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The Lenovo ThinkPad T400 is a business-class notebook computer built on the Intel Centrino 2 Montevina platform.

 

Features include a magnesium alloy rollcage, 7-row keyboard with TrackPoint and the Lenovo UltraBay. The 14.1-inch display is available with LED or CCFL backlight in resolutions of 1280x800 (WXGA) or 1440x900 (WXGA+). 

 

Configured with a Core 2 Duo Penryn processor, optional integrated camera, hybrid graphics and multiple wireless options, the ThinkPad T400 provides an excellent balance of mobility, performance and connectivity.

 

The resources assembled here are intended to help owners get the most out of their ThinkPad T400. Please use the contact form at the bottom of the page to suggest any additions or changes.

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BIOS

  • The current official version of the T400 BIOS is version 3.24/3.25

  • A modified version of this BIOS with the whitelist removed permitting the installation of a wider variety of internal components such as wireless cards is available here (SLIC 2.1 tables are also included in the modified BIOS)

    • MD5: 8fa1f27d986959be0a30fa09675b1f06

  • Libreboot is an open source boot firmware based on coreboot, intended to replace the proprietary BIOS firmware

 

 

WINDOWS 10 INSTALLATION on the THINKPAD T400

  1. Create a bootable installation USB using Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

  2. Press F12 at startup and select the USB as your boot drive

  3. In Windows setup (for a clean installation):

    • Select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)”

    • Delete any partitions on your target drive

    • Select the unallocated space as the location to install Windows

  4. The system will automatically restart during the installation process

  5. Complete the Windows guided setup and the system will proceed to the desktop

  6. Wait a few minutes for Windows to finish installing various drivers and updates. You can monitor the progress by going to Start Menu > Settings > Update & Security

  7. Install and run ThinkVantage System Update to search for the latest Lenovo drivers and utilities

  8. Two device drivers that ThinkVantage System Update may miss:

    • Fingerprint Sensor driver is available here (run installer in Compatibliity Mode for Windows 7)

    • PCI Simple Communications Controller driver is available here (Intel AMT 4.2 Management Engine Interface)

  9. Adjust UltraNav settings as desired in Start Menu > Settings > Devices > Mouse & touchpad > Additional mouse options

  10. For full function key support and On Screen Display, install the Lenovo Hotkey Features Integration package available here

 

Notes:

  • Switchable Graphics does not yet work with Windows 10. Either Integrated (Intel GMA 4500MHD) or Discrete Graphics (ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470) can be selected by changing the BIOS setting at startup under Config > Display > Graphics Device

 

 

WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL RECOVERY DVDs

  • Images of the three DVD set to recover Windows 7 Professional to your ThinkPad T400 can be downloaded here (alternate source here)

  • Instructions for use of these images are in the included Read Me file

 

 

HARD DRIVE

 

 

RAM SUPPORT

  • The ThinkPad T400 supports up to 8 GB of dual rank 204-pin DDR3 1066 (PC3-8500) or faster memory

  • Dual rank memory is probably required (designated by 2Rx4 or 2Rx8). Single rank memory (1Rx4 or 1Rx8) will typically prevent the T400 from booting. More information is available here.

  • Install two modules of any capacity to enable dual channel memory support

  • To utilize more than 3.25 GB of RAM a 64-bit operating system must be installed. (Some high-end 32-bit Windows versions such as Windows Server 2003 Enterprise and Datacenter editions as well as certain 32-bit Linux distributions also support RAM greater than 4 GB)

 

 

CPU OPTIONS

The ThinkPad T400 supports the following Penryn-class 1066MHz Front Side Bus Socket P Core 2 Duo CPUs:

  • P7370 2.00GHz 3MB L2 cache 25W (SLGF9) CPU Mark

  • P8400 2.26GHz 3MB L2 cache 25W (SLB3R) CPU Mark

  • P8600 2.40GHz 3MB L2 cache 25W (SLGFD) CPU Mark

  • P8700 2.53GHz 3MB L2 cache 25W (SLGFE) CPU Mark

  • T9400 2.53GHz 6MB L2 cache 35W (SLB46) CPU Mark

  • P9500 2.53GHz 6MB L2 cache 25W (SLGE8) CPU Mark

  • T9550 2.66GHz 6MB L2 cache 35W (SLGEL) CPU Mark

  • P9600 2.66GHz 6MB L2 cache 25W (SLGE6) CPU Mark

  • T9600 2.80GHz 6MB L2 cache 35W (SLG9F) CPU Mark

  • P9700 2.80GHz 6MB L2 cache 28W (SLGQS) CPU Mark

  • T9800 2.93GHz 6MB L2 cache 35W (SLGES) CPU Mark

  • T9900 3.06GHz 6MB L2 cache 35W (SLGEE) CPU Mark

  • X9100 3.06GHz 6MB L2 cache 44W (SLB48) CPU Mark

source

 

