JUST purchased a Lenovo Y500, bad timing?

I'm not surprised the generic key doesn't work anymore. Also, don't try using the key pulled from your system by a utility such as Belarc Advisor or Magical Jelly Bean; that won't work either and isn't even the actual key, which is stored in the BIOS.

If you're having trouble using the Upgrade Assistant to download a W8 Upgrade ISO for a clean install you could always ask family/friends/acquaintances for or Google a Retail Windows 8 Pro key. That's guaranteed to let you download the ISO.

 

$879 Shipped daily deal! : Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 Laptop: Core i7 3630QM 2.4GHz, 12GB DDR3, 1TB HDD + 16GB SSD, 15.6" 1920x1080 LED, 2GB GeForce GT750M, Windows 8 $879 + Free Shipping 04-27-2013 - Slickdeals.net

 

Wow ! this looks very good, but what about the temperatures ?

 

Guess I didn't even watch the temps, but after playing Skyrim on ultra for about 45min, I was hovering right around 70c

 

That is a route I've also read about, but if I remember correctly, doesn't a retail copy of windows 8 pro upgrade run $120-$130. Xentar712 stated you could call lenovo and get a standard copy of windows 8 for $80. What is the primarily benefits of upgrading to windows 8 pro? Is it the equivalent to windows 7 home vs pro?

 

I think he means to google and find a key just to download. You won't need to imput a code when you install Win 8 - the key is just to get the download. Nowhere during the install will it ask you for the key and it will automatically activate it since it's embedded. Edit: You want the regular Win 8 install. The Win 8 pro install CD might work too but I'm not sure - I heard no.

 

Hmmm not bad...Did you played demanding games of 2012/2013 ? I would really appreciate it if we can get some game benchmarks.

 

I don't have any newer games. Diablo III is my newest. I pretty much only play RPG and RTS on my PC...everything else is console. There hasn't been anything new out yet that I really want to try out.

 

Yeah just Google or ask someone for a valid Retail Windows 8 Pro key. The key is only for plugging in to the Upgrade Assistant to download the ISO and will cost you nothing. I'm sure there's a bunch floating around for this purpose. It has to be a Pro key because the Upgrade Assistant will verify your current operating system before determining what you can download.

There is no such thing as separate installation media for Windows 8 Core and Windows 8 Pro. They're both on the same DVD and it's your key which determines which version is installed. This isn't Windows 7.

 

I am back from playing Saints Row the Third for over two hours. My laptop is not hot AT ALL! This is with the 750M SLI! I can't believe it. Oh fun

 

Just in case anyone was wondering, I think the general consensus that the Lenovo site had a typo on their product pages is correct. The site product description now has it back to the original specs of 15.6" FHD LED Glossy Wedge 1920x1080. Not the Anti-Glare description anymore.

 

Just curious, to the people who upgraded their msata ssd, what brand and size did you go with. Tried to look into Samsung line of msata ssd's but their not available on a retail sales level. Crucial seems to be the best bet.

 

Yes, please. Anyone have an SSD upgrade guide for the Y500?

 

I have a Crucial 256. Works great and the price was good on Amazon

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

Do you use this drive as your boot drive? There's not much of a choice I guess when it comes to msata drives, good to here that its sound.

 

On a side note, UPS guy just came and dropped off my y500 with the dual geforce gt 750m sli setup.

 

Yes I did. You have to do either a fresh install or clone and move the partition. I did a fresh install. See a couple pages back where I explained how.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

Just thought I'd share. On the stock Synaptics drivers, I changed the sensitivity to the 3rd mark from the left. It seems to have alleviated most of my jumpiness.

 

Which sensitivity are you talking about? Also, what jumpiness?

 

Swapped my 16gb SSD for a 128GB ADATA mSATA. Boot is 10 sec, Photoshop loads in 4 seconds and Bioshock Infinite starts instantly (yes, less than 1 sec). Great performance, if you have the money to go with 256GB I'd recommend doing so, space is already getting cramped but I don't mind deleting games after I beat them so 128gb works for me.

 

When scrolling with the touchpad, the cursor tends to jump all over the place(at least for me). In the synaptics settings, you can adjust the sensitivity of the pointer

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

are there any proper instructions on how to open an add in a msata ssd?

picture or a video would be great.

 

Did you play on high or ultra ? What was the fps ?

 

Cant wait to start seeing more gaming benchmarks start to pour in for the sli version!!

 

The ultrabay card appeared on Lenovo's website
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...flow:item.detail?GroupID=460&Code=0C22235

Now to wait for the sale

 

So, I finally got to open my y500 that I got early to, when using the track pad, and pressing the left and right click locations, the track pad actually depress in the laptop. Is this normal?

 

Yes. This is partially by design of the trackpad itself (similar to Apple MacBook & MacBook Pro style trackpads), and partially also due to poor quality of the trackpad itself. One of the most common criticisms of the Lenovo Y400 / Y500 laptop is the quality & reliability of the trackpad.

Most people shrug it off, since these laptops are so large that you will typically be using them on a desk with a mouse. After all, you're buying a laptop for $900 that has equivalent performance to laptops that cost $1100+. That cost-savings had to come from somewhere.

 

I knew they had problems, I do have the synaptics track pad with the latest driver 311 I believe.

 

Can we sue them for false marketing?

Still hoping for a more thoroughly benchmarking to assimilate approximately how many frames can the 750M SLI grant me over the previous GPU.

 

Still no optimus in the gt750m right ?

 

Im curious, I tried to replicate your results with not luck using NVidia inspector. what setting did you change or set it to, to get your results.

