W520, T520 and model roadmap

So i collected some information and pictures of the new T420 and W520 (51nb.com).

So here are the T420 pictures:







the W520 looks the same as the W510 in external casing design and ports layout.







The spec option of the W520 are listed as:

Model ThinkPad W520
Processor Intel® Core™ i7-2920XM (2.50GHz, 8MB L3, 1600MHz FSB, 55W)
Intel® Core™ i7-2820QM (2.30GHz, 8MB L3, 1600MHz FSB, 45W)
Intel® Core™ i7-2720QM (2.20GHz, 6MB L3, 1600MHz FSB, 45W)
Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM (2.00GHz, 6MB L3, 1333MHz FSB)3
Intel® Core™ i7-2620M (2.70GHz, 4MB L3, 1333MHz FSB, 35W)
Intel® Core™ i5-2540M (2.60GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz FSB, 35W)
Intel® Core™ i5-2520M (2.50GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz FSB, 35W)

Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Basic 32-bit
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 32-bit
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 32-bit
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 32-bit

Hard Disk 160GB (7200RPM SATA)1
250GB (5400RPM SATA)
250GB HDD 7200 RPM FDE1
320GB (5400/7200RPM SATA)
500GB (7200RPM SATA)
80GB Intel® Micro SSD
128GB SSD
160GB SSD

Memory / RAM Choice: Up to 32GB
RAM speed 1333MHz
Memory Type DDR3

Graphics Card NVIDIA® QUADRO® 1000M 2GB VRAM with 96 CUDA CORES NVIDIA® QUADRO® 2000M 2GB VRAM with 192 CUDA CORES

Available Integrated Communication WWAN ,Bluetooth 2.1, WiMAX, WLAN
Supported WLAN Card Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 (Kilmer Peak) 2×2 AGN
Intel® Centrino® Ultimate-N 6300 (Puma Peak) 3×3 AGN (performance)
Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6205 (Taylor Peak) 2×2 AGN (performance)
Supported WWAN Card Gobi™ 3000 Sierra Wireless EV-DO/HSPA WWAN Minicard
Ericsson HSPA + WWAN Minicard (F5521gw)
LeadCore TD-SCDMA WWAN Minicard (LC5730D)
Huawei EV-DO WWAN Minicard (EM660)
WebCam 720p HD
Microphone dual digital microphones

Warranty Parts coverage (1 year, 2 year, 3 year models available), 1 year battery
Dimensions 14.68in x 9.65in x 1.26in -> 1.41in
372.8mm x 245.1mm x 31.8 -> 35.6mm
Weights Starting at 5.95lbs (2.7kg) starting weight with optical driveC Smart Card Reader (optional)

Display HD, HD+, FHD 15.6 inch, 16:9, LED

USB Ports 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 Powered USB 2.0
eSata Port 1 eSATA port/USB2.0 Combo

Other ports and slots 34mm ExpressCard and mm C Smart Card Reader (optional)


And here are the road maps of the upcoming laptop release:





note: This roadmap is generated in 2009 by Lenovo, and if you look at the date where the yellow and red part of the bar graph intersects, this is probably when Lenovo is going to have to their huge sales for their old models (i.e. T410, T510, etc).

There are no planned W70x updates according to the roadmap

So another Thinkpad sub model got axed.

Finally, here are the docking stations compatibility list:

As predicted, the X220 will use the Series 3 docking system (which is a good thing) and there will be a new 170 watt adapter.

 

Those pictures links (nb51.com) do not seem to be working. They just bring in a general forum "frame", with some advertisements, but without any real content. Hmm?

I can't read the text, so I don't know if you should click anywhere? Or are the links just dead?

Anyway, I don't see any pictures of Thinkpads there

 

okay i will upload the backup images.

 

Great post lead_org.

I can't wait to have a T420s or W520 in my hands.

 

Am I wrong to say all Thinkpads look alike?

Adunno if it's those pictures but it looks like they are kinda glossy from that picture?

 

This info has been previously posted in other threads+available in Lenovo presentation materials
But to post something relevant - Im not sure I like the new T420 design, its thinner than T410, yet thicker than T410 at its thinnest point is. Also, its wider, which isnt a problem, but also shallower, which make it look like some kind of puffed up balloon, just look at it from sides - looks like sausage with current design
Given that its chassis has shrunk, it should have been thinner than T420 is now, because now it looks really fat and to some extent ugly IMO.
But then again, dont know how it looks in real life+I will probably get used to new desing and start to love it soonish, just like new Latitude E6320 is IMO damn good looking if it lives up to its hype.
Heres hoping that 15 hours with 9 cell is realistic, because at the moment on my T410 maximum I get is below 7 hours, around 6.5 hours at best scenario
Oh and I hope that its going to be quieter than T410, as quiet as R400/T400 was!

And Im waiting for X220 release and reviews and user feedback, looks like besides mediocre screen resolution that we all will have to live with in all laptop shapes and sizes, it might be the killer ultraportable to rule them all, at least to me!

 

Anyone know if these laptops have SATA 3.0 (6 Gb/s)?

 

Isn't much of a need for SATA 3 unless you plan on getting a SATA 3 SSD. The current fastest 7200 rpm notebook drives don't come close to saturating SATA 2...and most don't saturate SATA 1...

