Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

I am just wondering if its worth getting the dockingstation, but if it makes the ventilation a lot worth then that sucks :/

 

i'm using the docking station with no problems whatsoever. you could open the lid if you have worries but my laptop is cool after 8 hours on the docking station.

 

My temperatures are about 41 C. The airflow is channeled from the side to the back. I haven't noticed any problems. In fact, the temperatures seem to be cooler in the docking station vs. flat on the desk. I suspect that this is because the system is elevated a bit. Also, I am using the internal display so the cover is open.

 

.
For all W520 owners.... Great News Finally!!!

TurboBoost (with 2720QM CPU) is finally fixed with BIOS 1.26

With Nvidia Optimus enabled & using Super-PI....

TurboBoost on A/C = Fully fixed, getting up to 3.30GHz max
TurboBoost on Battery = Semi fixed, getting up to 2.40GHz max

Here is the list of changes....

[New functions or enhancements]
- Added support for the Resetting of the Cryptographic Key for Full Disk Encryption (FDE) Hard Drives (HD) and Erasing of the Solid State Drive (SSD).
- Added support for the Password Beep function.
- Increased the number of configurable boot devices by BootOrder option of Windows WMI script.

[Problem fixes]
- Fixed an issue where the BitLocker function could not be enabled on Windows 64-bit.
- Fixed an issue where PXE boot might fail.
- Fixed an issue where the fingerprint authentication associated with some password strings might fail.
- Fixed an issue where the Intel TXT feature might not be enabled when the Security Chip was activated and the Intel TXT feature was enabled at the same time by ThinkPad BIOS Settings Windows program.
- Fixed an issue where the Bluetooth wireless status indicator might be changed after running Windows WMI script.
- Fixed an issue where the Turbo Boost function did not work on some processors when working by the AC adapter.
- Fixed an issue where Windows 7 64-bit/Windows Vista 64-bit installation might fail in UEFI mode in RAID configuration.


The BIOS is not officially on their website yet.
It could be another few more weeks before it is updated.

So here are the links to the BIOS 1.26 files...

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8buj06uc.iso
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8buj06us.exe
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8buj06us.txt


I need to do more testing for other issues with this BIOS release (warm boot & 1866MHz RAM).

Have fun and enjoy...
.

 

If someone does some testing of this new BIOS and finds it fixes the restart issues with the Intel Series 510 SSD, please let us know. Thanks for the heads up Kevin.

 

thanks for the update...this is great news.

so UEFI now works with RAID?

 

Does this BIOS contain the new code for the pulsing fan issues? I see they reved the EC code.

 

I had updated from 1.21 to 1.26.

I have not had any issues with my 120gb 510 SSD with restart/standby. I still do not have any issues as up latest update. No delay in startup.

I re-ran WEI test to see if CPU performance had improved - remained at 7.5. According to CPU-Z, the clock averaged 3.0ghz during CPU intensive tests with it spiking as high to 3.2ghz. I have the 2720QM.


Has anyone been able to run Furmark on their W520's? I need some comparison before I start to mess with drivers and such.

 

Isn't 7.5 right where it should be? I don't think you'll see any improvement unless your turbo boost had been broken.

 

It's amazing how BIG this thread has gotten. I pulled the trigger a while ago for my W520. But I'm only now going to install an intel 310 ssd.
My specs are...

i7-2820QM
Win 7 Pro 64 bit w/ XP mode
FHD (1920x1080)
Quadro 2000M
No colour sensor
8GB Kingston 1866Mhz
RAID - Not Enabled
500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD Optical
Express Card Slot, 4-in-1 Card Reader & Smart Card Reader
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN
NO Integrated mobile broadband

I want to use the intel 310 as the boot drive and the 500GB HD for storage. I've read that its possible to install the OS from the dvd restore/recovery disks. Is it stable? How do I make sure everything is alined? Should the OS + other software from the restore dvds be the ONLY things installed on the 310? And other programs like Adobe C.S. 5.5 Production Premium, games, media files, etc... on the 500GB Hd? Are there any step by step guide lines that I can follow available? Any advice would greatly help! Thanks!

