Lenovo U410 Owners Lounge

Hey everyone, noticed we didn't have one of these yet so I made one, hopefully we will be able to consolidate information to make it easier for others to find.

Any issues you find, post here and hopefully someone has an answer for you!

So my U410 i7 model ships on the 10th, and should land on the 17th, something interesting though, I bought mine without an SSD and luckily, it does infact have an MSATA slot, which I found in a teardown video. I ordered a 128GB Mushkin Atlas and a set of 8 gig 1600 204pin sticks (16GB total) and will let everyone know how the install goes.

I bought the i7 version for $759.00 and the upgrades cost me $200 bucks on top and for $950, this ultrabook really can't be beat.

 

Funny, this model caught my eye just minutes ago...

I'm doing some research on it right now (doesn't look bad so far). Anyone here own one? Comments??

 

The biggest deal to me was portability (.8 inches thin), build quality, and the combo of the 2.5" drive bay and the standard msata slot, which is actually quite rare, the 2 user replaceable dim slots are a big plus as well, because 16Gb only cost me $80.

 

iCracked, can you point me to the teardown video? I've searched, and cannot find it.

I was just ready to pull the trigger on the U310, as I don't need the discrete graphics nor the extra .7" of screen, and like the smaller package. However, I did not realize that the U410 has an extra drive slot and two DIMM slots. It this is true, then I am definitely getting a U410 instead, as I do need 16G of memory and more storage options.

I've looked at everything and feel the U310 and U410 are the best Ultrabooks for the money right now, if you can live with the 1366x768 screen, which I can when not using an external monitor. However, buyer beware, as both have a hardware flaw that prevents the wifi from working on builds before July 29th. Those built afterward supposedly work, but this has not been verified yet. You can find details on the Lenovo user forum.

Thanks in advance if you can point me to the teardown details.

 

I just found the teardown info and videos on Lenovo's service site. Both U310 and U410 have drive and msata slot, but U310 only has one DIMM slot while U410 has two.

iCracked, let me know how your upgrades go. Lenovo whitelisted their wireless card, so I am worried they also whitelisted the SSD slot, or maybe even limited the RAM in BIOS. If not then the U410 looks very promising, indeed.

 

The U410 has the GT610M, while the U310 only has the HD4000. I've read all the comparison websites, and the HD4000 beats the GT610M with faster processors, but with the ultrabook processors, it is probably about a tie. So is there still an advantage to the GT610M? I would think that even if the graphics benchmarks are the same, running graphics on the GT610M leaves the CPU and memory bus free to do other things. Also, as the CPU runs graphics longer, you risk heat induced throttling, which is why I guess they run benchmarks for so long. The negative of the GT610M has to be more power drain, unless it really switches off when not used, and somehow I doubt it.

I just compared the U310 and U410 at a local store, laying them on top of each other, and I was surprised the U410 is only a little bit longer and wider. The U410 could be the sleeper of the year (judging by how few people have been visiting this subforum). If only the graphics chip or video card was upgradeable, then you could really make it a monster, but then I doubt the ultrabook chassis could handle the extra power and thermal loading.

 

iCracked, let me know how the memory install goes. Several memory guide tools online state the U410 will only recognize 2x4G SODIMMs. The tech section of places selling the latest 8G 204-pin DIMMs say host must support 8G for the additional memory to be recognized. I'm crossing my fingers that this will work!

 

How's the screen quality (viewing angles, colors, contrast, etc) on the U410 or U310? Decent? Not so great?

Also, which laptop has better screen quality? (U310 vs U410)

Thanks...

 

The two screens are identical quality, just the U410 is a little bigger. Reviews have dinged the display, but I thought it was middle of road, and more than adequate. 1366x768 on a 14" screen is a bit low, but I will be using an external monitor most of the time, and this is more than adequate for the times I will not. The left/right viewing angles were great. They oriented the screen so it washes out with vertical movement rather than horizontal, as this is better controlled by how far you open it. I found I had to angle the screen back more than I like to have good contrast. If I had it open exactly 90 degrees, and my line of sight was above either of them, then the screen would wash out slightly. However, angling the screen a little bit past vertical removed the washout.

