Lenovo ThinkPad X230: A Fan Favourite

The X230 is one of the most favoured of the X series. Many consider it to be an excellent compromise between the X220 and X240 models. Lots of mods can be done, but they require some additional knowledge beyond opening some exe files. But this unit is highly favoured by many.
/ laptopretrospe1
teespring.com/stores/laptop-r...
laptopretrospective.com/
Maintenance Manual:
download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub...
Mod Guide for X220 keyboard:
www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Install...
Instructions for Hardware Flashing the BIOS:
www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Custom_...
LittleRobotSoundFactory ( freesound.org/people/LittleRo... )
Looking for one yourself? Check eBay and your local classifieds. Amazon also has a series of parts and machines. By purchasing from the links below, as an Amazon and eBay Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases that goes to supporting the channel.
eBay:
rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
Amazon.com amzn.to/2JY6tsd
Amazon.ca amzn.to/2y7vXhq
If you are looking for the latest and greatest version of this laptop, I suggest heading over to Lenovo's website to see what they have been up to recently. As a member of the Lenovo Affiliate Program, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through this link.
Lenovo Canada
lenovo.vzew.net/5XBWL (General)
lenovo.vzew.net/P2ZLR (ThinkPad)
Lenovo USA
lenovo.vzew.net/BXEK5B (General)
lenovo.vzew.net/zagjz0 (ThinkPad)

[@luxuro-harbender9419]

It's 2020, and I still watch this video, Primarily because, I'm watching this on a X230 Don't regret a thing

[@LaptopRetrospective]

👍

[@ShenghuiYang]

For modern Thinkpad, I am glad the P series still keeps the similar solid design.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

The P series is an awesome piece of kit.

[@MrJackojc90]

Watching this on an x230

[@LaptopRetrospective]

W00t. What is your specs?

[@MrJackojc90]

@@LaptopRetrospective Just the i5 model with 8GB of RAM, nothing too fancy. It's my daily driver and it's fairly solid for most of what I do.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

You need a daily driver and one for home use. At least. Lots of reasons for another.

[@MrJackojc90]

@@LaptopRetrospective I was considering picking up a T420 for home use.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Not a bad choice either. Decisions, decisions.

[@walker008_]

Bought a x230 a few days ago and it's a great little machine. I swapped out the HDD for an SSD and changed the RAM from 4 to 8 Gigabytes. I paid 130€ (146$) for the used x230 in good condition, 23€ (27$) for the used RAM, and 20€ (22$) for a new 120 GB SSD. Not a real bargain, but for a country like Germany, where tech-bargains are really rare, it's a pretty good deal. Your video is one of the best videos about the x230, because it includes the main things about this notebook, while it is relativly short. Keep up the good content. :)

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thanks for the evaluation of my content. It is a balance of information and length and I try to strike it in the middle. These machines have a lot of information to go with them but choosing what will matter most can be tricky.

[@Intz51]

Same here, bought it about month ago for £108, added another identical samsung 4gb stick for £12, so its 8gb now. It has backlit keyboard, IPS screen, i5 2.6ghz and it has 500gb hitatchi 7200rpm hdd which is fast still and i havent rushed upgrading it to ssd yet. Takes less than 20 seconds to boot and to login to desktop. Also i got ultrabase series 3 docking and lenovo dvd drive, both brand new and paid £28 in total for that combo. Love this machine!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Wow, what a setup. Love to see pics.

[@JulianoAlberto2005]

Where did you buy it if I might ask?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I buy mine locally.

[@hariszaheer1212]

Hats off to one of the sweetest laptop ever made. This works so so fine for what I do all the time. I am very very happy with this small powerful machine.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad you are enjoying it, I have more videos on the x220 coming soon.

[@TrassseB]

u using it for the the other WEB solely?

[@kvndodson91]

Watching this on a x230 I bought because of this review. Great little machine.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

That's awesome! I'm glad I was able to help inform your decision.

[@pooksthepossum]

GREAT VIDEO! You're one of my new favorite channels since I am very obsessed with portable gadgets, laptops in general. I love my T430 so this video was a delight! :) Keep it up man!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video and stoked to have your support.

[@KTPurdy]

Yep, even while owning several new laptops my most creative work is still done on the x230. Nothing feels better on my lap.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

The X series is a handy size.

[@draganknezevic5019]

Watching this on Lenovo x230, intel i5-3320M, Kingston HyperX impact 16gb, 120gb SSD, Linux Mint 18.2 "Sonya " Cinnamon.. 😜 Really good machine 😊

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Very nice setup. Always glad to see a Linux user too.

[@sissoubenaissa7007]

What about little gaming ?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Will always depend on the games.

[@CatCanCode]

I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYm2dn2hhsuNm6M

[@fajrulkamil4574]

sorry can i ask you something...mine won't boot up with 16gb ram...any suggestion??or tips maybe

[@Vincintosh]

OMG I'm in love with the intro

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad you like it. This video is probably the last time you'll see it though since I've now reviewed all those machines.

[@RicH0864]

Thank you for the videos, man. I just stumbled upon ThinkPads and I really, really like the idea of it. Going to go get an X230 in a few weeks (local store was out of stock). Really excited!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Awesome stuff. Let me know what you think when you get it.

[@RicH0864]

@@LaptopRetrospective Definitely. I think I'm going to hook it up with a 9 cell battery if I happen to find one. I'll report back when I get it!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Roger that. Third party 9 cells aren't always common and the original ones tend not to have a full charge anymore so keep an eye out for that.

[@RicH0864]

@@LaptopRetrospective Just got a fixer-upper X240! The keyboard isn't original and the touchpad leaves a lot to be desired. But despite those two issues, I really enjoy lugging this thing around compared to my other laptops. The build quality just really beats other laptops I've owned in the past. Do I have to watch out for anything in case I want to upgrade the external battery on this thing?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I believe you are in the clear.

