Lenovo Y400 Owners lounge

Eh... The only games I've found the 650m single to struggle with so far at absolute max settings (Ultra and 1080p in game), when overclcocked are Bioshock Infinite and Tomb Raider to a much greater extent. Everything else runs at full speed with everything cranked up to the max. The two games I mentioned just happen to be among the most demanding games out right now. Really, I find the 650m can't keep a steady 30fps or more when it's set to 1080p and ultra settings (even while overclcocked). Lowering one or the other will let it run fine though. I doubt the 750m is much different in that regard :/.

 

Is it true the y400 is the same size body but just different size screens?

 

Then why would Lenovo make Y500 with resolutions of screen (768p & 1080p) and on top of that make Y400 as well?

The y400 is an 14" system while the y500 is an 15.6 system, so the y400 is a smaller system and the reason why people like me for example go for it, it is because of the size you get. I also had the alienware m14xr1 and r2 and I have given up on them because of the cooling issue. It looked like dell did not do anything so far to improve that issue. Even while running small apps as internet explorer or watching a youtube video, the system was getting really hot and the fan was driving me crazy. Many users deny this, but I had both the systems and I know this is a real problem with alienware m14x. While you never get such an issue with the Lenovo y400. As per the built quality, the alienware is by far better and user replaceable, you can modify, replace things without even worry about getting anything damaged.

So yeah, because I went away from the subject, there is a difference between the 2 models in size.

 

Anyone have any issues getting the webcam to work after swapping the HDD out for an SSD and resintalling Windows 7?

 

The y400 is definitely smaller and lighter, at 5.5 pounds. Has all of the same performance though.

 

Except your stuck with a 720p res which in 2013 and beyond is really something consider. I wanted the Y400 at first but opted for the Y500 for 1080p. With Retina displays coming out, why settle for a screen that's 2 generations behind if you want it to last you 4-5 years?

 

I totally agree. This is 2013. 1366x768 is completely unacceptable on any laptop display. Even my 4.6" smartphone has better resolution than that.

 

Whenever I see a laptop with a 768p display the only thing going through my mind is: Dat screen. Sucks.

We've been stuck with these sub-par displays on Windows notebooks for so long. It's kind of ridiculous how graphics and CPU horsepower have grown by leaps and bounds every year while LCD display technology in mobile devices has remained stagnant for the last decade. It's only recently with Apples's Retina displays and the rise of smartphones and tablets that the PC makers are finally waking up.

In my opinion, the screen, along with the keyboard and touchpad, is one of the most important parts of a laptop. You interface with it every waking moment you use the laptop so why not have a high-quality one? The lack of a higher-resolution screen was the only reason I didn't get the Y400. I have no use for a dedicated num pad and the performance is equal, but the 768p screen sealed the deal. Even a 900p screen would've swayed me.

 

Resolution is important up to a certain point. I never even use 1080 for regular tasks when I'm at home and plugged into my hd tv/monitor. 1080 just makes everything too small, unless you're gaming/watching movies, then it's great. Otherwise, 1080 on a little 14" screen would just exacerbate the issue. Yea, it'll fit more into that little screen, but , I don't want to have to squint at it all day just to see what I'm doing. I still think the resolution argument is asinine, but that's just me...

 

It's just sad that my 5" smartphone has a higher resolution (1080p) than my laptop, but I can easily adjust to the resolution on the go and use a monitor while at home.

 

People who say that just don't get it. It's not just about the resolution. There's pixel density, increased workspace for productivity, and the fact that 1080p panels are typically superior to 768p panels in pretty much every metric such as brightness, contrast, color gamut, and viewing angles. Your assertion about "everything being too small" is a moot point because one can easily adjust the DPI scaling within Windows to achieve the viewable area of a lower resolution.

A FHD screen on a notebook is really a boon for multi-window operation and content work. Believe it or not I don't consider it practical to plug in an external monitor all the time and if the notebook already has a good display then I will make full use of it.

Like others have reiterated, it's pretty sad that here we are in 2013 and there are smartphones and tablets boasting FHD+ 8-bit IPS panels that cost a fraction of our so-called "performance notebook"with its crummy 720p screen.