For me, the big question is whether or not the U410 will really support 16G of RAM (2x8G), which would imply the U310 would support 8G (1x8G). I would really like 16G of RAM in something smaller than a mobile workstation.

 

Thanks for the screen info. I too use an external monitor the majority of the time, but still, I'd prefer a better than decent screen on the laptop (if possible).

 

I guess it's all what you are used to, and what you are going to do with it. It is definitely not an IPS display. However, remember some IPS displays have horrible color gamut. I would rate the screen more than adequate. It is better than my work Dell 630 14" 1440x900 display. That display was so bad new, I asked IT to send it back under warranty, but they refused. It is not as good as my HP2140 netbook 10" 1366x768 display, but as my eyes have gotten older, I can't read this dot pitch very well anymore. I honestly thought the display was beautiful, with my only reservation being having to angle the screen back past vertical to get a sharp contrast. I wish these displays still had the contrast slider that ancient LCD panels had.

I can't wait for iC to get his laptop and post his findings. I ran the "bios simulator" on Lenovo's service training website, and didn't see any RAM settings, so no clues there. I had never heard of a bios training simulator before. I don't mind waiting, as the longer I wait, the less likely I will get a pre-July23rd build.

Oh, and I loved the new chiclet keyboard. It typed great. I tried all the keyboards at three stores, and I even preferred it to the MacBook Air's. SoundsGood, I see from your signature you had early computers. I had same. What I find funny is I learned to touch type on the TI 99/4, which had a chiclet keyboard. All the critics made fun of the keyboard, so they went with a standard keyboard on the 99/4A update. Two decades later Apple (and Sony) moves to chiclet, for the same reasons TI chose it for their first personal computer, and the critics rave.

 

One user on Lenovo's forum is claiming he solved the U310/U410 wifi problem by changing the screw holding the wifi board to the motherboard from a black non-conductive screw to a silver conductive equivalent. Hopefully others will try this, and let everyone know if that is indeed a fix.

 

Yeah, I never had a problem with the so-called "chicklet" keyboards. In fact I've been using one for years.

Hey, where did you find these Ux10 units in person? I can't find them anywhere.

 

I only found them available on display at my local Frys.

 

Gotcha, thanks.

 

My ship date got moved from the 10th to today, the 14th, I'll update you guys if it does intact ship today.

Almost cancelled for an X1 Carbon i7 for 1350$ but it's nearly twice the price, a quarter of slower ram and only 5% faster. The build quality Rocks though.

The Ram came in but the SSD is oos so my order didn't ship

 

I'm thinking of getting a U410 to replace my recently deceased desktop. I have a couple of questions for current owners:

-My external monitor has VGA and DVI inputs; is there any way, possibly through adapters, to connect the U410 to my monitor?

-I don't game and most usage will be web surfing and Excel usage. I can get the U410 with the i7-3517U processor for $50 more than the model with the i5-3317U processor. Is the i7 going to be much better for my type of usage? I suspect most of the benefit of jumping up to the i7 is when watching video but not sure.

 

You can use a HDMI to DVI cable or converter to connect to your monitor. However, there are a few catches: Depending upon the age of your monitor, some older DVI's are missing pins and have lower max resolutions; since a simple wire converter will not have HDCP protocol, you may not be able to stream a blu-ray or protected HD content; HDMI carries audio while DVI does not, so you will need a separate audio connection, which your monitor already needs anyway. You can buy a full HDCP converter (I use one for my VGA projector), but they are expensive and not really needed for websurfing or Excel usage - a simple converting cable is all that is needed. Here is a helpful link: What’s the Difference Between HDMI and DVI? Which is Better? - How-To Geek

For websurfing and Excel, I doubt you would notice a difference between the two processors. A SSD is usually the best bang for buck upgrade for speed increases, so that $50 could go toward a fast SSD. However, your money, your call...