[@craigabrahamsen9932]

Mate the opening is epic! Love the Style X230 FTW

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad you enjoyed it. It's just for a handful of videos, then it will be back to normal.

[@hawkeye454]

A beautiful machine!! Great video my friend. I love my x230!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad you liked it. Hopefully I did it justice. Had you in mind.

[@adiabriganjarutama6144]

this X230, the one that with IPS display, is the last best X series thinkpad, ever.

[@CatCanCode]

I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYm2dn2hhsuNm6M

[@carlosleninmajano8084]

Thanks for your time. And share your knowledge and experiences. It really is very useful to us

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thank you for your kind words Carlos.

[@whitebeartigtig]

The editing is amazing!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad you enjoyed it. The intro was especially fun to make.

[@GrahamAtDesk]

I've got one of these, and have been surprised at just how quick it feels. If I didn't know it was made in 2012, I wouldn't think it was an old machine. I have the i7 with 16GB of RAM and a whopping great SSD in it. Mine also has a hardware mod to support a 1920x1080 panel (so it was an extremely lucky eBay find). I develop web applications for a living and find this X230 does the job nicely. So nicely, that I decided to get a W530 (a 15" version with a quad core CPU, that costs a similar price to an X230) to use solely for my work. The W530 is a tank, so stays at the office, while the X230 is predominantly for home/out and about use. The only negative to the X230 is the low speaker output, but headphones obviously work around that problem. Oh, and the docking stations - if you have a separate monitor, they're superb (and very cheap on eBay). On the keyboard issue, I'd rather ThinkPad still used the original keyboard layout, but the action on the X?30 chiclet keyboards is the nicest I've ever used on a laptop. Once I got used to the position of the Home, End and Del keys I didn't look back. I'd recommend the non backlit version, which feels nicer (and the thinklight is always there to light up the keyboard if necessary).

[@LaptopRetrospective]

That's a nicely kitted out unit you have there. Thanks for sharing the mods done and what you use it for.

[@joshjegher3188]

This laptop is amazing I use it as well. Although 2012 laptops are not that old in 2018. 6 years old isn't really old. Laptops as of 2010 are old

[@fauzirosli9310]

hi.. does your computer run hot.. ive heard that the i7 version have that problem

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I'd check the age of the thermal compound.

[@TheGrayWolf81]

I bought a W530, quad core i7-3840QM, NVidia Quadro K2000M, 24GB RAM, 256GB mSATA SSD, fingerprint scanner and color calibration sensor. I want to love it but it's probably going to get torn apart and sold for parts. The screen glitches randomly quite frequently when I turn on or wake it up. And recently, it began to shut off as if it lost all power. I feel as though it might be a bad connection around the CPU because pressing down on that area causes the laptop to shut off. I did some research and it seems that it's a common problem among W530's. I'm surprised that a laptop that costs this much, especially a ThinkPad, is having such issues; it agrivates me. Have you had any similar experiences with your W530?

[@jrdhrpr]

I just got an X220 in the mail today and then you post this. Guess I need an X230 too.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Join us! You can't own just one.

[@RyanFoster2013]

Yep! Come to the dark side.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

We have ThinkLights!

[@marcg1043]

thank you for a great video. Helped me pick the right one of the thinkpad lineup

[@LaptopRetrospective]

You are most welcome, I'm glad I was able to help.

[@marcg1043]

@@LaptopRetrospective I noticed that x230 often come with high GHz i5 processors (2.7 to 2.9 GHz) , while x240 i5 are mostly only sold as 1.9 or 2.1 GHz. Do you know why this could be? Is it due to the newer processor generation being more efficient?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Newer CPUs in the x240 were more power efficient but weren't as strong, about 10% less.

[@KTPurdy]

Great video. Lots of little nuggets of useful information.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thanks Kent. Glad you found it informative.

[@milescarter7803]

Just letting you know that Lenovo struck a deal to allow pc3 2133mt/s ram to run at full speed in the i7 models. I got ahold of 16gb of Ripjaws (2x8gb) and it is really nice. Beats the single channel x240/x250 machines hands down.

[@chrissebrell742]

Nice! I picked up an X230 recently off Craigslist for $200 - I already have an X230T. I had no idea a backlit keyboard was an option, so that was cool. Normally I would upgrade to 16GB but it has 8GB and that's enough for now. I did buy a new 44++ (9 cell) battery; that wasn't a problem but did cost around $60. I am running Linux Mint 19 on it and use it for software development -- node.js and visual studio code. I like it quite a bit, I am seriously thinking of getting another one before they become hard to find.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Or to have cheap spare parts. It's how the collection begins.

[@ianwlouw]

I owned one a long time ago, the keyboard was obscenely good. in fact, probably one of the best keyboards i have ever used on a laptop.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice, what work did you do with it?

[@morgan3896]

watching this on a X220 with Linux Mint. wife bought me a new Dell XPS but I still use this.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Can always put Linux on that too. 😎 Dell sells it as their developer edition.

[@uni-byte]

I use mine nearly every day. Nice and very capable machine even in 2022. Other than SATA SSD, mSATA SSD and ram upgrades to max it's stock. I have the ultrabase, the slice battery and an express card dual USB 3.0 add-on to go along with it.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice! I know I love using my X220 around the house.

[@AntonisBaritakis]

Would you reccomend an x230 for word processing, browsing the web and basic windows use? The price around here is around 120 euro

[@uni-byte]

@@AntonisBaritakis If you put an SSD into it and 8GB RAM it can handle that stuff just fine.

[@AntonisBaritakis]

@@uni-byte Thank you!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yep, it can do it all.

[@intillzah6160]

Just got my X230 here a few days ago. Already swapped the HD out for a SSD, am running it as a dual boot system with Windows 10 and Linux Mint 19.1 on it. Going to do the IPS screen update here one of these days, also have another hard drive caddy on the way so I can swap in another SSD to play with other Linux distros so I won't nuke my dual boot drive and in case a distro gets hosed. Not to mention it makes distro hopping a lot easier.. So far I'm really enjoying it...

