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Lenovo ThinkPad X220
Introduction
This is a compatibility guide to running Linux with the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 laptop. If you have the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 and are running Linux on it please consider editing this page or adding a comment below with your compatibility details. By contributing you will help other people running this laptop or trying to make a decision on whether to buy it or not.
This page is just for discussing using Linux on the Lenovo ThinkPad X220. For a general discussion about this laptop you can visit the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 page on LapWik.
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Specifications
For full specifications see the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 specifications page.
| Name | Lenovo ThinkPad X220 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2410M processor (dual-core, 2.30GHz, 3MB Cache) Intel Core i5-2520M processor (dual-core, 2.50GHz, 3MB Cache) Intel Core i5-2540M processor (dual-core, 2.60GHz, 3MB Cache), Intel Core i7-2620M processor (dual-core, 2.70GHz, 4MB Cache), Intel Core i7-2640M processor (dual-core, 2.80GHz, 4MB Cache) |
| Screen | 12.5” 1366×768 Widescreen |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| HDD | Up to 320GB |
| Optical Drive | None |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205, 2×2 Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300, 3×3 |
Linux Compatibility
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | works | |
| Screen:premium HD | works | |
| HDD | works | |
| SSD 128GB | works | |
| Graphics Chip | works | |
| VGA Out | works | |
| DisplayPort | works | |
| Sound | works | |
| Bulti-in Microphone | works | |
| Headphone Jack | works | |
| Microphone Jack | works | |
| Ethernet | works | |
| Wireless | works | Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 |
| Bluetooth | works | have used with Ubuntu 11.10 - 12.10 and Mint 14 |
| battery-9cell | works | |
| Slice battery | works | |
| WWAN | Not Tested | |
| Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | works | |
| Card Reader | works | Had problems through Ubuntu 12.04, works great with 12.10/Mint 14 |
| ExpressCard Slot | works | Need to have acpiphp driver loaded for hot plug/unplug |
| Fingerprint Reader | Not Tested | |
| Webcam | works | |
| Touch Pad | works | |
| Track Point | works | |
| Suspend/Resume | works |
Notes
You can enter any specific notes with running Linux on the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 here.
i7-2640M-8GB-DDR3, working with ubuntu 11.10.
i5-2410M-4GB-DDR3, working with openSUSE-12.1, 12.2 and 12.3.
Summary
You can enter a summary of how well the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 works with Linux here.
Discussion
Also, FWIW, I have 12 GB (1x 4 GB original, 1x 8 GB aftermarket SO-DIMM) RAM installed in my X220. Lenovo only certifies it up to 8 GB, but it will run up to 16 GB with no problems.
Running Linux Mint 14 on my ThinkPad X220 (CTO) with Bluetooth and the Core i5-2540M CPU. I can confirm VGA out works, as well as Bluetooth, the SD card reader, the ExpressCard slot (requires loading the 'acpiphp' driver, but once that driver is loaded works trouble-free), and the TrackPoint pointing device. Mine does not have a modem or WWAN device or the fingerprint reader device, though I've read info indicating it works. I'm running a combination of the 320 GB 7200RPM hard disk and a Renice X3 mSATA SSD (120 GB). Slice battery also works fine with Linux Mint.
Installed on openSUSE-12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 and works fine on all. Details below from openSUSE-12.3. Wireless, wired ethernet, webcam, sound, usb ports, function fine. Some details of hardware:
webcam (lsusb) :
Graphics (lspci -nnk)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0116] (rev 09) Subsystem: Lenovo Device [17aa:21da] Kernel driver in use: i915Wired ethernet (lspci -nnk)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection [8086:1502] (rev 04) Subsystem: Lenovo Device [17aa:21ce] Kernel driver in use: e1000eWireless ethernet (lspci -nnk)
03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] [8086:0085] (rev 34) Subsystem: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN [8086:1311] Kernel driver in use: iwlwifiinxi info
System: Kernel: 3.7.10-1.1-desktop x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop KDE 4.10.00 Distro: openSUSE 12.3 (x86_64) VERSION = 12.3 CODENAME = Dartmouth Machine: System: LENOVO (portable) product: 4286CTO version: ThinkPad X220 Mobo: LENOVO model: 4286CTO Bios: LENOVO version: 8DET63WW (1.33 ) date: 07/19/2012 CPU: Dual core Intel Core i5-2410M CPU (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) Clock Speeds: 1: 800.00 MHz 2: 800.00 MHz 3: 800.00 MHz 4: 2301.00 MHz Graphics: Card: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller X.Org: 1.13.2 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1366x768@60.0hz GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Sandybridge Mobile GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 9.0.2 Audio: Card: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.7.10-1.1-desktop Network: Card-1: Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection driver: e1000e IF: eth0 state: down speed: 4294967295 Mbps duplex: unknown mac: f0:de:f1:7e:f4:97 Card-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] driver: iwlwifi IF: wlan0 state: up mac: a0:88:b4:d3:3f:38