Lenovo W510 Owner's Thread

I'm interested in getting this laptop, but I'd really like to see if it is a 6 bit or 8 bit panel. I can't find any info anywhere and no one has one yet so I guess I'll be waiting to see what you guys say.

 

anybody, how good is the 95% color gamut FHD screen ? any pics ?

 

I'd really love to have a quad core, but those CPUs just consume too much power (and I'm not sure how the cooling solution will handle the heat without getting too noisy), so this is a +1 from me.

 

I think so. My order says:

43Y5203 SBB INTERNAL RAID-NOTENABLED

The Intel also chipset supports RAID on up to 4 ports. Lenovo would need to disable the functionality via the BIOS to kill it. This is unlikely, but the practice isn't unheard of.

I'll be trying a stripe with the ultra bay when the machine arrives.

 

Hi QualitySeeker,

I thought I'd just comment on the intel i7 mobile quad core, I came across some of this information when looking into buying a laptop for myself. If you take a look at:
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=43124&processor=i7-820QM&spec-codes=SLBLX

You can see that the MAX TDP is 45W compare that to the 35W options of the dual core - so when you max out the work load for the dual and the quad core, the quad core will use more energy. Now, here's the interesting part and the reason why this might even have more energy savings than the T510 options. The new intel turbo boost technology (or turbo mode):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Boost

You'll noticed in the first link that Processor has a base frequency, the processor will adapt the amount of power used based on what you are doing, using as little as 1.73 GHz, it also has the ability to shut down the core when they are not in use.

I still haven't decided on what notebook to buy (W510 or T510), mainly because of the video card (also because the T510 might have switchable graphics - I'm looking to get a discrete video card):
W510:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-Quadro-NVS-5100M.24946.0.html
T510:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-Quadro-NVS-3100M.24738.0.html

From the above two links, we can see that the W510 uses 35W and the T510 uses 14W, the T510 however also has an integrated video card on the CPU processor (not sure if it is switchable however) as to the W510 I wish I had more information.

Anyhow, I hope this information or links help.

 

The T510 processors are also newer than the W510 and T510 has uses the 32nm vs the W510 45nm for fabrication, so more to consider.

 

As much as I love the specs of the W510 generally, a real sticking point is the lack of a Blu-ray burner option. My next laptop needs to last me for at least 3 years, and Blu-ray is the standard already. I'm thinking of it more as a second form of backup, especially for my 1000s of photos. Does this omission bother anyone else?

 

It really comes down to what you need it for...the 'W' is a workstation replacement machine. I picked it because I wanted to be able to load the thing up with RAM and run a handful of VMs to do infrastructure testing. I don't expect it to be anywhere close to the T510 in terms of power conservation, but it's going to get the job done for me. If you are running business apps and some gaming, I would say T510 hands down.

 

Im still trying to determine if the W510 will have USB3.0 as that will be huge in the future. Other than the little blurb on the lenovo page, I have seen no specs or anything else in regard to the version of usb.

 

I'm going to guess that it does not have USB 3.0. The W510 is using an older chipset than the new i5 machines, the older chipset doesn't support USB 3.0 , which would point to the fact that lenovo would have to install a custom USB 3.0 controller. I highly doubt that they would do that. All of this is pure speculation though.

It's funny how there's 6 pages of posts on the "owner's thread", and nobody actually 'owns' the system yet.

 

If you go to the W series features page. There's this:

Anyone know the weight of the W510? Also advertised battery life? I can't find either for the W510 on Lenovo's site.

 

The fact is there are two USB 3.0 in W510 I believe.

 

PSREF clearly calls for two USB 3.0 ports on the W510. PSREF has historically been the most reliable source of Thinkpad specs.

 

Actually, I see it quite differently because of two reasons. One, regarding backups, external hard drives have broken the 1TB barrier at an affordable cost for the better part of a year now. They are portable, and very fast compared to optical media, and will continue to get smaller and/or faster (Think SSDs, and 2.5" 1TB+ drives. As this is happening home storage has also followed the path of evolution, with NAS drives becoming more and more affordable while supporting redundant configurations like RAID 1 and 5.

The other reason that many people may want blu-ray burners is for media archival and image burning onto optical media. However, as media servers and other streaming media technologies take more of a prominent role in the household, I find myself using optical media less and using my network more and more. TiVo, Media Centers, faster residential internet options are all contributing to the fact that even though Blu-ray has been on the mainstream market for some time now, it has yet to really latch on and become a DVD replacement.

