T420/T520 up on lenovo site

The Optimus machines are coming.

 

Wait, no USB 3? Really?

 

Since Intel won't support it natively until Ivy Bridge next year, yeah.

 

There will be usb 3.0 on T420s

 

Yeah it sucks. I would really liked to have seen it.

 

Yeah USB 3.0 through NEC chip on the motherboard. Won't support booting from USB 3.0 port til Ivy Bridge.

 

It doesn't???? Interesting. I could see how that would be important for some.

 

Just out of curiousity how did you find out about the preconfigured models?

I was really excited to see the 20 series up on the website, but bummered out when I realised the rather limited options

 

I'm debating getting this system, but I would have pulled the trigger if it had a video card built in.

Questions:
1) How good is the NVS4200?
2) How often does Lenovo run specials like this weekend?
3) What is the 3dMark06 score for the sandybridge i3 and i5 models?

 

1) Suppose to be about the same as the 520M, which would be about 6,000 on 3DMarkO6. But that wouldn't make much sense as the intel graphics for Sandybridge get about 5,000.

 

man IBM EPP discount prices are pretty bad right now.

 

SPP discounts are pretty decent.

 

Is the 5000 only for the Core I7 or for the Core I5 as well?

Also, what RAM will be compatible with this laptop as I noticed that IBM's RAM add prices are very expensive and I am just going to do it myself.

 

For certain items, yes. There are certain items deemed, 'user-replaceable FRU's'. These items include basic things like disc drive, RAM, keyboard, etc.

I once sent in a Thinkpad for repair and they sent it back with someone else's beat-up and abused keyboard instead of my own. Lenovo next-day air shipped a keyboard all the way up here to Alaska.
YMMV though since it seems every year, I tend to have a different experience in terms of quality of service.

 

Also, does this have an HDMI port? Or a USB 3.0 port?

 

Lenovo EPP prices seem to be the same as IBM SPP. I can't access the IBM EPP pricing at the moment, but I'd assume it's the same as Lenovo EPP pricing...

 

yeh, i'm just saying i feel like the discounts are lower than they usually are.

 

anyone know what type of displays are being used in the T520?

i'm thinking of getting one for my parents but am undecided on 1600x900 or 1920x1080.
their current dell is 1920x1200 and windows 7 does have resolution independence, but browsers dont so theyre always having problems resizing pages.

also, anyone have any photo comparisons between the two resolutions?

thanks

 

You generally don't discount heavily on a brand new model.

 

I should have taken some pics when I had two W510's with those screens. Screen resolution preference is a really subjective thing. Your Mom might like one, and your Dad another.

Age and eyesight are also factors. I have pretty poor eyesight. Although I have the FHD 1920x1080 screen on my W510, on occasion I wish it was 1600x900. But you can run at 150% DPI and it looks pretty darn good when your eyes are tired.

 

they dont care either way and are too ignorant to notice.

most important thing is having web pages not render very small like on a 1920x1200 screen with 100% dpi.

ideally i'd love to get them a 1440x900 display @ 15" but oh well. i'll wait til the intel G3s are released next week to make up my mind as i want to get them one of those as well.

and hopefully this computer lasts them about 10 years.

 

Is the T420 a good portable laptop for school and daily use? I'm going to use it for ms word and excel and making power points. Also I'm going to use it for watching HD movies and youtube as well. I need a new laptop and I'm considering purchasing the T420.

 

Yes the T420 is more than powerful for all that you are planning to do. I would also extend the warranty or get some sort of accidental damage plan if you are going off to college.

 

I have been using a 1920x1080 screen on my 15.6" laptop.

How would the 1600x900 screen of the T420 compare to mine as far as DPI is concerned? I'm sure this is a fairly simple thing to calculate by my brain is feeling pretty fried right now.

 

Display Dimensions Calculator

144 DPI for yours vs. 130 for the T420.

 

Thank you!

I figure that might be a welcomed change as I feel like mine is a bit small from time to time... never mind the welcomed difference in weight.

 

I just pulled the trigger on a T420 actually, but I plan on upgrading the RAM myself to save some money. I've been out of the tech-loop for a while, anyone mind telling me if this set ( Amazon.com: Corsair 8 GB DDR3 Laptop Memory Kit) will work?
Thanks!

 

The T420 configuration says "8 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)". So, that pair of Corsair sticks will work.

Some other choices can be found here: Newegg.com - 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM,8GB (2 x 4GB),DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)

 

good choice. i plan to get 4 gigs of that same corsair ram myself when i order a T520.

