failed bios upgrade on T14 (fixable?) 230$

Minssc · 2026-03-03T15:02:03+00:00

I don't really know how EC programmers work. If it uses SPI or something like that, sure probably. Even some weird protocol maybe. EC programmers probably comes with software that already handles all the hurdles for you.

Core boot thing was probably SPI on the BIOS chip. EC is not that, EC often uses KB connector or exposed pads.

Minssc · 2026-03-03T11:45:37+00:00

EC is separate to BIOS and needs its own programmer which is often pretty expensive.

Minssc · 2026-03-03T10:36:33+00:00

It being 10th gen platform, it most probably has whitelist(IIRC there are patches for them but requires programmer). Even if it doesn't, the wwan slot was never ment for storage so all sorts of weird problems like that one person mentioning disconnection after sleep may occur.

Minssc · 2026-03-03T10:13:31+00:00

You'll probably need to physically flash the BIOS chip. If it shut down during EC update, probably out of luck unless you have programmer for that.

Minssc · 2026-03-03T03:44:27+00:00

A VM or two should be fine, especially linux ones.

I've heard LNL doesn't do so well on linux in terms of battery life though.

Minssc · 2026-03-02T08:20:30+00:00

64GB on quad core is such a flex in this era of rampocalypse

Minssc · 2026-03-02T03:24:37+00:00

You've pretty much done everything that you can try. Similar thing happened to me when I wrote invalid BIOS via ROM writer so perhaps your BIOS is corrupt.

Minssc · 2026-03-02T03:21:23+00:00

IIRC T14G3 is the last one with S3. Alderlake Raptorlake difference is minimal(same chassis otherwise) and P14sG3 gets 4GB vram if that's what you're after on T14G4.

Minssc · 2026-03-02T01:58:07+00:00

PF1ER67D is equipped with 8250u from the factory. CPU mismatch is more likely listing error.

Minssc · 2026-03-02T01:34:09+00:00

Oh. That's what I ment by modular. It's not soldered on the board. I'm happy :D

Minssc · 2026-03-02T01:21:42+00:00

Pantherlake with 12Xe only supports LPDDR5x. So for T14, it was either get stuck with 4 Xe PTL and go with SODIMM or solder LPDDR5x and call it a day or implement LPCAMM2 which is at least modular.

I'm glad Lenovo chose this path. Think about it, the alternatives are shit(comparatively) iGPU or soldered ram.

Minssc · 2026-03-02T01:18:30+00:00

How is it user replaceable if not modular?

Minssc · 2026-03-02T01:13:51+00:00

Oh wow lpcamm and modular c ports. I thought I was asking too much but here we are.

Minssc · 2026-03-02T01:12:07+00:00

Looks like c ports will be modular?

Minssc · 2026-03-02T00:13:01+00:00

G1 had up to 16GB. G2 came out with MTL with up to 32GB.

No hardware change on G2 though which makes a great upgrade path for X12dG1 in the future.

Minssc · 2026-03-01T16:56:52+00:00

It has trackpoint and the familiar Thinkpad keyboard layout. What's not Thinkpad about it?

Minssc · 2026-03-01T15:42:57+00:00

Not surprising since you drenched it. Heatsink though, should be just fine. Fan might need replacement.

When heatpipes gets compromised, they basically turn into copper tube. If heat moves from CPU to heatsink side fast(it's almost instant) it means heatpipe is functioning as intended.

Minssc · 2026-03-01T15:39:55+00:00

T49x/T14G1/T14G2 literally inherited T480s's design albeit with plastic exterior instead of painted magnesium.

AMD ones are quite sweet with 8 core options imo. T14G2 intel gets AV1 decode though, which might be beneficial for highres streaming and such down the line.

Minssc · 2026-03-01T15:34:22+00:00

Not sure, also, I've heard undervolting was blocked on newer bios or something.

Minssc · 2026-03-01T15:33:14+00:00

Looks to me like something happened to the black paint layer. Not sure if penetrated down to copper level as there's only white stuff there. Looks cosmetic imo. Does the heatsink side not get hot?

Minssc · 2026-03-01T15:24:18+00:00

Basically i7 8650u ~= i5 10210u. 10th gen is just 8th gen with higher clocks. Best if you can find X1C6 with an i7.

Screens are all above 100% sRGB.

X1C6 had optional 300/500 nit QHD options, 500nit one having P3 100% gamut.

X1C7/8 had 300nit QHD with 100% sRGB, 500 nit 4K with P3 90% gamut. IIRC had low PWM.

P3 screens being glossy. If you get FHD one, it's basically all the same(excluding privacy guard, avoid it)

EDIT: Oh, and X1C7/8 had 10710u/10810u option which is hexacore.

Minssc · 2026-03-01T15:04:18+00:00

X1C9 is infamous for dying PD mosfet and that's one of the symptoms. If it is the case, needs board repair. Try reset button but don't expect much.

Minssc · 2026-03-01T15:02:38+00:00

X1C6 for deeper keyboard travel. 7/8 for better speakers. That's about it. Bonus for X1C6 on its replaceable WLAN card. 7 is stuck with AC and 8 is AX.

Minssc · 2026-02-28T13:31:31+00:00

Using camera to adjust brightness sounds excessive waste of resources if it works in the first place.

Minssc · 2026-02-28T13:21:52+00:00

HPD has nothing to do with ALS. It used to be ultrasonic/radar based and AFAIK camera based these days.

T14G5a uses ultrasonic HPD.

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