Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

Interesting. I never get 18% or 25% coupons. Is there a place you sign up for? In last 2 years, I've bought 3 laptops from Lenovo's site - but never gotten a coupon of more than 10% from third-party website + share-holders discount or B&N Gold discount.

 

If you have problems finding these coupons, you may have better luck by calling a Lenovo rep and haggling over the price. You might get a better deal that way.

 

Anyone noticed if the trackpoint "keeps going" sometimes after you release it ? My Current Thinkpad R51 does it and my X201 Tablet did it as well and its my only drawback to the trackpoint

 

Mine does it too, though I'm probably just bending the stick too much and it's going back to it's natural position. It doesn't bother me too much, however.

 

Lenovo Canada gives out 15% coupons practically all the time. If you are signed up for Lenovo Canada's e-mail offerings, you get 18% coupons. 25% coupons come once in a while. I got my W520 with a 30% off coupon before the prices were adjusted to match US prices. We probably get bigger coupons because our dollar is worth more (and the US has lower base prices in the literal number anyways) so it appears to be cheaper.

According to Wikipedia that's called cursor drift or something and is natural on TrackPoints. I think the phenomenon occurs when the stick cannot return to where it thinks is (0, 0) so it keeps on going for a little while (about 1 second) until the software notices and readjusts the origin.

 

Just flashed my BIOS to 1.26. Can't really say that I'm overjoyed at the moment. Yes, the fan pulsing is gone, but now I get hit with CPU throttling when on battery.

 

Hey guys and gals,

I finally bit and bought a W520. This is replacing an HP Envy 15 which has been an absolute terror for the last two years I've owned it. I also have a T61 that has treated me very well, but it's basically a glorified netbook at this stage in its life. Excited to ditch both machines for the new W.

Specs:

2720QM
4x4GB
500GB
FHD
2000M
6205 wireless

Ended up paying $1824.49 US after the third-party memory upgrade. I didn't have a great coupon and I don't feel like waiting. Looking forward to tearing through some Revit models.

On a related note, anyone been using one of these with Revit? Comments on performance? I saw Autodesk has certified drivers for only a few products (not including Revit at the moment) which was kind of disappointing, but I expect they'll be available sooner or later...

My T61 does this, but I've noticed it's a recent thing. I figured it was a function of the computer being 4 years old.

 

I rolled Bios 1.24 back to 1.22 and have all my turboboost and no other problems. You might try it rather than 1.26 if you still don't have turboboost.

I seldom run my W520 on battery as it mostly sits in the Mini Dock 3 while my X220 travels with me.

 

Yeah, I remember everything working fine on 1.22 so I just might rollback to 1.22 and wait for a fix all BIOS release. However, the pulsing fan will be back if I do that. I currently don't do much intensive on battery, so I can just live without the full performance on battery. My CPU gets stuck at 1.2GHz when on battery, and won't go any higher.

 

I'm there with you... While I never tested what I was getting with 1.22 and battery operation, 1.26 hits the ceiling at 1.5GHz for me. Plug the AC adapter back in and I'm back in business. There was someone in the ubuntuforums that said they had gotten 3+ GHz while on battery... waiting to see if he can verify that.

 

After some stress testing on 1.26 I've decided to still run tpfancontrol. I leave it in bios control and only have tpfancontrol take over once the CPU gets up to 85-90C. I just don't get why they don't spin the fan to max. I'd rather replace a fan than a CPU if it's worry about wearing the fan!

 

I'm gonna guess that noise is also a factor. The fan spins to max during EC updates, and it sounds like a hair dryer when it does.

 

I'm not moving off 1.22 until I see the Series 510 Intel SSD fix.

 

In order to get semi-TurboBoost on Battery (up to 2.40GHz on my W520):

Open Power Manager and change 'System Performance' setting to Max Turbo for the Battery Settings.
Setting it to Balanced will limit CPU to around 1.5GHz max on battery from my testing.
.

 

For the people having the 510 issues (Warmboot delay I'm assuming), what firmware are you running on your SSD?
With both 1.25 and 1.26 I've had no issues with my 120gb 510.

 

I'm pretty sure there's only one release from Intel, version 1.7. It must be something else in the chain.

 

On my 240GB Intel 510 I have Intel firmware PWG4 (per Intel Rapid Storage Manager - Manage Disk). I have had the 40 second warm-boot delay on all versions of Lenovo W520 BIOS 1.06-1.25.

Which Firmware do you have?

