Board:lenovo/t60

Coreboot supports all ThinkPad T60/T60p Series laptops, by using proprietary VGABIOS blobs.

Installation and Flashing

 Instructions on Installation and flashing the x60 or t60 

Wifi chipsets

Lenovo BIOS has a whitelist of approved PCI ID's for wifi cards. Coreboot does not, so you are free to use any wifi chipset of your choosing once coreboot is installed.

The Libreboot distribution lists Wifi chipsets not needing proprietary software to work.

Status

This table needs review. I copied the x60 table and ran through it from memory, expresscard comes to mind...

Device/functionality	Status	Comments
CPU
CPU works	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
L1 cache enabled	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
L2 cache enabled	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
L3 cache enabled	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Multiple CPU support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Multi-core support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Hardware virtualization	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
RAM
EDO	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
SDRAM	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
SO-DIMM	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
DDR	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
DDR2	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
DDR3	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Dual channel support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
ECC support	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board Hardware
On-board IDE 3.5"	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board IDE 2.5"	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board SATA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
On-board SCSI	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board USB	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
On-board VGA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
On-board Ethernet	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	Intel 82573L
On-board Audio	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
On-board Modem	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
On-board FireWire	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board Smartcard reader	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board CompactFlash	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board PCMCIA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
On-board Wifi	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board Bluetooth	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
On-board SD card reader	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Add-on slots/cards
ISA add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Audio/Modem-Riser (AMR/CNR) cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Mini-PCI add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Mini-PCI-Express add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
PCI-X add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
AGP graphics cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x1 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x2 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x4 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x8 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x16 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PCI Express x32 add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
HTX add-on cards	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Legacy / Super I/O
Floppy	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Serial port 1 (COM1)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	located in docking station
Serial port 2 (COM2)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Parallel port	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PS/2 keyboard	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
PS/2 mouse	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Game port	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Infrared	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Untested
PC speaker	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
DiskOnChip	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Input
Trackpoint	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Touchpad	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Fn Hotkeys	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Fingerprint Reader	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Laptop
Docking VGA	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking LAN	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking USB	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking Audio	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Docking Displayport	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Thinklight	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Webcam	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Miscellaneous
Sensors / fan control	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Hardware watchdog	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
SMBus	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
CAN bus	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
CPU frequency scaling	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Other powersaving features	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
ACPI	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Reboot	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Poweroff	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Suspend	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Nonstandard LEDs	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	LEDs are controlled by Embedded Controller (EC). Working without special support.
High precision event timers (HPET)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK
Random number generator (RNG)	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | N/A
Wake on modem ring	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
Wake on LAN	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
Wake on keyboard	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
Wake on mouse	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
TPM	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | Unknown
Flashrom	OK=lime | TODO=red | No=red | WIP=orange | Untested=yellow | N/A=lightgray | yellow }}" | OK	See Board:lenovo/x60/Installation

proprietary components status

• CPU Microcode (optional?) - works fine without. See http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/SPECUPDT/30922214.pdf
• VGA option rom (optional): Native graphics initialization (free replacement) is also available with this patch that is under review. Note that the replacement doesn't work yet with seabios but works with grub(as a payload) or libpayload based payloads. SeaBIOS can be used with SeaVGABIOS (coreboot linear framebuffer option in seabios menuconfig) but the native graphics implementation currently lacks INT 10H and VBT.
• EC(Embedded Controller) => you do not have to touch it(just leave it where it is)

Building the ROM without proprietary blobs

This basically means:

• No microcode updates
• Native graphics (replacement for the proprietary Video BIOS / VGA Option ROM)
• GRUB2 payload

In this configuration, only GNU/Linux is known to work. If you plan to use other operating systems, you might be out of luck.

• Note, not all T60 lcd panels work with this configuration. (the code to enable native graphics on T60 is still under review)
• Note, if your LCD panel is unsupported, you can still use this configuration; you won't see any graphics on the screen, but an external monitor will work (using VGA output, or DVI if you have the docking station). For GRUB console, you can use serial output. Recommended docking station: Advanced Mini Dock.
• Note, replacing the LCD panel is relatively easy. The libreboot project has some guides in it's documentation, along with info about what LCD panels are known to work.
• Note, this configuration only works for T60's with the Intel GMA950 video chipset. ATI GPU won't work, because they lack native graphics support.

