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 new ThinkPad X220 is the latest 12-inch business notebook from Lenovo. It offers Intel Sandy Bridge processors, a high-quality IPS display, and battery life that is so incredible you've got to. The ThinkPad X220 is one of Lenovo’s best selling laptops, and for good reason. The ThinkPad X220 features power and portability in the same package, a bevvy of appealing upgrade options, and a surprisingly low price of under $1,000 for many configurations. The same held true for the T61 generation. They were only claimed to support up to 4 GB of RAM, although they can easily support 2x4=8 GB RAM, as can be confirmed not only by me. When the T61's were put on the market, no 4 GB sized RAM modules were available, so there was no point to claim a feature which could by no means be fulfilled back then.

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:

1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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.
5. 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.

source 1 source 2 source 3

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
  source 1 source 2

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

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:
  1. Open Control Panel > Mouse > ThinkPad tab > Settings… > Synaptics Control Panel > Advanced > Smart Check
  2. Uncheck Edge Tap Filtering and Gesture Filtering
  3. Adjust other Synaptics settings as desired
• To enable right click with two finger tap:
  1. Open Registry Editor (Windows + R, type regedit then hit Enter)
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARESynapticsSynTPTouchPadPS2
  3. Change the value of 2FingerTapAction to 2
  4. Restart computer to make changes active
     source
• 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:

1. Function brightness keys do not work
   • Follow the steps here to resolve this issue
2. 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
     source
3. 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

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
  source

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

• 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.

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

Ratings Breakdown (1-10)

• • Software & Support
  • 9
• • Upgrade Capabilities
  • 8
• • Usability
  • 9
• • Design
  • 9
• • Performance
  • 10
• • Features
  • 9
• • Price/Value Rating
  • 8

• • Total Score:
  • 8.86
  • Rating 1 to 10, top score 10

Overview

• Pros

  • Exceptional performance
  • Amazing battery life
  • Excellent durability

• Cons

  • Buttonless touchpad may bother some users
  • No docking station pass through on the optional slice battery

Quick Take

Lenovo X220 Ram Upgrade 8gb

The ThinkPad X220 is quite simply the best 12-inch business notebook we've reviewed so far.

Buy Direct From Manufacturer

Lenovo’s newest 12-inch business notebook, the ThinkPad X220, offers the latest Intel Sandy Bridge processors, a high-quality IPS display, and battery life that is so incredible you’ve got to see it to believe it. Keep reading to find out more about what is sure to be a very popular business laptop.

Our review unit of the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 features the following specifications:

• Intel Core i5-2520M dual-core processor (2.5GHz, 3MB cache, 3.2GHz Turbo frequency)
• Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
• 12.5-inch Premium HD (1366 x 768) LED Backlit Display (IPS)
• Intel Integrated HD Graphics
• 4GB DDR3 (1333MHz)
• 320GB Hitachi Travelstar hard drive (Z7K320)
• Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (Taylor Peak) 2×2 AGN wireless card
• Intel 82579LM Gigabit Ethernet
• 720p High Definition webcam
• Fingerprint reader
• 6-cell battery (63Wh) and optional slice battery (65Wh)
• Dimensions: 12 (L) x 8.2 (W) x 0.5-1.5 (H) inches with 6-cell battery
• Weight:
  • 3.5 pounds with 6-cell battery
  • 4.875 pounds with 6-cell battery and optional external battery slice
• Price as configured: $1,299.00 (starting at $979.00)
  

Build and Design
Lenovo recently announced their latest ThinkPad line of business notebooks, but they had one more surprise in store: the ThinkPad X220. If you’ve never heard of the “ThinkPad” brand name then I’m glad you finally left that cave you’ve been living in since the mid 1990s. ThinkPads have long been regarded as some of the best business laptops thanks to a trusted combination of cutting-edge performance, solid build quality, excellent keyboards, precision TrackPoints (that red dot in the middle of the keyboard) and fantastic warranty support. The previous generation of 12-inch Thinkpads, the ThinkPad X201, was widely regarded as the best 12-inch business notebook on the market.

Can the X220 do even better?

At first glance, the exterior of the ThinkPad X220 has only a few minor changes from the X201. The location of several ports has been shuffled around, but you’ve still got the same tried and true boxy design combined with durable magnesium alloy and plastic construction covered in matte black rubberized paint. Lenovo continues to provide essentially a full-size keyboard on a 12-inch ultraportable notebook, but that larger keyboard comes at the expense of space for the palm rests. Although typing is very comfortable on the X220, your wrists don’t have abundant space with your fingers in the traditional typing position.

Regardless of the compact design, the X220 continues Lenovo’s trend of “business rugged” laptops. This ThinkPad is Milspec tested (physical shock, thermal shock, altitude, dust, vibration, humidity, heat and cold) for proven durability. Translation: mobile professionals don’t need to treat this laptop with kid gloves. Toss the X220 in your car or let the flight attendant jam it into an overhead compartment. The X220 will take the beating and keep working.

The majority of Lenovo’s business clients order their notebooks pre-configured exactly the way they want them. However, Lenovo still makes it reasonably easy for those customers who want to upgrade the X220 on their own. The hard drive is easily replaced by removing the single screw on the side access panel. As far as RAM is concerned, there are two slots located under the main access plate on the bottom of the notebook. Our review unit came with a single 4GB memory module installed, so it would be quite easy to upgrade to the maximum 8GB memory capacity by installing a second 4GB stick of RAM.

Ports and Features
The ThinkPad X220 has what can only be described as the most robust port layout we’ve seen on any current-gneration 12-inch notebook. You get two standard USB 2.0 ports and your choice of either one “always on” USB 2.0 port (for charging USB devices when the notebook is powered off) or one USB 3.0 port for high-speed data transfers. The X220 also comes with a VGA port, Display Port connection, Gigabit Ethernet and a SDHC card reader. Oh, and the engineers at Lenovo also managed to squeeze in a full size 54mm ExpressCard slot for accessories and port expansion. If that isn’t enough ports, there is a docking station connection on the bottom of the notebook so you can turn this 12-inch laptop into a desktop replacement.

Front: Speaker grills

Rear: AC power jack and battery

Thinkpad X220 Ram Slots

Left: USB 2.0 port, VGA, Display Port, USB 2.0 port, ExpressCard slot and Wi-Fi on/off switch

Lenovo X220 Max Ram Upgrade

Right: SD/SDHC card slot, optional “always on” USB 2.0 port or USB 3.0 port, Ethernet, headset jack, and security lock slot