 

ditto the firmware and the warm boot delay. i have a 250gb 510. cold boot 40 seconds. restart around 90 seconds

 

Let me first caveat this by saying, I don't have a 510 SSD and don't have to live with the problem, but do you guys really restart that often that it's a huge deal to you? I practically never do warm boots like you describe. Even if I'm doing software installs I nearly always shut down and start up. Maybe it's my electrical engineering background and just thinking back on how many circuits I've worked on that have reset issues and whatever else, but I ALWAYS shut down fully and then start up.

 

a w520 with an FHD screen is on its way. I decided not to get the color calibration system, but am wondering if someone who has can let me, or us, know what levels to use. I don't need precise settings. I ask because a couple of years ago I got an HP monitor -- the LP2475w -- with a similar gamut and was able to use settings that other users with color calibration systems arrived at.

 

that's pretty much what i do as well. i really like the increased speed and the ssd more than makes up for the warm boot issue with the speed in every other aspect. the vertex 3 is much faster, from a user standpoint, than the intel 510 but it was very unstable. i got bsod's several times a day and even with the latest firmware i got freezes every hour or so. never lost data but i just couldn't afford the risk on a business laptop. i cloned the v3 to the 510 and have had no problems other than the warm boot which is a non-issue for me.

 

In the initial setup of the machine, LOTS of restarts. My machine is also a dual boot machine so I am flipping between a server OS and a desktop OS.

30-40 seconds is just a nuisance. It isn't mission critical but it does make you wonder what else is happening that might bite you later.

 

What is the firmware level on your SSD? Thanks

 

What about the heat generated with an SSD? I notice some heat when I game under the left palm rest. I realize that the gpu and cpu are close to that area too, but I'm curious if there is less heat with an SSD.

 

Pondering purchasing a W520.

Is there any way I can get something with the Quadro 2000M cheaper? Here's my config:

System components
Intel Core i7-2720QM Processor (2.20GHz, 6MB L3)
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
15.6" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
4 GB DDR3 - 1333MHz (1 DIMM)
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 North America with Line cord & 170W AC adapter
Bluetooth 3.0
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (2x2 AGN)
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable
Fingerprint Reader

Price $2,700.00
Sale price $1,628.10
Savings $1,071.90

Total $1,628.10

Wondering if there's any coupons or deals floating around that I don't know about.

How much of a performance gap is there between the 1000m and 2000m? I'll be doing heavy Adobe Suite (with multiple programs running at once), as well as some Rhino, Maya, and 3DS Max. Also wondering how the 1000m fares while gaming. I know the 2000m is a beast at it.

I go to a university with slightly spotty WiFi, so i got the upgraded card. The HDD I also upgraded because it wasn't too pricey.

Thanks in advance!

 

One word: HAGGLE (over the phone)! I got mine for a few pennies over $1500, and my configuration was almost exactly like yours (except I upgraded to an Intel 6300 and 1080p display). However, I was able to get that pricing after also buying a 2yr TPP warranty (which I was going to buy anyway); soo... minus the B+N discount and ~10% discount, plus warranty, upgrade from 6205 --> 6300, and laptop lock, I really bought it for $1664 and some change, before taxes.

As for professional applications like Adobe, I have no idea what difference there is between the two nVidia cards. As for gaming, I've heard that the 1000M is somewhat like a 540M, and the 2000M is like a 555M. Obviously, these cards weren't designed for gaming, but they can handle most modern games at good frame rates. I have some WEI scores and some information in the review I wrote (the link in my sig), though I haven't gotten around to playing games or running benchmark software yet.

 

That price is really high for the configuration. If I were to pull the trigger on that exact configuration right now in Canada, it would be $1,475.18 (with the Centrino 6300 too, because for whatever reason the 6205 and 6300 are both $40 here). I would say around $1350 would be fair for that configuration at most. Try calling in and haggling, you might even be able to get it down to like $1250-ish.

 

Is that $1475.18 in Canadian dollars? They're a bit stronger than US.

I would love something sub $1300...wonder if they allow $350~ worth in haggling down

 

I'm not sure you can get under $1300 with a quad-core and 2000M. My target price for mine was $1400 and I never got close to that (relatively speaking).

 

According to Intel RST my firmware is PPG2. Where did you go to locate the numerical version number?

 

I was looking at the Intel Support downloads area for the Series 510. See http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...oduct=Intel®+Solid-State+Drive+510+-+120GBeng

I probably misread it yesterday. v1.7 appears to be the version of the firmware update utility, not the actual firmware it implements.

My Series 510 is the same firmware version as yours. Someone else is different. The SATA controller or something else.

 

Yes, CAD is the currency. Even after conversion, it is like $100 less than your current price still.

He's looking at a HD+ screen and not the FHD screen, which knocks down the price by quite a bit.

