ThinkPad T450s Review

Introduction
The ThinkPad T450s is one of the best new ultrabooks. While it's not as thin as some, it's still quite compact, and much easier to service than thinner machines, and the Full HD IPS screen is a standout feature.
This review is based on a production ThinkPad T450s, Machine Type 20BX, Product ID 20BXCTO1WW.
Intel Core i7-5600U Processor
Windows 8.1 Pro 64
14.0" FHD (1920 x 1080)
720p HD Camera
Intel HD Graphics 5500
4 GB DDR3L - SDRAM 1600MHz Base
Fingerprint Reader
500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm, 2.5"
ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Polymer (23.2Whr) Front
ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Polymer (23.2Whr) Rear
Country Pack 45W AC adapter United States (2pin)
Intel 7265 AC/B/G/N Dual Band Wireless + Bluetooth Version 4.0
After receipt:
4 GB Samsung SO-DIMM was installed
Hard disk was replaced with 1 TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD.
Construction
Quality of T450s construction is not up to old ThinkPad standards, with some obvious cheapening, but is still pretty good. Annoyances include the difficulty of prying off the bottom cover (after removing 8 screws) to get to the inside, and fingerprint-revealing textured plastic instead of the old rubberized finish. But it's quite solid, no flexing, and quite compact.
Connectivity
Port layout is reasonably good on both sides with nothing on the back. All USB ports are 3.0 with excellent performance. But Mini DisplayPort means you may have to buy and carry an easy-to-lose dongle. Wi-Fi performance (Intel 802.11ac 2x2) seems better than earlier generation 802.11n Intel cards, even those with 3x3. Bluetooth connections are fast. Speakers are decent but nothing to write home about. Webcam quality is improved over earlier generations, but still struggles in low light. Fingerprint reader is a big improvement. (Thank you, Apple.)
Performance
The good news is that the i7 T450s finally proves to be a bit faster than the Sandy Bridge i7 (T420s) on processor intensive tasks like video encoding, despite an ultra low voltage processor running a little slower. The machine is cool and silent most of the time, with only a soft blowing of air under heavy load.
Memory
4 GB of memory is soldered to the main board and there's only one SO-DIMM slot. While you can add an 8 GB SO-DIMM for 12 GB total, that would mean half the memory would work in single channel mode, which can have a pretty big impact on performance (as much as 20-30%) especially since the integrated graphics adapter uses part of main memory (reducing available memory). So if you care about performance you'll have to stick with 8 GB, which can be marginal for things like Ultra HD video editing. (The performance impact, of course, also applies to machines with only the base 4 GB memory. The promised NVIDIA 940M graphics option is not yet available.)
Screen
The 1920x1080 IPS screen may take some getting used to, but really is a good deal better than TN screens, and is pretty close to proper calibration out of the box. (Be sure to burn in the screen for at least 24 hours before making any judgements.)
Keyboard
The island keyboard is pretty good for what it is, but the layout still suffers as compared to the classic ThinkPad keyboard. Layout of Home End Insert Delete and PrtSc are poor, and other keys like Pause/Break are missing entirely, now only available as Fn key combinations (like Fn+B for Break) that are not marked on the keys. Also annoying is the lack of hardware status lights (hard disk, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, charging). You can rely on the Windows Task Bar for wireless and charging, but you'll need to install something like DiskLED (which works well) for disk activity. Keyboard backlight is usable (despite some annoying light bleed from the top row), but not as good as the classic ThinkLight.
Power
With just the standard 2nd battery, not the extended battery with big bulge on the bottom, the T450s can still be used on and off through an entire day without running out of battery power. The supplied power adapter is pretty small, but only 45W, so can't fast charge when the system is under load. If you care about fast charging you should get the optional Slim 65W Adapter.
Summary
A mostly welcome return to ThinkPad form, with a very good IPS screen, and finally enough ultra low voltage processor power to measure up to Sandy Bridge.
Hope that helps,
John
ThinkPad T450s [ i7-5600U | 8GB | 1TB SSD | Full HD IPS | 802.11ac | BT | Webcam | FR | Win8.1Pro64 ]
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Bitkeeper wrote:
JNavas wrote:
that module is quite expensive, and performance will be even more impaired due to 60% of memory opoerating in single channel mode.
yes on the price.
[1] On the performance I'd love to see a test. Many people will put 8GB modules into the system and have the same issue with single channel mode. [2] But on the other hand "not having enough memory" can slow down a system a lot more, because it would swap a lot of the RAM to the drive. Having 20GB of RAM (4GB soldered plus 16GB as module) might result in a lot better performance than having just 4+4=8GB total.
1. See RAM Performance Benchmark: Single-Channel vs. Dual-Channel - Does It Matter?
2. You can avoid paging (not swapping) overhead by limiting Virtual Memory, either by turning it off entirely, or by setting a small range of 512-1024. (I use the latter approach.)
Hope that helps,
John
ThinkPad T450s [ i7-5600U | 8GB | 1TB SSD | Full HD IPS | 802.11ac | BT | Webcam | FR | Win8.1Pro64 ]

