WARNING

What I did is not right. I already have an everyday machine that works very well (a Lenovo Thinkpad X280). I clearly did not need of this new computer. So I’ve over consumed and we have to stop now.

On the other hand, the demonstration is made that a student does not need a very large budget (at least less than the 999 USD of the last small Apple) for have a correct machine for his studies, 30USD more and he has a disk of backup. Does it need as much capacity as 2TB? 500 GB must be sufficient and the budget is reduced accordingly.

After reading this post, I wanted to know more about this beast and I looked at the PROS vendors on ebay, to discover offers with 4 GB of RAM, an SSD of 120 GB for 220 USD¹, an Intel Core i7 2nd Gen processor. It is a 2011 machine.

It is a completely affordable machine for studies.

On amazon, there are SSDs of 2TB for 100 USD, a 16GB memory kit for 30 USD.

So for 350 USD I have a machine that I can evolve (at least the disk) because yes, like the core i7 12th Gen the processor is limited to 16Gb.

What’s Next?

I didn’t have a toy anymore, so I cracked for the Lenovo X220 and the bets at level described above².

I’m discovering the machine.

With a weight equivalent to my current X280 (1.4 kg versus 1.2 kg), what are the advantages of a 2011 machine with less resolution (1366X768 against 1920X1080)? Just look at the available ports on the machine:

Left side

① 2 USB ports
② VGA
③ DisplayPort
④ physical WiFi switch (on/off).

Right side

① Hard drive/SSD
② Jack 3.5mm
③ Ethernet
④ USB ports (USB3 on core i7)
⑤ SD card reader.

The underside

① Connection with a dock
② Access memory
③ Removable and therefore replaceable battery
④ Hard disk access/SSD access screw
⑤ Keyboard access screws.

Rear side

① Power supply
② on the cover, battery and standby indicator lights

ⓧ ultrabay (sata) (not visible ).

Updating

Lenovo’s user manuals, administrators and repairers of this machine (and the others) are easy to find. On youtube we easily find video’s about assembly disassembly. Beware of screws, they are black, small and roll. We go back to the purest geekerie.

The disk

There’s a screw to unscrew and I’m going to the system for removing the disk. A piece of I-shaped sticker that… disintegrate under my fingers. Good with a little tricks I get out easily the old SSD. Above are, on each side, adapters. I put the adapters on the new SSD, which I slide into the dwelling, I closes and that it. Less than 10 minutes to change the disc.

The memory

It’s a little bit more delicate. Not only because the screws are very small³ but because on extension resist to me. In order to avoid any disaster, I close everything, put the material away, tomorrow is another day with the place of brain available.

Even with available brain time no miracle , I can’t do it. Did my fingers too big? I’ll ask my wife of carry out the operation. Without more success, but more logical.

For 8 years in laptop we’ve been putting RAM bars in a mirror, face to face. But my wife tells me that the key connectors are not opposite each other. By reversing the second bar, Clac, Clic, that’s all.

The Keyboard

Not the easy part, read carefully the documentation from Lenovo, watch some videos, several times.

What OS for the racing grade computer?

Well, as usual for now more that 10 years for me, it will be FreeBSD.