 

You've had your system for some time correct? I wonder if the fact my system is fairly new (either hardware revision or some random FW upgrade that is getting missed by TPA?) is the reason

 

Yea, mine was one of the first off the line. I'm sure some component changed. Wanna trade?

 

I'll gladly trade you my 320GB 7200 RPM Seagate HDD for it.
No warm reboot hanging, in fact, it boots faster on a warm reboot.

 

No thanks. I would just switch to one of my X-25M SSD drives first. But thanks for playing the game.

 

I'm having the same issues with my i7-2720QM throttling to 800MHz, even while on AC with Max Performance set in the Power Manager. Right now, I have BIOS version 1.25 (8BET45WW). Has 1.26 worked for most of you, or should I try to find 1.22 and install that? Also, how difficult is it to flash a BIOS (sorry, I have never messed with it before on other computers)?

 

I believe 1.26 fixes throttling on AC, but brings about throttling on battery (it also fixes the pulsing fan, and the fan stays at a lower speed when idle). Flashing the BIOS isn't hard, just click a couple of buttons. However, if anything goes wrong, your machine is going back to Lenovo's depot.

 

I went on chat and got quoted $2020 for
Intel Core i7-2720QM Processor (2.20GHz, 6MB L3)1
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 6412
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
NVIDIA Quadro 2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
4 GB DDR3 - 1333MHz (1 DIMM)8
UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad plus Fingerprint reader
500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm4
DVD recordable multiburner5
9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++60
Bluetooth 3.0
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)10
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable65
4270 : 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller
With 2 year onsite + TTP and the mini dock

Is this a good price? I feel like it's a little high but I'm not sure.. I told her to quote with B+N and it came to almost the same price as online with B+N. If I push could I get more off?

 

I have the exact same laptop as you ordered (without dock) and I got it for a total of $1664 and tax. The B+N price alone should bring it to around $1650 for the laptop (with standard warranty). Online chat reps usually can't go very down in price (though some people have); I called a rep and got my laptop with the B+N discount, plus ~10% (my total saving was around 23.2%, or a penny over $500, off retail [$2167]).

I can PM you my rep's information to see if you can get a good price from him. I had a great experience ordering through this guy. (EDIT: just realized that you need to have more posts on NBR before I can PM you)

 

That'd be great, I'll try and get my post count up to enough to PM. With B+N and standard warranty I get 1690 on the site

 

how does one get the barnes and noble discount?

EDIT: I also work for a company that gets discoutns on lenovo's stuff, will that stack with barnes and noble?

 

That's not too bad. I had $1656.56 with the Intel 6205 and the 500GB HDD (which was a freebie anyway).

Read this to help you haggle over the phone; even though the title says Dell/AW, the same general tips work everywhere, and elsewhere (like when buying a car). I told my rep I'm a rising engineering student (and thus, played on the "broke college student" image; however, when I offered to show him my .edu address, he said he didn't need it, which I suppose makes sense since B+N isn't a student discount). I also made small talk, called him by name often, and took my time haggling (I spend a total of 90 minutes over two days) until I was happy with the price.

Also, if you'd like to get a general overview of what the W520 is like, feel free to click on the link in my sig.

 

I'm not sure about the stacking but the link is in here

I've read your review a few times already. Thanks for that link and I'll PM you when I can PM.

 

Well, the 10% discount was for signing up for Lenovo emails. Technically, a buyer shouldn't get it until their next purchase, but I strong-armed my rep to give it to me when I bought the laptop (it was my first ever purchase with Lenovo).

Most coupons/discounts aren't stackable if you try them out on the website, but if you ask enough times over the phone and play hard ball with them ("if you can give me B+N and [whatever discount you want to use] on this purchase, I'll buy right now! My credit card is in my hand at this very moment"). The rep will usually "talk to their manager" about whatever deals they make with you, and if your demands are reasonable enough (ie, you're not asking for 50% or anything crazy, lol), they'll usually give it to you.

 

Hmm... I have that 10% for signing up for their emails also. When I'm ready to order I'll have to see if I can combine that

 

PM sent

10char

 

I can never find the link, even with Google. I suppose you can try asking a rep about the B+N discount, as I'm sure they haven't discontinued it or anything like that.

I believe what you're talking about is Lenovo's employee pricing, something like that. Corporate agreements like that are typically exclusive, and non-stackable.

 

Lenovo - Barnes and Noble Gold There ya go

 

Haha thanks! Hopefully it'll be around if I need to buy something else from them. I had it bookmarked on my Toshiba, which is dead and I can't get my data off of it thanks to it's odd hard drive (it has some sort of metal casing around it that prevents me from plugging it in my W520, oddly enough); I'll make sure to bookmark it on this laptop.