Thinkpad T420s Owners' Thread

Hi, I have a T420s with i5-2540, HD screen. My company is going through a laptop refresh, and so we are moving to T420s's and X220's.

I'd also read about the fan and screen issues after i got the laptop, but i have to say i have not experienced any of these issues. Mine has a build date of Oct 2011. My fan is almost silent, and the screen is fine for me. As a work machine i use it for email, web, excel and powerpoint, with occasional access. I don't play games on it, and only watch occasional videos on the road. So for my purposes, i'm very happy with it.

The main difference for me (for what i use the machine for) between this and the X220 is the screen size, as my company specs both machines almost the same. For excel i think the X220 screen is a bit small, and for ppt its also a little on the small side, especially now Office has the ribbon at the top of the screen. The plus side is the battery life of the X220. Colleagues easily get 7+ hours out of it. If i've got a serious excel model, i will get around 2 hours out of the T420s. If just reviewing files, light powerpoint, web stuff, can get to 4 hours. I travel a bit, so would be nice to get longer battery life. The X220 is also slightly lighter, but I'm still happy with the weight of the T420s. Really minor annoyance is the location of the SIM card on the T420s. Its under the battery, and hard to slide out, so changing SIMs is a pain.

 

As far as addressing your two questions:

-Screen quality is the same as T420 as they get the same screens, it is just luck of the draw which screen manufacturer you get. However regardless of the screen, if you adjust your color profile like most of us did (there is a link to a custom color profile in the forums), then the screen really isn't that bad at all.

-You could always wait for the T430s and see what they're improving on, but we have no word about the T430s as of yet. Plus it probably won't be released for awhile until the Ivy Bridge Processors are out. If you need the computer now then the T420s should suit you well. If you can afford to wait a couple months then you can always do that as well.

 

1. The "odd-sized drive" is 7mm thick and the same as on the X220. However, you have the options of mSATA, up to 600GB in the main drive bay (if you want to invest in the intel 320 SSD) and an extra 1TB in the UltraBay.

2. The 1600 x 900 display is exactly the same as on the T420. Perhaps proportionaltely there are fewer complaints regarding the T420 screen because many people will have the low-res 1366 x 768 panel.

3. Regarding the cooling system, the T420s is thinner than the T420. if nothing else, this will reduce the height of the heat sink through which the fan blows the air and, to achieve the same cooling, the fan has to run a bit faster. The fan is only noticeable in a quiet room and with full CPU load for more than about 15 seconds. I would expect the X220 to have the same constraints.

4. The T430s isn't likely to arrive until Ivybridge (and probably Windows 8) report for duty. Intel and the notebook manufacturers are currently trying to make money out of Ultrabooks and I wouldn't be surprised if they let the next round of hardware drift a little. The T420s only became available in April 2011 so I'd add 15 months to that as a minimum for the T430s.

John

 

Thank you orange and cliff for your response!

Just finished browsing through the "Eureka!" thread regarding the ICC for the T420/s and downloaded some ICC profiles for future use as required.

I'll need a laptop soon(ish) - on a new contract starting mid Feb, so I'll need something by then. Coming from an X200, I think I've decided on the T420 or the "s" counterpart... at this point - like tossing a coin. :|

..edit:
Thanks John for your input on the issues as well. You squeezed in your post just before mine.

Just reading through the 76-page "fan issue" thread on Lenovo forums. Kinda scary, but then I realize that the vast majority of the post come from the same peeps, which would account for nearly 50-60 pages - "discussing" the same thing over and over!

If I opt for this, I just hope I'm not disappointed by the T420s... getting a stuck fan blowing at whirlwind speed... Coming from an X200 in which the fan was near silent most of the time, spinning up but not being crazy loud or constantly at high speed.... a fan is a fan, that's understood, I can live with a fan blowing out hot air, but if the darn thing gets stuck at high speed? :?

 

I have a December-built T420s and have no problems with fan noise. I noticed on the BIOS 1.30 update there was an update regarding the fan, so maybe that fixed it.

I saw a YouTube video where a German guy "fixed" his fan noise issue via BIOS and power setting tweaks, plus a fan control program. It seemed relatively simple, though it might not sound that way.

