3-14900 non-ECC RAM
- Install two modules of any capacity to enable Dual Channel memory support
- See discussion below regarding different BIOS versions and RAM speed
- Recommended RAM: Crucial DDR3 1866MHz PC3-14900 – available in 8GB and 16GB kits
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BIOS / FIRMWARE
- OFFICIAL LENOVO BIOS
- The latest official BIOS (version 1.46) as well as previous versions can be downloaded from Lenovo here
- Note that updating the BIOS beyond version 1.40 will prevent rolling back to an earlier version when using an official Lenovo installer.
- If you encounter trouble installing the official BIOS through Windows, a method to install this from a bootable USB is explained here
- WHITELIST REMOVED + ADVANCED MENU BIOS
- BIOS versions 1.29 and above limit RAM speed to 1333MHz.
- BIOS versions up to 1.28 allowed RAM speeds up to 1866MHz (PC3 14900) providing marginal improvements in performance.
- A modified version of BIOS 1.46 that unlocks these faster RAM speeds, removes the whitelist check and provides the ability to adjust numerous other advanced settings is available for download here.
- MD5: 4a769c4f17e8aa0dc0e6927ebe75635d
- If you are not using Windows, or if you encounter a blue screen error when running the installer, you can install this modified BIOS from a bootable USB drive by following the instructions here
- It is not uncommon for the flash verification process to fail and the process to restart – just let it run until the reflashing process is complete.
- A discussion thread related to this modified version of BIOS 1.46 is here
- A video demonstrating the installation of the modified BIOS is here
- Please note the warning on the Advanced menu in the BIOS: Setting items on this screen to incorrect values may cause the system to malfunction! The default values will work fine but the wrong settings can prevent your X220 from booting.
- INTEL MANAGEMENT ENGINE FIRMWARE 7.1
- On May 24, 2017, Lenovo released a firmware update for the X220 to address an escalation of privilege vulnerability in Intel Active Management Technology (AMT), Intel Standard Manageability (ISM), and Intel Small Business Technology
- The firmware update can be downloaded from Lenovo here
- Additional information about the security issues this update addresses is available here
Thinkpad X220 Ram Slots
WINDOWS 10 INSTALLATION
- Windows 10 runs well on the ThinkPad X220.
- A clean installation of Windows 10 rather than an upgrade from Windows 7 or 8 is recommended.
- If upgrading from Windows 7 or 8, uninstall any Lenovo drivers and software (preferably before upgrading) to avoid numerous incompatibility issues.
- Install and run ThinkVantage System Update to search for the latest Lenovo drivers and utilities
- For full function key support and On Screen Display, install the Lenovo Hotkey Features Integration package available here
- For Sierra Wireless MC8355 WWAN, install the drivers available here and see the instructions in the post here about using the following commands:
- It may also be necessary to manually install the Intel Management Engine Interface 7.1 / Serial Over LAN (SOL) driver here and the Ricoh Media Card Reader driver here.
- To improve Touchpad performance:
- Open Control Panel > Mouse > ThinkPad tab > Settings… > Synaptics Control Panel > Advanced > Smart Check
- Uncheck Edge Tap Filtering and Gesture Filtering
- Adjust other Synaptics settings as desired
- To enable right click with two finger tap:
- Open Registry Editor (Windows + R, type regedit then hit Enter)
- Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARESynapticsSynTPTouchPadPS2
- Change the value of 2FingerTapAction to 2
- Restart computer to make changes active
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- For custom monitor INF (information file for the maximum resolution and monitor naming) and Windows ICM (Image Color Management file for ICC Color Profile) install the package available here.