 

I guess it depends on what you are using it for. Since I am basically only using it for gaming (or if I absolutely need a Windows machine to do something) I like the 768p screen. And then if I want to game on a higher resolution or bigger screen I can connect it to my TV.

So ok people wish it had a 1080p or 900p screen. Well it doesn't so maybe buy a different laptop?

 

Ooooorr get an external monitor that has the feature (FHD) that you're looking for. I'm shopping around for a 10" portable touch screen right now. If all else fails I'll use my Nexus 10 with teamviewer. I've also already bought a 23" monitor to go in my office/playroom. So I'll have one for playing around the house (10") being on the go (Laptop screen) and sitting down to work/play (23").

On that note: It came! I had to wait outside all afternoon--from 12 to 4:30--but it finally came today. I live in an apartment building and they don't even bother knocking anymore so I have to wait outside.

 

How are you supposed to use an external display when you're away from home?

JK just trolling.

 

The only thing I'm not liking (I wouldn't say hating) thus far is the track pad but I think that is because I'm not use to using a completely flat track pad.

 

Trackpads are usually curved??

BTW, the trackpad works much better if you go through the synaptic settings and adjust it to your liking. I hated it before I did that.

 

What I meant was that my old trackpad didn't have the right and left click built into it. It had to separate button for it. This is my first time dealing with the new standard of trackpad.

 

Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of that either. Apple laptops use the "single surface" for both the tracking motion, and buttons. It feels like Lenovo / Synaptics was very much trying to replicate that with the trackpad hardware, and the multi-touch / multi-gesture configuration options.

In reality, most Lenovo Y400 / Y500 users will be using it a mouse most of the time anyway. But even then, the design of the trackpad will let a lot of "gunk" from sweat, food, dust, etc get caught in the edges of the recessed trackpad.

 

I've also noticed my wifi is a lot slower in comparison to my old laptop. I use to get 6+MB/s (50+mbps) now I get around 3MB/s

 

Is dirt showdown from the benchmark tool provided in the game ?

 

Yes. Used both the benchmark tool and in game. Around the same results.

 

Tested another game

Sleeping Dogs: High plus Hi-res textures ~55-60, add extreme ambient occlusion and extreme shadows ~35-45

 

I have been playing Tomb Radier with the 750M. Its one of the few that the Geforce Experience Optimizations work well (Hitman and Sleeping Dogs don't give me great FPS with the Optimization). Get average FPS of ~60 with the range from 40-80. Game looks amazing. When I play on my TV I keep the same resolution as 1080p taxes the system a bit more. But at 768p on the big screen it still looks amazing (it would be 720p on consoles anyway).

 

Great results then, i have asus n56vz i5 3210m + gt 650m 2GB, high preset, 4xAA with adv lighting off @1366x768 only reults 44 fps avg and 30 fps min. It's 30-40 % slower than i7 3630qm + gt 750m then

 

That's impressive but it doesn't really provide a direct comparison. Is there anyone with a y400, 650M that can run the same tests?

 

I can. What settings do you want me to use? Note that I have my 650m overclocked beyond the 750m's level, so I can do a test on both stock and overclocked if you want.

 

^ dirt showdown + high presets, 4xAA and advanced lighting off @1366x768. So i can compare it with mine too Is your proc i7 ?

 

Unfortunately I don't have dirt showdown, but I can do a test with Tomb Raider. And yes, i7 y400.

 

Here is what I used. It would be awesome to see both overclocked and stock.

Preset High
4xMSAA
Advanced Lighting off



EDIT:

Bummer. Happen to have Hitman?

 

Games I can test: Devil may Cry, Dear Esther, Bioshock Infinite, Dead Space 2, Tomb Raider, Bastion

I don't think I have anything else :/

 

Fantastic.. thx for bench.. i'll watch i7 + gt 750m config notebook systems in the next couple of months.. I think they will be good enough for 1920x1080 @medium-high with No AA/2xAA.. Y500 is in my watchlist. :thumbsup:

 

Can a y400 owner try Nvidia Inspector to see if they can boost 135 on the core like the 650m/660m? I'm really curious, thanks.