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice plan. I suspect that will work quite well. I do similar things with my x220.

[@NeanderdeOliveira]

I have the x220T and will probably use it for ever. It’s great for writing!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

How is the tablet experience on a ThinkPad for you?

[@comicsans1689]

@@LaptopRetrospective Not him but the tablet experience is pretty nifty. I bought an X220t for my girlfriend and she loves using the touchscreen for her digital art.

[@harryf1ashman]

also worth pointing out is the docking station option. I picked a cheap one on ebay and carry it around. its not heavy and I save all the wear and tear on my laptop ports.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yep, I have a dock for my x220.

[@gameboyfreak8079]

im still rocking the x220 thinkpad :)

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Me too. :-)

[@padan_fain]

Hmm. I' m still using my x31 with an ssd. Works for MS Office, but Internet and HD Movies too much for that old fellow. BUT the X31 has the best keyfeel I experienced yet! Now my question: does the x220 have the same keyboard/keyfeel as the x31? How is it compared to the keyboard on the x230? I dont want to go through the hassle and change the keyboard. Thanks mate. Great content!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

X220 is pretty boss. Can't speak to the x31, haven't used that before.

[@IdraSucks1]

Have the X31 too! It's a great little machine back when XP was still supported.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Very nice. Still running XP or something more open source?

[@ampedandvolted]

Great video. Going to checkout buying this model.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad you found it helpful. Let us know what you get.

[@shalinadira]

I recommended x230 for my friend, swap the hdd to sdd, install windows 10 on it and he is very happy with the performance. This little gem is still a good machine for the price.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice setup to be sure.

[@CatCanCode]

I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYm2dn2hhsuNm6M

[@Zoologistirfan]

@@LaptopRetrospective please make a video on how to install modded BIOS on X230? To remove whitelist.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I'd love to, but I'd need an X230 first. 😁

[@MegaManNeo]

Thanks for doing this video, I'm quite a fan of the X series for its portability and do not really fear the newer products as I myself also own a X240 and actually like it from minor issues (like not being able to use 16G RAM). Oh and my trusty old X60t which I really like too but that is limited by the 32bit processor. The X220 and X230 however often get recommended so I still consider to pick one up. Sure the processors are old and outdated, for a good functioning Linux machine however, it's still more than enough.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Agreed. Thanks for commenting.

[@soliman15]

Thanks that is great, one comment I have x220 and it has 16gb of memory as well

[@LaptopRetrospective]

That it does.

[@benstechroom]

I have a W530. I never knew about the light. Mine is a llittle flash light mounted next to the webcam. Very neat. I learn something new about these ThinkPads every day.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

The ThinkLights are really handy for looking at documents and other such things in dimly lit areas. Late night plane or train trips are easier because of it. Same with all the other weird places ThinkPads end up.

[@benstechroom]

@@LaptopRetrospective I bought mine recently because its pretty powerful for the price I paid. Also, they are very Linux friendly which is the OS I run.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Very nice. Which distro are you using? Tried elementary yet?

[@benstechroom]

@@LaptopRetrospective I have, Elementary is very stable. But I use Arch as my daily driver.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Fair enough. Arch is quite tweakable and has been at the forefront of ThinkPad support.

[@rcfriscoflyer]

Thank You, Great Job ! Do you think the general public is aware how powerful these can be?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thank you for watching!

[@mvShooting]

That's a beautiful machine. I was considering getting one, but in the end someone offered me an L470, which was still pretty nice. I really like the ThinkPad æsthetic.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Haven't had much time with the L series, how are you enjoying it?

[@TheVirusGuy]

I have an L440 and T420s, so I can pretty much compare them, the L series is made well but not as good as the T420s is. This may sound weirdo but it's still very well put down and it's still better than a HP which my parents bought for themselves. And it's easy upgradeable, you can even replace a CPU, while on HP replacing HDD to SSD took like one hour to do, on ThinkPad L440 I did it in like 3-4 minutes :)

[@LaptopRetrospective]

L series might have some cheaper parts, but still has the serviceability.

[@mvShooting]

Sorry I couldn't reply to this in time! I am currently using that sweet machine (: Swapped the screen to an IPS 1920 × 1080 panel. Got 12 GB of RAM in total and added a SATA SSD. It's possible to add an M.2 SSD, but it has to be smaller than the standard PC format (can't remember the number, it's in place of the WWAN module). The build quality seems to be cheaper, but it still feels sturdier than other common laptops. In the L470 you can't replace your CPU, though, without replacing the entire system board. Mine sports a little i3-7100U, but it's quite nice. Now I am using it as a desktop replacement, as I sold my PC and I am saving some money. Currently using a DP screen and a VGA screen in a dual-monitor setting.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Sounds like a solid setup overall. Thanks for giving us an update.

[@fantagun]

Thank you for your perfect review. I got a good condition of X230 (i5-3320, 4G RAM, SSD 240Gb, IPS) for $90! Absolutely good. But I've been realizing that any kind of "perfect configuration" never exists, and the step-by-step upgrading is the main part of enjoying a retro laptop as well. Feel like a vintage car. Highly recommended for all open-minded geeks who can open their laptops without any fear.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thanks for the kind words gim and I am excited for you! Please keep us up to date on what you are doing and hit me up on Twitter with pics if you got them.

[@fantagun]

@@LaptopRetrospective If you had posted X220 review at first, maybe now I would have gotten a X220, not a X230. I'll send some pics after configuration is finished!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

@@fantagun Either machine is a winner, there are no bad choices. :-D

[@danp1975]

Great video! Found one for a good price… still worth it in 2021? All the best from central Ontario!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yep, sure is for general use. I still use my older X220 every day around the house.

[@segbed]

great review!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@joshtree8298]

Today, has to be the best small laptop for the price, by far! And with the X330 efforts it can be taken to modern day, high spec competition

[@LaptopRetrospective]

The X330 is that Chinese board swap right?

