Lenovo Y550P Test

This review is for the Lenovo Y550P with Core i7 720QM with the 240m discrete graphics. These tests are mostly aimed towards GPU performance and heat. I cannot promise that these are lab quality or 100% accurate but I did my best to be accurate and will do my best to explain how I got my results.

3dmark06 GPU tests
Ambient Temp 22* C











The test results are pretty self explanatory. The 240m performs very nicely and handles heat very well even when overclocked.

Now the heat tests.

How I tested:
All temperatures were taken with a mini temp gun.
The laptop was on a wood desk with nothing surrounding it.
The first test was an Idle temp test.
It was taken after 30 minutes of normal use and 5 minutes of idle.
The second test was a test of temps during 3dmark06.
This test was meant to simulate temps under load.
3dmark06 was run twice during test two.
I took temps right after the second cpu test and during the last two gpu tests of 3dmark06.
During the first 3dmark06 run of test two I took the topside temps.
In between these two runs there was a 5 minute idle break.
During the second 3dmark06 run of test two I took the bottom side temps.

*NOTE*
All temps are in Fahrenheit unless otherwise noted.
The temps listed are an average of that area with real temps varying up to + or - 3* F from the listed temperature.





AMBIENT TEMP was 76* F
The average CPU temp for the idle test was 49* C
The average GPU temp for the idle test was 48* C (Around 120* F)
The average CPU temp for the load test was 68* C
The average GPU temp for the load test was 70* C (Around 158* F)
The highest CPU temp during first 3dmark load test was 75* C
The highest CPU temp during second 3dmark load test was 92* C
The highest GPU temp of all tests was 76* C
The side vent temp averaged 126* F during load test.
The power adapter was between 96-106* F on the surface.

The surface temp results are very impressive. The laptop never got more than warm to the touch on top or bottom. Never did it seem to hot.

The only complaint I have is the touchpad's location. Because it is offset to the left, I often times find myself resting my left palm on the edge of it, and when I go to move the mouse I start zooming in or out. Becomes rather annoying at times but I am sure i will get used to it.

Overall I feel this laptop was a great choice for college/gaming. It never gets hot to the touch even on less breathable surfaces (couch, carpet, bed). This also means no burnt legs, which seems to be a popular complaint these days. I only did these tests because I could not find this info when I bought the laptop. However, i went out on a limb and got it anyways and its clear now that it was a great decision. Hope this helps someone else out in their choice of laptop. If you have any questions or would like to see anymore test results feel free to ask!

 

Thanks for this in depth writeup! How was the fan noise during the load testing?

 

I'm ready to buy one of these right now. I'm just waiting for my Alienware
m17x to sell on eBay now. As soon as that sold im buying one of these.

 

Unless you are using your laptop in dead silence, I don't think you will even notice the fan at idle or under load. If there is very little background noise the fan is feint under load. It took me awhile to start noticing when it kicks up, but it is definitely not loud by any means.

 

I'm praying newegg keeps this on special for $999 for like another week.

 

I am really torn between this and the Asus N61JQ-A1. I know that the Asus has a better graphics card (Radeon HD 5730) and a slight bigger form factor (16.4") for only $60 dollars more on XoticPC. If I was getting a laptop a month ago, it would be this one for sure but with the Asus offerings out, I find the GT 240M to be dated in the competition. I am still pretty torn between the two. If you are a Lenovo fan and you like a power 15.6" laptop, I'd think this one is the winner for sure. Thanks for the benchmarks Jrod! At least I can see how in general that thing performs.

 

[/QUOTE]In my opinion , y550 has almost best internal desgin for some 15.6 to 16.4 notebooks
It never goes hot and never run super lound
However, the build quality is worest ever ( i guess because mine is CTO, and it's super cheap ) I found pre-cofig model is almost 1.8* expensive than CTO in lenovo.com

Studio xps 16 core i7 <----- this laptop is super sexy but it's way too slow than my y550 w/ only t6400 (because of Throttle Issue )
it runs pretty loud when i was playing COD6 with med setting , sometimes it get lagged !!! while my y550 never lag at all.

envy 15 -- super light , but overheated, you would not touch its touchpad when it's in heavy loads . it also run super super loud even you only open one appSony FW -- a little loud and heavy.

 

I am likewise torn between the Y550P and the Asus N61jq-a1. I'm leaning heavily towards the Asus, but my only concern is the cooling performance since it has yet to be reviewed. I'd definitely be interested in what people have to say one way or the other.

 

I was also looking into getting one of two Asus models before I decided on the Y550P, however, I was turned off by every Asus review talking of the rediculous heat output. You will also have to wait exponentially longer to receive an Asus laptop from Xoticpc than from other vendors. If you have the time and don't mind the heat, I would say order the Asus for sure. Their warranty and service are both stellar in comparison to most other manufacturers, and there products are well equipped for the cost.

 

What would it take to install one of these into the Y550p laptrop?

http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_7&products_id=253

 

Thanks for the info. Good analysis.