 

Thanks Tsunade_Hime. I was wondering if you knew of some third party warranty. The 3 year warranty on configuration is around 200 or 300 I forgot. I'm just trying to get the bare minimum on it with the upgraded screen.

And does anyone knew if the 720p camera is good from previous lenovo thinkpads?

 

Honestly, the T410 is powerful enough for that, and you should be able to get it cheaper at the moment if you use the coupons right.

 

^^^ Second that. Get a T410 with HD+ (1440x900) display. Integrated graphics is good enough for watching HD movies and YouTube clips.

 

How long is the battery life and does it weigh less than the t420? Will it be reliable for the next three years or so? Sorry I'm asking so many questions I just want to make sure I'm making the right purchase.

 

Hi guys! I'm planning to buy my second Thinkpad since 2007 (my t61p died on me late 2009 T_T). What I'm planning to get is a T420i and here is the specs and price:

specs:
Intel Core i5-2410M Processor (2.30GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz) with Intel HD Graphics 30001
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 6412
14.0 HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
Intel HD Graphics 3000
2 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM) at 1066MHz8
No Fingerprint Reader
250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
DVD Recordable5
6 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55+60
No Bluetooth
ThinkPad b/g/n10
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable

price:
Subtotal: $ 1,285.00
Sale Price: $899.00
[LOGICBUY10] -$89.90
Estimated total: $809.10*
Total savings $475.90

So what do you guys think? Is it a good deal? Does the T420i have the 2nd gen sandybridge?

 

809 dollars, i say go for it.

 

Thank you!

 

That's great deal, nice surprise to have a 10% coupon already for such a new model.

Fwiw if graphics performance is important to you, the i5-2520 is only a $50 bump from the i5-2410, 200mhz faster gpu turbo. Not saying to go for it. If the cpu upgrades cost the same in the X220 I'll be debating whether that $50 bump to the 2520 is worth it as well (probably will go for it since I plan on keeping the machine for min 3 years).

 

woah didnt notice they give you some March savings 10% discount at checkout.

edit: not if you already use EPP.

 

Personally, I'd upgrade the wireless to the Intel 6300 card, but other than that it looks good. (I'd avoid the "ThinkPad a/b/g/n" cards, as IIRC they are low-end RealTek cards -- and historically Intel's driver/OS support is far, far better than RealTek's).

 

Ordered my first thinkpad the other day. Estimated ship date is the 31st.

Intel Core i5-2520M Processor (2.50GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz) with Intel HD Graphics 30001
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 6412
15.6" FHD (1900 x 1080) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
Intel HD Graphics 3000
2 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM) at 1066MHz8
No Fingerprint Reader
250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
DVD Recordable5
6 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55+60
No Bluetooth
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)10
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable65
2Yr Onsite Warranty Next Business Day

Total: $1,147.10

 

Welcome to the club.

 

Nice! I ordered pretty much the same thing but in a 14", trying to lighten the load.

 

I have the option of a NVIDIA N12P-NS1 optimus graphics card on my T420. It isn't offered anyone that I have seen other than the student discount page.

Is it worth getting? I can't find anything about it with a google search. Thanks!

 

If you use your laptop for anything graphically intensive, that's the correct choice. Optimus = switchable between Intel graphics for better battery life, and nVidia graphics for better performance.

If you place the order, I don't know how soon you'll receive it though; as as you said, it isn't available (yet) on the standard site.

 

The Intel HD 3000 graphics that are integrated are supposed to be pretty good.
They rank a little higher than the last gen of dedicated nVidia graphics in the T410 (Quadro 3100m), and just below the nVidia 8600gt, which I had in my '08 Macbook Pro, and it was a decent enough card.
Notebookcheck Intel 3000

I went with integrated graphics for crazy batter life and the only PC game I'll be playing in the next year is League of Legends.

 

does anybody know if the t520 will be able to handle an i7 2720qm? I'm also hoping for a dedicated graphics card option (switchable of course)

 

I thought T420/T520 doesn't support Optimus at this point. All new SB processors have IGP.

My friend has a SB MBP 13" and he can play Source games and SC2 with playable frame rates.

 

Does anyone know if the 9-cell battery will stick out of the back of the T420?

 

Crazy battery life? Why should the battery life be any different? Its not like the discrete card will be used when doing mundane stuff.

 

Yes, it will.

The T410, T420, T510, T520, W510 and W520 share the same set of batteries:

57Y4185: ThinkPad Battery 55+ (6 cell)
57Y4186: ThinkPad Battery 55++ (9 cell)
57Y4545: ThinkPad Battery 27++ (9 cell slice)

Lenovo Support - Batteries and Battery Charger - Reference Guide