[@divukman]

Thanks! I am thinking of getting one as a main Linux machine.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Excellent idea.

[@clav7711]

I try to find how fast with kind and win10

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Still pretty quick with an SSD.

[@govenderryan]

Watching this video on my x230 which is fully spec'ed out, I've swopped out the HDD for a Samsung 256GB SSD with 16GB RAM, my model has the i5 CPU (wish it was i7 though, but anyway), the IPS display, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, 3G modem and 9 cell extended battery. I also have the docking station which comes in quite handy when using it as a workstation system. I am running Windows 10 LTSC so performance is buttery smooth, easily beats out a T470. My girlfriend also has an x230, though not as spec'ed out as mine and she loves it. these machines are pretty solid and hard to beat for its age and value.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice setup. Thanks for sharing.

[@Glamrgrl104]

Which samsung is that does it come w s pen?

[@satriyo796]

My one proud daily driver laptop. Surprisingly, I found the mini display port is more useful in my use case, or rather, in my location. I found more display devices using HDMI inputs instead of display port inputs, and the mini display port -> HDMI dongles are quite common (thanks to Apple for this) compared to the full size display port -> HDMI dongles. Sure, newer thinkpads use full HDMI ports, but don't feel to change for now.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Fair points.

[@AtliJarlMartin]

I installed a 2242 M.2 drive in the WWAN slot for OS in mine, and then a 1TB data drive in the 2,5" bay and it works fantastic.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Very nice. Lots of storage to be had there.

[@NebukadV]

Sadly, the mSATA (M.2) lines run on SATA II (3 Gb/s), while the main 2.5" bay is hooked up via SATA III (6 Gb/s). That's why I ended up just installing just one "big" SSD into the 2.5" bay.

[@AtliJarlMartin]

@@NebukadV It would have been better with SATA III speeds, but as for a X230 with dual drive setup, this works quite well.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Fair points but sometimes storage is storage even if it isn't as fast as it could be.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Agreed.

[@delasantos]

x230 fan here! Wish I had one ... a modern classic, thanks for making this , great video!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@sindresvindal2290]

have you concidering reviewing the 51nb x62, x330 and x210?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I'll review whatever I get my hands on. Time will tell.

[@DenebTM]

I got myself an X230 a few weeks ago for 110€ (+28€ SSD) and I love it, I just wish the 1080p mod wasn't so expensive

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yeah, cheap entry, then the upgrades comes.

Bought an i7 x220 without ram or hdd for 200€ a few years ago. It was happy to take 16GB or RAM and a 500GB SSD plus it has (one) USB3.0 port on it so the only downside for me has been the lack of full HD resolution. The only x230 pros for me would've been a bit faster graphics & cpu but the cons -list out weighted those. Oh and loved the intro. (:

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad you enjoyed the video, I agree it can be a toss up between the two.

[@luisluiscunha]

Ok: I bought a 4k monitor (LG 24 UD 58), and I can confirm that the x230 works via miniDP to DP at full 4k resolution, at 30 Hz (perfect for office, programming, etc). Don't expect gaming, of course (you are a ThinkPad owner, so it shouldn't be a problem), and if you try to play KZbin at 4K resolution, it will freeze. But you can use full 4k at 30 hz, and with the LG is amazing!! Did I mention I paid about 500 bucks for a 300€ refurbished laptop (Thinkpad x230, i5-3320M, 8Gb, 240 SSD Evo860) + 200€ 4k IPS monitor :) It makes it so rewarding...

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice info. Thanks for sharing.

[@keen2461]

@Luis. Are you sure you're getting 4k resolution on that display? I ask because I read on the X230 datasheet: "maximum external resolution: 2560x1600@60Hz (DisplayPort via optional Mini DP cable);" If you confirm the X230 supports 4k, I'll buy one of these lovely models. I hate the newer ones. I have an X260, but it's not even close to the quality of the older Xs.

[@jonsunderland7708]

Great mega man intro!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Haha, glad you enjoyed it.

[@elektron2kim666]

The i7 version of X230 started to show up for me (close to home) and I bought one that came over the border a few hours ago. I really hope it's not waiting in Oslo for the Santa traffic to make an opening. I tinker with 2 other laptops to distract myself from any day dreaming about Lenovo models.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Haha nice find. Hope it arrives safely.

[@elektron2kim666]

​@@LaptopRetrospective It worked out very well. I love it. :)

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Awesome, glad to hear it.

[@Trukkerkeps]

I rescued an x230 w extended battery from our electronics waste. It is in almost mint condition... Absolutely love it.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Wow, that's pretty awesome! Hope you get lots of use out of it.

[@Trukkerkeps]

@@LaptopRetrospective my wife frowned a bit as the number of computers, laptops and servers I have around the house is getting a bit out of hand. Well, that's what she thinks at least. I use the x230 as a remote computer, one that I can hook up to switches and such with a console cable and wifi/eth so I can teamviewer it from my desk. That way I don't have to sit in the server room or config room. The battery lasts for hours and hours.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

As you can imagine, I can understand that sort of situation.

[@MikeDancy]

I have one of these. was debating if I should run Hackintosh or Linux Mint. Have Windows10Pro on it now

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Good machine to do either.

[@ChrisD__]

Have you thought about ElementaryOS, it's the best of both worlds.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Has my vote of course. I loved messing with it for the channel.

[@damienv1999]

Mine is a i5 3210m with 4gb ram 😥 I am also missing the backlit keys but I have the light next to the webcam, is it possible to fit a backlit keyboard?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yep, just need the right part for the x230. It's in the hardware manual.

[@rozhanabdullah7863]

Just got one this week and already loving it. I thought I was getting the i5 version but when I opened the package, it was the i7. Cost about USD65 here in Malaysia.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy it.