Anyway, like I said, I've had no issues with fan noise! So, frankly, I wouldn't worry about it: it seems like you're unlikely to have any issues, and if you do they do not seem insurmountable.

 

RAM score is 7.5, I had the performance settings on Energy Saver. But I just set them on max performance and ran the test again with the same results. Obviously it's a ridiculously flawed benchmark, especially when I get worse results than people with the same setup minus a GPU.

Why should Aero be more intensive than gaming, anyway? If that were the case, it would seem to point to a deep flaw in Windows 7 and the whole Aero concept!

 

Energy Saver wouldn't help. Run HWiNFO32 and check what the CPU is doing when you pile on the load. Is Turbo working OK? If it is then run WEI once again. I've know it take several attempts to reach the highest score.

John

 

I do now, yes. But before, on my other T420s, I didn't. RAM score 7.5, disk score 7.5.

 

I've seen a few T420 around the office as well. If they are speced the same, then for me the difference is the form factor and weight. The T420 is similar in form to the T61. Its also a bit heavier and thicker than the T420s. So if you're on the road a bit, i'd go with the T420s. Also if you're coming from an X200, you'll think the T420 weighs a ton.

I received my T420s with BIOS v1.29, and didn't have a fan problem. My fan has always run silently, quieter than the T61 I used to have. I also wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

Thanks orange.

A couple of colleagues have the T520 and that thing is a tank. They often complain about the weight. Leaning more and more towards the T420s HD+ ... Having lived with an x61 that had a terrible screen (!), I think I'll manage with the T420s.

 

Currently have a T420s with 4GB RAM (i5-2540M Processor). Would like to add 4GB more of RAM. Is it as simple as purchasing another 4GB PC3-10600 DDR3-1333 MHz SODIMM memory module, removing the battery and sliding the new one in (per the hardware manaual)?
I think the T420s can handle 8GB RAM on 2 DIMMs?
Sorry but I'm not a hardware person and I don't want to mess up my 2-month old laptop. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.
Cheryl

 

Yup it is as simple as that.

 

So why is it about $30 to buy 4GB of RAM but Lenovo wanted $160 extra? Is their memory a certain brand? The ones I found at Frys were Patriot, Samsung, or Corsair. Any preference and why?

 

Greed, pure greed.

 

Exactly. They prey on people who don't know how easy it is to install ram.

Sadly, this is a large portion of the population.

 

@csclifford and @ Thors.Hammer,

Thank you for your help. Took the cover off and did notice that my T420s had Samsung RAM in it. So I bought an extra 4GB module at Frys for $27.99 and installed it. The WEI RAM score increased from 5.9 to 7.5 (for 8GB RAM).

However my total WEI score is being held down to 4.6 due to the Intel HD Graphics card (the 160GB SSD is nice at 7.7 though).

Cheryl

 

Is your T420s an Optimus model? If so, you can force the NVIDIA gpu to be used for the score by setting the BIOS display setting to Discrete.

If it's Intel integrated gpu only, make sure you are using the latest BIOS and video driver from Lenovo at support.lenovo.com.

I wouldn't worry too much about the WEI score. If you really want to triage this, you'll have to look more closely at the log it creates when it runs.

 

@Thors.Hammer, wow, another thank you in the same night.
Downloaded the Intel HD Graphics driver (8.15.10.2538 Oct 18 2011) and it improved the Graphics score from 4.6 to 5.8 (I previously had 8.15.10.2321 Mar 6 2011).
Then I updated the BIOS from 1.28 to 1.31 and it took the graphics score from 5.8 to 6.3. A great improvement from the 4.6 score.

Now I'm telling my hubby that he should update the same on his new ThinkCentre M91p tower that I bought him for Christmas. He's got 16GB RAM, i7-3.4GHz processor, and 2.5TB on three HDDs in that tower.

Thank you again for your valuable help and advice.

Cheryl

 

Wow, incredible. I have 8.15.10.2538 installed (albeit with Optimus) and it can't get any higher than 4.6. Other than that, we both have 8gb and a 160gb SSD (where I get only 7.5 and not 7.7!)

