Lenovo W510 Owner's Thread

I was talking about the speed of the RAM. You definitely need to have enough RAM for your application, and I usually recommend at least double the "typical" amount that is popular at the time. Right now 4GB is popular, so I would recommend 8GB, but the speed of it doesn't really matter.

 

Initial thoughts:

Like others have observed, that 135 watt adapter is a BRICK. I've got two 90 watts for my W500 and the slimline 90W adapter also so I'll be playing with that later to see if I want to pony (not pop <g>) for a second 135W monster for the road.

Initial setup was less than 15 minutes to the first Windows login screen. As others have noted in this thread, a lot of the ThinkVantage bloatware has been ratcheted down quite a bit (I've owned two A31P's, a T42P, a T61P and a W500)

Swapping out the two 2GB DIMMS for the four 4GB ones and the Intel X25-M for the 360GB one was less than 25 minutes. DIMM installation order IS important, pay attention to the service videos on http://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/ion/W510/index.html for the CRU removal and replacement. It's 1, 2, 3 (4), 4 (3). That "3" is a bugger.

Recovery disk was quick, only took about 25 minutes. Restore though, with multiple re-boots, was an hour, but once I was up and running on the Intel X25-M SSD this thing screams.

I have 802.11n in my office and connect at about 270MBps. Windows Update ran 25 important updates and 36 optional ones totaling 175MB in about 12 minutes.

ThinkVantage System Update is back apparently. There's a new animal called "Lenovo ThinkVantage Tools" that folded that in and I ran 11 recommended and 6 optional updates there totaling 303 MB in about 20 minutes.

Windows Easy Transfer is slick. 156GB of data and all my settings in about 90 minutes.

The textured touchpad felt kind of funny at first, but I got used to it after a while. Will have to tweak its sensitivity in the days to come.

As someone else inquired, sound is fine. So far no complaints though it is kind of different having the speakers on the sides of the keyboard.

I like it a lot. The 16x9 factor is a little disconcerting and initially I missed the vertical acreage, but I'm getting used to it. Still need to take pictures, of the LCD screen and alongside my 23" external monitor, but will do that later.

Ask and ye shall receive:

 

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Congratulation!...i can't wait for my W510 tomorrow. Ups tracking shown it just arrived jamaica, NY ups facility.
I order the W510 w/ HD+, 820QM and 128 samsung ssd. i want to know what do i have to do to optimize my system???
1. do i need to make a restore disk first and then format the SSD and then restore the ssd with the disk???
2. Or should i format the SSD and then do a clean install window 7 with the original oem product key on this laptop???
3. Or do nothing???

i kind of like to keep the factory installed software like thinkVantage??? what should i do???

 

Option #3 Monty. You'll be surprised how little ThinkVantage stuff there is on the disk image and that Software Updates utility will let you get more if you ever want to.

With that 128GB SSD you'll be up and running in less than 20 minutes. OOTB your BIOS will already be configured for AHCI and Win 7 will already do the trim on the SSD with the Microsoft drivers with the base install. You're optimized.

Cheers, B

 

Thank You very much for your fast response! This is my second thinkpad and i have high hope for it. I went to a architecture school in NY and the studio is like a thinkpad muesum here. we have T4X, T6X, lots of w500 and my W510 gonna be the newest tomorrow.

Cheers

 

well you "poped it alright..." the pics are super blurry ... thanks for the effort.

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tyrell_corp, have you seen this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=463822

 

I agree entirely about the need of SSD in this mid-high end PC which bottleneck as we know is "Disk"

from my experience good quality ram plus higher frequency are preferable in what I use my PC for and that is video editing. someone on this or other related to w510 thread stated correctly quoting: ram that comes with laptop goes in the bin. you know I agree I had 3 think-pads all live long and prosper only with Kingston checked ram modules innix and other garbage iIS garbage so it should be sold to those who oppose my and other dude opinion.

P.S. bad ram never fails tests whatever the diagnostic tool you'd use to check it. but it always fails real world tests.

an SSD+ 8GB Ram split into two to provide 4GB system and 4GB speed drive = no wasted time.

 

no why? should i? follow the leader

 

Hey guys, i got this question now. I am a W500 user and my school is offering the new W510 this year. Just wanted to know your opinion whether its worth to get the W510? I do quite a bit of gaming and my w500 is now quite ancient with new games. I know it's weird for a person to game on a thinkpad, but i need to kill time in between or during lessons. The specs of the W510 the school is offering is as below:
720QM Core i7
4GB ddr3
500 gb 7200rpm
FX880m 1GB
HD LED display
4 Years onsite warranty
Cost: 2000(Sin$) approx US$1000-1200

So is it worth keeping another monster alongside my current W500?

