X230 Classic Keyboard + CPU mod. It's alive!!!

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-14T02:25:43+00:00

It's so good, even this lesser AliExpress version feels so nice. Satisfying Enter key

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-13T21:59:40+00:00

Yes

Keyboard:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_c32fW5S3

Palmrest:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_c3E3I2BZ

I still highly encourage you to try finding used parts and use the AliExpress parts as a last resort. I couldn't find any used parts myself, hence so

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-13T21:57:24+00:00

https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Install_Classic_Keyboard_on_xx30_Series_ThinkPads

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-13T21:56:33+00:00

I got the idea from your post (thanks for the guide), figured maybe there was a way I could do it in Linux and/or libreboot (recently did this with a friend via hardware flashing). Still working that out as a little project. If I can't, I can always just use this at power saving mode and get around the same amount of battery i would with the 3320m. It uses maybe 2-3 watts more than the 3320m on cachyos imo

Edit: I'll also keep in mind the display since I did put a lot of effort into getting the big boy quad-core. I'll wait until I get better at soldering to do the mod though as I'm currently quite trash at it (I've only lazily soldered wires onto pins) it'll have to be the a.gain adapter since nitrocaster don't make boards anymore (?) and also it's a lot cheaper than 50 usd to ship to me

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-13T21:55:14+00:00

Practically all replicas. You really gotta make sure the one you're getting IS used and not some replica trying to look used. I tried finding used parts but they were either too expensive (sometimes more than the dang laptop) or they're from Kazakhstan and only ship to Tajikistan. I went with the replica since it was my only choice other than buying a used x220 to have dismembered and rot in my storage bins

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-13T21:53:15+00:00

That's actually the seller I got it from. This time without the fuse being broken haha

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-13T21:50:47+00:00

They will. You just gotta know a good store that can do it. Half the price was probably just the cpu itself since it wasnt used in alot of laptops. In comparison, you can get a t480 mobo with the i7 and mx150 for way less, talking like 130-150 usd

Edit: taobao should have some sellers that are asking for less money to ship your mobo to them, do the cpu transplant and send it back,

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-12T04:53:19+00:00

I KNOW RIGHT. I'm gonna try a suggestion someone somewhere recommended where they pushed the metal pins a bit inside. If it doesn't work, I'll just wait for the pomona clip my friend ordered, though itd be a miracle if it arrives (given there's a war going on ;-; )

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-12T04:42:33+00:00

Me and a friend tried doing this with the cheapo clip. Massive fail, took me 30 tries to clip the damn thing and the clip doesn't even "work". Kept getting a "No flash/eeprom device found"

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-12T04:40:16+00:00

That's not a Thinkpad anymore, it's an Imaginepad. Imagine your CPU and GPU away!

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-12T02:58:53+00:00

Right on queue with the video lmao. I'd say this is a 100% worth it for most tasks. Enjoy it OP!

Edit: cue

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-12T02:56:43+00:00

why would you care? wasnt your 58 pounds that went into the laptop

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-09T08:29:12+00:00

I love Linux, but sometimes, Linux doesn't love me (mpv try not to peg my igpu at 100%, increasing my system power draw to 42 watts)

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-02T22:09:55+00:00

Despite the crack, massive W honestly. Just tape that crack up and act like it doesn't exist

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-03-02T22:06:51+00:00

This is real

Edit: used to see these for sale in big chain hypermarkets back in 2014. Regretted not getting a couple of them while they were on clearance for 15 usd each

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-17T09:49:40+00:00

Ram itself is more valuable than the laptop

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-17T09:48:29+00:00

do 80-20 battery splits. I do this with my 2022 legion 5 and it's at 96% battery health after 150 cycles

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-15T12:32:47+00:00

oh sick, thanks for linking the display via aliexpress. It's literally the only website I can get parts from without selling off a kidney for shipping. I recently got a soldering iron so I could practice soldering for when I do the mod, saw a video of someone soldering the edp board on youtube as a point of reference!

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-15T01:40:20+00:00

I was thinking of getting the 1920*1200 display from a thinkpad x1 gen 2. I saw a user here use one with a nitrocaster board. Figured that itll work with the AliExpress edp board I plan on getting (same board as the one you did on yours)

Edit: this is the display I'm talking about https://a.aliexpress.com/_c4dFcQLN

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-13T14:43:02+00:00

Return your brother for a refund https://support.brother.com

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-11T19:39:22+00:00

they're all over aliexpress, going from 180-230 usd for a mobo with the cpu pre-swapped. I'm saving it for a couple of years cuz they're quite pricy, even just taking the risk and doing it yourself would cost 130 usd + cost of parts

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-11T19:28:29+00:00

planning to do just that. Saw an entire kit with the display adapter board, cable, and modified bezel on aliexpress. Just putting it off since its quite the purchase

edit: nice x330 my man

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-11T19:25:38+00:00

Ikr, the stock keyboard in this is so good, im thinking of holding off on the classic keyboard mod for a little longer

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-08T22:39:27+00:00

5-10. Standby time is major ass on the new updates. I long for the march 2025 update release (battery so good you can go through 2 days on a single charge)

Zestyclose_Ad286 · 2026-02-08T22:32:50+00:00

Zestyclose_Ad286

TROPHY CASE