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    T420 with NVIDIA NVS 4200M and gaming

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Shalamay, Aug 7, 2011.

  1. Shalamay

    Shalamay Notebook Guru

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    Hello, I was wondering how the T420 or T420s with the NVIDIA NVS 4200M and 1600x900 screen does on gaming? Is it about the same as the the Sony S series with a HD6630?

    I'm looking at the Y470 with the GT550m and most likely going to get it, but I want to make sure I check all my options. Thanks.
     
    Shalamay, Aug 7, 2011
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  2. THS

    THS Notebook Consultant

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    Its bad for gaming.
     
    THS, Aug 7, 2011
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  3. fraushai

    fraushai Notebook Evangelist

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    It' not meant for gaming, but you can play some low-demanding games like Starcraft on it reasonably well.
     
    fraushai, Aug 7, 2011
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  4. XX55XX

    XX55XX Notebook Evangelist

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    It's not bad for light gaming. Older titles work well.
     
    XX55XX, Aug 7, 2011
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  5. Shalamay

    Shalamay Notebook Guru

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    Thank you guys, I'm going to get the Y470 with the GT550 in it.
     
    Shalamay, Aug 8, 2011
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  6. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Are you specifically buying a laptop from Lenovo to do gaming? There is a huge quality gap between an IdeaPad and a ThinkPad. IdeaPad = consumer grade multimedia laptop, ThinkPad = serious business machine..
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Aug 8, 2011
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  7. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

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    Indeed, the build quality of IdeaPads is much inferior to that of the ThinkPads. The other day I was at a computer store, and I was poking at a ThinkPad Edge E420 and thinking that its build quality was lower than my W520's. Then, I decided to go to the computer next to it, which was an IdeaPad Y560p I believe, and I couldn't believe how much it flexed. I felt like I was going to break the thing from poking at it. Then again, I feel like I'm going to break the laptop from poking at it for pretty much every consumer laptop, and I'm by no means a strong person.
     
    kirayamato26, Aug 8, 2011
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  8. junior21

    junior21 Notebook Consultant

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    When I called to order the y470, the rep went through the details and did the same ol same ol.. then I mentioned I was debating between the y470 and she couldn't stop talking about how much better the t420 is opposed to the y470. She also said her son got the y470 thinking it would be a great machine for multimedia and gaming but later returned it for a t420.
     
    junior21, Aug 8, 2011
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  9. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    Alright then.. suggest a iGPU-only model T420 (or Dell E6320/E5420/E6420) + $210 GTX460 eGPU. You'll get business grade durability and gaming cred via the expresscard slot.
     
    User Retired 2, Aug 8, 2011
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  10. EZjijy

    EZjijy Notebook Geek

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    How demanding of games are you planning on playing? My T420 only has the integrated graphics and can play sc2 smoothly for extended periods of time with temperatures hovering around 80C.

    Since the graphics card upgrade for the t420 is around $200 anyway, you might as well look at the eGPU option.
     
    EZjijy, Aug 8, 2011
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  11. PhatZoundz

    PhatZoundz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Not bad for gaming at all. Playing through Mass Effect 2 on mine right now. Runs Bad Company 2 well on medium. It's not going to play Metro 2033 well or Crysis on Ultra, but few laptops can.
     
    PhatZoundz, Aug 8, 2011
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  12. XX55XX

    XX55XX Notebook Evangelist

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    The NVS 4200M does offer a higher minimum framerate and better drive support than the integrated graphics can, so if you plan to game a lot, by all means, it is worth the $250.
     
    XX55XX, Aug 8, 2011
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  13. sprtnbsblplya

    sprtnbsblplya Notebook Deity

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    ^^^

    Yup, tis what I did.

    My system definitely holds its own in games.
     
    sprtnbsblplya, Aug 8, 2011
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  14. Gorgonesh

    Gorgonesh Notebook Enthusiast

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    I was in the same boat with trying to figure out if the NVS 4200M was worth the additional cost. The current pricing on the T420 plus discounts the difference for the exact same configuration with and without discrete graphics at $20. There's no reason for me not to buy the discrete.
     
    Gorgonesh, Aug 9, 2011
    #14