 

I went a from a T9400 & 4GB W500 to a 820QM & 8GB W510. I have absolutely zero regrets.


It's better at gaming. It's better for VMware. The screen's better (post calibration).

I say go for it. Sell your W500 to offset part of the costs...

 

Can someone help me understand HD+ Anti-Glare Display with LRB backlight.

With an Anti Glare display the picture will not be crisp. What will LED backlight do to help.

 

Can't wait for my w510 to arrive. Hopefully Friday, so now I just need to figure out how to get it from UPS (I hate signature deliveries). Has anyone seen an update on the availability of a compatible ultrabay caddy? I plan to run a SSD as my primary drive and install a 500gb spinner as a secondary, so now I just need that caddy.

My shipping status puts my w510 somewhere over the ocean.

 

Ok folks, been fun but I just canceled my order. The delays on top of delays is the primary reason. As I've said before, I've got more money than smarts. Deferred gratification just doesn't work for me.

I just got off the phone with Lenovo. The gentleman didn't seem to understand the meaning of "cancel," so he said he raised the priority of the system to get it closer to the front of the queue. This would take two days.

I'm glad I reviewed his action item, because I had to explain, three times, that I do not want the machine any longer. He said he'd do the cancellation, which also apparently takes two days to confirm. I'm really beginning to think that Lenovo's business is convoluted and the order fulfillment process is broken.

BTW, he said the FHD multi was the reason for the delays. His response on this sounded scripted, so take this with a grain of salt.

Anyhoo, I'll be selling a slice battery, 90W slimline power kit and a SATA Ultrabay over the next week or so.

I'm going to pre-order a new Sony Z today. If I'm going to wait, I'm going to wait for something expensive. If you guys are interested, I'll let you know how the quad-SSD setup works out.

 

Good for you Zoinks... I am on that roll right now. I don't care about the cash, but all this waiting for something that I will probly find all kinds of fault with anyway doesn't seem justified. And not only am I Lenova certified, I have been a thinkpad user for yearrrrrs!!

and like you, I also have the slice... and the sata cage just came in yesterday... but I am going to go through the RMA process. I just want a refund.

Also, again, like you, (I have been using a Sony "F" for about 6 weeks and it is quad, 6 gigs, 5 hundy, 16" screen FHD, and a number pad included in the layout. I am liking this config mucho.) However, I was also configging a Sony Z yesterday, and was doing the $4400 one and could not for the life of me find a screen size or res?!? What do you know about it that you might share? Perhaps in a PM???

EDIT: Just found the screen size at your link above... THIRTEEN pointTHREE INCHES?!? YOW! Why is it so much for such a small package?? I would expect 17" for that price????

FYI, the Dub700 is back on the US site for purchase. Their own roadmap says that the 710 should be out by now. But they decided to reap some more from a dying horse that has technology in it from 3-4 years ago!

I hate to see the downfall of a company, especially when it's one I like.....

What's funnier is that when you go thru the selection process to customize it, there are radio buttons on certain aspects where there are no other choices. and above those forced selections it says:

Says that for the screen and the 9 cell...

 

are you kidding me? its crisp alright only thing i can complain about is pink tint on mine profiles didnt remedy probably every screen is unique but I suppose mine is faqued hence pink tint , sad I like it otherwise very bright and crsp. glare is stupidest invention of all times its for tacky lovers.

 

Hell. I am in Canada.
I have placed my order on Feb 18(with hd+ display) and
the estimated shipping date I was told after a few days of that order was
Mar 8.

I have called in yesterday & today,
and was told the order is pending due to lcd shortage.
They can't even give me the estimated shipping data.
I should wait till next week in order to get the 'estimated shipping date'...

Is there anything I can do to get it earllier?
Or should I just wait more and more?

 

Yes I have a solution for you!!!!

Get your laptop without the screen.

 

lies they have the screens available. mine was produced in first week of 2009 = 1 year

 

if I call in and try to cancel the order,
will they convince me to wait with $discount or by raising priority of the system?
or will they simply cancel the order??

 

I'd be interested in that SATA ultra-bay. PM me the FRU and how much you're looking for if it's still on the block.

Thx, B

 

They didin't say anything about a discount, but I didn't ask. It wouldn't have made a difference in my case.

You may try the threat of canceling and see what they can do.

I don't know if the offer to bump priority is real or bogus. Never heard of it being a possibility before.

As for the people wanting my surplus gear, I'll put them in the NBR Marketplace this weekend. I'll only ship to the US.