 

Four, I'm almost 100% positive that the U310 only supports a maximum of 4GB or RAM which was a deal breaker for me. I'm pretty sure I read it on one of the pro review sites(The Verge, Engadget). The U410 though has peaked my interest but lack of user reviews have held me back. Though a good review on laptopmag.

 

Well, the U310 comes with a single user replaceable PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz DIMM, 204 pin (The U410 two). The reviews said max configurable was 4G, it did not necessarily mean max supported is 4G. However, the Crucial website says max supported is 4G in the DIMM slot, and emphasizes it will not support more, it is for repairs only. Most of the ultrabooks have their memory soldered down to keep down thickness. For me, what makes the U310/U410 unique is the DIMM is socketed, as is the mSATA. The wifi is also, but a shame they whitelist it.

For me, the open question is if the U310/U410 will support the 204-pin 8G DIMMs that are becoming available (the 240's are easier to find). There is no way of knowing except for plugging it in and seeing what happens. Possible outcomes: It does not work, it works but only 4G show as available, or it works and all 8G show as available.

I might have bought one and tried it already, but I am waiting for the pre-July23rd builds to flush out of stockrooms. It looks like iCracked might be trying it out, and reporting back afterward.

 

My order got delayed 4 more days, now it says the 18th. Very upset since I ordered on the 3rd. I did manage to grab an msata SSD however.

Guess who is getting an angry phonecall tomorrow?

 

I am real close to getting the U410 but I'm reading more than a few reviews and posts on other sites that people are having issues with the wifi. The U400 was infamous for having terrible wifi issues.

Are current owners having any wifi issues as noted in this article:

Lenovo IdeaPad U310/U410 WiFi Issues « Ultrabook News and the Ultrabook Database


For the fun of it I did a live chat today with a Lenovo rep and asked about the wifi issue and I was told "Lenovo is aware of the issue, escalted the issue at Lenovo and the issue is no fixed". Seems unlikely that the issue is suddenly fixed with the above article highlighting the issue only last week.

 

In that case... what other laptops are similar to this one that you guys have considered?

 

iC, be glad your shipment is delayed... the longer it takes, the greater the possibility you are getting the wifi fix.

sullymc, judging by all the reviews everywhere, all the U310 and U410 models have the wifi problem, and there is now a hardware fix that requires sending the laptop back to Lenovo service center. They claim all builds after July 29th are correct, and that if you order directly from Lenovo you will get new builds, not the pre-July 29th builds. They have said the fix is slightly different between U310 and U410, and that the motherboard does not need replacing. I wish they would just come out and say what they are changing. If it is the wifi card, then they could just release a firmware update that lets owners use any wifi card, for those who don't want to send it back to Lenovo and lose the use of the laptop for a month.

 

My U410 arrived on the 14th. I ordered it from Lenovo last week. No wifi problems at all.

Irdered a Plextor PX-256M3 256GB SSD and 256GB Crucial m4 mSATA 6Gb/s SSD. I replaced both the mSATA and SATA drives with no issue using the instructions from Lenovo's site:
IdeaPad U410 Service Training -> Go to "FRU Videos" and then to "Full System Disassembly/Assembly".

 

There is a "CenturionSlayer" on another forum who says he "replaced the msata SSD with a Mushkin and threw in 16GB of g.skill 1600 1.5v" in a U410. There are no other details given.

There is one ebay merchant sellling a single 204-pin 8G DIMM for the U310, saying it will work.

There is a "jbgrzy" on Lenovo forum that put a 8G DIMM in the U310 as part of his review, and says it works.

This is good enough for me. I'm going to pull the trigger soon.

 

Paul, do you have a USB3 device? There was also an issue where if a USB3 external HDD was plugged in, the wifi would drop and would have to be manually reconnected. I assume the wifi fix solved all issues, but no one has verified the USB3 problem is resolved. Thanks

 

Interesting discussion going on over at the Lenovo forum. 35 pages of dissapointed users having wifi problems and not getting firm answers by Lenovo support. Looks like they claim the issue was solved this week but I'd be skeptical until a large number of users report good wifi usage from normal ranges and not just sitting 20 feet from the router. Link is here:

My new u310 gives really low speeds on wifi - Page 34 - Lenovo Community

 

FYI, that user discussion over wifi is for both the U310 and U410 as both models experience the same wifi issue. The thread is entitled U310.