Your computer must be optimized in some other way

 

@calkenneth,

I wish I could help, but am not a techie. In fact tonight was the first time I ever downloaded drivers for the BIOS and Graphics Card.

So all of these numbers are great, but what does the Graphics score mean from an end user standpoint? (other than Aero).
I'm not a gamer, but do have my laptop hooked up to a 27-inch Samsung Display Port Business Monitor at home.

 

The scores are derived from a series of tests that are run. All Windows machines have the test and scoring. To the end user, the scores are most beneficial when you are shopping for a new machine. It's just one way to compare one machine against another because they all run the same tests.

As you can see, the results vary. By implementing the right drivers, you can get the most performance out of what you have. You're essentially tuned at this point and don't need to worry about it much.

There are some components of Windows that actually use the test results. For instance, the Media Center components set buffers and registry entries for HDTV recording and playback depending on the graphics card test results. I am not aware of the full scope of other system components that use the scores. I don't think many applications use them. So the scores end up being like the MPG number on a new car sticker.

If you want more depth on the subject, Bing and Google are your friend.

 

How do you determine which LCD panel (LG, Samsung, AUO) I have on my T420s. I've tried Control Panel, Performance Info and Tools, Advanced. Have also looked at the Thinkvantage System Health and Diagnostics and cannot find it anywhere. I even looked at the parts list on the box labels.

Sorry, but I'm not a techie/geek like most of you are.

Thank you in advance for any help/advice you can give.

Cheryl

nevermind, I downloaded HWinFO32 and found out that I have the AOU panel :-(
That's okay as I rarely use this laptop as a laptop (only on vacation which is one or two times a year).
But I am learning a lot and did tell my hubby about this benchmarking software (he's a UNIX security guy for his company).
Thank you again.

 

Install and run HWiNFO32 then click on Monitor in the list of devices. It will show the monitor as LEN40A1 but then look on the right hand window at the entry "Monitor Name (Manuf)". This is the manufacturers code.

LTN140KT03401 = Samsung
LP140WD2-TLB1 = LG-Philips
B140RW02 V1 = AUO

So which do you have?

John

PS: I see that you beat me to it.

 

So I guess it is just the luck of the draw as to which panel one ends up with. Must say that the AUO panel is crappy compared to the 27" Samsung Display Port Business Monitor that I use 99% of the time. But I guess that's like comparing apples and oranges. I also remember that the panel on my T61 as having a bluish cast to it too.

Now if only I understood what all those benchmarking tests on HWinFO32 are. Guess that is reading for the next few days

Cheryl

 

Looks like I got lucky and received a Samsung display.

First time i've checked.

 

None of the T420s display options is good when compared with a decent monitor. My T420s' LG panel looks poor alongside the 14.1" 16:10 Samsung panel in my Dell E6410. One has to wonder whether cost cutting takes precedence over quality.

If you want to play with benchmarks then I recommend SiSoftware Sandra. That program has a big on-line results database so you can easily see how your computer components compares with others.

When was it made? Reports suggested that recent production all shipped with the AUO panel.

John

 

For the record: mine sports the Samsung display and it was made early December (2011 of course )
I guess I got lucky.

 

Just FYI, mine was made on 10/24/2011 (per the label on the box) and it has an AOU panel.

 

Also received mine in the first week of December with the Samsung display.

 

That suggests that they have got in a new batch of the Samsung displays, so previous reports that only AUO panels are available no longer apply.

John

 

I wonder how Lenovo determines which panels to use at a given time. Is it like my previous employer (I'm retired now) who kept switiching back and forth from IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads and Dell Latitudes based on who gave them a better bid?

 

Mine was shipped on Dec 17 2011 and it has an AUO display.

 

I have a later i7 2640M version which also shipped with AUO. Works fine for me.

 

Been reading the threads of both the T420s and X220 and I like both the T420s and the X220. I use my laptop for movies, web browsing, video editing, making music, some word/excel. Right now im leaning towards the T420s. I can spec out both machine to be identical but is the X220 IPS screen a real advantage over the T420s? My main concern with the T420s is movie watching... I will be mostly by myself looking straight on or on the bed.