And on the Sony Z, they have 1600x900 in CTO's and 1920x1080 in preconfigured models.

 

Full HD on a 13.3 incher??? How's that look Zoinks? Have u seen the "Z" in person? I know many here are complaining that the Dub's 15.6" incher at FHD is a bit small... what are your thoughts?

My experience was that I am up against a deadline, and need a workstation to complete the heavy crunching I need to do. I informed The Novo's CS team of this and they offered the "compensation" back to me. I called them again today and I encountered the same scripted speech that others here have... LCDs are blah blah blah (I ordered the multi-touch).

Today I called in after noticing it was postponed again as of 2 days ago and told them that if I get bumped one more time that I will cancel the order and go with Sony...

After much hemming and hawing on his part, he thanked me for being a customer in his best hindi-english and acknowledged my seriousness.

I am about 50-50 on whether or not threatening them will work, but If the 7th rolls around and I have no ship confirm... adios The Novo!!!

 

I hear ya. This week's posts and aggravation with the LCD fiasco have absolutely confirmed my decision to spring (not pop or "poped" [sic]) for the unit I bought on eBay last week and with my swaps on the drive and memory I've been very pleased and am not looking back.

On another note though, does anyone think they'll come out with a 135W slim-line adapter and just how slim could that possibly be? Also, for anyone else that has one already, is it just me or when you type really fast does it miss keys?

And lastly, just as an aside, even though I only have the HD+, I went through the color optimization drill and my screen came out really nice.

 

I guess I am lucky that my FHD non-multitouch isn't showing any issues/redness.

I opted out of the built-in color calibrator since I had a X-Rite Eye-One Display 2 external calibrator which I assume would do a better job.

Attached is the ICC profile I got using it.

 

B'midbar check out the comments on keith Combs' blahg, apparently there is a keyboard model that misses keys as you type and lenovo offers a replacement.

Several users reported this and they contacted lenovo and got a different keyboard and fixed the problem

Check the comments posted:

http://blogs.technet.com/keithcombs/archive/2010/02/07/lenovo-thinkpad-w510-first-impressions.aspx

 

The high-res Sony Z's have not shipped yet. However, I've had the previous Z model for 2 years, which is 1600x900 (still an option on the new Z). Zero complaints, but I'm one of the odd folks that can't enough resolution. Small text doesn't bother me at all.

I ordered the Z today during lunch. Delivery estimate is 3/16. The trip starts all over again

All things equal and the thing I'll miss... I really do prefer the Lenovo community. You folks are much more knowledgeable, on average, and I appreciate that.

 

My order was changed to a ship date of 4/22 from 3/1 on Tuesday. This was after I called on Monday to confirm the order was going to ship this week. When I called back, I spoke to a helpful gentleman (but didn't give me any useful information). But suddenly...12 hours later my order "shipped".

My question is based on the current tracking information:

SHANGHAI, CN 03/03/2010 9:39 A.M. ORIGIN SCAN
CN 03/03/2010 11:56 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

So the order was received by UPS at 9:39AM, but then the billing information was received 14 hours later? This seems to be the reverse of what is typical, and since there have been no tracking updates since then I am questioning if the order shipped at all and that Lenovo might have simply generated the shipping label and assigned it to my order to appease.

Anybody have any information regarding how long it typically takes to get past this first shipping stage (to a customs house I would expect)?

 

LeNova510,

Just wanted to comment on your avatar. I was able to see a X6 M prototype a while back at BMW HQ in NJ. Killer machine. Makes me want to do an early trade-in on my 2008 M3 E90 with DCT.

 

Love that machine my friend... my local stealership has a black one on hand, and I think black is too hard to keep clean. My friends there are all scared of it! Says it will throw you into your seat and never let you out! heh

I am gonna wait until the hype dies down before I make a move toward the X6 line... Still rollin' my X5 at this time, but that X6m sure is bawls! While I like the ///M line, I would probly only opt for the standard model with some ///M Wheels! lol

Kinda wish they woulda kept their road map toward an X7 line-up... I would like to have a near ford excursion sized "X"... comin' from a 7 Series, I miss some of my bells and whistles.

Sorry for the hijack, you's guys... we now continue our regularly scheduled Lenovo chatter....

FWIW, your DCT has some real cajones too! That Launch Control gadget looks spiffy enuff to get me in trouble!

 

Launch control will sink your eyes into your brain. Perfect launch every time. Best transmission I've ever had.

...and now I'm done thread-jacking my own thread

 

Current shipping status of my multi-touch w510. 820qm. Already have 8gb of 1333 ram and the intel x-25m 160gb ready to install once it finally arrives.

