t500.md 3.9 KB


title: ThinkPad T500 x-toc-enable: true ...

ThinkPad T500{width=200px}
Specifications
Manufacturer Lenovo
Name ThinkPad T500
Released 2009
Chipset Intel Cantiga GM45
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo (Penryn family). A Quad-core
mod exists, replacing the Core 2 Duo with a Core Quad
Graphics Intel GMA 4500MHD (and ATI Mobility Radeon HD
3650 on some models)
Display 1280x800/1680x1050/1920x1200 TFT
Memory 2 or 4GB (Upgradable to 8GB)
Architecture x86_64
EC Proprietary
Original boot firmware LenovoBIOS
Intel ME/AMD PSP Present. Can be completly disabled.
Flash chip SOIC-8/SOIC-16/WSON-8 4MiB/8MiB (Upgradable
to 16MiB)
W+: Works without blobs; 
N: Doesn't work; 
W*: Works with blobs; 
U: Untested; 
P+: Partially works; 
P*: Partially works with blobs
Features
Internal flashing with original boot firmware N
Display W+
Audio W+
RAM Init W+
External output W+
Display brightness P+
Payloads supported
GNU GRUB Works
SeaBIOS Works
SeaBIOS with GNU GRUB Works

Introduction

It is believed that all or most T500 laptops are compatible. See notes about CPU compatibility for potential incompatibilities.

W500 is also compatible, and mostly the same design as T500.

There are two possible flash chip sizes for the T500: 4MiB (32Mbit) or 8MiB (64Mbit). This can be identified by the type of flash chip below the palmrest: 4MiB is SOIC-8, 8MiB is SOIC-16.

The T500 laptops come with the ME (and sometimes AMT in addition) before flashing libreboot. libreboot disables and removes it by using a modified descriptor: see ../install/ich9utils.md (contains notes, plus instructions)

Flashing instructions can be found at ../install/#flashrom

EC update {#ecupdate}

It is recommended that you update to the latest EC firmware version. The EC firmware is separate from libreboot, so we don't actually provide that, but if you still have Lenovo BIOS then you can just run the Lenovo BIOS update utility, which will update both the BIOS and EC version. See:

NOTE: this can only be done when you are using Lenovo BIOS. How to update the EC firmware while running libreboot is unknown. libreboot only replaces the BIOS firmware, not EC.

Updated EC firmware has several advantages e.g. bettery battery handling.

The T500 is almost identical to the X200, code-wise. See x200.md.