x220/x230 FHD/ WQHD 2K mSATA/USB3.0

[la-luva]

Patching is quite easy, worse part is creating an account on 51nb to download the files PM me if you want a google drive / dropbox link.

Whole process :
Update to 2.68 with official installer. Extract the bios, place it in the x230_bios_patch folder, name it x230.bin and run patch.bat. It should create x230.bin.patched. Flash that.

It also removes whitelist and adds advanced menu. You can choose to disable one of them by commenting it in patches.txt

Sometimes i need it said with "teaspoon", sorry but i have not been doing so much linux, i am better on modifying the hardware parts.

When you say "disable them by commenting", should the # be in the text or not if you want the disabling of the lvds to happend?

Is this correct for remove whitelist,lvds and open advanced menu?

# Patch string format
# FileGuid SectionType PatchType:FindPatternOrOffset:ReplacePattern
# Please ensure that the latest symbol in patch string is space

# Possible section types:
# PE32 image 10
# Position-independent code 11
# TE Image 12
# DXE Dependency 13
# Version information 14
# User interface string 15
# 16-bit code 16
# Guided freeform 18
# Raw data 19
# PEI Dependency 1B
# SMM Dependency 1C

LenovoWmaPolicyDxe.efi | Whitelist By OX |
79E0EDD7-9D1D-4F41-AE1A-F896169E5216 10 O:0C39:7500 O:0C4E:90E99F010000 O:0CA2:7500 O:0CB8:EB1B O:0CCD:90E900000000 O:0CD3:EB00

noLVDS By Again |
0AFCDD7A-345E-415E-926D-C5971B580400 19 O:0ACA:9300 O:10E0:0600

AdvancedMenu By leokim |
32442D09-1D11-4E27-8AAB-90FE6ACB0489 10 O:02A0:778B1D826D24964E8E103467D56AB1BA

[boutch55555]

Comments are lines prefixed with #. The top part comments explain the types used by the patches at bottom. So it just specifies the file ID, section type, and what to overwrite at what position. To apply the 3 patches, keep the "declarations" commented and leave the 3 "data" lines as they were.

Code: Select all

# LenovoWmaPolicyDxe.efi | Whitelist By OX |  
79E0EDD7-9D1D-4F41-AE1A-F896169E5216 10 O:0C39:7500 O:0C4E:90E99F010000  O:0CA2:7500 O:0CB8:EB1B O:0CCD:90E900000000 O:0CD3:EB00 

# noLVDS By Again |  
0AFCDD7A-345E-415E-926D-C5971B580400 19 O:0ACA:9300 O:10E0:0600 

# AdvancedMenu By leokim |  
32442D09-1D11-4E27-8AAB-90FE6ACB0489 10 O:02A0:778B1D826D24964E8E103467D56AB1BA

Also, for anyone interested, looks like the app is just UEFITool so you can just download it and add those 3 patches instead of asking me for the files or getting them on 51nb.

You can extract the bios from the provided chip and and flash it on yours, but I think the intended use is to physically replace the chip.

I haven't seen a lvds patch for the x220, I guess nobody made one. But with the WQHD, it would make sense to use a x230 motherboard for the performance bump of the HD4000. It fits almost perfectly in the x220 shell, aside from the DP connector. Requires an extra EC patch for the keyboard and the bios whitelist for the battery.

[la-luva]

Thanks for answering my questions.

You can extract the bios from the provided chip and and flash it on yours, but I think the intended use is to physically replace the chip.

I thought the bios for the X30 series and newer had to be modified individually?

Do i get a new mac adress if i use the the file they sendt me on mail or from the loose bios chip?

There are two chip close to each other, is it the chip closest to the LCD we are speaking of?

What is the other chip?

Can I use CH341a or RPI to read out the bios from the original bios with original biosfile and make modified bios with UEFITool and this x230_bios_patch? and then flash it back?

[boutch55555]

I thought the bios for the X30 series and newer had to be modified individually?

I sent a dump to a 2 persons and used one myself without issue. It can be problematic if the bios version from the dump doesn't match the EC version. So you should try to extract and patch yours first.

Do i get a new mac adress if i use the the file they sendt me on mail or from the loose bios chip?

IIRC it stays the same.