 

No

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Can someone please explain to me why Best Buy doesn't have the 750M SLI version in stock yet?

 

First, Lenovo makes different model numbers for the outside vendors. For most of them, it's an SLI model. Lenovo appears to have just gotten their SLI version in stock themselves. So best buy may not have received it yet.

Second, they might be running out of the old stock first before the new stuff. They could even have the new model and not even know they are selling it.

Finally, it's Best Buy, meaning don't get your hopes up on them having the latest tech people want. I gave up on them a couple years ago. I've tried to be loyal and give them as many chances as possible but they have continued to prove to be that they have a very shallow and overpriced selection.

Just curious, why limit yourself to them? Gift card?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

Highest settings possible w/ vertical sync and I had max FPS (60) the entire time.

 

There is still no optimus but the thing is the laptop still gets 4 hours of battery life with power saver and low brightness. It could probably get some more with optimus, but that is still good for such a powerful laptop.

 

I had a little over 3 hours of battery-life with the highest settings, but I was only doing things like browse the web and such.

 

I just increased the base clock offset and clicked apply. Make sure you do it for both GPU's.

Also, did a bit more playing with 3dmark. The best score I managed (stable) was a P4932, with the base clock set at +120, and memory clock set at +300. I would say that is damn good performance for a laptop I paid $1050 for plus $200 for the SSD. Those scores are definitely better than any GT675mx scores I've seen. Other than the iffy trackpad, I'm impressed with this machine.

 

The trackpad has nothing wrong with it at all. The trackpad just takes some getting used to then, bam, you find it to be rather impressive. The one-touch click feature is fairly cool and reminds me of a Macbook.

 

I agree, once I got the sensitivity issue worked out and got used to putting some distance between your fingers for multi-finger gestures, it's gotten a lot better. The nice thing is synaptics built in options to turn on/off just about everything.

 

I also changed my sensitivity thanks to you, by the way.

 

I didn't see the option for the second gpu, I thought it would apply the settings to both gpu's. Where is the option to select the second gpu? And also I see that you upgraded your msata ssd, would that also have a difference in you benchmark scores? Being I'm still running the stock configuration ( 1tb hdd, and 16gb ssd ). I get paid this Friday and my first upgrade would be the crucial m4 256gb ssd like yours.

 

If you're gonna get a SSD get the Samsung 840 pro.

 

I didn't actually upgrade the msata, that is still in there. I took the 1tb hdd out and put a Samsung 840 Pro in (probably one of the fastest SSD's out right now). And yes, that can make a difference in the benchmark, because it determines how fast the machine can get the data from the storage drive.

As far as the second gpu, there is a drop-down menu at the bottom where it shows the graphics card. Click that, and you'll notice the (0) and (1) behind each one. That is the port on the bus that the cards are connected to.

 

Sure.

But it will cost you $50,000 in lawyer fees. And the best possible outcome you could hope for is that Lenovo will let you return the laptop without charging you $150 in restocking fees.

 

I didn't see the option for the second gpu, I thought it would apply the settings to both gpu's. Where is the option to select the second gpu? And also I see that you upgraded your msata ssd, would that also have a difference in you benchmark scores? Being I'm still running the stock configuration ( 1tb hdd, and 16gb ssd ). I get paid this Friday and my first upgrade would be the crucial m4 256gb ssd like yours.

Sorry for the double post, on my phone at work.

I was referring to the msata drive, Samsung does make msata drives with the same quality and performance as their 830/840 2.5 inch drive, the problem is, is that they don't offer them on a retail market level, you have to buy a pre configured system that offers one. What I was planning on doing is upgrading the msata drive with a crucial m4 msata 256gb ssd and making that my boot drive only while upgrading the 2.5 inch main drive with a 512gb Samsung 840 pro ssd drive for programs only. I'll use an external drive for all my media content.

 

I have been following this thread for a week or so and I wanted to finally comment. I bought the Y500 650m SLI just before the 750m came out, and I have been agonizing over whether or not it is worth it to return the one I have for the upgraded version. I was waiting for some benchmarks on the 750m, and I'm glad I did, because my 650m in SLI are giving me great results and I have no regrets sticking with this laptop.

I have overclocked mine to 1100 core, 2700 memory, I am getting around 4,850 in 3dMark 2011 with the latest 320.00 drivers with temps reaching no higher than 73 degrees.



I can play Skyrim on ultra with an unwavering 60fps. I play Far Cry 3 on very high at 45-50fps. I get 38fps in the Shogun 2 Total War 1080 preset benchmark (on Steam). The hottest temps I have seen at these clocks are 77 degrees after two hours of Far Cry 3, well within the safe zone. I will probably try to reach 1150/2800 or higher in a few days.

One interesting thing is the 650m in the ultra bay consistently gets 4-5 degrees hotter than the non-ultra bay card. Maybe because the fan does not spin up as much. Has anyone else seen this happening?

 

Mine are like that too...one card consistently is hotter than the other by a couple degrees. I would guess because of the way the ultrabay card is enclosed and how the air moves around inside of the casing for it.

I hope for better overclocking/benchmarks with mine once NVidia releases the drivers for the gt750m on their website. Currently the Lenovo drivers are 311.

 

i think the general consences was that the sli 750 version of the y500 was to be predetermied to be 15-20% better gpu performances over the 650 version. Gland your happy with yours, i know i am with mine. As far as i know about the temps, i remember reading that the ultra bay gpu was suppose to run cooler being it had its own fan. Tried messing with nvidia interceptor last night with no luck, i will try again tomorrow. by the way what program are you using to clock your gpu's.