ThinkPad T500

It is believed that all or most T500 laptops are compatible. See notes about CPU compatibility for potential incompatibilities.

There are two possible flash chip sizes for the T500: 4MiB (32Mbit) or 8MiB (64Mbit). This can be identified by the type of flash chip below the palmrest: 4MiB is SOIC-8, 8MiB is SOIC-16.

The T500 laptops come with the ME (and sometimes AMT in addition) before flashing libreboot. Libreboot disables and removes it by using a modified descriptor: see gm45_remove_me.html (contains notes, plus instructions)

Flashing instructions can be found at ../install/index.html#flashrom

Back to previous index.

Compatibility (without blobs)

Hardware virtualization (vt-x)

The T500, when run without CPU microcode updates in coreboot, currently kernel panics if running QEMU with vt-x enabled on 2 cores for the guest. With a single core enabled for the guest, the guest panics (but the host is fine). Working around this in QEMU might be possible; if not, software virtualization should work fine (it's just slower).

On GM45 hardware (with libreboot), make sure that the kvm and kvm_intel kernel modules are not loaded, when using QEMU.

The following errata datasheet from Intel might help with investigation: http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/specupdt/320121.pdf

The T500 is almost identical to the X200, code-wise. See x200.html.

Descriptor and Gbe differences

See ../future/dumps/t500_x200_descriptor/descriptor_diff_t500_x200.txt and ../future/dumps/t500_x200_descriptor/gbe_diff_t500_x200.txt

The patches above are based on the output from ich9deblob on a factory.rom image dumped from the T500 with a SOIC-8 4MiB flash chip. The patch re-creates the X200 descriptor/gbe source, so the commands were something like:
$ diff -u t500gbe x200gbe
$ diff -u t500descriptor x200descriptor

ME VSCC table is in a different place and a different size on the T500. Libreboot disables and removes the ME anyway, so it doesn't matter.

The very same descriptor/gbe used on the X200 (generated by ich9gen) was re-used on the T500, and it still worked.

Hardware register dumps

The coreboot wiki shows how to collect various logs useful in porting to new boards. Following are outputs from the T500:

T500 with Macronix MX25L3205D flash chip (4MiB, SOIC-8) and Lenovo BIOS 3.13 7VET83WW (EC firmware 1.06):
- lspci output
- lsusb output
- lspnp output
- superiotool output
- inteltool output
- ectool output
- msrtool output
- dmidecode output
- biosdecode output
- nvramtool output
- dmesg
- from stock firmware - flashrom probe output,
- from stock firmware - flashrom read (failed): output,
- from stock firmware - flashrom write (failed): flashrom_write.log
- /sys/class/sound/card0/hwC0D0/init_pin_configs
- /proc/asound/card0/codec#0
- /proc/cpuinfo

This one had a screen (1920x1200) that is currently incompatible. Working to fix it. EDID:

user@user-ThinkPad-T500:~/Desktop$ sudo i2cdump -y 2 0x50
No size specified (using byte-data access)
     0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f    0123456789abcdef
00: XX ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 30 ae 55 40 00 00 00 00    X.......0?U@....
10: 00 11 01 03 80 21 15 78 ea ba 70 98 59 52 8c 28    .????!?x??p?YR?(
20: 25 50 54 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01    %PT...??????????
30: 01 01 01 01 01 01 e7 3a 80 8c 70 b0 14 40 1e 50    ???????:??p??@?P
40: 24 00 4b cf 10 00 00 19 16 31 80 8c 70 b0 14 40    $.K??..??1??p??@
50: 1e 50 24 00 4b cf 10 00 00 19 00 00 00 0f 00 d1    ?P$.K??..?...?.?
60: 0a 32 d1 0a 28 11 01 00 32 0c 00 00 00 00 00 fe    ?2??(??.2?.....?
70: 00 4c 50 31 35 34 57 55 31 2d 54 4c 42 31 00 9a    .LP154WU1-TLB1.?
80: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................
90: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................
a0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................
b0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................
c0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................
d0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................
e0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................
f0: ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff    ................

What happens: backlight turns on at boot, then turns off. At no point is there a working visual display.

Another incompatible screen (EDID) 1680 x 1050 with the same issue:

EDID:
00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 30 ae 53 40 00 00 00 00 
00 11 01 03 80 21 15 78 ea cd 75 91 55 4f 8b 26 
21 50 54 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 
01 01 01 01 01 01 a8 2f 90 e0 60 1a 10 40 20 40 
13 00 4b cf 10 00 00 19 b7 27 90 e0 60 1a 10 40 
20 40 13 00 4b cf 10 00 00 19 00 00 00 0f 00 b3 
0a 32 b3 0a 28 14 01 00 4c a3 50 33 00 00 00 fe 
00 4c 54 4e 31 35 34 50 33 2d 4c 30 32 0a 00 7e 
Extracted contents:
header:          00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00
serial number:   30 ae 53 40 00 00 00 00 00 11
version:         01 03
basic params:    80 21 15 78 ea
chroma info:     cd 75 91 55 4f 8b 26 21 50 54
established:     00 00 00
standard:        01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01
descriptor 1:    a8 2f 90 e0 60 1a 10 40 20 40 13 00 4b cf 10 00 00 19
descriptor 2:    b7 27 90 e0 60 1a 10 40 20 40 13 00 4b cf 10 00 00 19
descriptor 3:    00 00 00 0f 00 b3 0a 32 b3 0a 28 14 01 00 4c a3 50 33
descriptor 4:    00 00 00 fe 00 4c 54 4e 31 35 34 50 33 2d 4c 30 32 0a
extensions:      00
checksum:        7e