The following adjustments can help resolve specific issues with Windows 10:
- Function brightness keys do not work
- Follow the steps here to resolve this issue
- CPU usage too high / idle temperatures high
- Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions > Disable “Show me tips about Windows”
- CPU usage should now return to normal and idle temperatures will decrease
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- Touchpad not working / pointer not showing
- Uninstall the Lenovo Synaptics ThinkPad UltraNav Driver
- Go to Device Manager > Mice and other Pointing Devices > Synaptics Pointing Device > Driver and click the Update Driver… button to install updated drivers directly from Microsoft
WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL RECOVERY DVD SET
- Images of the three DVD set to recover Windows 7 Professional to your ThinkPad X220 can be downloaded here (alternate source here)
- The installation process will also create a fully-functional recovery partition that can be booted by pressing F11 at startup
- Instructions for use of these images are in the included Read Me file
BATTERY ISSUES
- Check here to see if your battery is subject to the Lenovo battery recall
- Reset the battery gauge by launching Power Manager (click the battery icon), select Advanced > Battery > Battery maintenance > Perform Reset
- To perform the reset if Power Manager is not installed: fully charge the battery, unplug the AC adapter and let the battery completely discharge, then fully recharge the battery
- Batteries available for the ThinkPad X220:
- ThinkPad Battery 44 (4 cell)
44Watts/Hr
Part number 0A36305 - ThinkPad Battery 44+ (6 cell)
63Watts/Hr
Part number 0A36306 - ThinkPad Battery 44++ (9 cell)
94Watts/Hr
Part number 0A36307 - ThinkPad Battery 19+ (6 cell Slice)
64Watts/Hr
Part number 0A36280
- ThinkPad Battery 44 (4 cell)
CPU SPEED THROTTLING
- The maximum CPU clock speed may be limited when the system is operated on the 65W AC adapter and no battery is installed
- To prevent automatic CPU throttling, leave the battery in place while running on AC power or use a 90W AC adapter
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STORAGE
- The primary drive bay accommodates 2.5-inch, 7mm drives and supports SATA III (6Gb/s) speeds
Recommended SSD: Samsung 860 EVO 250GB - An mSATA SSD can be installed in the second MiniPCI Express slot that provides a SATA II (3Gb/s) interface
Recommended mSATA SSD: Samsung 860 EVO 250GB mSATA
WIRELESS NETWORKING
- The ThinkPad X220 was originally configured with one of the following WLAN adapters:
- ThinkPad b/g/n Wireless (1×1 BGN) – FRU 60Y3247 or 60Y3249
- Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000 (1×2 BGN) – FRU 60Y3241
- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2×2 AGN) – FRU 60Y3253
- Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3×3 AGN) – FRU 60Y3233
- Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 (2×2 AGN) – FRU 60Y3195 or 60Y3209
- The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Plus Bluetooth 4.0 can be installed to enable 802.11 AC speeds up to 867 Mbps as well as Bluetooth 4.0
- It will be necessary to install the whitelist-removed BIOS to install this card in the X220
- It will be necessary to cut or tape over pin 51 on this card to allow Bluetooth to operate correctly
- A photograph showing pin 51 on the Intel 7260 is here
- Discussion of the Intel 7260 in the X220 is here
- To enable aptX audio over Bluetooth see the instructions here
- A video demonstrating the installation of the Intel 7260 in the X220 is here
- The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 with Bluetooth 4.2 is also available with a Mini PCI Express interface here
- It will be necessary to install the whitelist-removed BIOS to install this card in the X220
- It will be necessary to cut or tape over pin 51 on this card to allow Bluetooth to operate correctly
- The SparkLAN WPEQ-261ACNI(BT) is an 802.11 AC card with Bluetooth 4.2 with a Qualcomm Atheros chipset available here
- It will be necessary to install the whitelist-removed BIOS to install this card in the X220
- It will be necessary to cut or tape over pin 51 on this card to allow Bluetooth to operate correctly
BLUETOOTH
- The ThinkPad X220 includes Bluetooth 3.0 (FRU 60Y3271 or 60Y3275)
- Bluetooth can be upgraded to Bluetooth 4.0 by simply swapping out the daughter card located under the palm rest
- It is not necessary to install the whitelist-removed BIOS to install a different Bluetooth daughter card – there is no whitelist check on this socket
- Lenovo Bluetooth 4.0 daughter cards:
- FRU 60Y3303 (Foxconn)
- FRU 60Y3305 (Liteon)
TOUCHPAD
Lenovo Thinkpad X220 Ram Slots
- A firmware update for the X220 touchpad is available here that addresses erratic touchpad performance when the system is connected to an AC adapter.
- Alternate download source here
CAUTION: This firmware update may result in poor touchpad performance under macOS. There is currently no known way to roll back this update.
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OTHER MODIFICATIONS
- IPS LCD panel repair – A method to repair a common problem with IPS LCD panels is described here
- Fan speeds can be controlled with TPFanControl in Windows and with thinkfan in Linux
- Internal USB port – add an internal USB port using the Bluetooth daughtercard connection
- Re-paste CPU – if operating temperatures are too high, try removing the keyboard and cleaning the fan. If that isn’t enough, replacing the thermal paste on the CPU can bring temperatures down.
- Speaker upgrade – swap stock speakers with those from the Nexus 6P for improved audio quality
- Prevent or repair lid separation – a spot of J-B Weld will fix the common problem shown here
- Enable scaled resolutions – add additional scaled resolutions in Linux on the stock 1366×768 panel
- DisplayProfile – easily apply alternative ICC profiles for better LCD color management
- OEM Brander – add a custom logo and information to the Windows Systems Properties screen
DRIVERS
- Ricoh Media Card Reader driver for Windows 7 – install this patched driver if your card reader does not recognize inserted media. It may also be necessary to manually assign a drive letter to the SD card in Disk Management.
SUPPORT and DOCUMENTATION
LENOVO PARTS LOOKUP
LENOVO WARRANTY STATUS LOOKUP
REVIEWS
- TechRadar – March 23, 2012
- StorageReview – November 21, 2011
- NotebookCheck – June 23, 2011
- Engadget – March 18, 2011
- CNET.com – March 14, 2011
- Notebook Review – March 8, 2011
- PC Magazine – March 8, 2011
- Laptop Magazine – March 8, 2011
DISCUSSION FORUMS / OTHER SITES
DESKTOP WALLPAPER COLLECTION
- 26 ThinkPad wallpapers in 1366×768 resolution are available here
- Download the entire collection here
- ThinkPad X220 “exploded” wallpaper in 1920×1080 resolution is here