 

What do you guys think about U310 vs U410? Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks...

 

Another interesting article about the U410/U310's issues with wifi (article written just a week ago). Make sure to read the comments to get a feel for what users are experiencing. Bummer as I was just about to pull the trigger.

Lenovo IdeaPad U310/U410 WiFi Issues « Ultrabook News and the Ultrabook Database

 

I saw a U310 today for the first time (still haven't found a U410). I liked the way it looked and felt, and was okay with the weight. The screen seemed overly glossy, but not terrible.

What I wasn't crazy about was the keyboard. I've used better flat/chicklet keys before. Also the trackpad didn't work when I tried to move multiple files from one folder to another (in other words, holding down the left button while using the trackpad did not work). Just using the trackpad alone DID work. I was also reminded that this lappy doesn't come with Bluetooth, and I happen to use a Bluetooth mouse.

The wifi in the store didn't work well, so it wasn't a fair test... but the unit was built in 5/12.

 

Ok, big update, after many a call to Lenovo's post sales dept. I finally got a shipping number and UPS does in fact have my package. After complaining so much about it taking nearly a month, I got $60 off my order of the $759.00 (after haggling) i7 model with 8GB RAM and 1TB HDD/Open MSATA slot, for a total of only $699!! I fully expect it in my hands by around wednesday, and I will do a proper unboxing and post some pics of the teardown + SSD + 16GB RAM install. The RAM I got was the g.skill set and centurionslayer on the other forum was me, I kind of jumped the gun because I commented on a review saying it was impossible to upgrade anything (false).

 

Where did you hear that it doesn't come with Bluetooth? I have written down that it has Bluetooth 4.0.

 

Lots of reviews. Look here.

 

Ok, today was the big day!

Immediately unboxed and installed the 2x8GB RAM and the 120GB MSATA SSD. The laptop was a b*tch to open, but overall, VERY well built, ram popped in and out no problem, no spare screw for msata but I worked it out (had a spare). Tried booting with just RAM first but to no avail, windows would not load. BIOS correctly reads all 16GB, so I made a USB and reinstalled Windows 7 Home Premium x64 without any bloat to my MSATA SSD no problem, but here are some huge tips.

BIOS IS KEY
Change graphics adapter to UMA from NVIDIA or it will not boot
Enable Legacy USB mode or it will not boot
Enable AHCI instead of the default RAID mode or MSATA SSD will be useless
Disable Lenovo Smart Update (to save battery)

After all this is done you now have the only (to my knowledge) 16GB RAM ultrabook.

 

HI iCraked and all,
I just got a new U410 and I am testing it... I have question I hope you can help with what is the battery life after full charge with a windows 7, screen on but no programmes running? Mine seem last for a bout 4 hours and that seems too short
thanks in advance for your help

 

Most of that should be attributed to the crapware lenovo loads it with. My completely bloat-free windows 7 home premium U410 got me about 7 hours today of actual use/web browsing (huge steam Download). This is with smart update disabled in bios and no drivers installed for the 610M, which I don't really miss.

Your experience is relatively consistent with others running U410's without any modifications.

Also, I can comfirm the MSATA slot is SATA 3 6.0 GB/s as on ATTO I was getting well over 500 MB r/w.

Boot time is around 8 seconds. Trying to enable optimus in bios shoots this time into the minute range, which is odd.

I had no trouble mounting my 1TB 2.5" as drive letter Z

16GB of RAM passed Memcheck and is Prime 95 stable as well.

I can confirm there is NO bluetooth, atleast in my model.

Also, the wifi data speeds I'm getting are consistent even with my fathers MacBook Air and Pro, in fact, slightly better. Even with a USB 3.0 Corsair Flash and a USB 3.0 WD MyPassport.

 

Thanks for the updates!

Can you tell if the 610M is powered down without the drivers? I don't need the 610M, so it be great if it was asleep and not pulling any power.

