Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

Thank you very much for the advice though a little biting speech I totally agree that even in the future, I should not spend my hard earned dollars in getting a large 'enough' SSD to store files for the purpose of 'archiving'. By the way, I would consider 320 GB SSD enough for all my files for a more coming year or two. All my current files are $185

Final question, what do you think about the Seagate Momentus XT 750GB. It has excellent reviews and it seems like to be a good compromise for $179. Thoughts?

 

I'd say the Momentus XT would be a great choice (I assume you mean it as a primary drive instead of a SSD?) On the one hand, it's certainly not going to be as fast as, say, the Intel 320 160GB SSD, but it's also miles ahead of a standard 5400-RPM or 7200-RPM drive. Most reviews put it ahead of the WD Velociraptor, which is one of the fastest traditional platter-based consumer drives available. I'd say go for it. 750GB should be more than enough, and it's a fast 750GB. If, in the end, you decide that it's fast enough, you could stick it in the Ultrabay and get a true SSD (or get a mSATA SSD).

 

(The W520, by design, allows wonderful flexibility: mSATA drive, primary drive, caddy drive.)

 

You are actually making my mind back and forth I wanna first say thank you very much for you lr help while I am really frustrated on what option to go. I was originally thinking of getting the momentus XT as the only drive in the primary bay.

Now, I am again thinking of either getting the Crucial 128 or 256 and live with it alone or have my factory drive as extended space in the ultra at as you suggested. Not yet sure which way to go but I hope you understand the compromise I am trying to make between not paying too much but also wanna have a great machine.

By the way, you as many others always talk about the Intel SSD. Is it better in anyway than Crucial?

 

I always use (and talk about) Crucial M4 SSD.

 

I believe I have finally made my decision. I am getting the Crucial M4 256 SSD as the only drive in my computer and will sell the factory 5400RPM since I do not need any space more than the 256GB in the meantime and probably for a year. Then, whenever I need an extra space in the future, I can always buy a 7200RPM HDD and put it in the caddy.

Does this sound like a reasonable solution?

The only thing remaining now to get things straight is to talk to Lenovo tomorrow to ask them to match the price of the B&N as it will save me additional $85. For some reason, I know they will say cancel and reorder as they just did with me a week ago when I found a better price but will see. Not sure if the $85 worth loosing 4 days of "in process" for the current order. Thoughts?

Forgot to say, thanks everyone who provided their opinion. It really helped formulate my decision!

Update: I have just placed an order for the Crucial M4 256GB. Just want your opinion whether I should cancel and reorder with B&N discount if Lenovo did not want to honor the $85 difference or so?

 

I'll believe that when I see it. Prolly need to give you a few hours.

 

Well, what can I say..You have all the right! I know I was about to be kicked out of here soon--one thing that made me settle!

 

Quick question guys: I currently have a desktop with a regular HDD. How can I transfer all my data to the new Crucial SSD?

I have an external hard drive that I can use but if I can do it in one step instead of 2, it will be ten times better. Would the cable that Crucial provide work for transfer from desktop HDD to the 2.5 SSD?

 

I'd just hook up the SSD to the desktop if I'm going to do a large data transfer.

 

Again, I am sorry I am a beginner and need explanation on how to do that.

 

Alright, so the first step is to install the SSD in your W520 and install Windows. Otherwise, if you copy the data first, the Windows install will delete everything

Then, temporarily attaching the SSD to your desktop is very easy. Check out a Youtube video on it here. You really don't even have to screw things in since it'll only be temporary. After you install the SSD, boot Windows like normal, and then copy your data to

Code:

(SSD Drive Letter)\Users\(Your Username)

The drive letter for your SSD should be E, although it could be a later letter if you have a memory card reader or multiple optical drives.

 

I offer you a practical scenario so you can see how easy this is. I have a desktop system "A" and a laptop system "B", both connected to my wireless router so that they can be accessing the Internet at the same time. Because of this set-up, A and B are on the same internal Windows network ("behind" the router).

Suppose my data files are on drive D: of A, in the folder called Music. I highlight the Music folder and share it.

Now, I sit in front of B and nagivate Windows explorer to Network. I see A on the Windows network, with the shared folder Music visible.

