W530 vs. W520

I doubt I'm the first with this question, and I won't be the last, but I'm wondering if the general consensus is get a discounted W520 now, or whether the W530 is worth waiting for.

The main differences, as far as I can tell, are:

Ivy Bridge Processor (10-15% better performance)
New, 6-row, backlit chiclet keyboard
...

No screen difference, a shrunk color sensor and a very slightly improved graphics card which I don't really need anyway for Photoshop, which is where the machine will really be put to the test.

Am I missing anything else? If not, I'm considering the following W520 config. Thoughts?

Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor (2.40GHz, 6M Cache with Turbo Boost up to 3.50GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Professional (64 bit)
15.6" FHD (1920x1080) LED Backlit AntiGlare display
NVIDIA Quadro 1000M Optimus Graphics technology (2GB)
Colour sensor
4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
Keyboard - US English
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) Fingerprint Reader, Smart Card Reader
720p HD Camera with Microphone
Internal RAID - Not Enabled
320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Express Card Slot, 4-in-1 Card Reader & Smart Card Reader
Lithium Ion 9-cell Battery
170W Slim AC Adapter - North America, Latin America (2pin)
Bluetooth 3.0 wireless
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN

For $1,340.82 with an edu discount. Any way to get this config cheaper? I'll be adding RAM and an mSATA drive myself.

Thanks for the input!

 

What graphics card is in the W530? I assumed it was the same one as the W520, not something updated.

 

According to the teaser page...

 

I don't think anyone yet has any idea how much of an upgrade the 1100M and 2100M are over the 1000M and 2000M, so it may be a good idea to wait until some specs are known. Not sure why you assume it's only 'very slightly improved'.

 

Given that the refresh is just around the corner, I would wait and get the latest. Your current C2d T7200 should be able to buy you some time.

For 1340$, it's a pretty good price if you ask me. I configured my T500 several years back with only the screen upgraded and paid $1150.

 

There was some speculation earlier that the new cards would be slight, incremental changes, and as I mentioned, my discreet graphics needs are minimal.

The issue is, the refresh is pretty minor. It's a relatively small (10%ish) "tick" in the Intel tick-tock model. And by waiting, I lose the ability to get the classic 7-key Thinkpad keyboard, and similar specs will likely be a bit more expensive for a while...

 

Fair enough -- if you aren't too concerned about the slight increase in CPU performance (and battery life) and any improvement in the GPU, and you prefer the old keyboard and its layout, there doesn't seem much reason to wait. As you said, you may also pay less for a W520 now than for a W530 on release, though that's just speculation.

Personally, I'm inclined to wait for the refresh since it's so close, but I am also more concerned than you about graphics performance and not closely wedded to the old keyboard.

 

Battery life will probably improve somewhat with Ivy Bridge too. Plus the new nVidia is supposed to get Optimus fixed, and finally permit connecting 4 external monitors (W520 is limited to 2 monitors + laptop screen).

IMO if you need the laptop sooner than in 6-8 months, when sales for W530 will begin and the first BIOS issues get ironed out, W520 is a good choice. It might get somewhat cheaper later, when W530 will start shipping, but I doubt that by much. Perhaps $100-200 at most.

 

I'm in the exact same boat, I'm debating between the W520 and W530 (or even the T420s for portability) and price is the biggest issue at this point.

Key areas of importance:

• Strong battery life
• Good Screen
• Plenty of power for virtualization
• Reliable
• Portable enough to travel with fairly comfortably
• Optical Drive and Ethernet
• Strong graphics performance for Adobe Premiere & After Effects (nice to have but not completely necessary)

Reliability is key since I'll be in an area with no stable internet, no local Lenovo servicing, and no stable power

The pricing on the W520 now definitely fits my budget ($1400) and the W530 is supposed to start at around $1,500 (without the screen upgrades or anything else) and I need it before July. The W530 goes on sale around June 5th.

I'd definitely like to have Ivy Bridge for the battery life improvements and chipset enhancements (Widi 3.0, USB 3.0 on-die) but whether or not they'll be worth $200-300 is debatable.

Choices, choices, choices...

 

I don't see myself connecting to more than 1 external monitor pretty much ever, so luckily that's not much of an issue for me.

I need to have fully migrated and configured whatever I buy by early August at the latest, so I'm in agreement there...

Those features would be nice, but I'm not sure they're worth the bump in price. When the W530 starts selling, similarly configured setups could be closer to $4/500 more...

 

The GPU is a total dealbreaker to me, because i'm a game developer and of course also want to play other games. Gaming notebooks are out of question for me.

