It is believed that all X200 laptops are compatible. X200S and X200 Tablet will also work, depending on the configuration.
It *might* be possible to put an X200 motherboard in an X201 chassis, though this is currently untested by the libreboot project. The same may also apply between X200S and X201S; again, this is untested. It's most likely true.
There are two possible flash chip sizes for the X200: 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 X200 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
Usual limitations apply for native graphics initialization (no VBT and/or INT10H and only GRUB works so no BIOS, so no DOS/Windows support - who cares? There is no system but GNU, and Linux is one of it's kernels).
When connecting the AC adapter while system is powered off, system will then power on. This probably happens in coreboot aswell (with or without blobs). It's a minor annoyance, but it should be fixed (if it's not already fixed by now).
This method of disabling the ME leaves the flash descriptor and gbe in place (non-functional data, fully documented) and disables the ME using soft straps. This means that the gigabit ethernet will still work (putting the machine in non-descriptor mode would wipe it out).
The X200, 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).
The following errata datasheet from Intel might help with investigation: http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/specupdt/320121.pdf
X200S and X200 Tablet have raminit issues at the time of writing (GS45 chipset. X200 uses GM45).
X200S is known to work, but only with certain CPU+RAM configurations. The current stumbling block is RCOMP and SFF, mentioned in https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~410/doc/minimal_boot.pdf.
The X200 Tablet should also work, but it is not guaranteed.
The issues mostly relate to raminit (memory initialization). With an unpatched coreboot, you get the following: text/x200s/cblog00.txt. No SODIMM combination that was tested would work. At first glance, it looks like GS45 (chipset that X200S uses. X200 uses GM45) is unsupported, but there is a workaround that can be used to make certain models of the X200S work, depending on the RAM.
The datasheet for GS45 describes two modes: low-performance and high-performance. Low performance uses the SU range of ultra-low voltage procesors (SU9400, for example), and high-performance uses the SL range of processors (SL9400, for example). According to datasheets, GS45 behaves very similarly to GM45 when operating in high-performance mode.
The theory then was that you could simply remove the checks in coreboot and make it pass GS45 off as GM45; the idea is that, with a high-performance mode CPU (SL9400, for example) it would just boot up and work.
This suspicion was confirmed with the following log:
text/x200s/cblog01.txt.
The memory modules in this case are 2x4GB. However, not all
configurations work: text/x200s/cblog02.txt (2x2GB)
and text/x200s/cblog03.txt (1x2GB)
show a failed bootup. False alarm. The modules were mixed (non-matching). X200S
with high-performance mode CPU will work so long as you use matching memory modules
(doesn't matter what size).
This was then pushed as a patch for coreboot, which can be found at http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/7786/ (libreboot merges this patch in coreboot-libre now. Check the 'getcb' script in src or git).
A new northbridge gs45 should be added to coreboot, based on gm45, and a new port x200st (X200S and X200T) should be added based on the x200 port.
This port would have proper raminit. Alternatively, gs45 (if raminit is taken to be the only issue with it) can be part of gm45 northbridge support (and X200S/Tablet being part of the X200 port) with conditional checks in the raminit that make raminit work differently (as required) for GS45. nico_h and pgeorgi/patrickg in the coreboot IRC channel should know more about raminit on gm45 and likely gs45.
pgeorgi recommends to run SerialICE on the factory BIOS (for X200S), comparing it with X200 (factory BIOS) and X200 (gm45 raminit code in coreboot), to see what the differences are. Then tweak raminit code based on that.
Unless otherwise noted (italic styling, underlined), these are CCFL 1280x800 screens with TN panels inside. Please do advise if you spot mistakes here.
Use the instructions at ../misc/index.html#get_edid_panelname to get the name of your panel, then check it against the list below. If your panel is untested, then by all means try it! (and get in touch with the libreboot project to advise whether or not it worked).
AUO = AU Optronics. List of panels below based on http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/TFT_display
Tested LCD panels (confirmed working):
Untested LCD panels (status unknown):
Adapted from https://github.com/bibanon/Coreboot-ThinkPads/wiki/ThinkPad-X200
Look at wikipedia for difference between TN and IPS panels. IPS have much better colour/contrast than a regular TN, and will typically have good viewing angles.
These seem to be from the X200 tablet. You need to find one without the glass touchscreen protection on it (might be able to remove it, though). It also must not have a digitizer on it (again, might be possible to just simply remove the digitizer).
If your X200 has an LED backlit panel in it, then you also need to get an inverter and harness cable that is compatible with the CCFL panels. To see which panel type you have, see #led_howtotell. If you need the inverter/cable, here are part numbers: 44C9909 for CCFL LVDS cable with bluetooth and camera connections, and 42W8009 or 42W8010 for the inverter.
There are glossy and matte versions of these. Matte means anti-glare, which is what you want (in this authors opinion).
Refer to the HMM (hardware maintenance manual) for how to replace the screen.
Sources:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=618928#p618928 explains that the X200S screens/assemblies are thinner. You need to replace the whole lid with one from a normal X200/X201.
Some X200s have a CCFL backlight and some have an LED backlight, in their LCD panel. This also means that the inverters will vary, so you must be careful if ever replacing either the panel and/or inverter. (a CCFL inverter is high-voltage and will destroy an LED backlit panel).
CCFLs contain mercury. An X200 with a CCFL backlight will (unless it has been changed to an LED, with the correct inverter. Check with your supplier!) the following: "This product contains Lithium Ion Battery, Lithium Battery and a lamp which contains mercury; dispose according to local, state or federal laws" (one with an LED backlit panel will say something different).
The coreboot wiki shows how to collect various logs useful in porting to new boards. Following are outputs from the X200:
<sgsit> do you know if it's possible to flash thinkpads over the LPC debug connector at the front edge? <sgsit> that would make life much easier for machines like this <sgsit> all the Wistron manufactured machines have this thing called a "golden finger", normally at the front edge of the board <sgsit> you can plug a board in which gives diagnostic codes but i'm wondering whether it is capable of more <sgsit> http://www.endeer.cz/bios.tools/bios.html
Copyright © 2014, 2015 Francis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>
Copyright © 2015 Patrick "P. J." McDermott <pj@pehjota.net>
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 ../license.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 ../license.txt for more information.