Yx30 vs Yx50

Hi ya'll Lenovo lovers!

I've been reading a lot on this. The new Yx50 series are finally available on the Lenovo US Website.

We can see that Lenovo put a lot of effort on the outside, the chassis looks really new, fully redesigned, it has a new clean look, very sleek and stylish IMO. The new white keyboard gives it a look of a more futuristic laptop, and the black one makes them look more classic and elegant. The little orange trim gives them a more refined look.

But the outside is not the most important part, after all, I own a business-looking laptop, and the important part for me is the hardware. Yes, I do know there are some people that do like their laptops to look stylish, sleek and beautiful. Here is where the new Yx50 series accomplish this goal. But how about the internal hardware? How does the new series outperform the previous one? Is it worth spending on the Yx50 series?

First of the CPU.
The former Yx30 series use from Pentium Dual-Core CPU to Core 2 Duo, both the older Santa Rosa T series and the newer Montevina P series platforms.
The newer Yx50 series use as a base model Core 2 Duo Santa Rosa T series, and the higher-end use the Montevina P series (refer to the link on my signature to know more on CPU nomenclature and ratings).

OS
The OS in both 30 and 50 series is the same, Windows Vista Home Premium. Lenovo does not specify if its 32bit or 64 bit, but assuming for the 4GB of RAM available, I'm guessing 64bit.

Graphics
This is where Lenovo differs both laptops. The Yx30 series use Intel GMA4500MHD as the integrated solutions, so does the Yx50 series. But when it comes to dedicated graphics we are talking of different solutions.
The Yx30 series use the NVIDIA 9300M GS with 256MB of GDDR3 video memory. This GPU scores 3398 on 3D Mark 05 and 1826 on 3D Mark 06. It is an entry-level GPU ( refer to this link for more info).
The newer Yx50 series use a the newer NVIDIA solution for thin and light laptops. They are equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce G 105M. This GPU is a higher clocked 9300M G. It scores 2200 on 3D Mark 06, this means it shows a 20+% increased performance.

RAM
Both classes use the same PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz, so there are no changes in this area. Both support up to 4GB of RAM.

Display
While the Yx30 series offer a TFT LCD with a resolution of 1280x800 as a maximum, we can find LED LCD on the new Yx50 series on the 1366x768 resolution. This means the new series offer less height but more width, for enhanced HD performance.

Point Device
Both series use the Industry Standard Touchpad. But there is something to talk about here. The Yx50 series use a multi-touchpad. Just like we see on the MacBooks, these offer some of the same gesture-recognition software as well, such as scrolling, turning photos, etc.

As for HDD, Optical Drive, Network Card, lack of Fingerprint Reador, we find the same solutions. All HDDs are 5400RPM, what they do offer are HUGE amounts of storage, up to 500GB. Optical drives are DVD Recordable (dual layer). None of the Yx30 or Yx50 series offer a fingerprint reader. All of them use Intel WiFi Wireless Link 5100. And on some models we can find Bluetooth, version 2.0 + EDR on Yx30 series and 2.1 + EDR on Yx50 series.

So, what are the differences? Why should we buy the 50 series over the 30?
In my opinion, it is basically a matter of personal preference. They are meant for HD, and they are all capable, but they differ on a slightly more powerful GPU and the screen resolution.

Aesthetically, the newer Yx50 series look better and more futuristic, with some more features. And the GPU will be more future-proof, not a gaming solution, but very good overall.

Any thoughts on the new Y450 and Y550?

Hope this helps you clear out some doubts on whether you should jump to a newer series of laptops or no.

 

Serg,
These are allright. You have no idea how little space is created for those of us who use the power a processor put's out. Therefore of these I'd like a 730 -40532EU-Orange.

-Renee

 

I actualy decided the slight differences were not worth the extra $$$

Just received a Y530 which I got from the outlet for $530 and came with P8400, 4GB and a 9500M G

From what I have read this video card is clearly better than the 105 and even on the NVIDIA website it appears as a perormance video driver vs a mainstream 105

IMO I actually like the black more classic look of the Y530, the shiny plastically/graphicky look is not for me

Obviously there is some biased here as I am happy with the route I went, specially considering I paid half as much for it in the outlet. The experience was also great, got it in under a week and swear that it came in new condition with all paper work and original packaging (+ a decent free case) even though it was refurbished

It looks like a bunch of people took advantage of the outlet inventory since now the configuration above is not available. Might be worth keeping a look out for when they receive some more x30s

Good luck with your choice and let us know

 

On the initial batch available for order (at least on the US page) to get a "P" processor, you must move up to the nVidia graphics. I really would have liked to have been able to get a P8600 and integrated graphics (okay, I'm odd), but no dice. P7450 (bundles with the 105M nVidia discreet graphics) is as high as it goes for now.

Mayhaps I'll upgrade the processor some time down the road (a few years).

Even knowing I could have save a few hundred getting the Y430, I decided to (for once) go for the 'new' thing and picked up the Y450 (Y450 - 418938U) during the 10% sale (ended on the 30th).

Incidentally, the 418938U and 418939U are spec'd with Vista Home Premium 64, the rest with the 32 bit OS.

Clock's ticking. Should be here in the next week. (Barring any of the typical Lenovo 'delays')

As to 'should one buy the x50 series'. I'd say unless you are feeling frisky (like I was), go with the X30 or better yet, grab up a X30 from the Outlet and get a fantastic price.

 

The Y430/Y530 are among my favorite notebooks in their respective size/price class. But I don't understand why Lenovo didn't offer any P-series processors on models with integrated graphics. I'm also a bit surprised that the entry-level Y450 configurations are using the Pentium Dual-Core T3400 rather than the newer T4200. The Y550's least expensive configurations do use the T4200, though.

It would be nice to the IdeaPads available as CTO (configure-to-order), much like ThinkPad models. Perhaps now that Lenovo is manufacturing most units for North & South America in Mexico, this could happen???

 

Heh, I figure CTO will happen about 1 week after I get my Y450 in.

Then I can be steamed about not being able to get the P8600/Integrated graphics I wanted.