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ThinkPad X230

2012–2013 · laptop

Specifications

Cpu: Intel Core i5-3320M 2.6 GHz to Core i7-3520M 2.9 GHz
Ram: max: 16 GB DDR3L-1600 (2×8 GB); Lenovo's official spec listed 8 GB, 16 GB is the community-verified sweet spot · base: 4 GB DDR3L-1600
Ports: USB 2.0 ×1 · USB 3.0 ×2 · VGA · Mini DisplayPort · Gigabit Ethernet · Docking connector
Battery: Removable 6-cell Li-Ion (~63 Wh), optional slice battery for extended runtime
Display: 12.5" 1366×768, optional IPS panel
Storage: base: 320 GB SATA HDD · options: 500 GB SATA HDD · 180 GB SATA SSD · mSATA SSD in the WWAN slot (community mod)
Weight: 1.4 kg
Os Support: latest: Windows 10/11 (unofficial, widely used); Linux fully supported · shipped: Windows 7 Professional

Upgrade paths

RAM

16 GB DDR3L-1600 (2×8 GB) · Two SO-DIMM slots under the bottom panel. Lenovo's official max is 8 GB, but 16 GB works flawlessly.

~$35

EASY

storage

2.5" SATA III SSD, plus a second mSATA SSD in the unused WWAN slot · The WWAN mini-PCIe slot accepts a standard mSATA SSD with a cheap adapter, giving a second drive without touching the main bay.

~$40

EASY

keyboard

Classic 7-row ThinkPad keyboard (from an X220) · The X230 was the first X-series with Lenovo's new chiclet keyboard, which classic ThinkPad fans hated. Swapping in the X220's 7-row keyboard (with a matching bezel and a firmware/hardware adapter) is the single most famous ThinkPad mod there is.

~$30

MODERATE

other

coreboot / libreboot · Well-documented libreboot target, though full Intel ME removal support is more limited than on the X220.

MODERATE

battery

6-cell or 9-cell Li-Ion replacement pack · Tool-free release latch on the bottom, the last X-series to have one.

EASY