I benchmarked my X220 with PCMark Vantage Professional 64bit 1.0.2.0. I got : PCMark Vantage Professional 64bit 1.0.2.0 score : 13760
Also a screencap :
[zp src=”bench-x220.jpg” album=”blog/x220/” width=”600″]
Category: Computer Hardware
Categories
Verizon Pantech UML290 Disconnects Fix
We recently have been getting a bunch of these Pantech UML290’s in, and some users have experienced disconnects in 3G areas.
Fix :
Open up VZAccess
With VZAccess selected type CTRL + D
That should open up a window asking for a password, which is diagvzw
At the next screen, hit settings
Change Mobile IP to OFF
Set connection to Auto CDMA
Save settings and exit the VZAccess application
Shut down, remove aircard
restart, reinsert aircard with VZAccess already opened
This has reportedly boosted 3G and 4G performance, and much more sustainable speeds.
I accidentally formatted my new x220 as IDE, so I ran some benchmarks of before :
[zp src=”m4-crystal.png” album=”blog/CrucialM4/” width=”600″]
and here are some now AHCI benchmarks.
[zp src=”m4-crystal-ahci.png” album=”blog/CrucialM4/” width=”600″]
resolution : AHCI + 6GB/s = faster then IDE!
We decided to roll out a few mifi’s, and we did not like the fact they decide to go into tethering mode when plugged in, and not wifi. So I pulled one open, browsed settings and came up empty.
I backed up the configuration and looked through a few of the settings, and one stood out : routeroverusb, changed that from 0 to 1 and presto!
FIX :
1) Go to IE while connected via Wifi and not hooked up to USB, punch in your Mifi device IP (default 192.168.1.1)
2) In the top right, put in admin as the password (unless you changed it), and hit enter.
3) Click on Advanced > Config File
4) Back up the config file
5) Make a duplicate of that file, and open it up with wordpad/notepad (note MS WORD).
6) Find the line :
7) Save the file, and go back and upload it.
While you are at it, boost the maximum transmit strength from 13 to 25. In the same configuration file, find the line
Now, back in the web administration page, select the File, browse, and then upload file to add the new configuration file. Wait for the upload to complete, you will get a popup/progress bar. The device will then reboot itself. If it doesn’t hard shut it off yourself, and once it’s back running, hook up via wifi (not usb tethered yet), make sure it works, then plug it in.
This was a very simple mod, did not require anything, other then 4 new/shorter screws to replace the ones that were longer on the M4, and a bit of electrical tape. Without hte electrical tape, the drive was undetected, it was shorting out by touching the metal top…so there is a reason to the spacer :).
So far battery life has improved over the 320gb 7200rpm drive the x220 came with. I’d say a good 30 minutes over a usage. The battery still needs a bit of burn in though.
[zp src=”m4-mod1.JPG” album=”blog/M4-SSD-Mod/” width=”600″]
EDIT : Thanks to mark for commenting, you can get these screws :
“The screws are M2X3MM part #10124 from laptopscrews.com.”
I recently purchased an awesome little laptop…the Lenovo x220.
Specs :
Intel Core i7-2620M Processor (3.4GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz FSB) w/ USB3
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
12.5″ Premium (IPS) HD (1366×768) LED Backlit Display, Mobile Broadband Ready, 2×2 Antenna
Intel® HD Graphics 3000
4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
ThinkPad Battery 29++ (9 cell)
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2×2 AGN)
I decided I wanted to get an SSD, and opted for the Crucial M4 series. It required a little tweaking to get into the x220. I had to unscrew the middle spacer, and it slide right in.
Benchmarks in IDE mode:
[zp src=”m4-crystal.png” album=”blog/CrucialM4/” width=”600″]
Benchmarks in AHCI mode:
[zp src=”m4-crystal-ahci.png” album=”blog/CrucialM4/” width=”600″]
These aren’t bad numbers at all, considering the manufacturer rates them at :
Sequential Access - Read
Up to 415 MB/s (SATA 6Gb/s)
Sequential Access - Write
Up to 175 MB/s (SATA 6Gb/s)
What I really like about this drive is the low power consumption, SATA 6/Gbp/s, as well as the 40,000 IOPS. I still think SSD’s are the number one upgrade for any PC (as long as they are SATA 3+ capable). They just make the system that much faster.