Over the next 3 years, I actually see the laptop gradually moving away from even having any kind of optical storage standard. Personally, for what I do (I am a photographer. I have thousands of 21MP files in RAW format), I don't find that I use optical media as much as I thought I would anymore. In fact, I welcome the idea that we may be seeing more and more laptops with a 2nd hard drive installed as an option. If Optical drives are *that* necessary, I'd consider purchasing an external USB model.

Anyhow, that's just my two cents.

L.

 

blu ray isn't currently an option, but I think it may come later, see:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-74345.html
and search for:
45N7463

Found this on the forum here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=450183

 

The problem is that, based on my attempts to configure a W510, I have no choice but to have an optical drive. If I could opt for a second battery or HD/SSD in that bay, I might do so. I see no reason why, in this day and age, I should be compelled to accept a drive that represents already-superseded technology. And, while it's nice that there might be a Blu-ray option down the road, why isn't it available now (when other manufacturers are offering it) and why should I have to pay Lenovo twice: now for a regular DVD drive and later for what I really want now?

 

I haven't tried this, but do you think they can customize your order if you call in? Yeah, it does seem silly not to have the option.

 

Even if it were available would you really get it? Every blu-ray drive I've seen from Lenovo has been in the 7-900 dollar range. Seems silly to pay that much when you can just grab a USB bluray drive for cheap from another source online. I haven't looked in awhile but I thought I remembered seeing ultrabay bluray drives available now as an accessory (just not available configured in a system). Again, as I said, they are at a price premium.

Also, according to the psref I thought I remembered seeing that the W510 and T510 use the same chipset (a previous poster said it was an older chipset). From Matt's blog entries he said they did put a USB 3.0 controller in the W510.

Additionally, from what I've read on the 32nm tech that the dual core I7's are made with, the advantages normally gained from a step in technology like this (power savings, etc) hasn't really materialized with this batch of 32nm parts. Whether it's a manufacturing issue or design issue, I don't know. Evidence that speaks for this is that the dual core I7's use a measurable amount more current at idle then I5's.

 

Is there a detail spec sheet on the W510 somewhere? I looked around but couldn't find any. I just need to know whether the W510 includes a PC card.

 

Just google for the Lenovo tabook or psref, you should find a link.

 

You're right. Price is definitely a factor, but FWIW Sony offers a Blu-ray burner for a premium of only $180 over the standard DVD drive in its new F series.

 

Thanks! Got it.

 

"The standard" for what exactly? Moving data? Nope - we have USB 2, eSATA and USB 3, all of which are cheaper data transfer options than Blu ray. And USB in particular is far more ubiquitous.

For video consumption, streaming is going to be the dominant distribution medium for HD content. Followed by services such as Itunes.

That very expensive, battery draining, spinning drive called Blu Ray is not "the standard" at all. It is a near-stillborn anachronism. I wouldnt worry at all about not having it.

Methinks that Sony (who is, not coincidentally, the owner of the BluRay technology):
1) Doesnt pay itself any licensing fees on the blueray
2) Is using the blue ray to disguising the overpriced nature of its laptops

In fact what Sony is selling is cheap chinese made laptops at a steep markup, with Blue ray to distract you - after all there is no way the 1080p difference can be discrerned at that screen size.

And to boot, they are overpricing their base units with DVD units, which has the effect of making the blu ray look like a "cheap and obvious" upgrade decision.

 

Hmmm....wonder what it is.

Dear Customer,


Thank you for choosing Lenovo!

All or part of your order has shipped. In some instances your order may be shipped from more than one location, which will result in multiple notifications. You will only be invoiced for products that have shipped.
Please visit our online status tool to view the latest information on the status of your order:

(link omitted)

(Shipment tracking numbers, if applicable, will be posted to the website within 24 hours.)


I know when I placed the order, I clicked on "ship both at once". Unless they changed it...I may be able to give a review fairly soon. Hopefully, the fact they sent a PDF regarding the warranty bodes well.

 

This is inaccurate. The T410, T510 and W510 use the Mobile Intel QS/QM57 Express Chipset. All are i5 compatible.

No Intel IBEX Peak mobile chipsets support USB 3.0. The W510 has what I would call a discrete USB 3.0 controller.

 

Actually Sony and HP both buy from the same vendor in Taiwan, I'll let you guess who..