 

Looks like the Optical Disc drive on the T420 on the right side, has moved towards the user (instead of on the screen side).

Speaker grills look much wider than the T410, too!

 

Might be wider because laptop itself is bit wider.
Not sure how good it is to have ODD closer to corner, that means no screws to hold palmrest together with laptop base=more flex, give when handled and squeks and creaks.

 

Who predicted that? I remember a few people (I being one of them) who hoped that X220 will use Series 3 docks, and in the X220 photos thread, I observed that it looks like X220 will be using a different docking system.

I do not remember anyone actually predicting that X220 will use Series 3 docks. But then again, I do not read every post in this forum.

 

That's what I was thinking - the ODD area tends to have more flex since it's pretty much hollow (I always replace it with the HDD caddy which always has some room on the top), not sure if this bodes well for the palmrest and its rigidity.

 

Thank you for gathering a bunch of information together in one place like this! Very handy....

 

Is it just me? Or does the T420 really look thicker than the T410?

 

Its wider and shorter than T410, its bit thinner than T410, but its thinnest point is thicker than thinnest point on T410, if that makes sense to you ?

T410 is this thin:
2.76-3.19cm
T420 is bit thinner:
2.99-3.04cm
Notice the starting thickness points of both laptops, T410 starts thinner and end thicker than T420, while T420 starts thicker than T410 does at its front but ends up being thinner in the thickest point, so its thinner that T410.
Given that T420 became shorter depth wise (not talking about width grew larger, just to clarify) due to 16:9 form factor its only natural that with all the components stuffed inside T420 Lenovo couldnt make its front look as svelte as it was on T410, even port placement needed to be rearranged due to loss of around 1cm in lenght, take a look at the left side of T420 vs T410, T420 has less ports stacked, slashed exactly by half compared to T410 usb/displayport group.

That too, didnt think about that aspect
What I was talking is lack of screws in the corners, where the HDD is located, there were no screws around the HDD palmrest corner on R400 and it moved up and down like mad, I had a lemon though, but given that there is no screw Im sure that with active use every R400 will develop loose palmrest-base-hdd cover problem that I had on my brand new R400.
Also, there is no screw in the HDD corner that holds together palmrest and laptop base on my T410 either and I predict it wearing out quite easily as well, given that it has minor give even on entire front of the palmrest even in those parts which are connected to laptop base with screws.
I suppose double sided tape is the only solution for loose palmrests in new ThinkPads

So, it will be curios to see how T420 will hold up over months of active use, picking it up, moving around, holding by corners, putting into bag, taking out of sleeve, tapping fingers on palmrest etc

 

I plan on getting an SATA 3.0 SSD. Anyone know?

 

Looks like the T420 have less ports. Does the t420 have a display port?

 

Since they haven't mentioned SATA 3, I'm guessing they don't have SATA 3. They would never omit talking about a new feature if it's there and functional.

But, according to Anandtech, the only SSD that can really even use the extra bandwidth of SATA 3 is the Vertex 3 pro, so if you weren't planning on buying that one it shouldn't make a big difference.

"The Vertex 3 Pro is the first SSD to really put 6Gbps SATA to good use. In fact I'd say its the first drive that really needs a 6Gbps interface. "

OCZ Vertex 3 Pro Preview: The First SF-2500 SSD - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

 

I am betting it doesn't have SATA 3.0 (but was hoping). They weren't exactly Johnny on the spot getting SATA 2.0 in their laptops. How soon I buy a 3.0 SSD really depends on how high much of a premium they want over 2.0

 

x220 doesnt have ultrabase anymore or any word on this

 

I think it's the same, just rearranged. Yes, the T420 does have DisplayPort, directly to the right of the Ethernet port, as seen here.

 

I can't remember who actually predicted the x220 using the regular dock, but someone did actually mention this. Given that x220 will use the regular keyboard and dock will make it more appealing to the corporate customers and it would also cut down lenovo part inventory.

 

so all future thinkpads only have one dock option? even the x220?

 

i think that is the case.

 

No wide-gamut display option? I guess they aren't concerned with taking back photographers who migrated over to the HP EliteBooks...

 

I believe the T520 and W520 will still have the same RGB-LED 1920x1080 display that was available on the T510 and W510 - that display covered 95% of the NTSC color gamut, I believe.

 

Isn't SATA 3 already part of the Mobile QM67 Express chipset on which the T series is based, or does it have to be further implemented by Lenovo?

Intel QM67 Express Chipset - Overview

 

The new pack chipset + CPU, how many porcent % will increased the perfomance?

IS it worth from w510 to W520?

 

I would predict that the performance increase won't be more than 15 to 20%, it is not really worth the money (if you are spending your own) to upgrade to the W520 when you already have the W510.

 

Also, depends what applications you are using on your laptop. For daily tasks like word processing, spread sheets, web surfing, there will be no perceivable difference, while at best if you're doing CPU intensive tasks, you might get up to 15% benefits. Whether that is worth the cost of upgrading to you is based on your budget and usage, but as stated above, most users will not find it worth the cost if you have a W510.

 

dang wish i didnt get my t510 recently. i hope they release these road maps so we know when to best make purchases

 

Yeah, i´m thinking the same... only a chipset wont make so much different.

Anyway, happy with w510 with i7 the perfomance is very well.

regards