 

For my my T420s screen is more than adequate, especially after changing the color profile.

I watch videos every day on it and have no complains, viewing angles aren't amazing but you will be looking straight on anyways.

 

I think if the screen quality is your main concern, then I suggest you have a look at both. I think at that level, its a personal preference, and whats OK for me might not be ok for you. I think the quality is fine on my T420s, but i don't watch a lot of movies on it.
If screen size is an issue (i.e. for word/excel etc), then i'd go for the T420s. We have both in our organisation, and the X220 screen is pretty small for that kind of stuff. But it is a lot lighter and battery life can be epic.

 

The T420s screen looks OK if you don't put another, better, screen alongside. When I start my Dell E6410 (also a 14" machine but previous generation 1440 x 900 panel) then I realise that the display on my T420s represents a step backwards up the path of progress. For the rest of the time I find it acceptable, even for movie watching (where it's definitely better than the screens provided on aeroplanes).

John

 

Thanks to everybody for all the help. I'm on a Dell Inspiron 600M right now (Windows 7 1.125GB RAM!). Used to have a early-2011 MBP 15 (returned it for...), GT780DXR (sold it... realized too late I had too much computer), Samsung Series 7 (returned it but not for the screen). I think the Thinkpad is what I shouldve considered all along. I missed out on some deals from Lenovo.

 

I have an AUO disply in mine and I am perfectly comfortable with it. It's not great, but hey, if that would have been my principal requirement I would have stuck with my X220 IPS or my W520 Full HD ...

 

I've not been very happy with my screen for some time. The viewing angle is VERY poor. Now, my display is showing some white spots. They are only visible when white images are shown...

So, I started looking for option to replace the LCD and came across this:

IBM-Lenovo THINKPAD T420S replacement Laptop LCD Screen from $59.99 Brand-new screens (never used).

Would anybody here have a clue about what that GLOSSY option is?

Oh, I was also looking for the servicing videos in the lenovo website and could not find any for the T420s. It would be very helpful but the website does not seem to be updated. I don't see any screws in the lid...

 

What size spots? Finger-tip size? I've had one for a long time on middle right of the screen and now have one appearing on the middle left. I had assumed that the first one was caused by someone else poking the screen but now, with another one appearing, I'm not so sure.

John

 

Hmm, I have two towards the middle of my screen as well. I assumed it was smudges as well, maybe not.

 

Yes, it's finger-tip sized! Maybe the keyboard is pushing against the screen... but I'm so careful with this thing..

 

Alright, I made a video! Here you go:

White spots on my ThinkPad T420S LCD screen - YouTube

 

It's most likely the trackpoint tip getting pushed up against the screen for an extended period of time.

When you close your screen and put your laptop in your bag, is there any pressure against the screen? If the bag's too tight and something is compressing the laptop structure, it could easily happen.

 

It can't be that in my case because the brighter spots are about half way between the trackpoint and the edge of the keyboard. Also, there are no marks on the display to indicate that it has been rubbing on the keyboard (I've had that happen on some other notebooks). My T420s does get fairly well squashed in my bag but I avoid any point loads getting pushed against the back of the display and, anyway, I thought that Lenovo's roll-cage was meant to provide protection. If not, then I'll have to be looking for a metal display back when I next go shopping.

John

 

same here...

 

If the spots are irritating enough, you are still under warranty, correct?

 

I took out a 3 year warranty but, given the hassle that Hearst had to get his loose T420 hinges fixed, I'm going to need some convincing proof that the bright spots reflect a design weakness and not usage. That I'm not alone with this problem strengthens my case.

John

 

Just got my T420s. Lucky to get a Samsung LCD, better than the LG one I saw in a nearby store, which almost turned me away. Great that I finally decided to try my luck. Sure that it is not as good as the one I have on my old mac, but I am so pleased by other things of this new laptop. It is light (1/3 lighter than my old macbook, half of the weight of my old Dell), fast, quiet and without excessive heat (I feel like I can really use my old macbook and my Dell outdoors in winter). So far so good, hope it will last.