Similar Messages

ThinkPad W530 Review

Just wanted to give a heads up about a review of the W530 that's written by a user who owns the W520, so it's heavy on comparisons which is kind of helpful if you're familiar with that machine. I'll quote the whole review below sans all the images to prevent bandwidth warnings! Also truncated and removed some sections to get under the 20,000 character count limit Full review with images is here: http://www.laptopreviews.com/lenovo-thinkpad-w530-review-2012-07
Just like last calendar year, Lenovo is ahead of Dell and HP in releasing a workstation equipped with the latest and greatest Intel Core processors and nVidia Kepler professional graphics. Starting at $1,299 on Lenovo.com (which is the same starting price as the W520 when it was introduced), the Lenovo Thinkpad W530 can be configured with processors ranging from the Intel Core i5-3320M to i7-3610QM to the top-end i7-3290XM, supports up to 32GB RAM and 270 nit 95% color gamut FHD display for demanding business customers. The W530 is like the W520 in many ways as a professional workstation laptop.
The Thinkpad W530 under review comes with the following specs:
Processor: Intel Core i7-3520M (2.9GHz, TurboBoost to 3.6GHz, 4MB L3 cache)
Graphics: nVidia Quadro K1000M
Memory: 8GB RAM DDR3-1600MHz
Display: 15.6” 1600 x 900 resolution, matte finish
OS: Windows 7 Professional
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM
Battery: 6-cell Li-Ion, 57Whr
Wireless: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205
Ports: Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, mini-DisplayPort, powered USB 2.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0 (x2), combination headphone/microphone jack, ExpressCard slot (34mm), SDHC reader, 1394
Weight: 5.95lbs (2.7kg)
Keyboard
Let’s just start off with the most obvious change. The new keyboard is the most radical change in the ThinkPad line since…forever, really. Up until now, the ThinkPad series has had the same keyboard style since introduction, with minor changes here and there. Replacing the traditional 7-row ThinkPad keyboard is the island-style 6-row keyboard, found on the whole range of ThinkPad's, from the 12” X230 all the way up to this 15.6” workstation. Even with the changes, the surface of each key has stayed the same during the transition (1.5cm by 1.5cm for the alphanumeric keys) as well as the spacing between each key (roughly 0.4cm). Other keys, such as Caps Lock, Enter, Shift, Backspace, etc., have stayed the same size as well, though the Caps Lock key no longer has an indicator light. Notable differences include shape changes in the Esc key, Delete key, moving the power button from top-center to top-right, and the lack of a dedicated Menu key. However, the most important changes in key layout are as follows:
The layout of the “special keys” (Delete, Home, End, PgUp and PgDn) has been dramatically rearranged on the new keyboard
The dedicated Forward/Back buttons are now gone. These buttons used to be located to the right/left of the Up Arrow key and are now replaced with the PgUp/PgDn keys
The Print Screen button is now located where the Menu button should be.
The Scroll Lock and Pause buttons have disappeared, though they have been relegated to near-oblivion in today’s world
And just for change’s sake (as far as I know), Lenovo decided to paint the Enter key black instead of the traditional ThinkPad blue and the Windows key is bigger on the W530 than the W520 (1.5cm squared vs. 1cm squared).
To those coming from an older ThinkPad, the newer keyboards are either something to love or something to hate. The older keyboard in previous generations were renowned for their quality and keyboard feel (certainly, they were one of the best laptop keyboard on the market) and is so popular that it has an almost religious following among ThinkPad users. On the flip side, the newer keyboard has a lot to prove to the ThinkPad community. While the common-used alphanumeric keys have the same area and spacing as the old keyboard and the typing quality on it is above average (compared to other island-style keyboards), Lenovo’s choice to move and kill off some special function keys fly in the face of what most ThinkPad users would want. I love using the Forward/Back buttons while browsing the internet and using Windows Explorer, for example, but with the current and likely future ThinkPad's killing those buttons off, I will miss being able to navigate with just my right pinkie. The choice to move the Print Screen button to the bottom of the keyboard just baffles me, period. It would have been nice if Lenovo had kept the 7-row layout while designing the new keyboard and if the keys had stayed in pretty much the same positions during the change (for example, “special keys” staying in the top-right, bringing back the Forward/Back buttons), I wouldn’t make too much fuss over the new style even though I personally prefer traditional keyboards. At least the Fn button stays in the bottom-left corner, an odd quirk that’s been featured on ThinkPad's for as long as I can remember.
Build and Design
Just like the W520 before it, the newer W530 is a tough machine, built well and meant to last. The outside casing of the laptop is made using ABS plastic, while the inside contains an internal rollcage to protect internal electronics in case of a drop or other accident. It also makes the laptop all but impossible to flex (there’s maybe a millimeter or two of flex when twisting the display). There is a keyboard draining system that will protect the laptop in the event of a small liquid spill onto the keyboard as well. Sturdy, metal hinges attach the display to the body of the W530, and they are firm enough to hold any angle they are set up despite any typical vibrations or other movements, and if the W520 is any indicator, they will stay firm for years to come.