Download coreboot like usual:

git clone http://review.coreboot.org/coreboot
cd coreboot

At the time of writing for (for these instructions), the following git revision was used:

git reset --hard 8ffc085e1affaabbe3dca8ac6a89346b71dfc02e

Install all of the coreboot build dependencies listed at Build_HOWTO and then build the crossgcc toolchain:

make crossgcc-i386

Apply the following patches in this order:

# Enable T60 native graphics
git fetch http://review.coreboot.org/coreboot refs/changes/45/5345/9 && git cherry-pick FETCH_HEAD
# Enable text-mode graphics for T60
git fetch http://review.coreboot.org/coreboot refs/changes/50/7050/2 && git cherry-pick FETCH_HEAD

# Permanently enable wlan/wwan/bluetooth/trackpoint/touchpad
git fetch http://review.coreboot.org/coreboot refs/changes/58/7058/3 && git cherry-pick FETCH_HEAD

# If you want legacy brightness controls (if using this, make sure not to include the ACPI brightness patch below)
git fetch http://review.coreboot.org/coreboot refs/changes/51/7051/1 && git cherry-pick FETCH_HEAD

# OR if you want ACPI brightness controls (if using this, make sure not to include the legacy brightness patch above):
git fetch http://review.coreboot.org/coreboot refs/changes/31/6731/7 && git cherry-pick FETCH_HEAD
# Fix uneven backlight levels (for ACPI brightness controls):
git fetch http://review.coreboot.org/coreboot refs/changes/49/7049/1 && git cherry-pick FETCH_HEAD
# Apply this patch to fix compilation:
wget http://paste.debian.net/plain/125769
git apply 125769
rm -rf 125769

# ACPI brightness patches above were abandoned due to Windows incompatibility. If you only want to use GNU/Linux, then it should work fine.

Now you will want this basic configuration for X60/X60s (in make menuconfig):

    General setup / Expert mode = enable
    General setup / Local version string = 79ETE7WW (2.27 )
    Mainboard / Mainboard vendor = Lenovo
    Mainboard / Mainboard model = ThinkPad T60 / T60p
    Mainboard / ROM chip size = 2048 KB (2 MB)
    Mainboard / SMBIOS Serial Number = L3DKE06
    Mainboard / SMBIOS Version Number = ThinkPad T60
    Mainboard / SMBIOS Manufacturer = LENOVO
    Mainboard / SMBIOS Product name = 1951FEG
    Chipset / Include CPU microcode in CBFS = Do not include microcode updates
    Devices / Use native graphics initialization = enable
    Display / Keep VESA framebuffer = disable (disable for text-mode graphics, enable for coreboot vesa framebuffer)
    Console / Send console output to a CBMEM buffer = enable
    Payload / Add a payload = An ELF executable payload
    Payload / Payload path and filename = grub.elf

Go back into Devices:

    Devices / Run VGA Option ROMs = disable
    Devices / Run Option ROMs on PCI devices = disable

Note, the above assumes that you already built your grub.elf from source along with everything that you need. Building GRUB is not covered here.

Build crossgcc as usual and then build your ROM.

TODO

Non-free components replacements

• Replace the non-free VGA option rom by making native graphics init work. See [1] (under review on 5345 changeset, review.coreboot.org]
• Create a Native graphics<->VGA option rom. SeaVGABIOS (part of SeaBIOS) might be the answer. INT 10H and VBT are missing in native graphics.
• Make backlight work without the non-free option rom. See 6731 on review.coreboot.org

Windows currently doesn't boot (STOP A5 error)

Windows 7 was tested and fails to boot at the moment.

The native graphics implementation lacks INT 10H and VBT, and GRUB cannot boot it. Booting with SeaBIOS+SeaVGABIOS results in graphical corruption (and no boot).

Booting with SeaBIOS and the VGA ROM (vbios) can be used to boot it, but booting ends with the message outlined here: STOP A5

More information can be found here

high pitched noise from the board during low power states

During low power state (cstate 3), a high-pitched "humming" noise eminates from the board. Some discussion has been made about this; suggestions include "using an oscilliscope in clever ways" (to detect where the noise is coming from to debug the issue). There are some workarounds:

Use "idle=halt" (higher power consumption) or "processor.max_cstate=2" (higher power consumption, but not as bad) kernel parameter in GRUB. These increase heat and power consumption.

Another option (for increased battery life and lower temperatures) is to use powertop --auto-tune, or set 'Tunables' in powertop (without any parameters).

Other things

• Add support for more batteries in ACPI.
• Make the wifi card and/or the laptop produce less heat.
• Finish and merge support for thinkpad_acpi linux kernel module
• Sometimes some dock USB port aren't initialized => fix that