Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

In UK a new 15" MBP 2720QM is only about 20% more expensive than the same spec W520. Personally I like the MBP chassis but hate OSX.

 

Does any one have an answer for this question?

 

The same reason why they charge $$$ for more memory. Convenience. Some people like to do the one stop shopping and get it all at once. Others, like me, will get the base model from Lenovo then upgrade the memory, hard drive, etc for cheaper when it's feasible.

 

Computer manufacturers have always had a ridiculous markup on user replaceable parts. This hasn't changed with SSDs. Ironically, the company with the most reasonable price on an SSD upgrade is Apple!

 

That's probably because they already got their markup on the computer.

 

Thanks for the info. That's helpful. I have nothing against the Macs, but I haven't seen just cause for their $$$ premiums and the software / hardware constraints and such. I so often hear how "once you go Mac, you never go back", etc., etc, (ad nauseam) that it's interesting to hear otherwise. I'll be ordering my first Lenovo shortly.

This has been a great thread. Thanks to everybody. And now I propose to focus back to the W520 before this thread gets hijacked.

 

There seems to be a thread out there saying the w520 has usb? turning on and off whining noises. Can anyone else confirm this?

 

Don't know- I think that's actually the CPU whine from generations past. T510 and W510 (come on, it's a T510p) are especially bad for it though it occasionally shows up in other lines like the T410s, T410, and anything with a Core or Core 2 processor (so 60's, 61's, 400's, and 500's too).

Apparently it's less prevalent in this new generation of laptops but if it's on mine... well, it better NOT be on mine since I've had a pretty big runaround trying to get it fixed (now my T510 is not what's on the bill of sale, a USB port's broken, and it still whines) and the suggestion that I got for avoiding the whine was "Avoid the T410, T510, and W510".

Actually, my getting a W520 is an exchange from this faulty T510 (70 bucks more for a new, vastly more powerful machine is a pretty good deal, I think).

When my W520 arrives I'll let you know but I can't see anyone else having the issue in at least this forum much less in any others.
I think they've fixed it.

 

better they fix it. I return two w510s for same reason. I can't stand that noise at night when you want work with piece of mind (day noise is enough)
otherwise I will return w520....yes I will take other minor things like mouse pad is not very responsive etc..

 

I remember someone here getting the 2-day shipping for $10 instead of the normal $25. Who was it?

Thanks.

 

When Lenovo sells you the memory and SSD, your warranty is with them. In order to serve this warranty, they will need to stock up spares. All these add to their overhead so don't expect Newegg kind of prices. For me, other than doing my own upgrade to save $$, there is also the satisfaction that is driving me.

 

I have this issue on my new W520. I started another thread on this. I have the 2820QM processor and 2000M. Good luck. I'm sending it in to hopefully get remedied. Noise coming between the hard drive and cpu heatsink. I can hear it still after hours later after shutting my laptop off on battery.

 

I ordered my W520 on April 11 in the morning, it shows shipped on April 17. That is a fast shipping time, only 6 days. The original given ship date was April 21.

 

My W520 shipped only 6 days after the order. Must got lucky before they ran out of the color sensor.

 

A few questions for fellow w520 owners..

1) Is the standard 9-cell battery on the w520 supposed to be a tight fit? I just noticed that my 9-cell is a bit loose and you can wiggle it slightly (definitely not a tight or snug fit)

2) What is with the 1:20-1:30 boot times? I'm embarrassed to say that my Y430 boots faster than this.. Will a clean install of Win 7 drastically improve boot times?

3) If I were to do a clean install, does that mean using recovery disks? or my own copy of win7?

 

Nice! I ordered during the late afternoon on April 10. I got an email this morning (April 18) that my system has shipped but there is no tracking number yet. The original estimated ship date was April 21. I didn't bother with the color sensor because I have a Datacolor Spyder3 otherwise our systems are fairly similar.

I prefer the Spyder3 over the built-in color sensors I've seen but to each his/her own!

 

The answer is simple. They are for company or corporation orders where money is NO object for the person placing the order. It is not his money. Just order everything in one shop and be done with it.

And for our government and for NASA as wells. . For everyone else, we upgrade those parts ourself afterward.

 

That is great, we will be getting our W520 this week.
I already have my upgrade parts ready for some swapping.
Here is what I have plan:

Intel 310 msata 80GB (will be used as a temp/swap drive, not boot drive)
(This is where I will put the Temp folder and Paging File on)
Intel 510 120GB as main boot drive.
A pair of Kingston (4GB x 2) 1600MHz memory.

This hopefully will last me 3 years before next upgrade is needed.