As I’ve mentioned in my Thinkpad W520 review, Lenovo’s business laptops are certainly capable of withstanding a few drops onto the floor. Even with repeated drops, having the power brick fall onto the palm rest from several feet above, and traveling with the notebook unprotected in a backpack for just over a year, I’m sure that the W530 will be able to survive prolonged abuse for years to come.
One thing to note about the W530 (and workstation laptops in general) is the power brick. The version with the K1000M GPU comes with the 135W power adaptor and it’s just slightly smaller and lighter than an actual brick of the clay variety, coming in at 6in by 2.5in by 1.4in and 1.83lbs. Those considering buying a W530 with the K2000M will receive the 170W power adaptor (like my W520), which measures 6.5in by 3in by 1.4in and actually weighs less (1.7lbs) oddly enough.
Display
While the review unit came with a 900p, 220 nit HD+ display, the W530 is also available with a 768p 220 nit display (which I recommend against; 768p needs to stay in netbooks and bargain-bin laptops, not workstations) and a 1080p, 95% color gamut, 270 nit FHD display. Depending on the configuration options, either the 768p is the default and the 900p is a $50 upgrade, or the 900p is the default; the 1080p display is a $250 option, though after owning a W520 with said display, I highly recommend it if it’s in the budget. Both the W520 and W530 use the same model displays.
With the 1080p display to the left and 900p display to the right, the 50 nit difference shows. Compared to the HD+ display, the FHD appears to be noticeably brighter (though in photos, it shows as being more white-washed, though this is due to the camera and not the displays). Colors on the 95% gamut FHD are also more saturated than the HD+ display, though the HD+ display still has colors that pop out well. Black reproduction on either display is good, with both being very dark. Being TN panels, viewing angles on either is just average, though better than on glossy display found in most consumer laptops. Tilt either screen back far enough (they go just past 180 degrees) and colors turn into shades of black or extremely darker versions.
Sound
This is where the W530 makes the W520 look shameful. Owners of the W520 workstation laptop would either have to use an external speaker set, headphones, or have to perform modifications in order to have a laptop that sounds half-way decent. The W520 speakers were low volume (even when at 100%), had no depth, and would sound tinny when playing near 100% and/or playing high-pitch noises.
In contrast, the W530 actually sounds amazing. In my review of the Thinkpad W520, I contrasted the W520 to a Dell XPS 15 with JBL speakers, concluding that the only way to get good sound from a W520 was to use a different sound solution from the internal speakers. However, I feel that the W530 can compete with media center laptops in terms of audio performance, a major plus over the previous generation Lenovo workstation. This is in thanks to different audio drivers (the W520 uses the Conexant 20672 SmartAudio HD drivers, and the W530 uses Realtek High Definition Audio) and Lenovo’s inclusion of Dolby Home Theater v4 software, which I went into detail about in the Ideapad U310 review. In a nutshell, this software includes a few factory-shipped sound profiles and settings appropriate for different usage scenarios, which allow a user to enhance voice quality (in the Movie profile) or to enjoy rich sound when listening to music (in the Music profile and various settings). While the W520 was tinny and lacked bass, the W530 can reproduce sounds from any pitch found in music and gives great bass for a laptop lacking a subwoofer.
Software
Unlike the previous W520, Lenovo’s ThinkPad W530 comes with a bit of bloatware out of the box. Of course, there is the typical trial AV software, Intel WiDi, and Microsoft Office Starter 2010, though this is to be expected in pretty much any laptop bought today. Also included is a trial of Nitro Pro 7, a PDF editing suite, and Corel DVD MovieFactory (Lenovo Edition). Lenovo also includes a cloud storage solution called “Lenovo Cloud Storage by SugarSync”. Skype is also included on the W530 and with the integrated camera, the video coming from the W530 user looks clear and colorful.
Lenovo also includes some excellent software as well. My personal favorite is the Lenovo Power Manager 6, which is like the default Windows power manager on steroids. A user can change system settings (CPU deep sleep, display brightness, ODD power, etc.), idle timers (when to stop the HDD, dimmed display brightness, standby and hibernation), advanced settings (allow/disallow hybrid sleep and wake timers, power management for PCIe, USB, CPU, and system cooling), events and alarms. By default, it comes with six power profiles (Power Source Optimized, Max. Performance, Max. Battery Life, Video Playback, Energy Saver (which actually drains more power than Max. Battery Life, oddly), and Timers off (for when a user wants to use the W530 in a presentation).
The best I can describe Lenovo SimpleTap as being is a Metro-like interface on top of Windows 7; either launching it from the Start menu or the blue ThinkVantage button on the keyboard will activate it, resulting in the traditional Windows desktop being replaced with a Metro-style tile system and a toolbar on the top-right corner. The user can always exit out of this interface by either pressing the Escape key or clicking on the SimpleTap background. The included Thinkpad-branded fingerprint software is also excellent, allowing for a simpler and more secure way to log into Windows; I use it exclusively on my personal W520, though there is a setting to allow a user to log in with a password en lieu of a fingerprint. Last but not least is the ThinkVantage Tools suite, which includes the above ThinkPad applications, plus: Password Vault, Update and Drivers, Airbag Protection (an active protection system for the HDD), Factory Recovery Disks, Messages from Lenovo, Enhanced Backup and Restore, Internet Connections System Health and Diagnostics, and Web Conferencing.