 

DISPLAYS

  • The ThinkPad T400 has a 14.1-inch widescreen TFT (thin film transistor) color LCD display supporting native resolutions of either 1280x800 (WXGA) or 1440x900 (WXGA+)

  • Display backlight is either CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) or LED (light-emitting diode)

  • LED displays typically consume less power and provide more vibrant colors than CCFL displays

  • Contrast ratios range from 300:1 to 500:1

  • Response times range from 10ms to 25ms

  • Tables with detailed information about the various display panels found in ThinkPad T400 models are available here

 

 

WIRELESS

The ThinkPad T400 was originally configured with one of the following wireless Mini-PCI cards:

  • Intel WiFi Link 1000 (b/g/n) - FRU 60Y3203

  • Intel WiFi Link 5100 (a/g/n) - FRU 43Y6493

  • Intel Wifi Link 5300 (a/g/n) - FRU 43Y6495

  • Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150 - FRU 43Y6539

  • Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350 - FRU 43Y6533 WiFi drivers for this card here WiMAX drivers for this card here

  • ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II - FRU 43Y6553

  • ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II - FRU 60Y3177

  • ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter III - FRU 43Y6511

 

The following newer wireless Mini-PCI cards can be installed:

  • Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (FRU 60Y3233) - up to 450 Mbps data rates on 802.11n connections, Intel Wireless Display and improved power management

  • Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Plus Bluetooth (FRU 04W3814) - up to 867 Mbps data rates on 802.11ac connections (300 Mbps maximum on 802.11n connections)

    • ​It may be necessary to cut or tape over pin 51 on this card to allow Bluetooth to operate correctly

  • The whitelist-removed BIOS will be necessary to install either of these newer cards

 

 

BLUETOOTH

  • The ThinkPad T400 includes Bluetooth 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate (BDC-2) (FRU 42T0969, 60Y3211, 60Y3215)

  • Bluetooth can be upgraded to Bluetooth 4.0 by simply swapping out the daughter card located behind the LCD front bezel

  • Lenovo Bluetooth 4.0 daughter cards:

    • FRU 60Y3303 (Foxconn)

    • FRU 60Y3305 (Liteon)

source

 

 

BATTERIES

  • 3-cell 2900mAh 10.8V Ultrabay battery - up to 1.2 hours of charge time | Part number: 57Y4536

  • 4-cell 2600mAh 14.4V - up to 3.6 hours of charge time | FRU 41U3196

  • 6-cell 5200mAh 10.8V - up to 5.5 hours of charge time | FRU 41U3198

  • 9-cell 7800mAh 10.8V - up to 8.6 hours of charge time | FRU 43R2499

 

Discussion of T400 battery sizes and capacities is here

 

 

CONTROL FAN SPEED and HEAT

 

 

IMPROVE BATTERY LIFE

 

 

MULTI-TOUCH TOUCHPAD

Windows: The touchpads on most models of the ThinkPad T400 are capable of multi-touch features, including two-finger scrolling, if the proper driver is installed.

 

If you only need two-finger scrolling, simply install TwoFingerScroll v1.0.9 along with the normal Lenovo UltraNav drivers.​

 

Linux: Two-finger scrolling may work without any special configuration in Ubuntu. If not, follow the procedure here.

 

 

WINDOWS 7/8/10 ADJUSTMENTS

Increase the speed and responsiveness of Windows by doing the following

 

 

DISCUSSION FORUMS

 

 

DOCUMENTATION

 

 

DRIVERS

Lenovo ThinkPad T400 drivers

 

 

LENOVO PARTS LOOKUP

http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/partslookup

 

 

LENOVO WARRANTY STATUS LOOKUP

https://lenovomobilesupport.lenovo.com/us/en/warrantylookup#/

 

 

REVIEWS​​

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