Thinkpad T420 Owner's Thread

disabling "gesture filtering", "scrolling region flitering", and "Edge tap filtering" made all the difference. Now, 1 finger side scrolling and 2 finger double scrolling are pretty much 100% accurate.

 

Alright, so questions as a first time thinkpad user...

What goes under the left palmrest? Is this the ultrabay thing?

What goes under the right palmrest? If you remove the DVD drive, what can you put in here? Is /this/ the ultrabay thing?

Thanks!

Also - I have the webcam/mic combo. Is the headphone jack a 3 prong jack (headphone and mic combo), or a standard 2 prong (headphone only)? I don't have a 3 prong i can test at the moment

 

under your left palmrest is your hard disk and right palmrest is your DVD drive and yes that's the place you put your ultrabay thing.

 

Hi guys, quick question: How can I check whether dual channel is enabled? In CPU-Z, the DC Mode box is blanked out. Same with the Channels# box.

 

Use HWInfo32 instead where you can find out the mode your memory is operating in as highlighted below.

 

Using HWInfo32, how can I view the settings of the Nvidia 3200M graphics card? I can see only the Intel HD3000 settings as only one GPU is listed as opposed to two. Is this correct? (I am also remote desktopping so perhaps this could be a reason).

 

Can't be sure as I only have the Intel GPU chip, can others with Optimus confirm? In the mean time try using GPU-Z instead for a detailed analysis of your GPU.

 

T420 came in yesterday! Very impressed! Ill put a review up later.

 

Thanks! Worked like a charm. I can verify the settings on my Nvidia and Intel with GPU-Z.

 

Has anyone seen this downthrottling problem from the X220 occur on the T420 i7 with NVidia optimus? I'm concerned it might be a Sandy Bridge or graphics card issue.

Some Lenovo ThinkPad X220 owners report downthrottling, reduced performance -- Engadget

 

I be surprised given the bigger chassis frame of the T420 compared to the X220 for the system to throttle down due to cooling issues, though it doesn't rule out the possibility of being a chipset issue.

Lately this issue seems to affect the X220 series only and not the Tx20/W520 series as yet. I haven't had any issues of throttling with my Core i5 processor, being a Core i7 Dual Core problem certainly makes it the more the stranger.

 

Finally ordered the T420!

Went with this build:

i5-2410
500gb / 4gb
720p / BT3.0 / FPR
N-6205
1600x900
9 Cell

Before I finalized the machine, I stopped by Best Buy to see what the "other" new laptops are like. All crap. Srrrously junk. Most of them were last gen processors and not a single 14" machine had 1600x900. Only a couple 15.6 screens were available in 1600x900.

Next steps...

-mSATA (maybe)
-More RAM (right away)

Unfortunately, my old docking stations don't work with the T420... maybe just buy a Displayport->DVI adapter for now.

I have used and abused (and loved) my T61 for the last 3.5 years and could not imagine using a flimsy department store computer after that.

 

Just got my 420 last night & am using it for the first time. I have already noticed the fan kick in pretty loudly when simply copying a file from the computer to my server over the network. The CPU never gets about 8% & I am so confused why the fan would be so loud w/ such a little workload. I know this fan issue has been discussed a lot...anybody know a way to silence this sucker?

 

Try toggling the Power Plans under Power Manager to see if it makes a difference. Alternatively you can use a program called TPFanControl to customise the fan control of your system.

 

I was very frustrated by the fan noise when I first got my Thinkpad. Once the fan had speeded up then it was very reluctant to slow down again.

Until Lenovo refine the fan rules in the BIOS, the best way to control unnecessary fan activity is to install TPFanControl. [There is a newer version here for the W520 which some people say should also give better performance with hte other new Thinkpads. The key to getting a good result is to edit the temperature triggers near the end of the .ini file. These are my settings for my T420s and should give you a good starting point:

The numbers mean that the fan turns off once the temperature drops below 55C. In reality my CPU idle temperature is around 56C but I can't hear the fan when it is on the slowest speed.

John

 

They were probably 16.4" laptops. Many 16.4" laptops have 1600x900 as the base res, but I don't think Best Buy has any 15.6" with that res.

