Lenovo ThinkPad X230 / Insurgo PrivacyBeast X230 / Nitrokey NitroPad X230

User Support HCL Reports
1
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
2 Likes
Short list of laptops/desktops that work well with Qubes OS
Community-recommended computers
Lenovo ThinkPad X230 [Merged #2]
Lenovo ThinkPad X230 [Merged #1]
2

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.

1 Like
3

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).

2 Likes
4 
---
layout:
  'hcl'
type:
  'laptop'
hvm:
  'yes'
iommu:
  'yes'
slat:
  'yes'
tpm:
  ''
remap:
  'yes'
brand: |
  LENOVO
model: |
  23066CC
bios: |
  CBET4000 4.14-1549-gf8df08213d-dirty
cpu: |
  Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3612QE CPU @ 2.10GHz
cpu-short: |
  FIXME
chipset: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor DRAM Controller [8086:0154] (rev 09)
chipset-short: |
  FIXME
gpu: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
  
gpu-short: |
  FIXME
network: |
  Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville) (rev 04)
  Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (rev 1a)
memory: |
  16340
scsi: |
  Samsung SSD 850  Rev: 2B6Q
usb: |
  3
versions:

- works:
    'FIXME:yes|no|partial'
  qubes: |
    R4.1
  xen: |
    4.14.3
  kernel: |
    5.10.90-1
  remark: |
    FIXME
  credit: |
    FIXAUTHOR
  link: |
    FIXLINK

---

Remarks

Tested and working

  • Wi-Fi
  • Ethernet
  • Webcam
  • Audio
  • Keyboard/Touchpad/Trackpoint
  • USB
  • Suspend

Not tested

  • Bluetooth
  • HDMI

Everything seems to get working including adding the ExpressCard USB ports to sys-usb, and controlling brightness, keyboard light, etc. with keyboard function keys.

Modifications

  • i7 3612QE quad-core CPU
  • AX200 Wifi 6
  • ExpressCard USB 3.0
  • IPS Display
  • Classic X220 7 row keyboard with patched EC
  • Coreboot + SeaBIOS

Attachments

2 Likes
5

Thank you @anon40243023 for your HCL report, which is online now.

1 Like
6

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?

1 Like
7

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.

3 Likes
8

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

2 Likes
9 
---
layout:
  'hcl'
type:
  'notebook'
hvm:
  'yes'
iommu:
  'yes'
slat:
  'yes'
tpm:
  ''
remap:
  'yes'
brand: |
  LENOVO
model: |
  3434CTO
bios: |
  GCETB5WW (2.75 )
cpu: |
  Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3520M CPU @ 2.90GHz
cpu-short: |
  FIXME
chipset: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor DRAM Controller [8086:0154] (rev 09)
chipset-short: |
  FIXME
gpu: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
gpu-short: |
  FIXME
network: |
  Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville) (rev 04)
  Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] (rev 34)
memory: |
  16059
scsi: |
  Samsung SSD 870  Rev: 2B6Q
usb: |
  3
versions:

- works:
    'FIXME:yes|no|partial'
  qubes: |
    R4.1
  xen: |
    4.14.5
  kernel: |
    5.15.94-1
  remark: |
    FIXME
  credit: |
    FIXAUTHOR
  link: |
    FIXLINK

---

Remarks

Installation

  • No issues

Tested and works

  • Touch screen
  • Speakers
  • Wifi

Tested and works partially

  • Camera is spotty
  • Microphone is spotty and sometimes doesn’t work at all

Please let me know if any other info may be helpful, or there’s anything else that may improve this submission.

Attachments

1 Like
10

Thank you @Div for your HCL report, which is online now!

1 Like
11 
---
layout:
  'hcl'
type:
  'Notebook'
hvm:
  'yes'
iommu:
  'yes'
slat:
  'yes'
tpm:
  '1.2'
remap:
  'yes'
brand: |
  LENOVO
model: |
  23259S2
bios: |
  G2ETB4WW (2.74 )
cpu: |
  Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3230M CPU @ 2.60GHz
cpu-short: |
  FIXME
chipset: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor DRAM Controller [8086:0154] (rev 09)
chipset-short: |
  FIXME
gpu: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
gpu-short: |
  FIXME
network: |
  Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville) [8086:1502] (rev 04)
  Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] [8086:0085] (rev 34)
memory: |
  8009
scsi: |
  SSD 128GB        Rev: 22A1
usb: |
  3
certified:
  'no'
versions:
  - works:
      'FIXME:yes|no|partial'
    qubes: |
      R4.2.3
    xen: |
      4.17.4
    kernel: |
      6.6.48-1
    remark: |
      FIXME
    credit: |
      FIXAUTHOR
    link: |
      FIXLINK

Remarks

Everything seems to work fine at the first glance after a fresh Qubes OS 4.2.3 installation. The things I wanted to test out in particular:

  • Pipewire, audio playback and microphone input, and their related media keys and indicators
  • Videoconferencing with the builtin webcam attached to a qube
  • Suspend and wakeup, minus the fact that USB devices get disconnected and connected, hence why they need to be manually re-attached to a qube, to which they were attached before suspending.

Attachments

2 Likes
12
1 Like
13 
---
layout:
  'hcl'
type:
  'Notebook'
hvm:
  'yes'
iommu:
  'yes'
slat:
  'yes'
tpm:
  '1.2'
remap:
  'yes'
brand: |
  LENOVO
model: |
  23259S2
bios: |
  G2ETB4WW (2.74 )
cpu: |
  Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3230M CPU @ 2.60GHz
cpu-short: |
  FIXME
chipset: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor DRAM Controller [8086:0154] (rev 09)
chipset-short: |
  FIXME
gpu: |
  Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
gpu-short: |
  FIXME
network: |
  Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (Lewisville) [8086:1502] (rev 04)
  Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] [8086:0085] (rev 34)
memory: |
  8009
scsi: |
  SSD 128GB        Rev: 22A1
usb: |
  3
certified:
  'no'
versions:
  - works:
      'FIXME:yes|no|partial'
    qubes: |
      R4.3-alpha
    xen: |
      4.19.1
    kernel: |
      6.12.21-1
    remark: |
      FIXME
    credit: |
      FIXAUTHOR
    link: |
      FIXLINK

Remarks

The pre-release Qubes OS 4.3 seems to work just as fine as 4.2 - see this report.

Attachments

2 Likes
Windows 11 in Qubes
Getac UX10 G2