 

when you do a restart does it take 30-60 seconds longer than a cold boot? that is the problem i have with the intel 510

 

There is a free data migration tool available on the Intel website for their SSD's. This tool is an OEM version of Acronis. However, I used Ghost 15 to do the migration. Copy both the System partition (1.7gb) and the C: partition. After the migration is finished, shut down the system, remove the HDD and then reboot. Windows 7 does not seem to like to see its reflection . Once you have sucessfully started the system, shutdown again and then you can reinsert the HDD. Move the pagefile to the HDD and eliminate the hibernation file. My system is consuming 48.7gb of 73.3gb.

 

OK, I've updated my system BIOS to 1.26.

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name W520
System Manufacturer LENOVO
System Model 4270CTO
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2820QM CPU @ 2.30GHz, 2301 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date LENOVO 8BET46WW (1.26 ), 6/22/2011
SMBIOS Version 2.6
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7601.17514"

 

No delay. No difference between warm/cold boot/standby. Never had since installed drive. No different since BIOS update.

 

I am feeling this maybe only affects a certain batch of Intel 510 drives ??

Does everyone have the same firmware ?

It is weird your Intel 510 does not have the Warm Boot 40-seconds issue.

 

Nice! The new BIOS has turbo boost working for me and the fan is now smooth as butter! The fan now spins down on it's own as well! I might just consider not using tpfancontrol anymore. A little more testing is needed but it looks good!

 

The temperature on my system which had been 41 C is now 45 C. I also see that the fan which had been running at 2940+ RPM is now running at 2430+ so I suppose that's why the CPU temperatures are slightly up.

Update: The fan must really be running slowly. I now can not hear it when the HDD spins down. Really silent now. I'm impressed.

 

I believe everyone has the same firmware on the 510 as the latest firmware is from Jan/Mar.

I wonder if this issue has something to do with active protection waiting for the SSD to power down. Have you done any tweaks to optimize your system for SSDs?

 

I'm glad turboboost is back!

 

Just spent the last hour or so running Crysis 2 and Duke Nuken Forever..... the new EC code handled it pretty good. I did hit 198 F a few times with Duke Nukem but I never noticed any system slow down. The fans ramp up and ramp down really well with the new code. I'm probably going to go without tpfancontrol from now on.

 

i uninstalled active protection and i still have the issue. i've tested a lot of ssd tweaks, used the ones that worked and discarded the ones that didn't. cold boot is 42 seconds to chrome opening a web page and that's with a password.i start it with a finger swipe

 

Hmmmm. I wonder what the magic combination is.

Mdaize, what is the firmware version of your Intel Series 510? Are you using the 120GB model? Are you using Intel RST?

 

So the latest BIOS resolved the fan pulsing issue?

 

Only one way to find out!

 

I can also confirm, the fan is much quieter under normal use (no gaming).

 

I don't see it posted on the site.

 

Read this part of this thread... it was posted! http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/566338-lenovo-w520-owners-thread-321.html#post7676016

@kevinlau: I'm curious as to how you even obtained the links... just the other day I read from the Lenovo staff that they were going to give out this BIOS version to a select few for testing.

 

So, just to confirm, Turbo Boost now works on both AC and battery power with the new BIOS?

 

can you run wei and see what your score is. i get an error when i try to get my wei score.

 

I re-run the WEI twice and got no errors.

I got these numbers down the list:

7.5
7.9
6.9
6.9
7.9

 

To the people testing the 1.26 BIOS:

Are the fans any louder (i.e. spin more) under load? I never really minded my W520's noise level at around 3300 RPM idling, but if the fan actually spun up to like 4500+ RPM, the temperatures would be quite a bit cooler under full load.

 

thanks must be something else with mine

 

Weirdest thing for me before and after updating the BIOS to 1.26. I wanted to turn off the passwords and set the DVD to boot, but no matter how many times I pressed the F1 key it would not enter until I turned off the machine and then tried it. Even tried pressing F12, but it just kept going to my boot loader. Does this happen for anyone else? I have my BIOS set to Diagnostics and not Quick...