[@rozhanabdullah7863]

@@LaptopRetrospective My favourite laptop despite having bought the T440P, T470 and X270 after it.Gosh Thinkpads are addictive!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

They really can be. 😂

[@user-lc9nu1gd2z]

I use it at this time, perfect gadget!!!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

What do you use it for?

[@yes_man_lol]

i think a chart of the comparison speed of i5 of x230 all the way to x280 and i7 will be super useful for your video. I remember one of the video talked about x230 is much faster than x240 all the way to x270. I'm using x240 but honestly, i prefer x230 keyboard feel. however i cannot deny that x240 is more portable and suitable for people who take public transport and travelling usually over an hr and especially with better battery life.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thanks for the suggestion. The x240 gets used a fair bit around here for the exact reasons you've mentioned.

[@attasmithbonsu2244]

Thank you for your good video on the Lenovo X230. My X230 is constantly overheating. Is there any solution to this please?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

New thermal paste and possibly a fan replacement without knowing more. Def an issue in the cooling system somewhere.

[@yes_man_lol]

if you change a new fan, and using old heatsink, make sure no dust in jammed between the fan and heatsink in between. If you are swapping a heatsink with a new fan then no problem with it. after doing that, see if its help, it is still the same it means something in your laptop is running that is pushing the temp to the max (try a bootable like puppy linux or another hard disk with a fresh windows to see its sitll over heat with new thermal paste and fan.

[@JJRamirezP]

Hello, how about speaker upgrade? I have an x230 and a T440P. Huge difference. When I use the T440P for KZbin videos I always have to keep half volumen on the speakers. I have a T440P donor, I took out the speakers, and "seems" the same size as the x230, but the come un a casing that need to ne opened. Have you seen such upgrade? Could it be done?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I'm not well versed in speaker mods for ThinkPads but we are talking about relatively simple components.

[@memoryfoam2285]

Watching on my T430. Wish I'd gone for an X230, as I can barely fit it in my bag.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

The form factor is a huge plus.

[@QueenCece6]

Atleast you can upgrade the cpu

[@ariathyf144]

Not to mention the weight, I gonna sell mine for that reason.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Regional availability is hit and miss.

[@callumelcombe3703]

There were actually quite a lot more than only 3 CPU's available, the choice was different in various countries. For example, the machine I picked up recently has an i5 3380M at 2.9Ghz.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yes you are right, 11 by my count in hindsight. Celeron 877 i3-2350M i3-2370M i5-2430M i3-3110M i5-3210M i5-3320M i5-3360M i5-3380M i7-3520M i7-3667U

[@callumelcombe3703]

@@LaptopRetrospective whilst I think about it, if my machine has a 3380M at the moment, how much of a performance increase would I see from one of the i7 chips if I can find a board at a decent price? Are the i7's physical quad cores or still dual core with Hyper Threading?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Like with all more powerful chips, there will be the issue of heat and battery life. Both i7 variants are dual core, four threads. 3667u at 17W TDP and 3250M at 35W TDP.

[@MarcOrrit]

Hello, do you know if you use 1.5V or 1.35V DDR3 memories? I have 2 modules, 4-GB of an HP notebook (DDR3, 10600, 1333-MHz 1.5V) and I would like to take advantage of them. I'm looking on the Internet and it's not very clear to me. regards

[@LaptopRetrospective]

The x230 can take up to 2133 type. It will take 1.5 or 1.35. The lower power consumption is ideal since it is more efficient. So they should work but it isn't very fast RAM when you compare it against what it can handle.

[@hafizhnabawi1707]

Can i run CorelDraw X7 on this machine as well? Maybe I gonna buy this great machine soon but im worried about that i cant run Corel as well. Is there any suggestion to me or i just need to go with T430 as well?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Always check your system requirements for the software you plan on using.

[@jideofor.brightbright4488]

Yes

[@Crossiford]

x230 is an excellent portable laptop and also great for linux

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Agreed. Linux on these is a great experience.

[@viikkasti]

I use x230i since 2012. I bought it directly with a Samsung SSD Pro. The only change I've done is 3x Batery and last year the keyboard.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Awesome, glad it has served you so well.

[@garchamp9844]

I am shopping for an X230 at the moment, but I want the i7. Is the CPU socketed or sauntered on?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Soldered on. Buy what you want to have forever.

[@hawkeye454]

The X230 is number 7 in my ThinkPad fleet...awesome computer.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Such a great collection.

[@jaa93997]

And what are the other 6?

[@DCryptologist]

In 2019: i7, 2.5 TB SSD, 16GB ram, Backlit keyboard and 4hours of battery on Ubuntu 19.04.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice!

[@leoe.r.7338]

Nice. I have it with an Kingston 480GB A400 Sata3 2.5" Internal SSD and 8 GB RAM. Looking to upgrade. Any suggestions of SSD and RAM ? Thanks. Ubuntu user too, I am looking to try Arch with the new SSD.

[@CatCanCode]

I also love X230 very much. Check out mine in 2020 :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYm2dn2hhsuNm6M

[@goncalopinto3307]

Do you think I could easily upgrade my i5 to an i7?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

X series are soldered so it's a motherboard swap.

[@removalist1995]

Man, I really wish I could swap this for my T420, especially one of the tablet versions.

[@comicsans1689]

Get the X220t. It's not far-off performance-wise and has the classic Thinkpad keyboard. My girlfriend and I both have a X220t and we love them.

[@removalist1995]

@@comicsans1689 I did end up getting one of the non tablet X220, about 6 months after I made that comment. I sold it afterwards though to a friend who was in need.

[@clydefrosch]

I love this one and I like the keyboard especially actually.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

It's still a nice keyboard especially when compared outside it's brand.

[@adejzuka]

watching this on my x230 i7 with the latest version of Hackintosh Catalina. everything goes super well

[@LaptopRetrospective]

That's awesome. A hackintosh is one project I haven't tackled yet.