 

Yes you can overclock upto 970 that means +135 limit on stock bios(unmodified)
For breaking limit you need to unlock ur bios

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

but 970 is what the 660m gtx does with 135 boost on Inspector. That doesn't make sense to me, I thought the 750m had a higher stock starting point than the 660m? the stock frequency for both is 835? nvidia lists 750m as having "up to 967"

 

Excellent, excellent . If you wouldn't mind I'd like a stock and overclock test of all of the games you listed. Hmmm preferably the one(s) with the highest requirements at least, if you don't want to test them all.

 

Any idea why Lenovo isn't offering 750m sli with the Y400? I am considering this laptop and the Y500. Also, what kind of warranty are you guys buying- accidental/multi-year?

 

No idea, but 750M SLI is kinda overkill for a 720p screen.

 

lol but I have a 1440p monitor

In all seriousness though- how good/bad is that screen? Enough of a deal breaker to make one consider the Y500?

 

Well it was the deal breaker for me, otherwise I would've gotten the Y400. I don't have personal experience with the Y400 and its display but 1080p panels are almost always higher-quality than 768p and 900p ones.

The screen on my Y500 is subjectively very good relative to other TN notebook panels I've seen. I used to own an ASUS G73Jh with a 900p screen and the first thing I noticed is that the viewing angles on this Lenovo are a night-and-day improvement. The ASUS would get color inversion or wash out like crazy if it was even a few degrees off. I had to constantly adjust so that I was looking at the display straight on.

Also, the Lenovo screen can get pretty bright if needed and has very nice color saturation. One review said near full sRGB coverage. The contrast ratio is probably not spectacular because I do see quite a bit of backlight with a full black screen at max brightness. Those are my subjective impressions and I don't have the hardware to pull the numbers.

I do a lot of content work and going for 1080p was a no-brainer. Besides the superior visual fidelity the increased workspace and desktop area has helped out tremendously. Sure it's not in the same league (or budget) as a calibrated high-end IPS desktop monitor but it's not bad either. True you could always get the Y400 and use an external display with it but I bought a laptop intending to use it as a mobile device and an external display just doesn't work for me.

 

I have to say that the y400, despite only being 900p, has a superb display, probably as good as the y500's sans the 1080p perks. It really is a great screen, sharp, crisp.

 

Probably parts availability.

Even the GeForce 650M Ultrabay module was hard to find on a Lenovo Y400. It took them a while to offer that option in a pre-configured pre-shipped system, and ordering the GeForce 650M GN35 Ultrabay as a separate aftermarket part often took several weeks for stock to re-appear.

 

768p display @14" is usually better than 768p display @15.6".

 

I just noticed that today when I got a promotion email from Lenovo. Kinda weird they sell the Y500 with a 768p screen (for $799).

 

Ok I couldn't resist anymore and ordered the Y400 with the i7 3630 processor and an additional year of depot warranty. I don't think I will really update this as my main computer is my M17xR4, except maybe the HDD if I see a really good deal on a hybrid drive or an mSATA drive.

 

Congrats dood! Welcome to the club

 

Yup, that's a nice computer. Performances are great. However, a few details draw my attention.

Anybody noticed the wobbly screen? The screen is kind of cheap. I can easily twist the screen.

The screen stays in place and I feel the tension when moving the screen back and forth, but the problem is that it is wobbly, shaking when on lap, or when the table is shaking. Anybody has the same problem ?

 

Yeah that's normal. I wasn't expecting MacBook Pro build quality though so I'm perfectly fine with it.

 

That is the one criticism I have is the display housing quality. But otherwise the laptop is a tank.

 

Not exactly. My old ASUS G73Jh was a tank. It weighed 3 lbs more. So glad I actually have a mobile device for once LOL.

 

In fact, I was expecting a little bit more build quality than that. I have heard that Lenovo had a good build quality. Well a perfect laptop doesn't exist. At that price, I guess they had to cut somewhere.

The screen housing quality is the only drawback. Anyway I didn't buy this laptop because I wanted to use it in the bus or something. I don't think that will be too annoying for what i'll do with it. Maybe sometimes...

I wanted a "portable" desktop replacement with performance and gaming capabilities, and it does it great. It sits on a shelf, lid closed with external monitor, keyboard, mouse and USB audio interface. It doesn't follow me everywhere I go, but when it does, it is portable.