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X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

X20/X21, X30/X31, X40/X41 Series
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Brian10161
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X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#1 Post by Brian10161 » Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:36 pm

I just won an auction for 2 X31 laptops (Can't be certain if they have the wifi cards still in them, they do have the Centrino logo on the palmrest, but they doesn't mean everything) and was wondering if the wifi card in my X40 could be put into the X31 motherboard.

It would more or less be to test and make sure it works as these computers are for work (at least atm, I might like them too much for that :P).

I also need batteries, but that's another topic :)
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:30 pm

Any MiniPCI (not MiniPCIe) wifi card will work, provided the machine has antenna cables.
You'll see them (or not) when removing the wifi cover from the bottom.
If one or both has an 802.11B card, replace it/them with 802.11B/G, such as Intel 2200BG.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#3 Post by Brian10161 » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:35 pm

I have a feeling it will just be the Intel Wireless B card. According to the ThinkWiki, the only Intel card offered was B capable. I gather it would have to be an Intel card to get the Centrino badge.

Glad to hear any MiniPCI card will work. If it is the Intel card, I'll get the IBM A/B/G card if I can get my hands on them.

Thanks for the reply.
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:20 am

If you use a non-IBM card, you may get the 1802 (unauthorized card) error.
This can be easily remedied by applying the NO-1802 BIOS hack.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... twork_card
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... et_devices
Download the Live CD .ISO file from the second link, look for:

Code: Select all

NOTICE: The Live CD Version 2 is released now. Download it via Rapidshare here. (~ 4 MB).
Download links appear to break regularly but will be fixed whenever necessity arises.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
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PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#5 Post by ajkula66 » Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:29 pm

X31 shipped with a variety of cards: Intel, Cisco, IBM-Atheros.

Centrino logo may indicate an Intel 2100B, but later machines had 2200BG as well as 2915ABG.
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#6 Post by jronald » Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:39 am

Just a further note, only the IBM Intel card will allow the Fn keys to turn on/turn off the wireless cards consistently. I have had 1 Regular Intel card work, but by and large, stick with the IBM cards to be fully compatible.

Just to confuse the issue further, the Atheros based cards have ALWAYS done a better job for me. RBS is partial to Intel and others like other brands. YMMV.
Any of the Intel cards will activate the Centinos which does give better battery life.

Ron
I see in my son's eyes, each day, the wonders I have squandered fortunes to possess and have sought my entire lifetime to attain. jrr 09/2011


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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#7 Post by Brian10161 » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:36 am

The computers still haven't arrived. I have a feeling that if they do still have cards in them and they work, I'll just leave them be.

As long as I can connect to my WPA protected network, I'll be happy. Failing that, I will search for cards :)

Thanks for all the replies guys!
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#8 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:59 am

jronald wrote:RBS is partial to Intel and others like other brands. YMMV.
I'm not partial to any particular brand.
Only back in my T23 days I preferred Broadcom wifi cards, because they worked, were cheap and readily available.
Nowadays I use X6x and T6x machines, as it happens all with Intel wifi.
I only ever had one Atheros-based card, and was not impressed with it.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#9 Post by jronald » Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:22 pm

I stand corrected, somewhere in the back of my brain, I remember the Broadcom days also!

Ron
I see in my son's eyes, each day, the wonders I have squandered fortunes to possess and have sought my entire lifetime to attain. jrr 09/2011


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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#10 Post by sjthinkpader » Sat Nov 19, 2011 8:30 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:...I only ever had one Atheros-based card, and was not impressed with it.
During the A3x/T2x time, I had quite a few Atheros cards. They were first with OFDM used in A and G. Then intel caught up. Today Atheros is part of Qualcomm. Founder of Atheros was a woman professor at Stanford. She went back to Stanford to teach.
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#11 Post by Brian10161 » Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:55 pm

Computers came in the other day and they both have Intel Wireless B cards (uber slow lol)

They work however, support WPA and that so I may stick with them for a while. Depending on how it goes, might grab a G card later.
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#12 Post by jronald » Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:30 am

A couple of my secondary "not quite right" machines only have "B's" in them. My WAP RE-Under is a "B" only Access point.

Ron
I see in my son's eyes, each day, the wonders I have squandered fortunes to possess and have sought my entire lifetime to attain. jrr 09/2011


T400's and T500's

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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#13 Post by Puppy » Sun May 27, 2012 8:09 am

Were there any official IBM b/g wifi cards based on Broadcom BCM4308 chip for X31 ? I bought a so called "IBM remarketed" wifi card based on it but there are no IBM stickers. It does not work at all. No beep, display stays turned off in POST. I guess this particular card is broken and I can ask for replacement.

