EliteBook 8530w vs Lenovo W500

Hello,

what do you mean which one is the better workstation:
HP EliteBook 8530w or Lenovo W500?

Does the 8530w have switchable graphics?
Why does HP use the old DDR2 memory instead DDR3 like Lenovo?

Do you know pros and cons for this two ones?

 

The HP EliteBook 8530w will not have switchable graphics. The on-the-fly switching between graphics chips of two manufacturers is a BIOS feature developed by Lenovo and available on the R400, T400, T500 and W500 series.

 

Its actually a feature of the new Montevina (Centrino 2) platform, not a Lenovo proprietary or developed feature. But to the OP, I'm not sure if that model supports it or not, but it could potentially.

 

no reviews on either sadly

 

Then I wonder why no-one except Lenovo has announced any notebook with on-the-fly switchable graphics. Even the new Sonys have the mechanical switch they inherited from the previous generation...

 

I have just seen both models live. The 120W AC adapter of the 8530w is bulky and heavy! According to the HP quickspecs, it measures 16.9 x 6.5 x 3.8 cm and weights 0.69 kg. Good luck carrying that around!
The HP guy said they need to provide 120W, just in case the user plugs in devices on the eSata or HDMI ports.

The 90W AC adapter for the W500 what I would call standard-sized.

 

You will get both the 90W and 120W adaptors in the package.

 

Do you have any references to support your claim? What you mention could be the case for a specific sale, but I doubt it would apply to every single 8530w shipped... I do not find it economical nor reasonable to supply every notebook with two power adaptors.

In the quick specs linked from here, the 90W adapter is listed as an option, whereas all configurations include a 120W adapter.

 

That was the initial information we were told, but on hindsight, I cannot confirm until we get them. Either way, it's not a big issue is it? You can always get the smaller power adaptors as they will still work when the power draw isn't that high.

 

On-the-fly switching is not supported on the W500 as it doens not come with integrated graphics.
This feature is imho reserved to the T-series. (compare the t500 and w500 spec sheets, t500 shouts 'switchable graphics', w500 does not even mention integrated graphics)

 

The Montevina platform alone is not enough for switchable graphics. The chipset PM45 of the 8530w belongs to Montevina but does not include integrated graphics.

However the W500 should definitely support it, at least according to this review (in Czech) :

http://www.extranotebook.cz/thinkpad-w500-–-centrino-2-naplno?page=0,3

where it shows a comparison between the performance of the integrated X4500 and the discrete ATI V5700.

 

both the W500 and 8530w have the PM45 chipset due to the specifications.
So why should the Lenovo have switchable graphics and the HP one not?

Does anybody know facts about this notebooks or owns one of these or
are this all just speculations?

 

Lenovo developed the switchable graphics working with Intel and nVidia, HP didn't.

 

The switchagle graphic cards is an option on the T-series and standard on the W-series.

 

For anyone interested, here is a detailed review of the W500:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-Thinkpad-W500-Notebook.11683.0.html

After reading this review, and the recently-posted review of the HP Elitebook 8530w, the 8530w is better in many respects.

Hope this helps!

 

FWIW, this feature is not that amazing. You still have to manually click a software switch to move to the other card. Granted, this is better than Sony’s method of a hardware switch plus rebooting, but Lenovo dropped the ball, IMHO, when they did not give us the ability to switch automatically depending on the state of the battery.

Then again, I’m a pleased T400 owner, so…

 

W500 has DDR3, while 8530w DDR2, The speed/bandwidth certainly differs ! This is a notable difference to me.

 

HP opted not to integrate the feature of switchable graphics.

I used both DDR2 and DDR3, for general application not a really huge difference. You may notice *slight* performance gain in CAD software.

I own a HP 8530w and really happy with its quality and functions.

Yes the 120W power brick is a pain to carry around, but then for it i am mostly plugged in @ one place. Not a big issue for me.

 

If switchable graphics is what you need, then the only real option is the lenovo. However, the thinkpad's build quality has been slipping as of late, I believe the 8530w is the more durable of the two.

 

I am concidering buying a W500, but I can't see anywhere on the Lenovo site that it should have switchable graphics. If I check the spec. on the T400 it states that it has it, but I can't find anything on the site that states that the W500 should have it. Can someone please sort this out?

On the compare list it only states that the T-series has switchable graphics as an option.

// Daniel

 

The W500 does have switchable graphics, running Vista. If you run linux or an OS without a switchable graphics option you can choose between graphics options through the bios (choose either the integrated Intel GMA 4500HD or the dedicated ATI FireGLMobility V5700). Check out the fact sheet at http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf.

 

I purchased the W500 and everything works fine so far.

W500 configuration:

- T9900 (3.06 GHz)
- 8G DDR3 memory
- V5700 FireGL (512M)/Intel Onboard graphics
- WUXGA display
- 250 GB hard drive (Encrypted)
- BT, Intel 5300, modem...
- 3 years extended warranty

My previous notebook is a HP nw8240
My previous 2 other notebooks are also HP ZD7000 & .....

The reason going for something else this time... My nw8240 had been replacing motherboard every 1.5 years. It just broke again. Same symptom, cannot even get to the Setup screen. This time around, the 3 year warranty expired....

Their on site repair service is impeccable. Telephone call today and someone will come in the next day to have the board replaced. My other two earlier models never require any services. Even though they are retired now, they're still running fine.

Functionwise, a newer machine definitely ran much faster. I looked at a 8730W Dream color LED screen before when some salesman brought in his machine to do some demonstration. It is definitely brighter and color more vibrant than the W500 LCD.

Programs the machine will be used for: OpenGL based 3D CAD software and photoshop

The switchable graphics definitely a plus. It gives you at least an hour and a half of extra battery life when you are just surfing the web, say while you are waiting at the airport etc. Two clicks away and you can bring the beast back to life. Of course, the OPenGL application had to be closed before the switchable graphics will work. Otherwise, you'll be greeted with a warning message asking you to close the application before switching again.

Another plus is the little LED light projecting from the top of the LCD. It not only just bright enough to illuminate the keyboard, it also light up the area below the keyboard where you can place some material like a post note etc that you need to read from.

The only thing I am missing from the W500, an infrared red port. Now, I cannot sync with my other devices without using a cable.

 

wow this is an old thread...