Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

Does this caddy fill the whole ultrabay slot? People were saying that the one from Lenovo leaves a significant space, so I purchased a 3rd party one.

Also, I replied to your question on the Lenovo forums.

 

What caddy do you use? Could you provide a link, please? I believe most caddies are SATA II with 3Gb/s speed cap.

 

I use this one: SATA hard drive Adapter Bay LENOVO Thinkpad T520 W520 | eBay

 

You replied, "I put it in one bay and I get 500-600MB/s seq read speeds, I put it in the other and I get 250-300MB/s seq read speeds. This is using several different benchmark tools and various versions of the RST driver, all on Win7 Pro x64."

I'm not sure that level of detail would hold up to scrutiny at anandtech.com.

Regarding your "third party" caddy, why would anyone trust test results with that? I'm sure Lenovo will say it's unsupported.

The smoking gun just isn't there.

Hopefully Anand Shimpi and the folks at anadtech.com will get a ThinkPad W520 and beat the crap out of it with benchmarks and prove something scientifically. It hasn't happened yet though they did request a machine. At least that's what I was told.

 

It's when the drive is in the third party caddy that I get full speed. It's when it's in the main bay that I get SATA II speeds. When the drive is in the main bay, AS SSD benchmark shows 500MB/s speeds for a few seconds before it drops down to ~250MB/s.

Additionally, I'm not reviewing the producing, I'm trying to troubleshoot it. By successfully operating the drive at full speed on a different SATA port, I've isolated the problem to the SATA port in the main bay. That's about as good as I can do without spare SSD's and SATA III-capable machines.

 

What SSD do you have? Is it Vertex 3?

 

Yes, 240GB

 

i have the same drive in my t61p and i'm getting those speeds. my w520 was supposed to be here friday, it's in lexington ky, and if it gets here i'll be using the same drive in it. i'll let you know if mine does the same thing. if so it might make more of an impact with lenovo's techs.

 

Thank you, I would very much appreciate that. I already have about 3 sets of benchmarks from various people with SATA III SSD's, and the blog article that was posted earlier should hold quite a bit of water, but the more info I have behind me, the better off I will be. They'll be contacting me at 3pm today, but if my previous experiences are anything to judge by, I seriously doubt they'll be able to resolve it today.

 

I beleive this is the drive, not SATA issue. I'm still waiting for my Vertex 3, should be here on Saturday and I'll test it, but from what I found on other forums, it is drive's problem. Other people tested it in other machines and had same issue. If you use Intel 510 for example and test it with random read/write, it'll work on full speed. I'm also thinking why does it happening...

 

Why would I be able to get full speed with it in the ultrabay if it was a problem with the drive?

 

Here are my Crystaldiskmark results with the Intel 510 SSD (240GB) in the main bay

 

Very excited... Ordered 4/27, shipped 5/4...

Code:

1  	 4270CT   	CONFIGURED SYSTEM 
		 $1,388.00  	 $1,388.00 
  	      0A68269   	SBB 2NDGICI7-2620M IHDGR200
  	      45M3092   	VBB GENWIN7HOMEPREM64
  	      0A68718   	SBB GW7 HP64 US ENGLISH
  	      0A68534   	SBB 15.6HD+ (1600 X 900) LED
  	      0A68893   	SBB NVQ1000M GR
  	      45M4572   	VBB 4GBPC3-10600DDR3 1333SODMM
  	      45M4839   	SBB KEYBOARDUS ENGLISH
  	      0A68527   	VBB NO FINGERPRINT READER
  	      0A68558   	SBB 720P HD CAM INT MICR
  	      0A69620   	SBB I RAID-NOT EN
  	      0A68552   	SBB 320GB HDD7200RPM
  	      0A68547   	SBB DVD RC8XMXDLLRULTEHATA
  	      0A68529   	VBB ECS+4IN1CR
  	      45M4816   	SBB 9CELLLI-ION BATTERY
  	      0A68904   	SBB CPNAMLC+ 170W AC AD
  	      75Y1724   	SBB THINKPADB/G/N
  	      44C7950   	SBB INT WRLSSWDAREANTWRK UPGR
  	      0A68564   	SBB LANG PCK US E
  	      41C9166   	1YR Onsite

One question... if I decide it was a mistake to not get a longer warranty, is there a window for extending it?
(Also, I did't really want the 9 cell battery, but the 6 cell was not an option on that config, so... I have a 9 cell batt. to pass on to someone who will get use out of it. PM me... I hope that's not against the rules!)