[@lordoftheflings]

love my x230 from Spain. I bought two. Found them for dirt cheap in great condition for about 120 bucks. added some ram, half a TB SD and running Manjaro GNU/Linux. Runs like a champ! lol people have no idea how good these old laptops are. They think they are old obsolete junk because they arent the newest and shiniest macbooks and they have no idea how to upgrade ram or hard disks.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Knowledge is savings.

[@ShaunakG]

I own a X230 from little over 2 years. Bought it refurbished (i5 3320M, 8GB, 256GB SSD, 9 cell battery, IPS display) for around 290$ in mid 2016. It is still my primary personal laptop. Upgraded it shortly after to 16GB RAM and 500GB Samsung 850 EVO. It is still going strong. Battery health is at 91%, which is tremendous, lasts me close to 8 hours. The only thing that could have improved my experience would be a higher res screen, even to the tune of 1600x900 would be perfect.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice setup!

[@d.o.y.t6175]

Kindly advise for Fan error or I have to exchange the fan of X230 thikpad

[@LaptopRetrospective]

From the Lenovo forums: "Fan error" doesn't mean "doesn't spin" or "too hot", it usually means "too slow". The fan spins for 1/2 second at startup and if the speed isn't high enough, it usually means the lubrication has dried up or worn out. You can try to clean it and re lubricate or it needs to be replaced.

[@alperenchelik]

Do you have any video or guide for buying second hand thinkpads or which parts I should care about of Thinkpads especially x220 and x230

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I touch on this a bit in my x220 video, but it might be a good idea to do a dedicated one.

[@alperenchelik]

@@LaptopRetrospective thanks for reply and I will be waiting for it

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I'll probably do it the next batch of machines I get in. But body damage, dirt, cracks and deep cuts are warning signs to stay away.

[@basurahan306]

bought this thinkpad for 200$ hehre in the philippines. 4gb ram 500gb hdd with decent 3-4 hour battery life of general use. really good purchase

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Congratulations!

[@TheEVILCHIC]

Brandnew mo nabili at saan?

[@ahsialie]

@@TheEVILCHIC I bought mine from the fb Marketplace. Swapped the hdd to 500gb ssd, bought a 9cell and 6 cell new batteries then upgraded to 16gb ram.. overall I paid around 400 for it but its amazing

[@BlueRockEye]

I used the top of the line i7 model with an IPS-display and it was very nice. The ONLY flaw with it was in my opinion too dim display and low res display plus the horrible GPU. If it has a better GPU (maybe even a dedicated graphics card) I would get one again. I feel like my MacBook Pro 13" Retina Late 2013 is worse in some ways. The processor makes a large difference.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Interesting observation!

[@gavowassy7655]

Hi buddy, can I ask a quick question, I've had loads of old Thinkpads and just picked up a x230, but I've noticed that it does not beep when the charger is plugged or removed... I kinda like this feature... Does the x230 not support it anymore? Or have I some how disabled it? Thank you

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Check the BIOS settings for that function. If it's supported still I'm sure you'll find it in there.

[@gavowassy7655]

@@LaptopRetrospective thanks for your reply.. Checked bios.. Its normally under configuration / powerbeep but does not seem to be an option on the x230... Dam I miss my beep lol.. Have just watched a few videos on TY on the x230 and I haven't heard the beep when they plugged it in... Must be a lost feature.. Best wishes and happy new year.. Keep up the cool videos too

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Hmmm interesting! It's been awhile since I saw an X230 so I don't remember. I wonder when that feature was phased out. Thanks for the well wishes. Here's to a good 2021.

[@sohamshesh]

hello! what is the small indent to the right of the keyboard? A fingerprint sensor?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Correct, if you are referring to the thing that looks like a dark line.

[@sohamshesh]

@@LaptopRetrospective hello again :D yes that line thing Thank you!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

No problem!

[@karllenasson]

It's almost 2020, but the X230 I bought three days ago is probably still one of the best "netbook" / "small laptop" / "ultrabook" devices you can buy for money today. Got it for a hundred bucks, and it's basically a brand new unit. Love the keyboard (please don't murder me, I actually like the chiclet style keyboards, though the previous ones were a lot more comfortable to type on, I admit) and the durability. Fantastic performance with only 4 GB of RAM (plan to double that soon) and a new 500 GB Crucial MX500. Though the two things I really hate already after a few hours of use are the fan (I unfortunately got a really noisy, rattling one) and the touchpad buttons - they're really poor compared to e.g. the ones in the T430. Great video, you and a few other Thinkpad enthusiasts really got me interested in getting a classic Thinkpad again, took me only a week to buy both the T430 and X230. Very happy with both units, I think those two are a really good compromise between the old IBM Thinkpads (which were amazing machines at the time!) and the newer, more "streamlined" Lenovo devices. And my God I LOVE THAT THINKLIGHT.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Haha, thanks for telling your story! You might want to replace your fan of it rattles. That shouldn't happen. I think there are some that have swapped out the trackpad. Can't remember.

[@FenirXIII]

I'm far from an expert when it comes to thinkpads. But this one looks exactly like someone shrunk down my T430. I think I would like the X230 a bit more. But unfortunately the GPU kills it a bit for me. Intel HD 4000 is okay for daily use but it's so nice to have a dedicated NVS 5400m when you need it.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yep, that is the benefits of the larger models.

[@RyanFoster2013]

Nikomon, I thought the same thing. I have both models and like that the T430 has a socketed CPU and better graphics offering. But when I tote the new laptop backpack my wife got me this holiday, my x230 goes in there. That T430 is quite weighty 🤣

[@carlosleninmajano8084]

Hi Laptop Retrospective. Tank You for help us. Do you have a friend who has this Lenovo X230 model for sale?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

These are normally easy to find and I suggest looking locally first. Have you tried?

[@carlosleninmajano8084]

The problem is that I reside in Central America. And I thought to import several units of this Thinkpad model and other models. That's why I asked him if he knows of any website or any person that sells this type of laptops

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Do you have access to eBay? Lots are often sold there.