 

Sony does not own the Blu-ray technology, but they were originally one of its biggest cheerleaders. They do hold some patents that are used by the Blu-ray format, so they certainly receive some revenue from Blu-ray licensing fees. But other companies also own patents used by Blu-ray, with Panasonic being the biggest patent holder in the Blu-ray space.

 

...Anyhow....I just got an e-mail from Lenovo - My W510 shipped today!!!!!

 

Lucky you

 

Congratulations. Im sure you know what we all want

 

Will do my best to get it up quick!

 

I ordered a W510 with 820QM, 4gb RAM, 500gb HD and the FHD screen on Tuesday of this week (1/26). It shows an estimated ship date of 2/10. I wonder, what are the chances it ships by then?

 

Chances are pretty good, in my opinion. Looks like next week will be a busy time in this thread.

I've got basically the same specs as you with the multi-touch screen and a shipment estimate of 2/16.

 

when did u place ur order? I placed mine on 22 and today on the phone they told me my shipment estimate is 2/5...

 

I ordered mine last Sunday, but no ship date yet. Seems those of us in Canada don't get our tracking/shipping information given the same way as the US buyers do!

W510 - 820QM, 4GB RAM, 500GB HD, FHD screen

When I ordered the FHD screen had a 4-week delay. I actually originally ordered a T510 but then found the Visa Perks deal mentioned on here - that made such a difference on price that my W510 came out to about $300 less than the T510 I had without the Visa Perks deal!! The T510 had the same shipping delay due to the FHD screen, but they gave me a date of Feb 11 once I pestered them.

Thus far my W510 order is just "In Process" with no other details, even when I gave them a call.

 

I ask this practically in jest, as I know just how badly Lenovo sucks at updating things...but does anyone have an actual tracking number yet? My order has apparently shipped roughly 28 hours ago, but I have no tracking number as the email said I'd get in 24 hours.


When I ordered my W500, I had the laptop in my hands before Lenovo bumped it from "In Process" to something else.

 

well as I called they clearly told me that they dont update their website for more infomation, they requested me to call back for tracking number etc.

 

How can they be so bad at this?

 

All the nitty gritty details of what's inside:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-74250

Woke up this morning to find the T510 I'd originally ordered had shipped, even though I canceled the order a few days ago. However my order cancellation notice states: "In the event that the item still ships out after the cancellation request has been made, we will be happy to set up a return for the order at no cost to you."

At least it gives me a good idea of when I can expect my W510 - there were about 4 days between my orders and the FHD LCD was the holdup on both of them.

Interestingly enough, the FHD screen without Multitouch is now gone from the Canadian site; however the US site still has the FHD option without a shipping delay.

 

Heard that pre-configured W510 should be available in Canada/BC mid-February.

 

Ordered a W510 with a i7 820QM, FHD 95% Gamut screen, 16GB RAM, 500GB hard disk on January 21st. Ship date is currently February 9th (up from the original order placement which said February 11th).

 

I just went and downloaded all the applicable drivers for my W510, but found there was no listing for fingerprint readers. I checked under ThinkVantage, and found it...but it doesn't list the new models.


Anyone know where to find fingerprint reader software & drivers for the new models?

 

You could try looking directly at UPEK; I think they have the Windows 7 drivers there.

 

What's up with the w510 only sporting the nvs 5100m? I'd like it to have the fx880m or fx1800m of which I thought the former was an option ??? I really like it but the current card is a no go

 

I thought the 5100M is just a rebadged fx880m.

 

I'm no expert, but I suspect they are physically the same card, but the fx880 has different drivers tested and optimized for 3d CAD apps etc.

 

I browsed the nvidia site last night for specs on the NVS 5100m FX1800m and FX880m and if I recall correctly the 5100m was quite a notch down in terms of memory bandwith and cuda cores compared to the FX series. It's even advertised as a "business" video card so I guess it makes turbotax and excel look really good??? I definitely would like to see the w510 with the FX series since I'm a very big CAD trollop and I render videos often (though I'm pretty sure rendering is CPU not GPU intensive). I'm on my phone please excuse and broken syntax.

 

Have you seen this keyboad flex videos ? ( http://www.youtube.com/user/hammarlundlaw )

Look like you will have to wait a bit to get a design fix like T400 and T500.

 

his thinkpad missed a screw

 

How new laptop can be missing screws