 

You forgot the Intel Series 320 600GB SSD in the Ultrabay. La Familia!

 

1. Mine is slightly loose, too. Not bad but I prefer firm stuff.
2. Regarding the boot times, is that using a hard drive or SSD?
3. Clean install refers to an install from the Windows 7 DVD.

uh oh, just realized I forgot to use multi quote. sorry

 

May get when I need the extra space, and only after when those price comes down. I already have a Blu-ray Ultrabay drive ready for use that I bought last year for my W510. I put the original DVD Ultrabay drive in it when I sold off the W510 several weeks ago.

 

BTW, what is the purpose of 'use multi quote' ??

 

Some of the mods prefer this style. I am not used to it.

Yea, I'd like a Blu-ray player, too.

 

Nice! You can help me test DDR3-1600 modules when mixing and matching with the DDR3-1333 memory already in the W520. I'll be ordering the memory and Intel 310 once I have an idea of the delivery date.

 

I was about to buy a T420, but after looking at W520 I am sold

Few questions though:

1. From what I read, W520 can take upto 32 GB of RAM, correct? 4 sticks of 8 GB each?
2. What exactly is the difference between 1 DIMM, 2 DIMM etc? I am planning to have 16GB of RAM, but don't want to buy all 16 from Lenovo, would like to buy the extra RAM from newegg. What should I look for, when I order RAM?
3. I had a chat with a sales rep, she only gave me 10% off How are some of you guys are getting 15 or even 20%? Any secrets?

Thanks.

 

Not sure how to use this multi-quote thing..

anyway, the boot time is with the (2) 300gb drives running Raid 0..

what is your boot time?

Thanks.

 

So this is my spec purchased from the UK Store with a 10% discount if you apply coupon code EASTERSALE2011:

- Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor (2.30GHz, 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 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
- No Color Sensor
- 16 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (4 DIMM)
- Keyboard UK 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
- 9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++
- Country Pack United Kingdom with Line cord & 170W AC adapter
- Bluetooth 3.0
- Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)
- Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
- Language Pack UK English

 

vijay it would help if we new where you lived. Diferent codes for different countries

 

Anyone installed a second hard drive in their W520? I ordered a 128gb SSD and a hard drive bay adapter. The adapter just shipped today. My Thinkpad isn't scheduled to ship until 5/11/11. I'm planning on purchasing an HDD from another vendor to put in my adapter. I'm not very concerned with having a DVD drive. I usually install software using ISO's (legally) and I don't really watch movies except on my TV. Any thoughts on using a secondary hard drive along with an SSD?

 

Well, I started this thread, and promised that I would post up Starcraft II rates. And now that I have the W520, I would have gladly done this... Except I just got Portal 2, so here's some information on that instead:

Settings:
Anti-Aliasing: 4X MSAA
Filtering: Anisotropic 4X
Multicore: Enabled
Shader Detail: Medium
Effects: High
Model/Texture detail: High
Page Pool Memory: High

I consistently get 50-60 fps with those settings so far. When I bumped AA or Shader detail up to 8X or High respectively, the fps went down to 30-45 range.

Again, this is with a i7-2720QM, Quadro 2000M, 7200rpm hard drive, 12GB memory, and running the game at 1920x1080. Game looks brilliant too, in a grimy, Aperture Science type of way

 

would love you do show the Starcraft 2 settings as I pretty much will be getting the same thing minus full hd

 

Just ordered my laptop got an amazing deal thanks to my rep 1275.62 total so with 13% tax it comes to a total 1441.45

Through visaperks I would have paid 1403.28 so I saved about $125

I think I pretty much got the employee discount as when he was doing the order he had to adjust it manually. The only problem is that my confirmation email shows the incorrect price do to this. He assured me though my invoice will show the correct price and he lef a note on the order. I am making sure he sends email confirmation in case of a dispute though.

Basically I got the w520 quad core with quadro 2000m and intel centrino ultimate 6300 everything else was default. I decided against the HD upgrade if I need more room I can use my 1 terrabyte external drive

How long does it take before it ships

Also anybody know the best place to get additional RAM preferabbly about 4 gigs

 

1. Got the same problem.
2. About the same. Get better for later boot. One thing I noticed that it seems UEFI is not set up. I will try enable the UEFI and reinstall Win7 fresh to see if it get better.