​

Finally, I copy the Music folder and paste it to a location of my choice on B.

In your case, B would be your brand-new W520 with the brand-new SSD (running Windows)!

 

We are teaching W520 owners to share files now?

 

Yeah. RAID, HDD, SSD, mSATA, primary bay, caddy bay, file sharing, the works. (Oh, and that little rectangle at the right end of the taskbar, just next to the clock, is to show the desktop.)

 

Thanks everyone for the help and others for the sarcasm I did enjoy both and sorry if you you are unfortunate to have a beginner here

 

I've been asking for it so many times but didn't got a ***** reply! Why the thell is the Maj+Esc shortcut not working in Google Chrome? The function to free RAM is only accessible by this!

 

For those unfamiliar with French, Maj is short for Majuscule, meaning Uppercase, referring to the Shift key.



The sporadic problem of Shift+Esc key combination not bringing up Chrome's Task Manager has been raised here and there for a few months. The problem may be fixed by installing ***** Chrome from scratch!

This is definitely not a Lenovo ThinkPad W520 ***** problem!

 

You had me at *****.

 

Nice. Rep'd you.

 

Sorry but i don't understand what i'm supposed to do to make it work... My chrome is up to date.

 

Thanks for your advice, been really helpful in configuring my w520. Im going to order her tonight, going to just keep the 500gb 5400rpm hard drive, maybe add a mSata and enjoy her as is.

Which mSATA should i go with if i decide to purchase one?

 

It depends on your budget. The Intel SSD 310 80GB is a solid drive, but at $180 it isn't cheap either. You can get an Intel SSD 310 40GB for $93 if that fits your budget better (of course, you'll have less space available, and I believe it's also slower--that being said, both will be very fast).

 

Take a look at this one, 64GB, $90. (From my configurations, 60GB is plenty for OS and apps.)

 

Kaso,

Any thoughts on this, MyDigitalSSD 64GB 50mm Bulletproof mSATA SSD | My Digital Discount $75.00

SDT: Order off the B&N site remember promo code PRESIDENT, also chat with a sells person to see if you can workout a better deal.

I ordered this one, MyDigitalSSD 128GB 50mm Bulletproof mSATA SSD | My Digital Discount 128GB $170.00

 

When I was reading your first line, I immediately thought of the 128GB unit, which is what you put on the last line.

I heard good things about MyDigitalSSD products, but haven't used them myself.

 

Thanks, i will look into one and order! Btw the 500gb 7400rpm hard drive is no longer delaying shipment date, fyi.

 

Im interested in the Lenovo Thinkpad W520. Does anyone know where i can get the FHD Model with the Quadro 2000 cheap?

Here is another problem, i live in germany. So the US Lenovo site is probably a bad idea (zoll fees...).

Edit:

Ok i tried the german Lenovo Site with a 10 % coupon. Are 1.566 € (around 2075 dollars) for this configuration a fair price?

Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor (2.40 GHz, 6MB L3)
15,6 Zoll FHD (1900 x 1080)
NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics mit 2 GB DDR3
8 GB PC3-10600 DDR3-SDRAM 1.333 MHz SODIMM-Speicher (2 DIMMs)
HDD 320 GB, 5.400 U/min
No Color Sensor

Edit2:

Is the Smart Card Reader any useful?

 

Still waiting about a clear answer about the shift+esc key shortcut in chrome............................

 

I have this SSD. No problems, had it a couple months. Does exactly what it's supposed to--amazingly speedy disk access.

I ordered my W520 with the EOM SSD (not sure what it is). Realized very quickly it wasn't large enough, so I ordered the MyDigitalSSD. In hindsight, I should have ordered the least expensive drive I could, and simply replaced it with a huge SSD.

 

I've seen cheaper. Down close to $1450 for that config. As for the Smartcard reader, if you have to ask the question it isn't going to be useful to you. It is used for multi factor auth.

 

Wow that would be alot cheaper.

Any source for this?

 

I bought mine from Lenovo directly for $1665...Same configuration, just with the (slightly) older -2720QM and 4GB RAM.

