Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

Starting a thread for W520 owner's. Well, I've at least ordered this on 3/30:

Processor: Intel Core i7-2720QM Processor (2.20GHz, 6MB L3)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
Display type: 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display
System graphics: NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
Color sensor: No Color Sensor
Total memory: 4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad plus Fingerprint reader
Camera: 720p Camera
Storage subsystem: Internal RAID - Not Enabled
Hard drive: 500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device: DVD recordable multiburner
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader
Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 170W AC adapter
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2x2 AGN)

Price was $1897.10, including two year next day Warranty, and a 10% coupon. Estimated shipping date is 4/11, and I'll be sure to post pictures once I receive it. I'm also curious about Starcraft II FPS rates with the Quadro 2000, so I'll post those as well.

I've got 8GB more memory on order, so it'll have 12GB. And I'm sure I'll go to SSD once Sata III drives come down in price a bit.

 

Looking to order mine right now. Where did you get 10% off?

As ordered, mine will be:
Processor: Intel Core i7-2720QM Processor (2.20GHz, 6MB L3)
Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
Display type: 15.6" HD (1600x900) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display
System graphics: NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
Color sensor: No Color Sensor
Total memory: 4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad plus Fingerprint reader
Camera: 720p Camera
Storage subsystem: Internal RAID - Not Enabled
Hard drive: 320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device: DVD recordable multiburner
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader
Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 170W AC adapter
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2x2 AGN)

When I'm done swapping parts from my W510, it should look something like this:
Processor: Intel Core i7-2720QM Processor (2.20GHz, 6MB L3)
Operating system: Windows 7 Enterprise 64
Display type: 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display Will try to swap from W510. FRUs don't match in HMM, so may not work.
System graphics: NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
Total memory: 4x4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (4 DIMMs)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad plus Fingerprint reader
Camera: 720p Camera
Storage subsystem: Internal RAID - Not Enabled
Hard drive 1: mSATA Intel 310 80GB SSD (OS)
Hard drive 2: 80GB Intel or 128GB Samsung SSD (Virtual Machines)
Ultrabay device: 750GB Seagate Momentus (Two Partitions. One for XP. One for Data and ISOs) in Ultrabay adapter.
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader
Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++
Battery 2: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery Slice 27++
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 170W AC adapter
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)

 

Are we talking about the GOOGLESHOP coupon code that expires at midnight today?

 

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks man, worked for me! +Repped.

 

I used the LOGICBUY10 code and it worked. Very similar system.

I have 3 sticks of Crucial memory on order. $155 rather than $480 from Lenovo.

Looking for an SSD SATA III.

Take a gander at this blog: Guru3d.com for the review on the SATA III OCZ Vertex 3. Also has a review on the Intel 510 SATA III SSD.

It has a ton of information on how to best set up the computer to optimize SSD life. Apparently you would use an SSD a lot differently than a HDD.

With the W520 we can use a full size 2.5" SATA III SSD so I am looking at them now.

Perry

 

Just ordered my W520 last night and I am excited. I am ordering more RAM to upgrade to 16GB total and I plan on upgrading to an SSD later in the year when I have more money and they prices have come down a little.

Processor Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor (2.30GHz, 8MB L3)
Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
Operating system language Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 English
Windows XP Mode Microsoft Windows 7 XP Mode - English
Display type 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
System graphics NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
Color sensor Color Sensor
Total memory 4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
Keyboard Keyboard US English
Pointing device UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad plus Fingerprint reader
Camera 720p Camera
Storage subsystem Internal RAID - Not Enabled
Hard drive 500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Optical device DVD recordable multiburner
System expansion slots Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader & Smart Card Reader
Battery 9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++
Power cord Country Pack North America with Line cord & 170W AC adapter
Bluetooth Bluetooth 3.0
Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2x2 AGN)
Integrated mobile broadband Integrated Mobile Broadband -Upgradable
Language pack Language Pack US English
Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader & Smart Card Reader

 

so how much you paid for this config

 

The final configuration cost was about $2400 (after applicable discounts and taxes) which includes a 4yr depot warranty (over $200) and a $30 accessory item.

Taxes alone was about $196.

In retrospect I probably didn't need to upgrade to the i7-2820QM, but that's fine....

 

pkincy - Where are you getting your information that the W520 supports SATA III 6.0 Gbps? Evidence I'm finding in other threads and on http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf seems to indicate Lenovo has limited the T420, T520 and W520 to SATA II 3.0 Gbps.

 

In Keith Comb's blog. It should appear with a google of W520 review.

Perry

 

Blog in question:

Lenovo ThinkPad W520 - mini review - Keith Combs' Blahg - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

 

I read the review and all the blog comments, and I maintain that there is still no consensus that SATA III 6.0 Gbps is actually available/accessible.