Manufacturer: LEN Model 4053 Serial Number 0
Made week 0 of 2007
EDID version: 1.3
Digital display
Maximum image size: 33 cm x 21 cm
Gamma: 220%
Check DPMS levels
DPMS levels: Standby Suspend Off
Supported color formats: RGB 4:4:4, YCrCb 4:2:2
First detailed timing is preferred timing
Established timings supported:
Standard timings supported:
Detailed timings
Hex of detail: a82f90e0601a1040204013004bcf10000019
Did detailed timing
Detailed mode (IN HEX): Clock 122000 KHz, 14b mm x cf mm
               0690 06b0 06f0 0770 hborder 0
               041a 041b 041e 042a vborder 0
               -hsync -vsync 
Hex of detail: b72790e0601a1040204013004bcf10000019
Detailed mode (IN HEX): Clock 122000 KHz, 14b mm x cf mm
               0690 06b0 06f0 0770 hborder 0
               041a 041b 041e 042a vborder 0
               -hsync -vsync 
Hex of detail: 0000000f00b30a32b30a281401004ca35033
Manufacturer-specified data, tag 15
Hex of detail: 000000fe004c544e31353450332d4c30320a
ASCII string: LTN154P3-L02
Checksum
Checksum: 0x7e (valid)
WARNING: EDID block does NOT fully conform to EDID 1.3.
        Missing name descriptor
        Missing monitor ranges
bringing up panel at resolution 1680 x 1050
Borders 0 x 0
Blank 224 x 16
Sync 64 x 3
Front porch 32 x 1
Spread spectrum clock
Single channel
Polarities 1, 1
Data M1=2132104, N1=8388608
Link frequency 270000 kHz
Link M1=236900, N1=524288
Pixel N=9, M1=24, M2=8, P1=1
Pixel clock 243809 kHz
waiting for panel powerup
panel powered up

For comparison, here is a working display (T400 screen, but was connected to a T500. Some T500 displays also work, but no EDID available on this page yet):

EDID:
00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 30 ae 31 40 00 00 00 00 
00 12 01 03 80 1e 13 78 ea b3 85 95 58 53 8a 28 
25 50 54 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 
01 01 01 01 01 01 26 1b 00 7d 50 20 16 30 30 20 
36 00 30 be 10 00 00 18 8b 16 00 7d 50 20 16 30 
30 20 36 00 30 be 10 00 00 18 00 00 00 0f 00 81 
0a 32 81 0a 28 14 01 00 30 e4 28 01 00 00 00 fe 
00 4c 50 31 34 31 57 58 33 2d 54 4c 52 31 00 d8 
Extracted contents:
header:          00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00
serial number:   30 ae 31 40 00 00 00 00 00 12
version:         01 03
basic params:    80 1e 13 78 ea
chroma info:     b3 85 95 58 53 8a 28 25 50 54
established:     00 00 00
standard:        01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01
descriptor 1:    26 1b 00 7d 50 20 16 30 30 20 36 00 30 be 10 00 00 18
descriptor 2:    8b 16 00 7d 50 20 16 30 30 20 36 00 30 be 10 00 00 18
descriptor 3:    00 00 00 0f 00 81 0a 32 81 0a 28 14 01 00 30 e4 28 01
descriptor 4:    00 00 00 fe 00 4c 50 31 34 31 57 58 33 2d 54 4c 52 31
extensions:      00
checksum:        d8

Manufacturer: LEN Model 4031 Serial Number 0
Made week 0 of 2008
EDID version: 1.3
Digital display
Maximum image size: 30 cm x 19 cm
Gamma: 220%
Check DPMS levels
DPMS levels: Standby Suspend Off
Supported color formats: RGB 4:4:4, YCrCb 4:2:2
First detailed timing is preferred timing
Established timings supported:
Standard timings supported:
Detailed timings
Hex of detail: 261b007d502016303020360030be10000018
Did detailed timing
Detailed mode (IN HEX): Clock 69500 KHz, 130 mm x be mm
               0500 0530 0550 057d hborder 0
               0320 0323 0329 0336 vborder 0
               -hsync -vsync 
Hex of detail: 8b16007d502016303020360030be10000018
Detailed mode (IN HEX): Clock 69500 KHz, 130 mm x be mm
               0500 0530 0550 057d hborder 0
               0320 0323 0329 0336 vborder 0
               -hsync -vsync 
Hex of detail: 0000000f00810a32810a2814010030e42801
Manufacturer-specified data, tag 15
Hex of detail: 000000fe004c503134315758332d544c5231
ASCII string: LP141WX3-TLR1
Checksum
Checksum: 0xd8 (valid)
WARNING: EDID block does NOT fully conform to EDID 1.3.
        Missing name descriptor
        Missing monitor ranges
bringing up panel at resolution 1280 x 800
Borders 0 x 0
Blank 125 x 22
Sync 32 x 6
Front porch 48 x 3
Spread spectrum clock
Single channel
Polarities 1, 1
Data M1=1214600, N1=8388608
Link frequency 270000 kHz
Link M1=134955, N1=524288
Pixel N=10, M1=14, M2=11, P1=1
Pixel clock 138857 kHz
waiting for panel powerup
panel powered up

Copyright © 2015 Francis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>
This document is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License and all future versions. A copy of the license can be found at ../cc-by-sa-4.txt.

This document is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See ../cc-by-sa-4.txt for more information.