According to Thinkpad Shop the W530 will get a "N14P-Q3" and this german site News des 31. Oktober 2011 | 3DCenter.org from october said that "N14P-Q3" would be a kepler with 28nm.
I still have ome faith

We will have to wait and hope.

 

Game developer on what platform?

 

Next project will most likely be unity but i'm buying this notebook for the next 3 to 5 years. I also want some gameing in my free time...

 

Meanwhile, a third option - getting a T420s and a separate, high-quality monitor - has become the front runner for me...

 

I would definitely wait until you see more announcements from the other OEMs. With the 3-5 picture in mind, I certainly would not be buying a W520 and Sandy Bridge.

 

So, any news what the new GPU for the W530 might look like?

Are there any release dates out yet?

 

Looked at ThinkPad W530 - mobile workstation from Lenovo (US) ??? I think the GPU information is wrong. I think it's the Quadro 2100M on the high side. Scheduled for a June release.

The press release is at Lenovo Newsroom | Lenovo Previews Next-Gen Business Ultrabook; Announces Latest Powerful ThinkPad Laptops

 

It seems that almost immediately after you wrote this, the first link you listed changed -- it now says K1000M or K2000M. This now corresponds with Anandtech. No info yet on those GPUs though.

EDIT: Googling "K2000M" yields this document on Nvidia's Japanese website: http://www.nvidia.co.jp/content/PDF/features-benifits/Quadro_mobile_features_benefits_final.pdf. Lists a range of K-series mobile Quadro GPUs and gives some general info about them, but no specs yet. I would guess Nvidia is gearing up to make an announcement soon.

 

I'm pretty sure it used to list the 2100M. Maybe it's going to have Kepler after all.

 

Sorry, I didn't mean to question you -- I've been checking the page regularly as well so I know it used to list 1100M and 2100M. It's just strange that it changed very soon after you posted

 

I am magic.

It was actually changed just before I posted.

 

I would wait if I were you. If nothing else, that config is not really that nicely priced. Here in Canada a couple weeks ago that config + a 2000M was in the low $1300's on Lenovo's site (I believe like $1319).

 

So may I ask you guys to maybe brake that down for me a bit.

background: I am kind of looking for a new notebook to buy next month and the decision will be between the W530 and the new MBP.

The GPU is a very a big point for me (I want to use it for PS and also game).

So I was wondering how much of an improvement the new GPU in the W530 would be.

Any ideas how it would perform against the 650Gt that is gonna be build in the MBP 15"?

Thank you very much.

 

Do we know for sure what GPU will be in the W530 and the next MacBook Pro?

Where do you see the MBP specs?

 

you guys know when is the w530 release date ?

the backlight keyboard is standard or optional ?

I beleave this new K1000/k2000 will based on gtx650m/gtx660m chip.

I see this days this news about the W530 and now I am unsure if I mantain this sager order or cansel and get this w530, I love my thinkpad w510 and not so surre if this sager will make me happy like my w510.

BR

 

My guess is that many of the makers are waiting until Microsoft announces the Windows 8 Upgrade program details. If the rumors are true from the tech sites last week, this will happen the first week in June.

It would not make sense to open the flood gate of orders until that happens.

And it would be prudent to start before the Apple WWDC on June 11.

 

Chatted with a Lenovo sales rep who told me the W530 will be up on the site for customization on June 1st.

In case anyone was interested

 

If you are interested in Windows 8 at all, I would wait until after the upgrade program details are announced before you purchase.

 

I have until June 4th to submit my purchase against this fiscal year's budget, so I have to work with that

 

Then you'd better hope Microsoft announces on June 2 as rumored. Unfortunately the other rumored date is June 5.

 

heh- yeah i saw that. maybe my rep can help me out with that

 

OP, for photoshop cs6 its not going to matter much which quadro you get Adobe dumped CUDA for OpenCL in the whole CS6 suite

 

Where i can see more informations about this new W530 ?

You believe until 4 june it will be available for buy ?

Tkz!

BR

 

According to my sales rep, they will be available for order on June 1st
Here is a press release with all the new models:
Lenovo Newsroom | Lenovo Previews Next-Gen Business Ultrabook; Announces Latest Powerful ThinkPad Laptops

 

Crap. Trying to sell my W520 on eBay fast. Some Italian account wanted me to ship to Miami and he says he lives in Jamaica.

I hate eBay sometimes.

 

So one could theoretically get hardware acceleration with just the HD4000 for CS6 applications? (Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop)

 

wait until the W540 to change.