[@joshtree8298]

Do you suggest the x230 over newer x computers? I think when I get an X Series I’ll go for x230- the tablet version seems difficult to upgrade to an ips display. And I have t430- ivy bridge generation are up there as favorites. But I’m not sure about general quality of life and cpu speeds between the i7 dual core in x230 vs newer generations and pricing. I love tinkering and upgrading but I’m not thoroughly invested in the original t420 keyboard or upgrading. For example I think p50 is a much much better buy than w540 unless you are to get the w540 dirt dirt cheap.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Like most things, it depends on your budget, use case and longer term plans if it is the better buy or not.

[@joshtree8298]

@@LaptopRetrospective ended up grabbing x230 for $50… stock i5 dual core isn’t as bad as I thought either! But planning to put in 3615qe. Kinda crazy at least the cpu, performs better than far newer i7 quadcore (8th gen intel low voltage is slower than ivybridge and hasswell, ofc being low powered)

[@joshtree8298]

The build quality is just too great. Seems like a new computer yet this was in the field for almost a decade. It seems even better built than t430, which I argue are some of the best made and still capable (not just novel) machines ever made Def gotta factor in display upgrades. But after that, they run very well… Ivy bridge is my favorite series of thinkpads

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Glad to hear you found yourself a winner. 😁

[@beowolf4572]

Bought mine in 2013, still going strong! Only thing I wish it has was an HDMI port. I've upgraded from 4gb to 8gb. Hoping to install an SSD but reinstalling windows 10 will be a big issue.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Why will it be a big issue?

[@beowolf4572]

@@LaptopRetrospective Windows was pre-installed and was never given the windows key. I've had a look at some videos on cloning but looks too complicated for me. Do you have a more simple solution by any chance?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

@@beowolf4572 Macrium Reflect is pretty easy to use and has a free home version. Does require a USB 3 to 2.5" SATA connector but that's such a handy part, I consider it essential for any laptop owner.

[@beowolf4572]

@@LaptopRetrospective Thank you so much, looks pretty simple enough now. Can't wait to try it. Subbed!

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Thanks for the support Beowolf and good luck.

[@barrywebber100]

I love my X230, had it for 4 or 5 years now. Bought it off UK Ebay with an SSHD and the clip on DVD-RW base unit. It's been great. It came initially with a couple of years original warranty included. I wiped Windows 7 and run it exclusively with Linux Mint 18.3 which works with full functionality. The laptop power button stopped working twice over the years, seems to be a weakness with the laptop, but a 3rd party replacement keyboard is available at a very cheap price which works great including the illuminated keys and is very easy to fit. Even now it is still a great laptop in my opinion and is even cheaper on Ebay than when I bought mine. :-)

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice. Glad to hear you are keeping yours maintained.

[@ziyiouyang3118]

It can run win10 well

[@jeanbui9309]

Yo. Your intro is sweet AF.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Hehe, glad you enjoyed it. I used it only for this series. Going to try and keep it fresh when I can.

[@jacedragon]

Hi. I just got my x230 in. Great condition only thing im wondering is what cpu temp r u getting on idle? Mine is 50c to 64c. Is this too high for this model? Should i reapply thermal paste to it?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Might be worth a repaste. Fan might be worn out as well.

[@jacedragon]

Laptop Retrospective thanks. Ill take this bad boy apart on my day off. Im surprised how well maintained it is. Only 1 small scratch. Cleaned it off with sanitizer wipes and looks brand new

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Good luck, hopefully, you can get the temp down a little bit.

[@jacedragon]

Laptop Retrospective thank u. Also trying to figure out this jumpy mousepad. Works fine via trackpoint or whatever the red dot is called haha. Updated driver too and still jumpy. Gonna install linux on my day off and see how it is on linux. Thanks again

[@puturere]

Watching this on my s230u at least it’s still 230 series

[@sudstahgaming]

I bought this laptop it's great I just wish it had something better then hd graphics in it as the cpu is superb.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yeah, can't win them all but a great all rounder.

[@ziyiouyang3118]

i use to using x230 play csgo...

[@Blendedasian]

Even nowadays a laptop this tiny with a discrete graphics card is hard to find

[@LaptopRetrospective]

True enough.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

That's through the express card right?

[@Avata976]

sorry to ask, by locked bios on x230, do you mean that if i want to change a new ssd, and upgrade to win10, i'm unable to do it because of the locked bios?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Don't be sorry, it's a good question. A locked out whitelisted BIOS means the motherboard will only accept certain WiFi cards or other approved modules by the manufacturer. An unlocked or modified BIOS removes those restrictions. You can change out the drive and install a new OS just fine without that. Unless there is a supervisor password set on the BIOS that you don't have, that's a different kind of locked.

[@Avata976]

@@LaptopRetrospective I see. So basically it related to hardware compatibility, right? Thank you very much Sir for clearing up my misunderstanding. I just found a well used X230 laptop around 100 bucks, and I was planning to buy it then do a little upgrade with it. Thanks 👍👍.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Yep that's the gist of it. Sounds like a great price by the way.

[@vasipro]

3:55 Error! It is twice as fast and has Intel Quick Sync, that helps encoding video files very fast.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Are you sure twice as fast? If you are referring too the CPU, which two models are you comparing?

[@thehiddencode5686]

I'm typing right now from my Thinkpad x230 Core i7, Samsung SSD, 16gb ram. I use this rocket for my programming classes. I think that is the best laptop for any college student. I'm an IT student and this thing is amazing. Fast, powerful, and and bulletproof

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Very nice. You running a 6 cell or 9 for the battery?

[@thehiddencode5686]

@@LaptopRetrospective 6 cell. That's enough for me.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Nice.

[@jacedragon]

just got it for the same reason.. but im taking linux + and studying for CCNA. comes in 2 days..

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Exciting! Keep us posted.

[@AlexApol]

commenting in 2022. You can currently get an X230 cheaper than you can get a raspberry pi4.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

In some regions, definitely.