The underlying chipset does support it, but there appears to be a chance that Lenovo might not have made it available.

 

Time will tell. Hopefully Keith is savvy enough that when he (or others) get out a hands on review, we will know.

I just ordered my Ultrabay Caddy III, so with that and the 3 sticks of memory on order I am good to go but for an SSD and I will wait the resolution of this question before ordering that.

Too expensive to be wrong on SSDs.

Perry

 

I contacted Lenovo support, they said that SATA III was indeed functioning.

 

deleted post.

(lenovo chat rep told me that it is sata2, but after some pressure he told me that he based this info on tabook...)

 

FYI - IBM SPP discount is currently 15% on W520 just as it was when the W510 was released. But they also have a 5% discount on all Thinkpads until April 1. 5% after 15% works out to about 19.25%. You only need 1 share to qualify.

 

Hmm, the extra 9% would have bought the share.

Thanks for the info for next time.

But does IBM shares have anything to do with Lenovo these days?

Perry

 

So really, is it SATA II or SATA II!

 

Congrats guys! I can't wait to read the reviews. The 2000M is very interesting!

 

And you could always sell the share and just be out the transaction costs. Also, I bought mine in my IRA which is money I can't spend on a laptop anyway.

IBM must have made Lenovo honor its SPP when they sold them the Thinkpad brand. I don't know if there is a sunset or if it will continue indefinitely, but in either case it is in effect today.

 

We don't really know. What we know is that the Sandy Bridge chipset is good for SATA III.

We don't know if Lenovo has implemented it fully. Given the USB 3.0 on the W520, I would hope that even if it is not implemented in the T series it is in the W.

I am now looking for a new external drive for backup with USB 3.0 capability.

Perry

 

yeah I was wondering the same thing pretty hefty config with hefty price tag

but you will enjoy it for sure...

 

I got a quote for my system this afternoon. The sales rep was very helpful and got me some pretty awesome deals.

• 
  ThinkPad W520
  ICI7-2720QM
  15.6 FHD (1900 X 1080) LED
  NVQ2000M GR
  4GBPC3-10600DDR3 1333SODMM
  FINGERPRINT READER
  720P HD CAM INT MICR
  320GB HDD7200RPM
  DVD RC8XMXDLLRULTEHATA
  ECS+4IN1CR
  9CELLLI-ION BATTERY
  BLUETOOTH 3.0
  THINKPADB/G/N
  INT WRLSSSWDAREANTWRK UPGR
  FINGRPRNT READER

He also added a 1 yr ThinkPad Protection warranty with a 25% discount and the 170watt Series 3 Plus docking station at no extra charge.

15% discount w/ discount program/coupons, total cost:
$1,770.15 after tax.

 

With HP, you absolutely have to go through a sales rep to get even a decent deal, let alone a great deal on a CTO system. I was under the impression that Lenovo mostly wants to sell on-line, guess that is wrong. I just matched your system+options through IBM SPP and it came to $1,989.25 after tax. That free docking station makes a huge difference. I suspect someone not wanting a docking station might do better through SPP unless the rep can offer some other useful freebie in its place.

 

The w520 + NVQ200M with the docking station supports up to four concurrent displays.

 

okay cheap shot but Free software called Dexpot will provide that 1 screen to four functionality for FREE..

I know it won't be four physical but virtual works for me when I am working on two different project at the same time (IDE instance with different config)

 

I have been doing some blog reading and I am afraid it is a SATA III controller with a driver limiting the throughput to 3.0 Gb/s or SATA II speeds.

In fact in one of the more technical blogs someone talked about a driver hack that would allow the Sandy Bridge (for a desktop) controller to run at a full 6.0 Gb/s and that required deletion of a driver and a reinstallation of a different driver. Way above my pay grade.

At any rate, until someone with a proper test bench receives a W520 and tests it with a SATA III SSD we won't know the answer.

Quite obviously Lenovo either doesn't know or ain't saying.

One of the blogs or blog commentors recommended the Intel 320 because it could fit a 7 mm drive bay (remove the adapter) and had very good reliability and although SATA II would run well with a 3.0 Gb/s controller.

Remember this is the internet so you can prove anything you want including that the world is flat if you google enough.

Perry

 

@pkincy could you post some links to the blogs you were reading?

 

According to this website the t520 does support sata III 6Gbps speed. I think you might need to reinstalled a fresh copy of window or atleast reinstall the driver for SATA III driver. Assuming that w520 should be a higher performance model of the t520, I don't see a reason for Lenovo limiting the SATA III on the w520.

 

That was one of the blogs/sites I read, but I read it before the "update" was added. We can hope they are correct.

The other blog was Anandtech.com and its recent SSD reviews and there comments.

Perry

 

It is probably bad form to have 2 consecutive posts but here goes.

