Upgrading Thinkpad E520 (Screen, RAM, SSD?)

My wife has a Thinkpad E520 (11433FU) with a cracked screen and I am thinking about fixing/upgrading it.

SCREEN:
I have read a bunch of threads and asked around about upgrading the screen to an IPS panel and it seems the only one that might be compatible would be this one: http://www.panelook.com/LP156WHA-SLL1_LG Display_15.6_LCM_overview_19710.html Anyone know how to confirm this one will work? The original TN panel is pretty much crap from what I remember, but if it is the only option I will just replace it with the same panel.

RAM:
It seems like this should be pretty straightforward, but I want to get a good deal on the best option available to me and I'm not quite sure how to figure that out. The current ram is PC3-10600 1333MHz DDR3. Lenovo claims it will only support 8GB, but apparently it should support 16GB just fine (2x8gb). I may just grab another 4GB if it isn't. It looks like 2x8 of the 1333mhz runs about $100, but 1600mhz is cheaper as it is more common. Can I use the 1600mhz? Where is the best/cheapest place to buy compatible RAM? I was just looking on Newegg...

SSD:
Reading around it looks like I should be able to add an SSD in one of two ways. I can replace the original HDD with any SATA2/3 2.5" SSD or add an mSATA drive and keep the original HDD. It looks like the mSATA connection only supports SATA2 which is half the speed of the other slot. Wondering if it is worth having both with the slower speed or just replacing the original HDD to take full advantage of the SSD speed. If replacing is ideal, I'd prefer a 250GB+ size. Any thoughts on a good deal on a compatible drive?

It looks like I should be able upgrade the screen, the RAM, and add an SSD for somewhere between $150 and $250 and have a pretty solid computer. Would spending around that or a little more on a completely new laptop be a better idea than fixing this one? Any help is appreciated!

 

RAM:
Always buy the fastest/best quality RAM you can get (the 1600MHz is what I would have recommended).

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...p-screenshots-appreciate.699186/#post-8978284


SSD:
Forget about running an SSD + HDD setup. That is if you want the fastest, most responsive system and also the most durable/dependable one. Yeah; SSD+HDD setups are slower and give no better drive protection than an HDD only setup. A waste of a possibly good mobile setup (putting in a slow, mechanical drive in there - for any storage usage (system or strictly data).

Forget mSATA - even if it was a SATAIII connection it would still be slow vs. a 2.5" SATAIII SSD... (it has to do with the smaller number of nand packages possible on the mSATA version, not to mention (possibly) crippled controllers too (with half or less the number of concurrent 'channels' they have available (think of the nand in a RAID0 configuration) to do work with.

Forget about the 250GB and even the 500GB SSD's today. A 1TB or larger OP'd by 33% or more will give you the fastest, most consistent setup possible (and only cost a few dollars more in the end...) while giving 2 to 5 times the performance of a smaller drive used without OP'ing.

(The SSD I still recommend over any other at the 1TB capacity is the SanDisk Extreme Pro - if you can still find them in your area).

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/why-over-provision.760922/#post-9766709

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ing-programs-and-winrar.787721/#post-10193062


With the ThinkPAD model your wife has, I think it is worth upgrading the RAM to 16GB and the SSD to 1TB too and doing a clean of Win10x64 (Pro recommended) to even the $500 or more level, imo.

I think your wife will pass it on to someone else before she complains about it's performance again.

Good luck.

 

@MimosaTexas the display you're talking about, while IPS and good upgrade over TN, is low res and low brightness. If you are very low on budget, you can certainly go with an upgrade; however, otherwise I'd recommend a new(er) machine. Replacing the display will increase your chances of selling the machine in one piece, of course.

 

I appreciate the replies and advice. That particular SSD is out of my budget at the moment unfortunately. I'd like to spend around $100 at most (if possible) on that part of the "upgrade". I'll get the faster RAM for sure.

Starlight5: unfortunately, that seems to be the ONLY IPS panel that will work based on what I have read. There are 50 or so other TN panels that show as compatible, but they are all basically identical to the stock panel as far as I can tell, just glossy or matte, but same viewing angles etc. I'd love to up the resolution as well, but apparently that would require a different cable, which would mean more extensive disassembly of the case and likely soldering as apparently the motherboard can't accept it "as is". There is a pretty detailed discussion about it here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/e520-swap-hd-screen-for-fullhd.618070/ but they don't mention the IPS panel I found anywhere...

 

In that case, forget about upgrading any part of this system (sell/donate it for parts).

A new platform will give you quantifiable benefits beyond just 'performance' improvements over this broken system; including warranty, hardware that is 'made for Win10' and the chance to buy specifically what you want (still buy with the smallest/cheapest RAM/HDD configuration possible; do those upgrades on your own as outlined above).

An SSD in the $100 range is not a good option for any platform you decide on (even if the 'scores' show it being light-years better than any HDD - it's not). May as well leave the HDD installed and save your $$$ or better yet; simply donate it to someone even more needy.

Especially when your budget won't allow to do a full/proper upgrade, just walk away from this 'project' that you don't need to be involved in (to be able to do the base platform (CPU+RAM) justice).

 

@MimosaTexas I assume you have single 4GB memory module right now - so just get the cheapest 8GB module to complement it - difference between 12GB and 16GB is usually not that noticeable. Regarding SSD, well mSATA will most likely cost you a lot, so expect to get a 2.5" drive. Try not to spend over $60 for 256GB (over $105 for 512GB), get something MLC. Enterprise TLC will do too. Wait for Christmas sales, or try winning used on auction.