 

Hi everyone. I'm plannig to buy T420 with this configuration:

Processor: Intel Core vPro i5-2520M 2.5GHz
RAM: 2x 4096MB PC3-10600 DDR3 1333MHz
Display: HD+ ( 1600x900 )
Harddisc: 500GB SATA 7200U
Graphic: 1024MB nVidia NVS 4200M Discrete Optimus
Battery: 9 Cell (55++)

+ 80GB mSATA SSD Mini-PCIe Intel
+ ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3

I'll be using it mainly for work in CAD, than for an office and everyday stuff and sometimes even possible gaming. Because I'm still a student now studying in Germany, I can buy it all for 1429 euros, but here are my questions:

1. Should I pay 200 euros more and buy it with Intel Core vPro i7-2620M 2.7GHz or should i5 be enough for me, even when I'm using it as a work tool for CAD. I have now MSI GX700PX with Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 and sometimes I need more power from cpu, but is it really necessary to have i7?

2. Is here someone, who has tried T420 with Kubuntu in version 11.04. I'm not going to use windows and I would like to know, how is it working with hardware and mainly with optimus and if changing between graphic cards is not working it selves, can I choose which graphic card do I want to use before booting any system?

Thank you for your comments and opinions

 

The Core i5 you specified should be powerful enough to handle your applications with ease. You probably won't notice the difference between the Core i5 and Core i7 processor in everyday scenarios and €200 is quite a lot for marginal gains. I personally would invest that money in a SSD instead where performance gains are quite significant.

I can't say for sure in regards to Kubuntu but you can toggle the graphics option in the BIOS so you can run with Integrated Graphics Only, Discrete Graphics Only or Both (Switchable Graphics).

 

Hearst: Thank you I thought so, because I've seen some tests and there is only a slight difference between i5 and i7, but it was benchmark and I wanted to hear some opinion about that.

 

Hi: I have been researching the DisplayPort to HDMI on the T420 with just INTEL HD GRAPHICS 3000. It appears the INTEL HD GRAPHICS 3000 does not support audio out. I have tried everything. I can get video to my 1080p LED, but I cannot get audio. Does anyone know for sure if the T420 with INTEL HD GRAPHICS 3000 will not support HDMI audio out? Thank you.

 

^^same question as him.

Also, the rubberized coating on the lid - can I clean this with iso alcohol/water solution, like i do for the body/keyboard/touchpad?

 

I use this Diplay port to HDMI converter to get sound from my T420 (with Intel HD3000) to my TV.

Amazon.com: Premium Quality DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (female) Coverter with Audio: Electronics

 

The picture on Amazon for your adapter looks identical to the one I use.
Paid about $7 for it through Amazon a couple months ago.

 

Has anyone noticed a performance boost from uninstalling the Lenovo Graphics drivers and installing the official intel hd graphics 3000 drivers?

Edit: Also, can anyone share any good calibration numbers for there Thinkpad T420? I have the non LG display and I have been tinkering with the color display to make my display look better. I just can't find the perfect set up though.

 

How do you determine the manufacturer of the display ? Thanks.

 

The second post of this topic by Hearst has a guide to tell you which one you have.

 

You should absolutely get a calibrator, for example a Spyder 3.

I've tried several times to "calibrate" screens manually, but I never get it right.

 

I just received my Intel SSD 320, 160Gb. I have decided to go against what most people are recommending in the forums and did not do a clean install.

I've cloned my perfectly working system using this utility: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19324
Took me about 30-40 minutes to do the whole process.

I have used the cage that comes in the HDD and the rubber brackets of course. I did not have short screws for the SSD, but I don't think that's going to be a problem.

I've also installed Intel's SSD toolbox. The software scans windows and allows you to turn off features that are not recommended when using SSDs. Everything worked soothly.

So, for those interested in a different alternative for installing an SSD other than doing a clean install, here you go!

As for performance: definitely snappier.

Waiting for the additional 4Gb of ram now...
oops, this should be in the T420s topic... sorry.

 

I ended up using the Notebook Check calibration. They used Spyder 3 to calibrate it.

Review Lenovo Thinkpad T420 Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

 

How does one use the Spyder ICC config on this website? And is this config for the LG LCD panel or the other one or does it not matter?