A separate issue I ran into with Lenovo on the blogs. For those of us that plan on using cloning software to move our HDD partition info to a new SSD and than format the HDD either in an enclosure or in the Ultrabay Caddy.

The target drive for the cloning operation must be in the Lenovo laptop on the original HDD position. (I don't know how this will affect adding a small ssd on the PCIe card).

I replaced my 80 GB original HDD in my T61 this summer with a WD Scorpio Black 320 GB drive. Not wanting to fool with the DVD/CDs created when my Lenovo was new I bought Acronis. Whether I was lucky or actually read this detail earlier I don't know, but my cloning went very well.

Apparently if you try and clone from an internal drive to an external and than swap the drives the laptop won't boot to the new drive once you swap it in. If on the other hand, you move the original HDD out to an enclosure or caddy and than clone from that location in to the new drive in the original drive bay it writes the boot record differently and will work.

Nothing anyone needs to worry about unless adding an SSD and than only if adding it by cloning software.

Perry

 

I have not used the cloning piece of TrueImage Home. I always use backup and recover. It has never failed me.

If you haven't already destroyed the source (that's a tip folks) could you try a backup then a restore?

 

I can't wait to see reviews for this laptop. I want to see how the Q2000M performs.

 

I am thinking of getting a w520 and have a few questions:

1. Does anyone carry the machine around a lot? What do you think about the weight?

2. What is the battery life like for the quad core version? If the battery life is poor, how annoying/heavy is it to carry around the power adapter?

3. Is upgrading to the 2000 graphics card worth the money?

4. If I go with an optical drive now, how hard is it to switch it out for a second hard drive? I'm not afraid to play around in the insides of a machine, but haven't done so for many years.

5. What is a color sensor?

6. Are there any good discounts/coupons running right now?

7. How did you get ahold of a Lenovo rep to get a good deal?

 

I have roughly the same questions too. I'm interested in this model and would appreciate the answer as well.

 

Replacing the optical drive with an hdd should fairly easily. If you can replace a regular hdd, the ultrabay drive should be very similar.

 

So where's the wide-gamut screen option? Photographers don't need to accept less, there are other makers out there who "get it"...

 

W520 FHD 1920x1080 95% color gamut. It's B+RG LED. Same situation as W510. No RGB LED (full gamut), no IPS (wide viewing angles), unfortunately.

There are the Dell Precision M6500 and the HP EliteBook 8740w to consider.

 

I doubt you'll find many photographers, including me, that do all of their work on a single laptop without the benefit of a good external LCD panel.

 

Just wondering if people have seen any reviews of the W520 other than Keith Combs'? I haven't.... Why aren't there any other reviews? And how did he get to review it so early?

 

I have an estimated ship date of 4/13. I'll post a quick review once I get the machine in a few weeks.

 

Same, 4/18 for me. But hopefully sooner

 

I don't agree with you, but I get your point, since my desktop LCD is a NEC PA-271 SV2.
That said, I know most Landscape, Wildlife and Photojournalist NEED wide gamut. And so do I. There's plenty of downtime between shoots when traveling, and unless you want to bury yourself, initial editing once or twice a day is essential. I'll typically shoot 4-8K frames a week when traveling, that's a lot of files to rate and process.
Wide-gamut just gets you that much closer to a finished product.

 

I've had a close eye on the HP 8540 and 8740, they haven't announced the 8560 yet, I don't believe....I'd prefer a 15" for travel size, weight and battery life.

Thanks, I didn't realize the 1920x1080 was wide gamut. Shame they won't go LED, battery life is a big issue for me, viewing angle not so much...

 

8x60w are still not announced. If you don't care so much about viewing angles and you, like most people, won't use 10bit, then the W520 with wide gamut + color sensor seems like a better choice. Plus, we have no idea how much longer the new HPs will take to come out and the Dreamcolor option is going be way more expensive than Lenovo's wide gamut.

 

I'm just curious, can you set the laptop to use the integrated graphic on battery power and only use the discreet one for selected applications? If I were to get this laptop, I will be taking it to the classroom, so don't want the fan to be running all the time.

Thanks.

 

There should be options in the BIOS to select integrated, Optimus, or discreet. You can just leave it on Optimus if you only uses things like Word processor in class.

 

If that's the case, then you should be looking at the Dell Precision machines, or the HP's with DreamColor. They offer what you are looking for.

Does Apple call this out in their MacBook Pro specs? I don't recall. Might be an option there though I don't like glossy much.

 

I think Keith bought it from either ProVantage or Cost Central and ordered it about the 20th of March. Pretty quick shipping. He got one of the 4284 units with most everything included.

I was still waiting for it on the Lenovo site to get a better idea on the option pricing. I recall that the unit he ordered was pretty complete as well as pricey.

Perry

 

Could you explain how one should decide whether to get the Quadro 1000M or Quadro 2000M and when one would need the Color sensor