 

If you buy the ram for yourself, its cheaper, huh?

With the above configuration and 4GB Ram im at 1.501,28 € now.
Still, a lot more expensive than in us, but oh well. Europe... -.-

Which kind of Ram is compatible? I would buy a 8gb then.

 

Any ddr3 sodimm memory will work.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Yep, any DDR3 1333MHz (or higher, but imo it's a waste) that's 204-pin will work. I run the stock Samsung DIMM as well as two cheap Mushkin DIMMs (cheaper at the time, at least -.-).

 

True, any 204-pin RAM will work; however, I personally recommend that you stress your new RAM with memtest86+ ( here) to check for any flaws so that you can return them as soon as possible.

 

Thanks! I ordered it already. Lets hope it doesnt take longer than 1,5 week.

 

Hello everyone,

I wanted to get the WD My Passport SE 1GB USB 3.0 to backup my new W520 and make use of the fast USB 3.0. However, I would like to tell you that the laptop will be always setting in the Lenovo docking station while at home which does not have USB 3.0 ports. Any clue or suggestion or should I just stick to a USB 2.0 backup drive?

I just would like to note that I want to keep the backup drive connected to 'something' all the time so I do not have to unplug/replug it everyday, so even if it can be connected to the USB 3.0 port on the laptop itself, it would defy the purpose of the docking station for me.

 

Guys,

I have just received the Crucial M4 256GB and it really came recklessly packaged that the SSD package itself got squeezed/dented from all the sides and also in the part holding the drive. Do you think the SSD can be affected by that and should I exchange it?

Thanks

 

Unless you back up thousand of files every night and sit around looking at the animation window, waiting for the backup to finish, I'd say USB 2.0 will be good enough. However, if you find a good deal on an external USB 3.0 drive, by all means get it because USB 3.0 is backward compatibe, meaning it will operate at the lower speed when connected to a USB 2.0 port.

I'd call up the vendor and ask for an RMA to exchange the product. In the meantime, if you haven't opened the product package, don't -- it may simplify the exchange process.

 

Thanks a lot for the advice. I think I would stick to the USB 2.0. About the SSD, it is from Amazon. Do you think I have to exchange it. Could it get hurt by this type of packaging?

 

It might, it might not. Hard to tell unless you visually inspect the drive and, if it "looks" reasonably good, plug it in and try it out. On the other hand, Amazon has an absolutely no-hassle return/exchange process.

 

I finally understand why brightness changed by itself for seconds : The power adapter sometimes gets virtually disconnected (means the power manager/windows think it was while it wasn't) thent it comes back after like 10seconds. What's the cause of this issue, anyone knows?

 

It might be that your W520 is set to dim display every once in a while? I'd recommend that you check your power settings.

 

Intel Core i7-2860QM Processor (2.50 GHz, 8MB L3)

Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64

Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 English

15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready

NVIDIA Quadro 1000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory

4 GB DDR3 - 1333MHz (1 DIMM)

Keyboard US English

UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad plus Fingerprint reader

720p Camera

Internal RAID - Not Enabled

500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm

DVD recordable multiburner

Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader & Smart Card Reader

9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++

Country Pack North America with Line cord & 170W AC adapter

Bluetooth 3.0

Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)

Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable

Language Pack US English

W/ extended 2 year warrantee, sleeve, top load case, earphone, and bluetooth mouse. I went on a freaking shopping spree. Total $1651.63 thanks for the help guys, can't wait to get it!

 

@AESdecryption: As i said, the power system detects that the power adapter was removed (while it wasn't), then switch to battery and so of course brightness change. So i don't understand why you tell me to check dim screen settings..?

 

Im a bit confused, is the FHD screen 1920x1080 or 1900x1080? On my order status it says "SBB 15.6FHD (1900 X 1080) LED"

 

Its possible that you have a faulty AC adapter.

Your previous post sounded like your screen was dimming.



There is an option for dimming the display when on power or on battery (found in "Power Options" under Control Panel, dimming the display will change the brightness until you cause your display to become active again (ie. touching the trackpad, typing with the keyboard, etc).

 

My order states the same thing. I am sure it is just a glitch but definitely cannot tell for sure.