In the case of a fresh Windows install, a user can always download the Thinkpad-branded software from Lenovo’s website. If anything, I recommend keeping the Power Manager software.
Battery Life
Not using Power Manager’s Battery Stretch, the Lenovo Thinkpad W530 was able to last six hours and 46 minutes while having the display brightness set to 5 out of 15 and only using the Intel GPU (Optimus disabled). The 6-cell battery was also able to last five hours and 25 minutes under those same conditions, but also included a 45 minute YouTube video. Using the same settings, but running solely on the K1000M, the W520 manages a battery life of three hours and 52 minutes.
Out of curiosity, I tried installing my W520’s 9-cell battery into the W530, and while it fitted correctly, there were some issues. If a user tries booting with the older battery, the W530 will stop booting and display the following message:
The battery installed is not supported by this system and will not charge. Please replace the battery with the correct Lenovo battery for this system. Press the ESC key to continue.
What that means is that even if the W530 is plugged into its charger, the laptop will still not recharge the battery. This is because the older batteries lack an authentication chip inside of them (found in OEM batteries in the -30 series of Thinkpads). A user can still use an older battery with the system, but will have to find some other means to charge up other than the W530.
User Upgradability
If you know how to use a screwdriver, you can upgrade the W530 yourself with aftermarket parts. Lenovo, in a way, even encourages this by publishing their service manuals online. To access RAM slots 3 and 4 and to access the hard drive bay, all that’s needed is to remove the only two doors on the underside of the laptop, three screws total. This ThinkPad ships with a Hitachi Z7K500 500GB 7200RPM hard drive and no RAM in the last two slots (out of a total of four slots, allowing 32GB of RAM maximum).
To gain access to the rest of the components, there are two additional screws located on the bottom that must be undone. One is located right next to the RAM module door (towards the front edge of the laptop) and the other is located within the RAM module area itself. When these are gone, all one needs to do to remove the keyboard is to slide it towards the display, lift from the bottom edge near the trackpad, and carefully move towards the trackpad. First thing I noticed was that the size, shape, and connector is the same for both the W530’s keyboard and W520’s keyboard, so it might be possible to put an traditional ThinkPad keyboard into this Ivy Bridge system. However, there are additional keys on the W520’s keyboard that are not found on the W530 (Screen Lock, Forward/Back keys, etc.) and the BIOS probably would not know how to handle those extra keys. Anyway, Lenovo ships out this particular system with two sticks of generic Samsung memory (4GB each), an Intel 6205 WiFi card, and a slot for either a WWAN card or mSATA SSD (only one can be installed at a time). If an end user must have both, they could install the mSATA SSD and use an ExpressCard 3G cellular data card externally.
Conclusion
Like its predecessor, the W530 is a functional workstation laptop that’s first out of the gate with an array of Ivy Bridge processors to choose from. It can pack up to an Extreme Edition i7-3920XM, nVidia Quadro K2000 GPU, 32GB of RAM, 1080p display, and up to three system drives -- mSATA SSD, primary HDD bay, and another drive if you replace the optical bay with an Ultrabay HDD caddy. While not equipped with the more expensive options, our review unit is certainly a great workstation that will serve a professional well in any CUDA-based work (CAD, video or photo editing, graphics design, etc.). The most noticeable change between the W520 and W530 is the keyboard, and for a lot of potential buyers it will be a love it or hate it situation. For those buying into the ThinkPad line for the first time, it may not bother you too much. Those who are long-time ThinkPad users (such as myself) will probably be disappointed in the direction Lenovo has gone with the new design, but ignoring the odd arrangement of non-alphanumeric keys the new ThinkPad keyboard is actually a joy to type on. The curved keys fit well around the fingers, just like the old keyboard, and since the spacing between keys are the same it shouldn’t feel too different for those upgrading to a newer ThinkPad.
If history is any indicator, the ThinkPad W530 should not only be the first Ivy Bridge mobile workstation, but will also be the lightest of the bunch as well (the W520 was 5.95lbs, Dell’s Precision M4600 was around 6lbs, and HP’s Elitebook 8650w started at 6.5lbs). My only objective complaint about the W530 (ignoring the keyboard) is that Lenovo did not introduce an option for users to purchase one with a FirePro professional GPU (Quadro’s competition), found in workstations offered by Dell and HP. For those that do not need CUDA, it would have been a great, cost-effective solution while still staying with the legendary ThinkPad line.
Pros
Business-quality durability
Multiple storage drive options
Over 6.5 hours of battery life
IBM warranty support
Vastly improved sound quality (compared to the W520)
Cons
No Forward/Back keys, other missing keys
Cannot use previous-generation Lenovo OEM batteries