 

I'm looking to replace my father's laptop - do you think this is good deal? It's a T420 config.

He mainly uses it for browsing, Excel/Word, and watch 720p movies.

It's $785 before tax and shipping after student deal and Memorial Day sale deal.

And is it worth it to upgrade the display to HD+ display?

I will clean-install and upgrade it to Win 7 Pro version.

Intel Core i3-2310M Processor (2.10GHz, 3MB L3)1
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 6412
14.0 HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit Anti-Glare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
Intel HD Graphics 3000
4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)8
UltraNav with TrackPoint & touchpad
320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm4
DVD recordable multiburner5
9 cell Li-Ion Battery - 55++60
No Bluetooth
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)10
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable65
4177: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller

Thanks!

 

That is the most significant upgrade. It's worth it, especially for just $50. It makes more of a difference than any other upgrade.

Having a higher resolution lets you fit more onscreen at once, and in the case of 1366x768 -> 1600x900 the difference is very noticeable.


If his eyesight is good go for 1600x900, otherwise possibly re-consider.

 

Depending on where he plans to use it, he might not benefit from the 6300 wireless. The 1000 wireless is probably fine for a home network.

 

The Lenovo Support site is going under renovation at the time of writing so some of the links on the OP is down, I will correct this once Lenovo uploads the correct links for them.

 

Your father? I assume he is no longer a young man, perhaps older than 55 years. I also suppose you purchased the T420 already, to take advantage of the Memorial Day sale. In any event, here are some of my suggestions.

• With your father's usage pattern, the Intel i3 with integrated GPU will suffice.
• There is no need to clean-install and upgrade to Windows 7 Professional.
• There is no reason to upgrade to Intel Centrino 6300 WiFi.

I beg to disagree. Upgrade should be done for a good reason, not just because it is "cheap". The higher resolution may be great for you, but may be unsuitable for an older person with weaker eyes and not needing a larger workspace that can fit many windows at once.

Realistic advice.

 

Is there something like the CRU services videos for the T420 like the X220 or can I just use the X220 videos? The service training website for T420 only has videos for FRU parts, not CRU.

 

2 questions:

1) how does 6205 benefit over the 1000 in a more noisy environment?
2) how does 8GB of RAM over 4GB increase performance in sc2? Is it the memory speed or the amount because i dont remember sc2 needing so much RAM to run better

 

So basically I split the main C partition into a D data drive. so I have Windows7_OS on C, and a separate data drive on D to prevent fragmentation/data loss.

Let's say I factory restore by booting up, pressing the blue thinkvantage, and select the last option of "factory restore". Will it erase my D partition and return it to one big C? Or will it just wipe C and take of C only?

I know on my previous hp dv4, a factory restore wiped out your D drive....

 

i noticed doing anything with the trackpoint (including its buttons) will cause the touchpad to momentarily stop working. It's annoying because I use the touchpad for movement and trackpoint's buttons.

 

It behaves the exact same if you type a letter. It's some "disable mouse when typing" setting, but is hidden in the settings.

 

I decided to follow " Shleepy" and installed a Core i7-2720QM Quad Core inside my T420. Apart from the tricky bezel everything else was a straightforward swap, no special modifications were necessary as everything boots up from the go. I didn't buy the processor from Lenovo, they wanted at least £1200 for it which is ridiculous! I bought it from HP who wanted 6x less than what Lenovo wanted, plus there's the bonus of it being genuine compared to the ES/QS test samples from eBay.

Needless to say the Quad Core is power hungry, I would advise people to have at least a 90w power brick to run this thing. During a stress test the system was drawing almost 63 watts so I can imagine throttling issues for those using the standard 65w power brick with this combination.

I'm going to do checks over time to see how it performs in the long term, so far it tends to be around mid 40's in idle which is pretty decent considering the chassis wasn't originally designed to take this sort of processor in the first place. During stress however it gets rather toasty being around 85c-90c which is borderline considering the TJunction of the processor is 100c.

It's an interesting experiment having a Quad Core 14" Notebook, certainly helps with my VMWare but for those who value battery life and quietness I would advise them to avoid this sort of thing to their T420!