Have loved my w500, but really look forward to having the 95% gamut screen for photo editing (my primary use for the w500). I did go with the huey color calibrator, though I do have a Spyder3, but I like knowing that I have it available.

ANCHORAGE, AK, US 03/03/2010 12:12 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
SHANGHAI, CN 03/03/2010 10:30 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
SHANGHAI, CN 03/02/2010 9:33 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
03/02/2010 8:38 P.M. EXPORT SCAN
03/02/2010 8:31 P.M. HUB SCAN
03/02/2010 9:46 A.M. ORIGIN SCAN
CN 03/02/2010 4:22 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

 

Why it just took less than 2 hours from China to US?

 

wow, harsh much? He was commenting on these two entries:

ANCHORAGE, AK, US 03/03/2010 12:12 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
SHANGHAI, CN 03/03/2010 10:30 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN

That said, Shanghai and Ankorage have a massive time difference:
Shanghai: GMT +8 hours
Ank: GMT -9 hours

Still not 2 hours, but no need to be ugly.

Just FYI, but my canceled order just got delayed again. From 3/28 to 4/26.

Amazing

 

When they fly from china to the US, they are flying backwards through time zones. UPS tracking times are local to that facility. I have seen packages from china arrive in the US before they've left china

 

Hmmmm, now correct me if I'm wrong, but if you fly "backwards" as you put it through time zones (ie: flying in an easterly direction) you LOOSE time, you don't gain it. So really those number make no sense no matter how you cut it.

Example, take off at 4pm from New York flying WEST (going "forwards") you are actually taking off at 1pm Los Angelas time, and a 4 hour flight would land at 5pm LA time, so it only took "1 hour" to fly all that way.

Flying EAST, the effect is the opposite, take off at 4pm LA time (7pm New York time) and you land at 11pm assuming a 4 hour flight.

So I think you have it backwards. I don't understand those time stamps at all.

 

Well, either their flying through timeszones account for the timestamps, or they put my w510 on an sr-71.

Remeber that your examples don't account for the international date line, which is why Shangai is +8 and anchorage -9.

Shangai is 17 hours ahead of Anchorage. If the flight could be made in 1 hour, the package could leave Shangai late at night and arrive early in the morning... Of the same day. (it could depart Monday at 10pm and arrive Monday at 6am if it needed 1 hour to make the trip). It actually takes longer than 1 hour, so the package doesn't get to time travel backwards. It actually does arrive later than when it left, but barely.

Try this, if it could be teleported instantly, it could leave china on 3/2 at noon and arrive in the US on 3/1 at 7pm. If the teleport took exactly 17 hours, it could leave at 12pm on 3/2 and arrive at 12pm on 3/2.

 

thanks for the up ill check if it helps

 

Ah, yes, the date line.... that could explain it. Actually that would explain it. A flight leaving in the morning on a Monday would actually be very late Sunday night in Alaska.

Dang time zones.

 

Any word on when Office 2010 is going to be released? The way these delays are going I might as well wait for that to come out.

 

Yep, same thing I did (except for ordering a sony, I am sticking with my m4400). I just got sick of waiting and canceled mine last week. Really ridiculous--maybe i'm impatient, but more than a month (or longer) between ordering and shipping is much too long for me. Considering how much we pay and how quickly computers depreciate, that is just not acceptable.

 

Same here Zoinks... been pushed to 4-26 also... CANCEL CITY if they don't get me out the door asap as some here have reported being pushed and then receiving a shipment notice... they have 24 hours to impress me, or I bail.

 

bail? better when its about lenova it should be pop F out

 

how does the fx 880m compare with say..

GTS 360M
GTX 285M

Thanks

 

MS just announced the release date: June 2010

 

go to http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html and click is your friend. I have posted score somwhere in the forum its 6333 3d marks 2006

 

do you think the reason that Lenovo is not shipping these out is because of the crazy Visa deals? I mean i7-820qm w/ multitouch for $1740 CAD? I'd wait a couple of months for parts to drop before shipping these out too

 

http://blogs.technet.com/keithcombs/archive/2010/03/01/lenovo-thinkpad-w510-final-thoughts.aspx
Some good real experience review points here, Enjoy

 

Hello,

Anybody here with the RGB-FHD display who can make measurements of display regarding native gamut and greyscale? Maybe using free French ColorHCFR software?

like that screen shots here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5973503&postcount=2289

Best, Walter

 

this has been posted 5 times now, are you working for this guy? lol
or its the same guy under different avatars lol

tell me how ill try and do it if i can