I think no one "normally" working will use touch specific elements of Win8! Metro is one part of Win8, but i think normal desktop mode will be preferred by 99 % of the users.
With the new upcoming Microsoft Surface, touch might work well, but i just don't see myself touching my laptop's screen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------W520 4276CTO i7-2860QM Quadro2000M 1920x1080 16GB RAM - 160 GB Intel 320 SSD

My Thinkpad T450s has a SIM Slot

Hello,I bought a Thinkpad T450s just 3 days ago and found out it has a SIM Slot, but when i insert a SIM card inside the slot, it doesn't recognize my SIM card thus making me unable to connect to the internet via it and i need help on how i can connect to the internet through that means. I don't see the setting where i should connect to the WAN on my laptop. I am using Windows 7 Pro 64bit and i need help. Hope i get some answers and every answer will be appreciated thanks.

Welcome to the forum!
While some ThinkPads come with full WWAN support, many are shipped "WWAN upgradable" with a SIM slot and antennas, etc. but without the hardware card needed to connect to a WWAN. This allows the customer to add a WWAN card in the future. Are you sure your ThinkPad is the former?
Could you please post the machine type and model number (but not serial number) e.g. 20BX001PUS

Thinkpad T450s Defective [Pictures]

I had a bad experience with the hinge on an ideapad so the first thing I did when I got the T450s was check the hinge area. One thing I noticed is that on my laptop, the area to the left of the left hinge is slightly separated from the screen area itself (i.e. separation between the metal part the hinge attaches to and the black plastic-y material making up the upper screen. This issue doesn't exist to the right of the right hinge. I have attached pictures, they are not the highest quality but should illustrate the flaw. If you are a thinkpad t450s owner, take a look at these areas (to the right of the right hinge and to the left of the left hinge) and let me know if you see separation/differences between the two. I don't mind this visually because it is hard to spot, but I am concerned with whether it may develop into a larger problem in the future. I have the option to return this for a refund and the laptop is under warranty. Will this get worse and do you have a similar issue on your thinkpad? Here you can see the separation to the left of the left hinge: Link to image 1 No separation to the right of the right hinge: Link to image 2 Moderator note: large image(s) converted to link(s): About Posting Pictures In The Forums

