replica main board Keep up the good work! X210Ai for ThinkPad X201's new replica main board

[song_1118]

Due to the official new ThinkPad, there is little hope of returning to the classic seven-line layout keyboard; and the TrackPoint System  function and comfort seem to be weakened again and again; even the latest release of the ThinkPad X9 series without the TrackPoint system at all.
Based on the above objective reality, there are folk third parties, recently launched to meet the needs of some ThinkPad old users, the author has been looking forward to another replica of the main board: X210Ai!

 

History of the main board
The ThinkPad replica main board developed and produced by the folk spontaneously has a history of many years, as follows:
• In 2012, the T50 replica main board based on the ThinkPad T4 * series was launched;
• In 2016, the X62 replica main board based on the ThinkPad X60 and X61 (followed by X63);
• In 2017, the T70 replica main board based on the ThinkPad T60 was launched;
• In 2018, the X210 replica main board based on the ThinkPad X201 (followed by X2100);
• In 2022, the T700 replica main board launched based on the ThinkPad T60.

 

X201Ai in 2025

At the beginning of 2025, the X210Ai replica main board based on the ThinkPad X201 was born. The motherboard in the original ThinkPad X201 can be removed and replaced with this new X210Ai main board, which can be transformed into one:
• Using Intel Core Ultra 7 165H CPU,
• Support Thunderbolt 4,
• Built-in two M.2 SSDs,
• Built-in wireless Bluetooth,
• Built-in WWAN 5G;
• Can be upgraded to a 13-inch or 13.3-inch high-resolution screen;
The new performance models, while still maintaining the ThinkPad classic seven-line keyboard and excellent comfortable TrackPoint system of the small steel cannon laptop!

 

 

X210Ai Timeline
• 2024.06.11, formally establish the project and determine the main board specifications;
• 2024.08.08, the main board layout design is basically completed;
• 2024.09.15, the main board circuit design is basically completed;
• 2024.10.24, PCB proofing is completed;
• 2024.11.02, the main interface and chassis compatibility test passed;
• 2024.12.09, the patch is basically completed;
• 2024.12.11, the main board is successfully lit;
• 2024.12.12, initially successfully ran on the windows system, and officially launched the crowdfunding;
• 2024.12.17, initially passed the system stability test;
• 2024.12.18, start developing a new sound card small board, and will optimize the PCB design at the same time to better install the M2 hard disk on the wwan port;
• 2024.12.20, Thunderbolt 4 test passed;

 

 

X210Ai layout and interface

 

X210Ai specifications
• 1. The CPU adopts Core Ultra7165H processor
• 2. One full-speed M.2 interface
• 3. Memory interface dual channel DDR5 slot
• 4. One Thunderbolt 4, one full-featured C.
• 5. Replace the VGA interface with the commonly used standard HDMI
• 6. The EDP screen cable interface adopts I-PEX to directly match LG13 inch and LG13.3 inch
• 7. Keep the original screen cable interface function
• 8. Test the normal charging and discharging function of 4-cell, 6-cell, and 9-cell batteries
• 9. Try to choose longer TYPE C interface materials or PCB extensions that can be flush with the D shell after installation
• 10. The USB3.0 interface in the lower left corner is expected to find the positive plug. Anti-plug is a bit anti-human.
• 11. The fan interface is moved 5MM to the middle from the original position to facilitate the transformation of the radiator
• 12. Anything that needs to be optimized can be brought up before mass production.

Official photo of the original ThinkPad X201:

[X210Ai Motherboard]

Thank you!