 

I knew this will be your next question I want find unswer for that as well, as I ordered Vertex 3 too.

 

330MB/s write is a normal speed for Intel 510. 250MB/s for Vertex 3 is not. Some are getting 280, but not as it is advertised.

 

it doesn't make sense that it's the drive if it's performing well in the caddy. i don't plan to leave mine in the caddy so i will test as soon as i get mine in. it's in louisville now so hopefully it will be here friday, not sure why i said lexington before.

 

edit: ^^^ I read it as Louisville

There are people that have told me they get SATA III speeds with their Vertex 3 installed in the main bay of their W520. There may be a problem with a small handful of Vertex 3 drives that causes similar symptoms, but I believe that my issue is with the SATA port, not the drive. If it was a problem with my drive, it would not operate at full speed in the ultrabay.

 

Yes, but those people might do CryctalDiskMark with 0 fill selected, and you tested it with random data. What are your speeds with 0 fill? Are they same?

EDIT: with 0 fill you should see around 460-500 MB/s

 

I can do the same test using the same benchmark tool on the same Windows install when the drive is installed in the main bay as when it is installed in the ultrabay and I get different (but consistently different) results in each bay. That alone is damning enough evidence that the SATA port is at fault.

 

I understand your point. I'm just trying to help better qularify this problem. But really, what speed do you get in the main bay with 0 fill?

EDIT: Also I'm not sure you can tell Lenovo it is their problem, as lenovo never edvertised that their W520 laptops have SATA III.

 

Anyway when I get my Vertex 3 MAX IOPS I let you know what speeds I'm getting. If I have same (I believe I will) I'll go to OCZ forum and will see what others say.

 

In the ultrabay, I get ~480MB/s read and ~420MB/s write
In the main bay, I get ~260MB/s read and ~250MB/s write

(CrystalDiskMark, 0 fill, Vertex 3 240GB)

 

WOW... your reads should be around 500 under any conditions... I mean, unless Lenovo just limited SATA to 3Gb/s. I doubt they'd do that only on your laptop. However, I'm not sure you can tell them it suppose to be 6Gb/s when lenovo never said it is SATA III.

Did you order your system with RAID anabled?

 

No RAID, and Lenovo did say it was SATA III: Inside the Box SATA 3.0 600MB/s on ThinkPad Notebooks

Also, ATTO gives me reads speeds of about 550MB/s when it's in the ultrabay.

 

I just installed the Vertex-3 to compare it with the Intel 510.
Both were tested in the Main Bay. Here are the Crystaldiskmarks :

Intel 510 240GB (left) OCZ Vertex 3 240GB (right)

 

Nice. Thanks! If I understand correct, your Vertex 3 is not MAX IOPS. Correct?

 

Just to be clear, it is still unconfirmed whether or not they throttle any of the ports. I will post more info after my phone call.

As for 510 vs. Vertex 3, I would highly recommend reading the articles on anandtech.com about these drives (one for the 250GB 510, one for the 240GB Vertex 3, and one for the 120GB Vertex 3). In real life applications, I seriously doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference between the two of them.

 

Yes. the standard Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-240G

 

For the no modem issue on certain CTOs, has anyone just added the modem FRU to their laptop? Is that possible?

The part is only $30 on some sites and since a modem is how I get into failed routers and such, I was thinking $30 would be worth it if it works.

 

Am I the only one that is thinking this thread is getting too long and too varied in content to be useful?

 

For me, it is more convenient to have everything in one thread.

 

No, you aren't the only one. But it's the way they seem to like it on this forum site.

This thread was started less than 5 weeks ago and it's already at 1600+ responses.

It's a terrible monster for the first time reader.

 

Maybe OP can help by referring direct links and Q&A for the first time reader. I'm pretty sure most new W520 owners would ask the same questions as someone else did 30-40 pages ago but innocently did not realise. Thats what i'm trying to prevent on the T420 thread...

 

I agree... especially after reading all 150+ pages last night before buying my W520. Ideally there should be sections for each laptop, so there could be specific threads created, like XDA-Forums does for phones.

 

Yes, you can extend your warranty. Lenovo - Services & Warranty - US

 

Referring to this post here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/566338-lenovo-w520-owners-thread-159.html#post7452558

Awesome - hugely appreciate your answers! I'm sure this will help out a lot of people - thanks!

 

OK, I ran AS SSD benchmarks and stopwatched the boot time. I did it with a C300 128 GB in the Disk 0 slot and the as delivered Hitachi 500GB 7200 rpm HDD in the ultrabay III caddy.

