Lenovo ThinkPad X230 / Insurgo PrivacyBeast X230 / Nitrokey NitroPad X230

ThinkPad X230 Insurgo PrivacyBeast X230 NitroPad X230
Recommended CPU i7-3520M i7-3520M i7-3520M
i5-3320M i5-3320M
i5-3210M
Max. memory 16GB (2 slots) 16GB (2 slots) 16GB (2 slots)
USB controllers 3 3 3
Coreboot possible yes yes
Heads possible yes yes
ME_cleaner possible yes yes
Qubes OS pre-installed no yes yes
Developer tested yes yes yes
Certified no yes yes
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Great idea to group these together! By the way, I believe that to use one of the USB controllers, you need a docking station, so just writing 3 without a note could be misleading for people who need three controllers on the go. Maybe someone can confirm.

So the [Lenovo ThinkPad X230] is a cheapest laptop that can run Qubes OS quite comfortably?
I’ve seen something cheaper on the list, but I’m not sure those would be comfortable enough.

I hope this information may help some people (not only me).

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Hello Sven. I’m planning to buy a thinkpad x230 and install my i7 3840qm in it. Will it work correctly on this hardware or are there any nuances?

You can’t install that CPU in the x230.

The x230 uses a soldered BGA CPU, which can’t be replaced without reworking the motherboard. The i7-3612QE and i7-3615QE are the only two quad-core CPUs that can be used with the x230.

I have a modified x230 with the i7-3612QE, and it works with Qubes OS. Unless you have the tools and skills to do BGA rework, you are going to need to buy a modified motherboard with the replaced CPU, they are around $300 on AliExpress/eBay.

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Thanks for the information, I’ll stay on the t430 for now.

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