I will buy the W530 becouse my W510 not suport the mSATA SSD, and it is a very good enhancenment. and the Quadro FX880m is going slow to my needs.

but, if you have the W520, I believe is unucessary change it now.

BR.

[]'s

 

I switched to a 17"MBP and have 50/50 OSX and Win7 via Bootcamp.

I have to sell the W520 to help offset the cost.

 

You sure changed your mind fast. One minute the chiclet keyboard coming on the W530 is a deal breaker, the next minute you have a MacBook Pro with a chiclet keyboard.

Is that your final answer?

 

Allow me to chime in. Chiclet keyboard on MB is nothing new. On the other hand, certain people (used to) purchase TP expressly for the TP keyboard. Now, as Lenovo joins the chiclet keyboard crowd, there is much less incentive to consider a TP.

(Superior screen + chiclet keyboard = look elsewhere)

 

Yea, but buying a Mac right now might not be the best move.

 

I buy my W510 because the 95% NTSC color gamout monitor (10bitx3), farway form apple macbook screen (justo 80% 6bitx3) and the professional 3D video card Quadro.

but if we like so much just keyboard, why not just buy a good keyboard ? a razer for example.

Amazon.com: Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: Electronics

the rest is just detail, no ?

[]'s

 

Yeah, T510, W510, T520, W520, with FHD. Got all those.

That is beside the point. Got great desktop systems that I built, plus great IPS monitors and great keyboards that I chose.

 

no, Intels OpenCL/OpenGL support is horrid for these apps. Its like kepler gforce cards, nutered for media playback and gaming

example i can give With premier pro 6, but somewhat dissimilar systems for renders i was messing with for work ( 4K video file for a commercial )

M17X ( 16 gb, SSD Intel IGP only ) 3h 42mins
M17X ( 16GB, SSD AMD 7970 ) 0h 47mins
MBP 17" ( 16 GB SSD amd 6770 ) 2h 34mins
Elitebook 8740 in sig 1h 36 mins ( cpu bottleneck )
Elitebook 8760 in sig 1h 2mins

 

All people look at different things

For me, the differences in key shapes and deviations from the traditional layout are important, and all other things equal I'd rather get the usual 7 row.

But other things are not equal. First of all, laptops without a good TrackPoint and physical PgUp/PgDn/Home/End/Insert keys needn't apply at all.

It must also be in a case without cold metal and sharp edges where hands touch it, have replaceable battery, hires matte screen, 2nd HDD/SSD slot, at least 2 video outputs on the laptop itself, 4 DIMMs, fingerprint reader ( I hate typing pre-boot passwords, yet encrypting HDD is a must ), and the list goes on. With all that, it should be relatively light, survive on battery for at least a couple of hours, and 5+ when in the browser/typewriter/MS Office mode (all that in Windows). Should be, of course, dock-able, and shouldn't cost ridiculous amounts of money.

And choices are suddenly quite limited to just a handful of models from Dell, HP and Lenovo. Keyboard layouts are now the same, but Lenovo still is the cheapest, by far, with centered keyboard and best TrackPoint.

 

I agree especially on a true Dock. those things are a lifesaver IMO
I would add in a 15"+ its nice to have extra upgrade paths other than RAM and HDD's especially CPU and MXM video cards

 

I was juggling this a little over a month ago. I pulled the trigger on a W520 refurb from the outlet. I had no speedbumps or hiccups in the delivery either. For a little under $1400 total, I got upgraded with 80gb mSATA, and upgraded to 16gb of ram. Initially I thought the keyboard wouldn't matter, but now after using various engineering software, the W520 keyboard is vastly superior layout wise. The only thing I hate about lenovo's is the stupid little red track thing. Since I always use a mouse, it's just in the way.

This PC is lightening quick and I doubt the difference from the the W520 to the W530 will be worth waiting for as far as CAD and engineerng software is concerned. The Ivy stuff seems to be more aimed at battery consumption and integrated graphics, i.e. ultrabooks and general consumer use. If you're needing a workstation, the W520 works perfectly and luckily for you, they're cheaper now.

 

What are those different options for the optical device for:

DVD Recordable
[add $110.00]
2nd HDD 500GB, 7200rpm w/adapter
[add $370.00]
1 TB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm with Bay Adapter

 

You can get an optical drive. Or, you can get a 500 GB HDD, or a 1 TB HDD instead of the optical drive. Both of the latter options will run you a ridiculous amount of money.

 

What does this mean in case of bay? So I can swith between the DVD and the hard drive. So is it removable?

I had this in my previous T61p and I loved it.