 

can you please report how much increase in fan activity (is it on a lot more frequently? speed much higher? does it stay on for a lot longer?) are you getting with QUAD CPU, and what kind of usage are you talking about (word processing, browsing ... or more heavy like photo editing, OCR, VMWare, etc)

 

Hooray! I'm glad you decided to give this a shot as I am eager to learn about this mod. It is also nice to know you were able to do this on a T420i, which is the model I was interested in getting (I didn't want to drop ~$700 to find out it would only work on the T420 with discrete graphics only). Looking forward to your test results! Also, which power supply does the T420 ship with standard?

 

From what I observed so far fan activity is quite constant in order to maintain the mid 40 temps during idle, HWInfo32 reports fan activity of around 3200RPM but I found this around the same level (noise wise) to my T61 on idle.

Though if you're using TPFancontrol then i'm pretty sure you can override this but given you have a Quad Core in a small chassis I didn't really feel comfortable leaving the fans in passive mode. On normal usage which for me is internet browsing, Photoshop and firing up the VMWare, during load it can vary between 55-60c but then after it settles back down around the high 40s which is reasonable.

As standard you should get the 65w power brick, but if you're planning to put a Quad Core in then its inadequate as the CPU will consume a lot of power leaving little overhead. You need to bump up to at least 90w to be on the safe side.

At the moment its still too early to say whether it is a good idea putting a Quad Core inside a T420, doing stress tests really pushes the cooling system to the limit. I managed to get one core around 96c which is not far off from shut down (or boiling point for that matter). As I only recently just applied AS5 you could argue it hasn't broken in yet to achieve optimal results, but we see over time. Given I was using the Integrated Graphics model, i'm questioning whether it is feasible combining Quad Core + Discrete Graphics on the same cooling system.

 

^ Do you think Lenovo doesn't spec this as an option yet because it's too hard to keep cool? I'm sure their R&D has a bunch of machines running quad cores as we speak...

 

Hearst, where did you purchase Quad Core chip anyways for future references?

 

Possibly that, as well as power consumption, and the ability to separate your W-line from the more portable models. I also think that Lenovo's core market (businesses, not enthusiasts) wouldn't purchase enough quad-core T420 models to make it a profitable configuration.

I also wonder if an Optimus-equipped machine could handle it. Many willing to pay for the quad-core might want Optimus as well, and if you can't offer it in an "all-the-toys" version of the T420, why offer it at all?

 

I saw an SATA 6 Gb/s in your system

Would u like to confirm that the T420 can fully leverage the SATA 3 standard ?

 

I think Lenovo would've tested this scenario but the Quad Core under stress conditions would give the T420 little margin in terms of cooling capacity. As LoneWolf15 mentioned it would be odd offering a Quad Core version on the lowest GPU model and not the Discrete version so I don't think Lenovo will be in a hurry to release such spec anytime soon. But then again rumours of a Quad Core version of an X1 shows there could be hope (though I am puzzled on offering such CPU in a much thinner chassis than the T420).

I bought my i7-2720QM from the HP Parts shop, the part number is "631254-001". Though Shleepy got his from DECTrader based in the US. Along with the CPU you get some alcohol wipes and a small syringe of thermal compound. For some reason the i7-2720QM is actually cheaper than some Dual Core i5's and i7's the last time I checked.

I see no reason why the T420 can't take advantage of SATA III, though it pretty much depends on the drives you choose. These are the speeds I got with the 120GB Intel 510 drive though I think you can go much faster opting for the OCZ Vertex 3's if you don't mind tweaking the OS to get it stable.

 

I think we'll be more likely to see quad-core as an option in a T4x-class notebook when Ivy Bridge comes out, especially if the power consumption drops the 40-50% (cpu only, not whole system) that they claim with their new 22nm process and Tri-Gate technology transistors.

The chips may also be compatible with the T420, although Intel's upgraded chipsets for IB should also support USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt.

Either way though, I really wonder how many people truly need quad-core in their notebook vs. just a want. Maxing out my 2520M takes work, and doesn't happen for long periods with my type of use, and 2-cores/4-threads is more than enough for my mobile needs.