Should I buy W500 or W510?

I'm a computer specs noob, and would appreciate your help here!

W510 ($1,664.00 *couldn't find coupons*):

• Processor: Intel Quad Core Processor i7 720QM (1.6GHz 1066MHz 6MBL3)
• Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
• Display Panel: 15.6" HD Anti-Glare Display with LED Backlight and WWAN Antenna
• System Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 memory
• Total memory: 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
• UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
• Camera: Camera, 2.0 MP
• Hard Drive: 320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
• Optical device: Multi Recorder Optical Drive (12.7mm)
• System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 5 in 1 Card Reader
• Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth w/ antenna
• Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters: Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3X3 AGN)
• Wireless WWAN accessories: Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable

W500 ($1,664.00 *didn't look for coupons* "special offer"):

• Processor: Intel Core2 Duo processor T9900 (3.06GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
• Operating system: Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
• Display type: 15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight
• System graphics: ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 (512MB VRAM)
• Total memory: 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
• Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
• Camera: Integrated Camera
• Hard drive: 320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
• Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache: Intel Turbo Memory 2GB
• Optical device: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
• Card Reader: 7 in 1 Media Card Reader
• System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & Smart Card Reader
• Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN
• Wireless Card: ThinkPad WiFi (BGN)
• Mobile Broadband: Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
• Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery

A few questions:

They both are the same price, so the difference is in specs only.

How's the size of the W510, is it exactly the same as the W500?

The display of the W510 seems to be definitely better. But it is higher density than WSXGA+? Because earlier, I bought W500 WUXGA+ and with the dim backlighting that these screens have, I had to return it because I couldn't see! What about this 15.6" HD display? What's the pixel count on these? From the descriptions, they seem bright and easy to read.

The processor clock speed on the W510 worries me, it's a bit low! Is that reflected in the performance?

Is there anything else I should look into? This is a major purchase and I don't wanna go through the same stress I endured with my earlier W500 purchase sometime ago!

Thanks a lot!

 

Size is roughly the same. Initial reports are that the FHD screen is magnificent, but people love or hate the aspect ratio change.

The W510 has the new Arrendale Intel processors which are based on Nehalem. It's a change in architecture so comparing MHz isn't very useful.

For me, I wanted the new stuff so I went for the W510. I'm also partial to Nvidia, so this made sense eventhough the NVS vs Quadro confusion gave me a migrane.

 

Yeah, looking at the clock speed between processors across generations and platforms always lead to confusion. Those quad core i7 Processors run circles around the last generation dual cores.

 

W510:
+ i7 720QM CPU
+ FX 880M GPU
+ LED backlight
+ 12.7mm optical drive (better if you don't use DVD and plan on adding 2nd HDD or want to upgrade to BD someday)
+ Intel N 6300
- no switchable graphics
- 16:9 aspect ratio (this depends on the person)
- HD resolution (1366x768) (this depends on the person)

W500:
+ switchable graphics
+ 16:10 aspect ratio
+ WSXGA+ resolution (1680x1050)
- T9900 CPU
- V5700 GPU
- CCFL backlight
- Turbo Memory (save your money and remove this)
- 9.5mm optical drive
- ThinkPad BGN

So it depends on what your needs are... do you want more battery life? CPU/GPU power (what programs are you running)? Etc...

 

To me, the only reason to buy the W500 is to save money (unless you are frothing at the mouth about 16:9). In that case, you should avoid upgrading the CPU, it just doesn't make sense to spend so much money on upgrading an outdated CPU. I'd go for the T9600 (+$70). I'd also consider SSD (which is probably the biggest performance upgrade you can make) and wifi 5300.

Here's what I get when I use SPP (dicount for IBM sharholders...you only need 1 share).

ThinkPad W500

Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9600 (2.8GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)1
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 6412
15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight
ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 (512MB VRAM)
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA4
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
No Bluetooth
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology10
Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
6 cell Li-Ion Battery60
4058: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7
Processor1 Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9600 (2.8GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)
Operating system12 Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
Operating system language Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 US English
Display type 15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight
System graphics ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 (512MB VRAM)
Total memory 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard Keyboard US English
Pointing device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Camera Integrated Camera
Hard drive4 128 GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA
Optical device5 DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
Card Reader 7 in 1 Media Card Reader
System expansion slots Express Card Slot & Smart Card Reader
Wireless Card10 Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) with My WiFi Technology
Mobile Broadband Integrated Mobile Broadband upgradable
Battery60 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord Country Pack North America with Line cord & 90W AC adapter
Language pack Language Pack US English for Windows 7

41C9168 3YR Onsite $175.20

Estimated total: $1,508.85*
Total savings $954.15

But really, I'd probably just recommend the w510.

 

Stay up with the technology patiently wait the few weeks to get the W510 USB 3.0 is right around the corner and the i7 cpu's alone are well worth the small wait time. They truly are like running on a high end desktop equivalent.

 

The only two advantages I see for the W500 are the aspect ratio of the screen and the switchable graphics. Yeah... 7 hours of battery life is nice. Unless you really really really want switchable graphics of an inferior ATI graphics card and Intel integrated graphics, wait for the W510

As a w500 with an Intel SSD owner, I can say an SSD is worth it. You'd probably be better served to buy your own. (no idea what Lenovo's prices are now). I love my W500, it's perfect for my needs. But I bet you want the quad core CPU and USB 3.0.

 

The only reason to get the W500 is if you don't go too crazy with the upgrades and can save ALOT of money (plus you'll get a 16:10 screen). As someone else said it's crazy to spend so much on an old CPU ugrade; if that's the case then get the W510 NOW.

other points:
-as mentioned the "turbo memory" is a total waste
-if you get the w500 get the intel 5300 card
-can install an SSD later on the W500 to compensate for the older CPU tech and speed up the computer
-might get double the battery life with the W500.

 

Something else: W500 has headphone/mic jacks to the front. That can be a big issue, depending on how and with what you use the thing.

 

from a pure benchmark perspective, the i7 quad core processor in the new W510 is around 3300 and the T9900 is around 2300.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

The W510 would also have a better workstation gpu than the W500.... the support of the USB 3.0, eSATA.... the provision of 4 ram slots rather than 2 ram slots of the W500, will make upgrade to 8 gigs of ddr3 ram lot cheaper using 4 x 2 gigs modules, rather than 2 x 4 gigs modules.

Unless you have something against the 16:9 inch form factor, i would say for the same price, the W510 has a better value proposition than the soon to be superseded W500.

The ppi on the 15.6 inch FHD is slightly less than the 15.4 inch WUXGA, but it is more than the WSXGA+ in the 15.4 inch format, i have heard a lot of good things about these new screens.

Size wise the 15.6 inch laptop is slightly wider than the W500.

Conclusion: you should get the W510.

 

In case you don't know:
The W series uses Display port not HDMI. Lenovo (and most other manufacturers) haven't implimentled audio through Displayport. So even if you use a Display Port to HDMI adaptor you won't get audio.

 

also, the i7 Quad core have hyperthreading, so it can act like it is a 8 core machine.