Lenovo ThinkPad T480 with Heads

User Support HCL Reports
1 
---
layout:
  'hcl'
type:
  'Laptop'
hvm:
  'yes'
iommu:
  'yes'
slat:
  'yes'
tpm:
  '2.0'
remap:
  'yes'
brand: |
  LENOVO
model: |
  t480-hotp-maximized
bios: |
  Heads-v0.2.0-2704-g300df21
cpu: |
  Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8650U CPU @ 1.90GHz
cpu-short: |
  FIXME
chipset: |
  Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v6/7th Gen Core Processor Host Bridge/DRAM Registers [8086:5914] (rev 08)
chipset-short: |
  FIXME
gpu: |
  Intel Corporation UHD Graphics 620 [8086:5917] (rev 07) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
  
gpu-short: |
  FIXME
network: |
  Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection (4) I219-LM [8086:15d7] (rev 21)
  
  Intel Corporation Wireless 8265 / 8275 [8086:24fd] (rev 78)
memory: |
  65449
scsi: |

usb: |
  1
certified:
  'no'
versions:
  - works:
      'FIXME:yes|no|partial'
    qubes: |
      R4.2.4
    xen: |
      4.17.5
    kernel: |
      6.12.11-1
    remark: |
      FIXME
    credit: |
      FIXAUTHOR
    link: |
      FIXLINK

Qubes-HCL-LENOVO-t480_hotp_maximized-20250311-191652.yml (943 Bytes)

Hot news from Heads! Please welcome the new board under the Heads master branch GitHub - linuxboot/heads: A minimal Linux that runs as a coreboot or LinuxBoot ROM payload to provide a secure, flexible boot environment for laptops, workstations and servers. T480. The Lenovo ThinkPad T480 is arguably the best last-generation ThinkPad.

Performance is smooth on Qubes, thermal control works well, and the board is quiet. I love it! Fn brightness keys work.

Here are the advantages:

  • In good condition, you can buy one for $200–$300, with refurbished options available on popular selling platforms. In many European countries, these come with a one-year warranty and a 14-day return policy, making it a low-risk investment.
  • Supports up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, which is beneficial for Qubes users. Upgrading to 2Ă—32GB SODIMM DDR4 costs around $100.
  • Low power consumption—draws only 15W and features both an internal and an external battery, last can be swapped while powered on.
  • USB-C Port: A great feature to have. The Thunderbolt 3 port is not yet supported, as work is still in progress under coreboot (https://review.coreboot.org/c/coreboot/+/83274)
  • Decent IPS display with 1920x1080 resolution, significant improvement over older models.
  • Accessing and flashing the BIOS chip on a T-series machine has never been easier—only six screws need to be removed Lenovo T480 Maximized | Heads - Wiki

Known issues:

  • The headphone jack needs tweacking as it does not automatically recognize the plugged in headphones. One need to go to the audio-mixer>output devices>select Headphones unplugged > configuration Pro Audio.

  • No Fan RPM Displayed: The fan speed is not shown. I haven’t troubleshot ACPI, since the system maintains stable operating temperatures of around 45–50°C under normal usage, as long as you’re not compiling anything heavy. The fan is barely noticeable.

  • dGPU is problematic and disabled in Heads on most platforms anyway

Disclaimer:

Acknowledgments:
coreboot port - Mate Kukri
Heads port was a community effort led by @tlaurion and @gaspar-ilom. Almost 200 commits and 400 messages. As you can imagine it was a lot of fun and learning. Huge thanks to everybody who participated on github: @akunterkontrolle, @notgivenby,@MattClifton76, @doritos4mlady, @mblanqui, @rafaelsgirao @JonathonHall-Purism

Heads is free as free beer.
In the spirit of open-source software, free knowledge, and communal goodwill, support the Heads and the open source development Insurgo Initiative - Open Collective and of course Qubes.
The supply of free beer cannot be infinite. If everyone takes without giving back, at some point, the keg runs dry, and so does the goodwill.
If you enjoy free beer, contribute in some form—whether by bringing code, docs, or financial support. The cycle must be maintained to keep the ecosystem alive. No one wants to be the last guest realizing the fridge is empty and no one restocked it. Together, it is possible to keep the free beer spirit alive—open, shared, and always refreshing. Cheers!

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