IBM ThinkPad X40 and OpenBSD-current

I bought this laptop in 2003. It has been running every version of OpenBSD/i386 since 3.2 through 6.4. Essentials:

Intel Pentium M 1.2 Ghz
~~512MB~~ 1.5GB RAM
~~4200 rpm 40GB hard drive~~ Lexar 16GB UDMA 300X CompactFlash
Intel PRO/1000MT Mobile (82541GI) GigE NIC (em(4))
Atheros AR5213 802.11g wlan NIC (ath(4))
Secure Digital slot (sdhc(4))
Ricoh 5C476 CardBus (cbb(4))
2x Intel 82801DB USB (uhci(4) & (ehci(4))
Intel 82855GM video (inteldrm(4))
12.1" screen, 1024x768 resolution

Additional hardware added:

IDE-to-CF adapter
PC Card-to-CF adapter
~~4200 rpm 40GB hard drive~~
2 Lexar 16GB UDMA 300X CompactFlash cards
2GB SD card

The only devices not working under OpenBSD are IrDA, the embedded security chip (However, outdated tcpa patches are available) and the winmodem.

Sensors

tori$ sysctl hw.sensors
hw.sensors.aps0.temp0=38.00 degC
hw.sensors.aps0.temp1=38.00 degC
hw.sensors.aps0.indicator0=On (Keyboard Active)
hw.sensors.aps0.indicator1=Off (Mouse Active)
hw.sensors.aps0.indicator2=On (Lid Open)
hw.sensors.aps0.raw0=462 (X_ACCEL)
hw.sensors.aps0.raw1=516 (Y_ACCEL)
hw.sensors.aps0.raw2=462 (X_VAR)
hw.sensors.aps0.raw3=517 (Y_VAR)

40GB, 4200 rpm IDE disk replaced with 16GB 300X Lexar CompactFlash

Using a random CF-to-IDE adapter from DealExtreme and some fast CF cards from a local supplier, this Thinkpad X40 has become much faster and almost silent. No annoying clicking and rattling when reading and writing data. Fan comes on only during POST and then powers off unless CPU-intensive work is running.

Task	4200 RPM IDE disk	Lexar 300X CF
Boot OpenBSD to xdm(1) prompt	1m11s	0m54s
Load Firefox	0m25s	0m6s
Load GIMP	0m45.69s real 0m19.55s user 0m0.48s system
Load Inkscape	0m21.06s real 0m9.39s user 0m0.59s system
Copy 200M file	0m1.67s real 0m0.83s user 0m0.23s system
find /	4m33.75s real 0m2.22s user 0m6.33s system	0m35.94s real 0m0.82s user 0m3.07s system
/usr/libexec/locate.updatedb	6m0.39s real 0m4.99s user 0m7.81s system	0m31.61s real 0m1.91s user 0m4.21s system
Compile kernel
Compile userland
pkg_info	0m5.30s real 0m0.42s user 0m0.10s system	0m0.35s real 0m0.15s user 0m0.02s system

TODO:

Run performance tests
Test if a dual-CF adapter will fit in the X40.

Additional storage added

The PCMCIA slot has been loaded with a PCMCIA-to-CF adapter containing another 16GB Lexar card. The OpenBSD root partition (and others) live on the first CF card and /home (and various other data partitions) live on the second CF card. During an OS upgrade, my /home is easily kept safe just by ejecting the card.

The SD slot contains a very slow 2GB card.

IBM ThinkPad X40 and OpenBSD-current

Sensors

40GB, 4200 rpm IDE disk replaced with 16GB 300X Lexar CompactFlash

Additional storage added

Files