Did you happen to get the model number of the wifi card when you had it apart? What is your manufactured on date?

I've been using a 8G machine at work for the past two weeks and keep hitting the memory limit resulting in HDD paging, so 16G would be soooo sweet.

 

The device is only powered down if you disable Optimus in the BIOS and switch to UMA. Your boot times should also quicken. My laptop was manufactured on the 28th of July and it said intel 2200 when I peaked, sorry I dont have more for you. I am also using the vanilla Intel drivers if that helps too.

 

First off, a BIG thank you, iCracked, and everyone else who has contributed to this thread. The feedback about the SSD/memory upgrades is something no review has offered up, and makes the u410 a GREAT value to me.

I ordered the i7/8GB/1TB model for $740 around 8/25. Lenovo put a hold on my credit card payment and I had to make 4 separate phone calls to get it resolved. Eventually, after a conference call with my credit card provider and Lenovo support, I was able to get the order to go through. I paid for the 2day shipping and it took about 12 days to get it to my door, so I called and complained and got an extra 5% off the price. With the shipping, 3 year accidental warranty and sales tax, it came out to under $900. I have to say, Lenovo's support is absolutely terrible. A very difficult process.

Once I got the laptop I immediately popped in the 128GB mSATA from Crucial, followed up by a clean install of Windows 7. I love that all the drivers were on the "Lenovo" partition, ready to go. I set the BIOS settings per iCracked and it booted perfectly on the first try. With the mSATA and clean install, this thing screams!!!

All in all, I'm really satisfied with the machine. My only complaints are the same things all the reviewers complain about: Why put a second, equally low-level GPU, instead of a matte screen, or a backlit keyboard? Why have dedicated Home/End/PgUp/PgDn buttons and shorten the backspace and enter keys? Just make those buttons function keys for the arrows, like dell does, and BAM, full size backspace+enter. Way too much bloatware.

Other than that, I seriously love this machine: i7, 8GB (expandable to 16!), 1TB HDD + 128GB SSD, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI (screw mini-display), ethernet port, 3 year accidental warranty, and weight/height meeting ultrabook specs for just under $1,000? This is a sleeper machine, for sure. I would have never pulled the trigger if it weren't for this thread, thank you all!

edit: One last thing I don't see too many people talking about, the touchpad on this thing, especially with the latest drivers, is gorgeous. I bought an MBA before pulling the trigger on the Lenovo and was totally spoiled by Apple's touchpad. The built in gestures and smoothness of the u410 (two finger scrolling, three finger gestures in Chrome) are so close to the Mac Book Air it's incredibly encouraging. Maybe the reviewers had models with old drivers, because I was pleasantly surprised by how well it works compared to the MBA.

 

hi,

I am waiting for my u410 and plan to reinstall the OS. My laptop will have 8gig of memory, 32Gig SSD and 750GB HDD. When I re-install the OS, where should it be installed to ?
What is the advantage of upgrading the SSD from 32Gig to 128Gig other than the size ?
Is the 32Gig SSD enough to contain the whole OS ?
What about swap space, where should that be configured ? (SSD or HDD)

Thanks

 

I don't think 32GB is enough room for windows 7 + programs. My SSD is currently taking up 34GB with OS + programs only. I'm not sure how the cache function works when the mSATA comes pre-installed, but I know that mine is really quick with the SSD holding just the OS and apps, and the HDD holding all my photos/videos/music/storage.

 

iCracked,
Does this mean that if you want to have 16GB of RAM and a larger SSD that you must always use graphics in Intel ONLY mode, and Legacy USB mode? Or can you change those items back after a fresh install?

Thanks,
ek778

 

Hey guys! I just got a maxed out u410 from one of Lenovo's 7day sales. I'm loving this machine! However I have a few questions, maybe someone in this thread can help answer them.
I use Linux primarily on my home computers, only booting Windows to play Steam games. I LOVE the elementaryOS dailies and was planning on throwing this on my u410. From what I understand the ssd/hdd are tied into a raid0 with special intel drivers using the ssd as a cache to speed up boot times etc.