Before I ask for another one I'd like to know whether the Broadcom BCM4308 based card could be an authorized IBM wifi card or the "IBM remarketed" claim is false anyway ? I don't want to take a risk of modifying BIOS to prevent the 1802 error.
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#14 Post by ajkula66 » Sun May 27, 2012 8:41 am

No.

Broadcom wireless cards were never used in any ThinkPad of that era.

Return it and get an Intel or an Atheros-chipped IBM - the latter would be my preference.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#15 Post by Puppy » Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:09 pm

Would Intel 2200BG wifi card from R51 work ? It is not listed here http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X31 (2100 only)
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#16 Post by ajkula66 » Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:57 pm

Yes it will work just fine.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#17 Post by Puppy » Sun Sep 01, 2013 11:28 am

I was lucky to get Atheros based card part no: 91P7301
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#18 Post by MacAoidh » Sat May 10, 2014 6:12 pm

Sorry to bring an old (ish) post back from the dead ladies and gents, BUT, i've just picked up a little X31 (2672) which has no wifi card in place, so i was wanting to know the best one to put in my new project.

ALSO

Any other upgrade info would be greatly appreciated. As it stands it has no power brick as yet but it has power in the battery so i know it is working.

Kind regards

Mac :mrgreen:
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X31 (2672N7G) Project

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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#19 Post by jronald » Tue May 13, 2014 7:32 pm

Use the 1802 hack, and put any card you want in it.
Max out the Ram
Then add a 7200 rpm HDD and that is as good as it gets.
DO NOT attempt anything after XP from Microslough, it will run several flavors of Linux very well.

Ron
I see in my son's eyes, each day, the wonders I have squandered fortunes to possess and have sought my entire lifetime to attain. jrr 09/2011


T400's and T500's

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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#20 Post by MacAoidh » Wed May 14, 2014 6:43 pm

Thanks, i want to put an SSD in it, that is possible right ?
T61 (7661) Middleton BIOS - w14.1 WXGA+1440x900 LCD - Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU T9500 @ 2.60GHz × 2 - 8GB RAM - Intel X3100 - Intel Ultimate N6300 - Samsung SSD 830 256GB - Ultrabay Samsung Spinpoint M8 HDD 1TB - DVD-Rec - 9cell in Green - Linux Mint 17.1 'Rebecca' x64

X31 (2672N7G) Project

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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#21 Post by MacAoidh » Thu May 15, 2014 7:25 pm

So i burned this ISO, http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... et_devices

Is it the correct one ?

Waiting on a new power brick being delivered before i attempt the flash.

Kind regards

Mac
T61 (7661) Middleton BIOS - w14.1 WXGA+1440x900 LCD - Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU T9500 @ 2.60GHz × 2 - 8GB RAM - Intel X3100 - Intel Ultimate N6300 - Samsung SSD 830 256GB - Ultrabay Samsung Spinpoint M8 HDD 1TB - DVD-Rec - 9cell in Green - Linux Mint 17.1 'Rebecca' x64

X31 (2672N7G) Project

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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#22 Post by jronald » Wed May 21, 2014 9:29 am

SSD is possible but not really needed. A 7200 rpm HDD will make it fly.
And yes, that is the hack we mentioned.

Ron
I see in my son's eyes, each day, the wonders I have squandered fortunes to possess and have sought my entire lifetime to attain. jrr 09/2011


T400's and T500's

tecmes
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Re: X31 Wireless Cards (Interchangeability)

#23 Post by tecmes » Sat Sep 09, 2017 4:21 pm

As I idly browsed these threads, I realized I never got around to upgrade my spare "retro gaming" X31's wifi card to a WPA2 compatible model.

Not only did I have a minipci card laying around, I also realized that at some point I left one of the RAM slots unpopulated, despite having a couple spare sticks, and also never applied SP3 to my XP install...

So here I am just an hour later! 50% more RAM, connects to my router and as up to date as XP can be!

(For the record, it's an abg Atheros/Philips 12127E, using the "unnamed" Thinkpad Wireless driver 4.1.2.156)
Workhorse: vanilla X61s. "Gaming": 14s-IWL. Drawer: X31, X201s (sold, couldn't get used to it...). Office: T560. First crush: X20. Fond memories: SXGA+ 770

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