I bought this laptop in 2003. It has been running every version of OpenBSD/i386 since 3.2 through 6.4. Essentials:
Additional hardware added:
The only devices not working under OpenBSD are IrDA, the embedded security chip (However, outdated tcpa patches are available) and the winmodem.
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)
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:
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.