Now in order to install Ubuntu Linux on the laptop, I read you have to disable the raid0. This means I'd be putting Windows 7 on the ssd and eOS on the tb disk. I'd also have a data partition where I would keep documents and install my casual games too. I read that making ANY changes to the partition layout would break the one-key recovery.
I want to be able to return this thing to stock settings just in case. Could I not just repartition the machine to match how it's configured now and one-key will work again? Alternatively is there a recovery disk/usb I can create to easily return it to stock settings?

I am comfortable manually re-partitioning the disk, putting them into a raid0 again and re-installing all the drivers hosted on the Lenovo website. Could I do this to get back to stock in a worst case scenario?

EDIT:
I noticed a few people bought an mSATA and reinstalled that way, I'd love to buy a 128gb mSATA and partition 30gB to eOS and the other ~90 to windows and leave the 1tB to storage. If I bought an mSATA and popped it in, the drivers on the Lenovo partition would automatically install?

 

Not a very technical user here but putting serious consideration into the U410.

I've been going back-and-forth between the DELL XPS 14 Ultra, DELL XPS 15 and Lenovo Y580 and now I just saw this.

What is the build quality of the screen like? The Y580 was very flexible and did not seem very strong. Is the back of the lid strong? On the Y580 you could put your thumb on the back or a cell phone and it would flex in a bit.

Also, if I bought the computer and did not upgrade the mSATA SSD past the 32 installed, would it still be very fast with i7 and 8GB of RAM? I'm not a gamer or anything. mostly web, word processing, some website development and light graphic editing.

Thanks all.

 

I'll make it short and sweet, the hinge and flip on the laptop feel just like the MBP. The screen is low resolution but isn't that bad in terms of pixelation and colors are decent. It distorts if you tilt it backwards or forwards too much but it's great because left and right viewing angles are FAR better than what I expected.

 

Hi everybody!ive been off these forums for a year or so!came back because i needed some advice on ultra-books!i purchased my u410 yesterday and im hoping i get one which was produced after the 23 of July 2012!i really don't want wifi issues because my room is small and having Ethernet cable all over the place is a big no for me!i've been living off my mothers laptop for the past 6 months, since my 2008 HP went kaput on me!I hope when i get it its going to be more than I expect! and i hope the four year technology difference will WOW me! my specification for the u410 is as follows

Intel Core i5-3317UM Dual Core (1.7GHz, 3MB Cache, Intel Turbo Boost up to 2.4GHz)
14" (HD 1366 x 768 LED)
Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit
RAM 6GB (DDR3)
Hard Drive 750GB + 32GB SSD
Graphics Dedicated (NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 610M with 1GB DDR3 Dedicated Memory)
Wireless LAN Wireless (802.11b/g/n Wireless)
Network Card 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet
Integrated Webcam with Microphone
Card Reader 2-in-1 card reader ( SD, MMC )
USB Ports 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0

Future upgrades for this badboy will be 16 GB of RAM (I know you dont need more than 8 but the fact that you can!) and the 128 GBCrucial M4 mSata SSD!i thought about paying the extra £150 for the i7 but...at the end of the day theres not much performance difference between the two chips and that £150 I could use it on upgrading my ultrabook!im just hoping that it has no wifi issues!what kind of speeds should i expect if the connection is slow....also is it possible to install Ubuntu and windows on the 128 GB mSata and still have that one Key recovery?im studying computer science and i need to have Ubuntu/linux running on my ultraboook for my networking module!

I will keep everybody informed as soon as I receive my u410 and post an unbiased self review on the product when i have fully examined it!If it was not for this thread i would have not purchased the u410!Thank you iCracked!les hope i don't get a lemon!..thank you again everybody for contributing to this thread!

 

Let me know your experiences getting ubuntu on the thing. Also how much was the iSSD? I was curious about upgrading it so I have more room to dual boot Elementary Luna and Win7. Do you know of any guides on switching the iSSD?

 

iCracked:

Can you please post exact model of the ram set that you both or even a link to the product, where you ordered it. You can also pm me this info. Thank you in advance.