The Thinkpad T440p is a classic business laptop made by Lenovo starting in 2013.

It's the latest and fastest Thinkpad model (Intel Haswell) where coreboot boot firmware can be used and Intel ME can be neutralized. Later laptops have signed firmware where this has become impossible. The T440p is a strong recommendation if you need the latest IME-cleaned, coreboot laptop available.

The T440p is available in two different tastes:

• Intel HD 4600 (20 shader units, 22 nm, DirectX 11.1), i915
• Intel HD 4600 + NVIDIA GeForce 730M (Optimus)

The graphic card used is integrated in the CPU. In this case the heat sink with part number 00HM902 is used. Its performance is the best among all Thinkpad laptops and even okay for occasional gaming (depending on the game, resolution and quality settings).

Using Nvidia Optimus, graphic card being used is dynamically switching from HD4600 to Nvidia GT730M depending on the load. Heatsink part number 00HM903 is used.

The Nvidia GT730M has not been tested at Vikings. This has been an odd choice from Lenovo, since it will perform very similar or even worse than the integrated GPU. We simply disregard it and use the integrated CPU.

There are a number of possible/recommended upgrades which are mentioned further below.

The following displays are recommended to replace TN panels that came from the factory which have sub-par viewing angles, color accuracy and resolutions.

While all displays from the list above have been tested and found to be working well, the most recommended display is the N140HCG-GQ2. It has superior brightness and image quality and uses the least power of all available options. It was published relatively recently (2019) and can therefore be considered modern. At Vikings we love this display and that's why we use for our customers that order the IPS panel option.

These panels usually don't come with brackets so they cannot be installed in the T440p as is because there are no mounting points. It's possible to either re-use brackets from old T440p TN panels. Re-using old brackets from TN panels require some modifications so the N140HCG-GQ2 will fit and will likely result in permanent damage to the donor panel. It's also possible to use custom made brackets (this is what we do when you order a T440p with an IPS display)

When purchased at Vikings, we take care of any modifications required.

T440p laptops come with trackpads from the factory that are, in our opinion, unusable for productive work.

Synaptics touchpads are available in the Vikings store. This replaces the T440p's vendor touchpad and significantly improves the T440p's usability and your workflow.

There is a number of good CPU models available that will be best for your use-case.

• TDP: 37 W
• Total Cores: 4
• Total Threads: 8
• Processor Base Frequency: 2.30 GHz
• Max Turbo Frequency: 3.30 GHz
• Cache: 6 MB
• VT-x: Yes
• VT-d: No
• Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency: 1.15 GHz

Higher base frequencies, same TDP, 2 MB less cache and half of the cores & threads of the i7-4712MQ. Supports VT-d.

• TDP: 37 W
• Total Cores: 2
• Total Threads: 4
• Processor Base Frequency: 2.90 GHz
• Max Turbo Frequency: 3.60 GHz
• Cache: 4 MB
• VT-x: Yes
• VT-d: Yes
• Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency: 1.3 GHz

pts/build-linux-kernel-1.15.0 [Build: defconfig]

Intel Core i7-4940MX: 388 (note: stock HSF)

The kernel module thinkpad_acpi is unable to autodetect a T440p that runs coreboot instead of the vendor BIOS. The module needs to be forced to load. Add a .conf file to /etc/modprobe.d/ containing:

options thinkpad_acpi force_load=1

In order to use a software fan control mechanism, hwmon and lm-sensors needs to be used (/proc/acpi/ibm/thermal won't work on the T440p).

Install lm-sensors run sensors-detect with root privileges (answering each question with the default (just hit ENTER) should work) Check /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/hwmon/hwmonX/ for the temperatures you want to use (check the temp*_label to identify the sensor and temp*_input to get the temperature) Add hwmon /sys/devices/platform/coretemp.0/hwmon/hwmonX/temp*_input to the thinkfan.conf just above the level settings

Is available here (link to the most current GLUJ43US firmware package), archive.org link.

The last modifiable version is firmware package 2.53: BIOS 2.53 (GLET99WW), EC 1.12 (GLHT29WW)

As the result of CVE-2019-6171, newer Lenovo firmware update files have added a digital signature. If you upgrade to the locked versions you will not be able to patch and/or modify your EC without downgrading it. This is relevant if you're using any future EC hacks or want to work on the EC firmware yourself. This is not relevant if you don't plan to flash unsigned EC firmware in the future.

Basically, any BIOS update package where the changelog mentions CVE-2019-6171 will have this lockdown. Lenovo provides more information about the Embedded Controller Update Vulnerability (archive.org link).

• Ensure that downgrading is possible in BIOS settings (Security/UEFI BIOS Update Option/Secure Rollback Prevention → Disable)
• Downgrade it to the version before the one addressing CVE-2019-6171. EC firmware will be automatically downgraded as well

BIOS and EC firmware can be downloaded from the Lenovo website at https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/de/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t440p/downloads/ds037575

Avoid newer firmware packages, the newer the firmware versions the more limitations on what hardware you can use with it (Lenovo whitelists) will be imposed on you, so some WLAN adapters won't work for example. This is only relevant if you're not using coreboot.

There does not seem to be a battery vendor lock-in on the T440p, even with the newest Lenovo firwmare (at the time of writing this is “GLUJ43US”). There are some 3rd party batteries that won't charge for unknown reasons. However, batteries sold at Vikings have been tested thoroughly and work as expected.

TLP is currently one of the best powersaving utilities available for GNU/Linux operating systems. It performs many functions of similar tools (e.g. the popular powertop), without having the user worry about performing them manually.

For Debian:

sudo apt install tlp tlp-rdw

The default configuration should be fine for most people, however we will be modifying it for better battery life.

$ sudo editor /etc/tlp.conf

Change the content to this and then save the changes:

CPU_BOOST_ON_AC=1
CPU_BOOST_ON_BAT=0

Apply these changes by running:

$ sudo systemctl status tlp.service 

If successful, enable tlp for the next reboots:

$ sudo systemctl enable tlp.service