There are two chip close to each other, is it the chip closest to the LCD we are speaking of?

What is the other chip?

Yes, that's the one. Top is 4mb, bottom is 8mb. The other chip is the one you don't want to touch.

Can I use CH341a or RPI to read out the bios from the original bios with original biosfile and make modified bios with UEFITool and this x230_bios_patch? and then flash it back?

I personally used a pi with a SOIC-8 clip to extract and write the chip, copied the extract to a Windows PC to patch it. Mostly followed those instructions.

[la-luva]

Thanks again for answeres.

Here is what i did with succsess.
All in Windows 10
Used the CH341a (with 1.34 software version) with a soic8 clip to read out the bios from my X230, did it 3 times saved them with individually names.
Put one of the files in the downloaded from internet "x230_bios_patch" folder and run the patch.bat file.
This gave me a new bios.bin.patched file, removed the patched ending so that the file only had the .bin ending, my name was x230.bin
Then connected the soic8 clip to the bios chip and the programmer in the computer, read out the original bios once more to ensure the soic8 clip was properly connected.
Then i ereased the orignal bios and flashed the now modified bios file.
Then put the computer togheter and pushed the power button.
It started up, but gave me som beep error code, i belive it was 5 beeps 3 times .
Had to shut off some security things in bios and then beep error at startup dissapeard.
Advanced menu showed up in bios, and lvds was gone so in lcd settings in windows only one lcd was present.

Does anybody know if this also removes battery whitelist?

It was easy to patch the bios when i realised this patch.bat file NOT could be run in LINUX , i had to use WINDOWS to run it an make the patched bios file.

[boutch55555]

Does anybody know if this also removes battery whitelist?

You need the EC patch for that : https://github.com/hamishcoleman/thinkpad-ec

Just be careful, if you got the latest bios (2.77) it will be EC version 1.15, while it has been 1.14 for a while. Version compatibility can be found a bit below the middle of this page : https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/g2uj33uc.txt

It was easy to patch the bios when i realised this patch.bat file NOT could be run in LINUX , i had to use WINDOWS to run it an make the patched bios file.

Well I did mention it

I personally used a pi with a SOIC-8 clip to extract and write the chip, copied the extract to a Windows PC to patch it.

Now that we're talking about it, uefitool-cli is available on the Debian SID (unstable) repository, so it should be possible (and somewhat easy) to do it all on the Pi.

[smokinjoefrazier]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about the FHD mod + docking station. I know docking related questions were answered several times. But I read this Reddit post. https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comme ... mate_x230/ . This user claims that it is possible to use both the dock’s display and VGA port with the Nitrocaster’s FHD mod. Is this possible with the Taobao FHD board as well? By the way, I am talking about the case the internal display is not used while the laptop on the dock and two external displays are used through the dock station’s display and VGA ports (not the mini display port on the laptop ) Another docking related question is let’s say, I soldered the FHD mod board’s msata 3.0 pins to the motherboard but I do not installed any msata drive to the adapter, in this case, if I dock the laptop, will it recognize and use the sata 3.0 port in the Ultrabay or not ?

Besides, Taping specific pins on the docking port allows us to use internal display and msata 3.0 by disabling the dock's ports right? I guess it has nothing to do with the case that I mentioned above.

The Taobao FHD board that I mentioned:
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=553863861510

Thank you so much

[boutch55555]

Disclaimer I don't have a dock. That being said...

This user claims that it is possible to use both the dock’s display and VGA port with the Nitrocaster’s FHD mod. Is this possible with the Taobao FHD board as well?

He is using the Taobao board.

By the way, I am talking about the case the internal display is not used while the laptop on the dock and two external displays are used through the dock station’s display and VGA ports (not the mini display port on the laptop )

VGA will not be an issue.

Both Taobao's board and nitrocaster's use the same DP port for output, DOCKB_DP. it's supposed to be the 2nd connector on the dock. My guess is that if you don't tape the pins you will lose the internal display because of some components in the dock, but the other port (DOCKA_DP) will work just fine.

Another docking related question is let’s say, I soldered the FHD mod board’s msata 3.0 pins to the motherboard but I do not installed any msata drive to the adapter, in this case, if I dock the laptop, will it recognize and use the sata 3.0 port in the Ultrabay or not ?