[@mathiasharritnielsen-grn8889]

I got the X230 256SSD with 16gb ram, but is it possible to buy a better screen or upgrade the existing one so you got a better quality?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

There are some mods available with a bit of searching. I believe IPS panels were an available option.

[@mathiasharritnielsen-grn8889]

@@LaptopRetrospective thx, I wil def look into this

[@simonhorak]

How do you feel about buying from ebay? i want to buy an x230 with an i7 and and ips display ( i dont want to do too much modification) and only upgrade the ram and the drives ( both msata and sata). i have seen a few of these but i live in mainland europe and am worried about shipping. any adivce?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Always try buying local or close by. I've bought machines from eBay but they are never they best deals for me. The stock IPS panels are not common, tend to fetch high prices and aren't as good as ones you can buy.

[@simonhorak]

@@LaptopRetrospective thanks

[@LaptopRetrospective]

@@simonhorak you're welcome!

[@reoencarcelado5904]

@Laptop-Retrospective: A friend is asking me if he should get a refurbished X230 laptop with a Core i7 3520M processor & 8 gigs of Ram and a 500-gig ssd, ("Grade B" or "Grade C", depending on what store considers as "Grade C" & "Grade B"; The upper-right-hand corner of the LCD-screen-bezel is chipped-off. The lower-right-hand-corner of the LCD-screen-bezel has a visible crack in it. To the naked-eye there's no dead-pixels on the laptop's LCD-screen but the KZbin "all red screen" dead-pixel test hasn't been done to it yet), for $240, or a "Grade A Refurbished" X230 laptop (NO dead-pixels, NO scratches on the screen, no cracks on the chassis, no chips anywhere on the chassis, no dents, no nada) with a Core i5 3320M processor & 8 gigs of Ram and a 500-gig ssd, for $300. [Needless to say] I'm asking you which-one I should suggest my friend he get.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

I guess that depends what matters most to your friend: performance or cosmetics? Will they use the i7 or is battery life more important? What is the battery wear and size on each model?

[@reoencarcelado5904]

@@LaptopRetrospective hi Laptop-Retrospective :-) . Thanks so-much for the reply :-) . I went with him when he went to check-out the laptops. I'll tell you what I know. ● The one with the Core i7 3520M processor is sold by a local store here in my city that sells refurbished computers. They also take them apart & clean them and replace defective--and/or--broken components and then [put the laptops back together and then] resell them. It has the regular-sized battery (I dunno if it's the 3-cell or the 6-cell but it's the one that you had in your X230 video that does-not "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb on the back of the laptop" nor "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb *underneath* the bottom of the laptop"), and it comes with a 3-month warranty (covering "Parts & Labor") from the store that sells it. The wear on the battery, when I checked it, according to each source (ie. the Bios & Windows-7) seemed-to-be 80% or above. (I'm going to try to go back to the store today and check-out the laptop again). ● The one with the Core i5 3320M processor is sold by a "Microsoft-certified Refurbisher" in Jacksonville Florida called PC-Liquidations (I'm currently in Orlando, by the way), and they also, among other things, take the laptops apart & clean them and replace defective--and/or--broken components and then [put the laptops back together and then] resell them. It also, just like the one with the Intel Core i7 3520M processor, has the regular-sized battery (I dunno if it's the 3-cell or the 6-cell but it's the one that you had in your X230 video that does-not "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb on the back of the laptop" nor "stick-out like-a-sore-thumb *underneath* the bottom of the laptop"). The warranty however, is 1 year "limited"-warranty, but it, despite being "limited" warranty, covers more-stuff than the 3-month "for Parts & Labor" warranty that the local-store in my area is offering. The wear on the battery, I'm estimating, is a brand-new battery. My other hypothesis is that it's a "close to 100%" (like, 98% or so) Refurbished battery. ■ I am more picky about the cosmetics/abuse the laptop has taken, whereas my friend is not. I'm also a heavier multitasker than he is, so therefore the additional .3-gigahertz [clockspeed] of the 3520M Core i7 processor compared to the .3-gigahertz--less of the 3320M Core i5 processor would-be beneficial. Word-Processing, Web-Browsing, KZbin-video watching, Coding/Computer-Programming/Computer-Science * , Text-file Editing, and other "basic-use"-type stuff that doesn't consume alot of battery (including watching video-files on VLC Media Player on a USB-3.0 external hard-drive) would be the primary functions of this computer (ie. the primary things that this laptop would be used for). So I'm guessing (and/or hypothesizing at-least) that battery-life wouldn't be affected-much either way (with the Core i7 3520M processor or the Core i5 3320M processor). I hope this information helps :-) * (I should specify that when my friend & I learned Computer-Science & Coding (we were in High-school together & in the same Graphic-Design class), our computer-teacher taught us HTML code and how to do it using Notepad, so that's what we've been using since (except I've moved-on to Notepad++, Kate, and NotepadQQ (a open-source version of Notepad++)), and right-now I'm working-on Python and C++ (two languages that were recommended to me by a cousin of mine who's a Penetration-Tester)).

[@LaptopRetrospective]

The i7 will draw more power and I wouldn't assume the battery is brand new unless otherwise stated. Batteries for these are starting to get rare so keep that in mind if it needs to be replaced.

[@reoencarcelado5904]

@@LaptopRetrospective i understand :-) . thanks-so-much for the help :-)

[@LaptopRetrospective]

You're welcome. Best of luck

[@drHatim-bt1eu]

2019 ❤️ x230

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Indeed!

[@othmaneamrani2560]

What about the battery, i am planning to buy one soon, and i wonder if it's have a good battery life.

[@LaptopRetrospective]

It's excellent so long as the battery is new of course.

[@jideofor.brightbright4488]

7 hours battery 🔋 life for my own

[@mickhead77]

what the code number for the old model keyboard replacement for this thinkpad?

[@LaptopRetrospective]

Check the maintenance manual in the description for the part numbers. 👍