I recently water cooled my XFX 6950 2gb reference cards. The specific model I am testing is (XFX HD-695A-CNFC AMD Radeon HD 6950 2G). I put on some XSPC water blocks, as with air and unlocked bios, they were hitting 95C + on load, which was worrying me.
hardware / test setup :
CPU : i5 2500k (also water cooled with an HK Supreme HF)
Motherboard : Asus P8P67 PRO
Case : Corsair 600T
PSU : Corsair HX1000
Memory : 4x4GB G.Skill DDR3 1600
GPU : 2x Reference 2GB XFX 6950’s shader unlocked and oc’d
Hdd : OCZ Solid 2 120GB
You can view the rest of the rig here :
http://vivithemage.com/2011/04/water-cooling-a-corsair-600t-case-i5-2500k-2×6950/
The load temp will be running OCCT v3.1.0 for about 15 minutes.
Benchmarks – shader unlock bios only – 800/1250
idle – 38C (GPU1) 40C(GPU2)
load – 44C(GPU1) 46C(GPU2)
average fps – 635
Benchmarks – shader unlock bios and OC – 840/1325
load – 45C (GPU1) 47C(GPU2)
average fps – 650
Benchmarks – shader unlock bios and OC – 900/1400
load – 46C (GPU1) 49C(GPU2)
average fps – 675
Benchmarks – shader unlock bios and OC – 1000/1500
BSOD
If you want me to test some games, let me know. I can always switch the BIOS back to stock as well.
Have you ever run into this issue? We have MANY aircards and ran into this a handful of times. The first time around we went through drivers, different PCMIA cards, etc. So we called Dell, that had no idea, and sent us out a new PCMIA card. I decided to install it myself, instead of a tech this time. What I found out was that the ribbon cable (seen in the following picture), is actually coming loose. So if you push down on the left side of the palm rest (with the laptop off, the hard drive is right there as well, we do not want that spinning). That’s right the fix is :
Push down on the left side of the palm rest (with the laptop off), and it should make a connection. If you notice, the adapters naturally want to pull out of the little socket they plug into.
I later found out that this was a huge issue with D620’s, and with D630’s, they actually have a thicker pad between the palm rest and the ribbon…go figure!
[zp src=”d620_adapters.JPG” album=”blog/etc/” width=”600″]
After doing some research on the best sandy bridge, ultra portal … I have decided on this awesome new laptop .. the IBM x220.
You can view the x220 datasheet (hardware options) : linked here (PDF).
I know some people will want to get an mSata SSD installed, this is a break down for that, with pictures!
1) RENICE 50mm mSATA.
[zp src=”1.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
2) Flip it and remove screws.
[zp src=”2.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
3) Turn it over, take the keyboard out.
[zp src=”3.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
4) Remove the keyboard connector, be careful here, it looks delicate!
[zp src=”4.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
5) Keyboard removed.
[zp src=”5.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
6) Flip it again, and remove the front screws.
[zp src=”6.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
7) Remove the back ‘shelf’.
[zp src=”7.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
8) Now we have access to the mSata area.
[zp src=”8.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
9) Slip your mSata drive in.
[zp src=”9.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
10) screw in the mSata drive.
[zp src=”10.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
11) Put it back together, start with the palm rest.
[zp src=”11.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
12) Snap the blue connector for the touchpad.
[zp src=”12.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
12.5) Flip it over, and screw in the palm rest, and attach the keyboard, screw that back in as well.
13) Assembly done, let’s boot.
[zp src=”13.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
14) BIOS see’s our mSata drive.
[zp src=”14.jpg” album=”blog/x220″ width=”600″]
.. Enjoy!
Hopefully someone finds this useful! I pulled these images from a thread in Anandtech, to make it more searchable.
Categories
Corsair 600T – Full Acrylic Side Panel
So, after a few cuts of my acrylic piece, Bill, the owner over at MNPCtech.com, came over to my place, and dropped it off! It looks really clean, and it fits perfectly….without further ado :
[zp src=”P1000125.JPG” album=”vivi/600T/acrylic” width=”500″]
[zp src=”P1000121.JPG” album=”vivi/600T/acrylic” width=”500″]
[zp src=”P1000123.JPG” album=”vivi/600T/acrylic” width=”500″]