Tricky question. The board has a sata redriver chip, I have no idea how the sata controller would react sending data to 2 destinations at once. I doubt it could damage either the dock or the computer since those are data lines, but I never saw reports on that. It might be the reason the reddit person used a 4337 dock instead of ultrabay... Please share the result if you try it.

Besides, Taping specific pins on the docking port allows us to use internal display and msata 3.0 by disabling the dock's ports right? I guess it has nothing to do with the case that I mentioned above.

Yup, but they are frigging small.

As an extra note, that board also uses USB for brightness control with power button fallback. The latter isn't a problem as they can be hooked in parallel, but you might run into issues with that USB port. Again, it would be only the data lines, but you would lose FN key control.

[stasheck]

At the beginning of this thread a few people exchange their settings for Windows brightness control software (I have FHD mod), but the link to software or its name is nowhere to be found. Can you please let me know what's this software and where to find it?

Currently I'm using DimScreen, but it's buggy.

[stasheck]

For reference, this is the software: https://github.com/ithinkso117/X330Backlight

[Kohoki666]

Dear all,

I am a little confused about all this postings. I habe a few questions, i hope you can answer.

Is there still a kit which i can buy ?
I would like to use a 1440p display. Is there one available ?
If soldering is required i can do it by myself is a documentation is available what to do.
I also have seen the bios mods. With 1440p display is there a way to use brightnes control ?
I do not need to use a dock so no modification is needed there.
Hope you can help

Thanks in advance

[stasheck]

Ad.1. There are 2 possible kits - one from Nitrocaster (google his store), another by nb51, sold by (among others) XYTech (search on Facebook or Reddit, or use link xyte . ch)
Ad.2. I think XYtech is using 2k screen in his X230, but I'm not sure.
Ad.3. There's an instruction provided by respective mod producer. Skill required is "medium" for the most part.
Ad.4. Brightness control doesn't depend on display, but on mod. AFAIK they are using different methods: Nitrocaster "borrows" control from original LVDS panel, while nb51 is using dedicated USB controller, which needs its own driver to work.

[Kohoki666]

Thanks a lot.
Nitrocasters shop is dead i think. Everything not in stock.

I hope xytech will answer. Would like to have the 2k mod

[jursky]

Thanks a lot.
Nitrocasters shop is dead i think. Everything not in stock.

I hope xytech will answer. Would like to have the 2k mod

I have one spare Nitrocaster rev. 6 board which I could send to you by post. I live in Slovakia, so we're not that far away from each other (postal wise).

[palko]

Be aware that Nitrocasters board only supports 1080p, not 1440p or above.

[ansic]

I purchased a WQHD from here , its the KK mod with MSata and USB3. Where are the installation instructions, do I have to ask Superbuy to ask the seller?
What display would be a good choice, 16:10 or 16:9, what model? Is one easier to install, what are you opinions? Id prefer a more square display ideally.

I also purchased a new motherboard with reballed i7 processor, is it a good time to install the mod when the board is out of the chassis? Should I need to modify and flash BIOS before doing the WQHD mod installation?

Edit: Oopsie. The item was an "installation" of the mod. Ill purchase this instead.

[ansic]

Update. Reached out to "K.K Thinkpad" (from TaoBao) on WeChat, I had to write in Chinese. 10 years in business and thousands of Thinkpads sold he claims. Since I already have the i7 motherboard I asked for a complete screen assembly (16:10, 2.5K) and a PCB for me to solder on to my motherboard. Considering the work to machine the bezel, reinforcing the lid, assembling and sourcing a good panel, the $210 I paid feels worth it. The PCB adapter he offered in the price didn't support mSATA, that board would be $80 extra. The display panel he offered is NE133QDM-N61. A complete modified x230 is $540.

[xaemhdvt]

Update. Reached out to "K.K Thinkpad" (from TaoBao) on WeChat, I had to write in Chinese. 10 years in business and 3000 modified Thinkpads sold he claims. Since I already have the i7 motherboard I asked for a complete screen assembly (16:10, 2.5K) and a PCB for me to solder on to my motherboard. Considering the work to machine the bezel, reinforcing the lid, assembling and sourcing a good panel, the $210 I paid feels worth it. The PCB adapter he offered in the price didn't support mSATA, that board would be $80 extra. The display panel he offered is NE133QDM-N61. A complete modified x230 is $540.