I than did nothing other than switched the drives. I booted to allow the computer to understand where everything was now and shut it down. I rebooted and timed the boot times and than run the AS SSD again.

It does run about 10% faster (both by stopwatch and benchmarks) in the ultrabay.

Is that enough to keep it this way? I don't know. I do have my data on the HDD and my OS and programs on the SSD, so generally have my ultrabay caddy in the computer.

I did insert the optical drive when I reflashed the C300 bios to 0007 yesterday. I also have an external Lenovo optical drive.

I suppose that 10% is not enough to move the boot drive out of its Drive 0 slot, but also is just enough that I am going to put up my screwdriver and leave it this way for a while.

Perry

 

Hi,

Did you have problems with intel 510 ssd, like BSOD, or crush, or freeze or anything else ?
I'm thinking to buy Intel 510 ssd 160gb and I need to know if it work fine.

 

Just did a clean install of Win 7 - but I can't get the power bar thing back which goes next to the right tray icons. Any one know how? I can get into the Thinkpad Power Manager and in options there is a box for "Show Power Guage in Taskbar" - when I tick and apply nothing changes.

Also my ThinkVantage button isn't working. I've used the Thinkpad System Update and installed more or less everything (despite the System Update program refusing to open in Win 7 64bit Pro unless its in compatibility mode.)

My specs: W520 2720QM Quadro 2000M FHD, 120gb Vertex 3, 12GB ram, 500gb ultrabay hdd.

 

Per this Amazon review of the HDD caddy:

Can anyone who has received a W520 with RAID testify as to whether there is this 3/16" gap with the official RAID-supporting UltraBay HDD caddy? (Pictures would be great, too!)

 

No Gap. See photo.

 

I had no trouble with the Intel 510 SSD (240GB), except the 30 second delay when I do a warm-reboot (Message: "Thinkvantage Active Protection sensor diagnostic start /" )

I am getting the same message with the OCZ Vertex 3 which I am testing today.

I installed the new BIOS 1.22 today, but unfortunately that did not change it. Waiting for the next BIOS version....

 

Hello Huberth or anyone else....Since I am a newbie and would like to install a SSD I am wondering why I would not order the Intel x-25 with 80GB?

I know it is SATA II, but think it might already have the bugs worked out (unlike what I think I am reading here about the SATA III ones) Do you agree? Is anyone using a X-25 with their W520?

 

Interesting -- looks like they put in a 3/16" spacer. I might have to return my non-RAID model if there is this gap and they are unable to supply me with a satisfactory caddy

On the bright side, my W520 will be arriving tomorrow!

P.S. Thanks for the photo!

 

Yes. I did a clean install on a c300 64 GB with UEFI only set in the BIOS. I have an occasional warm reboot issue where it would hang. I upgraded the firware to 007 on the drive yesterday. Haven't updated the BIOS on the w520 yet. Will report back if I continue to have the warm reboot issue.

 

I just ran the PCMarkVantage Benchmark, which simulates real-life tasks and is the benchmark most relevant to me.
With the OCZ Vertex-3 I get a score of 14,307
UPDATE: I re-ran the benchmark with NVIDIA enabled. The correct score for the Vertex-3 is 16,006

With the Intel 510 the score is (still slightly) better: 16,302

But with Crystaldiskmark scores I posted earlier today the OCZ Vertex beat the Intel 510. Same system. Only difference were the SSDs. The OCZ Vertex 3 beats the Intel 510 in most HDD benchmarks.

Can anyone explain why the higher scores in PCMarkVantage for the Intel 510?

PS: In the Lenovo ThinkPad T520 Review | StorageReview.com the Intel 510 also shows higher PCMarkVantage scores (on a T420) than the Vertex-3 or any other SSD tested.

 

It may be possible. You'd need the modem FRU *and* the I/O board with the RJ11 port soldered in place. Then it could be a straight swap. I'm happy to experiment in the summer but it might be interesting to see if a W510 owner has done it.

 

You can purchase a warranty extension from Lenovo at a later date, as long as your warranty isn't expired yet.

Lenovo Ideapad Support & downloads - Extend or Upgrade your Warranty

 

There was a thread on this in another forum which I can't find but I think it was storagereview.com. If my memory serves me correct, someone made the point that while OCZ drives have higher max data rates, the actual performance fluctuates quite a bit whereas the Intel drives tend to provide consistent throughput even though their max rates aren't as high. I remember the same person posted data throughput over time and you could see that OCZ Vertex 3 fluctuate up and down and the Intel 510 barely fluctuate. I'll see if I can find that thread and post it here.