 

I've had my eyes opened. I purchased a w520 on the web, decked it out pretty well. Bought the good graphics, upgraded the proc, got the good wireless etc.
What a disappointment. Customer service was awful from the get go. I pulled the trigger on the first day the units were available. On that day the link to the system specs on the web site was to the previous model the w510. Not a good sign, how sloppy considering this is a top of the line laptop. Further no knowledgebase articles for this unit yet on the web. No manuals no nothing.....on the day of a major product release!
There was a delay in the credit card processing. It took 3 days to find out. I needed the unit shipped to an alternate address which was not on file at my credit card issuer. I called the bank, the only way to get the address on the card was to list it as the mailing address which I did. I called back to get things going again. Now I find out they would not ship to a hotel (I was staying there for 4 months as part of a business project). I got it escalated and the "supervisor" I spoke to was one of the most arrogant humans I had ever dealt with on the phone. I was in the position of having to beg them to take my money. I called back to another department further up the food chain to get it taken care of. What a mess.

Finally get the system. Beautiful graphics with the high end lcd panel. Connect a flat screen panel to the VGA out trying to duplicate the screen with no luck. Now there is no image on the flat panel. The GUIs for the graphics can't seem to get the configuration right. The best I can do is external monitor only.

So I'm on the phone with the support staff. THERE IS NO INTERNAL SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION FOR THE MODEL, THREE WEEKS AFTER RELEASE!!!!

I spend so much time on the phone trying to get this resolved it occurs to me I have bought a part time job not a laptop.

We escalate; the guy is clueless but congenial. I agree to try the laptop on a couple of digital monitors at work using the Display Port. I do this it works somewhat better but still not as expected. Then I try extending the screen instead of duplicating. That works but then I can never get it back to duplicate. The graphic settings are haywire. I talk to the last tech again to report. He is ambivalent about whether the product is faulty or not. Drivers etc you know the drill. On top of all this I notice the battery doesn't lock securely in the chassis it rattles around. Shoddy! Yet the tech is not quite ready to put a statement in the notes acknowledging the unit is defective.

Now I go to Post Sales department and they want to charge me a 15% restocking fee. My gasket blows! I have to work my way up the food chain.

Eventually after some time on the phone I get an RMA with no restocking fee.

No more Lenovo for me. If you're smart buy a SAGER.

The following is my config. with none of the SSD and Memory I had planned to add.

Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor (2.30GHz, 8MB L3)
Windows 7 Professional 64
Display type 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display,
NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
720p Camera
500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD recordable multiburner
Express Card Slot & 4 in 1 Card Reader
Battery 9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++
Bluetooth Bluetooth 3.0
Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250
Integrated mobile broadband Integrated Mobile Broadband
Fingerprint Reader

 

So, you went with 1600x900 screen, not FHD, 1 year depot warranty,
no color sensor and standard 320 GB HDD. Correct?

 

correct cant wait

 

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model F3-10600CL9S-4GBSQ $40 free shipping

 

thanks this looks good 4 gigs for $40 great deal

 

It's the same price as the Friends & Family Purchase Program at http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrar...inity?affinity=ibmeppfriendca&passcode=FNDEPP

 

sweet I am not even an employee and he gave me that rate

 

Im in the UK and I can't find the GSKILL RAM, can anyone confirm if this is the right spec to go with? CT2KIT51264BC1339 - 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM , DDR3 PC3-10600 from Crucial.com

 

Yes, that is what you need.

 

^^^ Yes.

8GB Kit (4GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 upgrades for Lenovo ThinkPad W520 Notebook

 

On the german site of Lenovo one can configure the W520 without modem. Is that a mistake or is it really available without the superfluous modem?

 

I know this has been discussed in this thread, but it doesn't seem like it has been actually solved. Some people are saying that the W520 can support 3 external monitors when connected to the ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3. However, after just spending a few hours trying to get that configuration to work, I have been informed by Lenovo tech support that the W520 with that dock only supports 2 external monitors. The T520 supports 3 external, but the W520 only supports 2. This page ( Lenovo Support - ThinkPad Multiple Monitor Configurations: NVIDIA Optimus technology) would seem to confirm this as the W520 is not listed in the models that support quad display configuration.

So has anyone actually gotten 3 external monitors running somehow with the W520 and this dock? This is one of the main reasons I purchased this laptop, so I'm more than a little bit disappointed...

 

I think you have to change the bios setting to either discrete or optimus, forgot which one.

 

May be you're right. I'll check it when mine arrives. Right now I run 6 monitors 1920x1080 each on my W700DS with edditional graphic card.
BTW, did you try to disconnect your laptop monitor? Lenovo could say that W520 runs 3 external screens, but forgot to mention that in that case mane laptop screen will be black. You can try that setup if you want. That might work.

 

I'm fairly certain the display setting must be set to Optimus in the bios in order for quad display to work.

 

Which dock do you have, the one with 135w or the 170w, according to Keith Combs, he say you might need the 170w version to run multiple monitor.

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