 

I did not experience any issue after BIOS 1.26.
F1 & F12 keys works just fine.
One press of F1 and it enters BIOS setup.

After update:
I selected 'Load Defaults Setup' once.
Then unplugged A/C power and battery completely once.
Works fine so far.
.

 

Turbo boost fully works plugged in, I have not tested unplugged. I think the notes said that on battery it wasn't a full fix.

 

Do you have your BIOS do a Quick start or do you go through the Diagnostics? I believe the former just shows the Lenovo logo while the latter shows you text of what's going on behind the logo.

 

Ok, so I'm getting a W520 for $1335 shipped. Is this a good deal? Please let me know, any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

Config:

Intel Core i7-2720QM (2.2GHz base; 3.3GHz Max Turbo) 6MB Cache
15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080)
LED w/ 720p HD Camera
320GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA HDD
4GB superfast DDR3 SDRAM PC3-10600 1333MHz (2x2GB)
NVIDIA Quadro 1000M
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
11b/g/n Wi-Fi Wireless
9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Bluetooth
DVD Recordable SATA
Fingerprint reader
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
1 Years Depot Warranty directly from Lenovo Manufacture expires June 20, 2012

 

Where are you buying from? I highly doubt that "superfast" is an appropriate technical descriptor

$1335 sounds like a good deal for that configuration, seeing that Lenovo.com has it for $1699 retail.

 

I always have Diagnostics selected. I like to see all the boot info.

 

The question is now moot. It has been posted by Lenovo staff at W520 TurboBOOST not working on battery or after up... - Lenovo Community

 

Just ordered my W520 earlier tonight!!

i7-2720QM
FHD
1000M
4GB RAM
320 GB HDD
N 6300

And I just ordered 8GB extra ram from newegg for $55 (with $10 mail-in-rebate), and within a few months I'll buy a SSD.

Can't wait for it to come!!!

 

If I get the N 6300 then I cant get webcam right?

 

You should be able to get both a 3x3 wifi card and a webcam outside of the X-series.

 

Year I found it was accually in the model I was looking at https://www.lapstars.de/product_inf...=7215&osCsid=ba1f626a7c0d5f3842d8dfdcd7e50253 just didnt notice it was part of the screen specs 15,6” TFT Farbdisplay matt, FHD LED ( 1920x1080, 95% Gamut ) mit integrierter Camera ( HD 720p )

 

Sounds a little high. For that price, I believe you can get that configuration + an Intel Centrino Ultimate N 6300 WLAN adapter instead of the generic ThinkPad one. Otherwise, though, reasonable in my opinion.

 

So unfair you say thats a high price, in europe it would be 1650€ (Remember euroes are much higher value atm.) and thats with 100-200€ student discount

 

I'm going by Canadian prices. The Canadian dollar is worth more than the US dollar, yet we get equivalent or higher prices still. Although, it is definitely not as bad as what you guys put up with in Europe. But we do have 13% taxes (I think the lowest provincial tax is like 10% still), which adds a lot to the cost of the system.

 

If anyone is still looking for RAM, I found this deal online this morning.
With the promo code it would be $25/4gb stick with free shipping.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model F3-10600CL9S-4GBSQ
EMCKCKC42
This is the same RAM I upgraded my W520 with about a month ago.

 

The $1335 price is the final price, after shipping and I won't be charged any sales tax. When I do the config on Lenovo site (through B&N gold) it came out to be $1550 shipped during 4th of July sale. For last couple months, I've been lookin' at Lenovo's site every weekend when the sale is on - and have never been able to get it down below $1500 shipped.

How much would it cost it Canada? Just curious.

 

For the exact specs during the last sale in June, with 25% off, $1,259.25 before taxes. Currently, with the E-mail coupon 18% off (pretty much standard, I get an e-mail for one like every week or 2), it would be like $1,368.58. Free shipping comes standard. Our dollar is slightly stronger than the USD, though (this morning it was like 1 CAD to 1.04441 USD).