How did you contact KK via WeChat? I would like to do the same.

[ansic]

I found the contact details on an image in one of the TaoBao listings. Their WeChat ID is wxid_g8ehaemo6okw22, keep in mind I can not vouch for them 100% because I have not yet gotten my order shipped yet. Its been a week and the status Ive got is "progressing", naturally these niched markets are slow. I would advice against any direct payments, use Superbuy.com as an intermediary.

[xaemhdvt]

I found the contact details on an image in one of the TaoBao listings. Their WeChat ID is wxid_g8ehaemo6okw22, keep in mind I can not vouch for them 100% because I have not yet gotten my order shipped yet. Its been a week and the status Ive got is "progressing", naturally these niched markets are slow. I would advice against any direct payments, use Superbuy.com as an intermediary.

Thanks for the information. I will try and reach out via WeChat. If I remember correctly, don't you need a verification on sign-up to WeChat?

I'd maybe only need the kit (multiple) from KK, do you know if there are currently any live Taobao listings for the 2k (40 pin) kit with msata kit included?

[ansic]

I'd maybe only need the kit (multiple) from KK, do you know if there are currently any live Taobao listings for the 2k (40 pin) kit with msata kit included?

Did you manage to sign up for WeChat and contact K.K? I could imagine it being difficult to convey technical details through english>chinese translation about the adapter, since for example the 40pin has two or three different connector types (forked, big mouth, ..) from what I could gather from an AliExpress vendor, this is what I was told about compatibility of the vendors adapter. After this query they stopped answering to my next question if they could provide the specific cable.

13.3 "2.5k (2560*1600) 16:10
B133QAN03.2 40p big mouth
B133QAN03.3 Folding plate 40p big mouth
LP133WQ1 SPF2 folding plate 40p big mouth
40pin fork screen cable
B133QAN03.2 Bifurcation
B133QAN02.0 Fork
MND307DA1-2 Fork
LP133WQ1 spb1 Fork

12.5 "2k (2560*1440) 16:9
LQ125T1JW02 40p large mouth

12.5 "FHD (1920*1080) 16:9
nv125fhm-n82

My display is in shipment now. This is what it looks like:
https://ibb.co/album/0sh5dZ

[xaemhdvt]

Did you manage to sign up for WeChat and contact K.K? I could imagine it being difficult to convey technical details through english>chinese translation about the adapter, since for example the 40pin has two or three different connector types (forked, big mouth, ..) from what I could gather from an AliExpress vendor, this is what I was told about compatibility of the vendors adapter. After this query they stopped answering to my next question if they could provide the specific cable.



My display is in shipment now. This is what it looks like:
https://ibb.co/album/0sh5dZ

I did not ... I can't authenticate on WeChat to complete the registration process. Could you ask K.K for an email address?

[ansic]

I did not ... I can't authenticate on WeChat to complete the registration process. Could you ask K.K for an email address?

Ok, 243919870@qq.com

[xaemhdvt]

I did not ... I can't authenticate on WeChat to complete the registration process. Could you ask K.K for an email address?

Ok, 243919870@qq.com

Thanks .. I have reached out but had no reply as of yet.

[xaemhdvt]

I did not ... I can't authenticate on WeChat to complete the registration process. Could you ask K.K for an email address?

Ok, 243919870@qq.com

trying to reply to the private message you sent to me ... I think I can receive them but not reply due to my post count?

[RealBlackStuff]

@xaemhdvt:
PM should work now.

[ansic]

Update: After a long wait I received the display and everything looks in order. However I failed the installation. I believe the soldering was okay but the fault was a BIOS issue. Since I forgot to plug in the hard disk there was never any operating system initializing the display. The BIOS I ran was Coreboot with mainboard: ThinkPad X230 eDP Mod (2K/FHD), with GRUB. I believe SeaBIOS would've worked. Alas, being as panicky as always when something goes wrong I decided to desolder the PCB, which in turn ruined it. The laptops LVDS output still works, the next move is to order another PCB and try again.