Bitkeeper wrote:
JNavas wrote:
that module is quite expensive, and performance will be even more impaired due to 60% of memory opoerating in single channel mode.
yes on the price.
[1] On the performance I'd love to see a test. Many people will put 8GB modules into the system and have the same issue with single channel mode. [2] But on the other hand "not having enough memory" can slow down a system a lot more, because it would swap a lot of the RAM to the drive. Having 20GB of RAM (4GB soldered plus 16GB as module) might result in a lot better performance than having just 4+4=8GB total.
1. See RAM Performance Benchmark: Single-Channel vs. Dual-Channel - Does It Matter?
2. You can avoid paging (not swapping) overhead by limiting Virtual Memory, either by turning it off entirely, or by setting a small range of 512-1024. (I use the latter approach.)
Hope that helps,
John
ThinkPad T450s [ i7-5600U | 8GB | 1TB SSD | Full HD IPS | 802.11ac | BT | Webcam | FR | Win8.1Pro64 ]

Thinkpad T450s Defective?

I had a bad experience with the hinge on an ideapad so the first thing I did when I got the T450s was check the hinge area. One thing I noticed is that on my laptop, the area to the left of the left hinge is slightly separated from the screen area itself (i.e. separation between the metal part the hinge attaches to and the black plastic-y material making up the upper screen. This issue doesn't exist to the right of the right hinge. I have attached pictures, they are not the highest quality but should illustrate the flaw.
If you are a thinkpad t450s owner, take a look at these areas (to the right of the right hinge and to the left of the left hinge) and let me know if you see separation/differences between the two.
I don't mind this visually because it is hard to spot, but I am concerned with whether it may develop into a larger problem in the future. I have the option to return this for a refund and the laptop is under warranty.
Will this get worse and do you have a similar issue on your thinkpad?
Here you can see the separation to the left of the left hinge:
Link to image 1
No separation to the right of the right hinge:
Link to image 2
Moderator note: large image(s) converted to link(s): About Posting Pictures In The Forums

Bitkeeper wrote:
JNavas wrote:
that module is quite expensive, and performance will be even more impaired due to 60% of memory opoerating in single channel mode.
yes on the price.
[1] On the performance I'd love to see a test. Many people will put 8GB modules into the system and have the same issue with single channel mode. [2] But on the other hand "not having enough memory" can slow down a system a lot more, because it would swap a lot of the RAM to the drive. Having 20GB of RAM (4GB soldered plus 16GB as module) might result in a lot better performance than having just 4+4=8GB total.
1. See RAM Performance Benchmark: Single-Channel vs. Dual-Channel - Does It Matter?
2. You can avoid paging (not swapping) overhead by limiting Virtual Memory, either by turning it off entirely, or by setting a small range of 512-1024. (I use the latter approach.)
Hope that helps,
John
ThinkPad T450s [ i7-5600U | 8GB | 1TB SSD | Full HD IPS | 802.11ac | BT | Webcam | FR | Win8.1Pro64 ]

ThinkPad T440s review

Please see my full T440s review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1GdvPLqjdQ

Since you also have the IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro, can you provide your take between the two, and which one you'd be more likely to go with when more inclined productivity than leisure?
I've ordered the i7 Yoga 2 Pro with 8gb memory, but the similarly-spec'd ThinkPad Yoga aslo caught my eye. I'll be using primarily for software development. I like the lighter weight and slightly larger screen of the Yoga 2 Pro, but I'm not sure what, if anything, I might miss from the ThinkPad Yoga instead. (I'm not interested in the digitizer/pen support.) It looks like there might be slightly longer battery life out of the ThinkPad. Would there be significant differences in performance or in any other area? Thanks.

Lenovo-Service für ThinkPad T450s

Schade. Momentan warte ich auch noch auf ein Mainboard für ein T450s (gemeldet am 11.06.) und habe mich eben nochmals erkundigt, wann es endlich geliefert werden soll: sehr wahrscheinlich nächste Woche.Es ist schon eigenartig (um es extrem milde auszudrücken), dass es bei einem neuen Modell anscheinend kein Ersatzteil gibt, die Notebooks aber x-tausend Mal in den Werken für den Verkauf produziert werden.

Hallo, ich habe ein kleines Problem mit dem Service von Lenovo.Ein Kollege nutzt seit April diesen Jahres ein Thinkpad 450s. Vor 14 Tagen bootete das Teil nicht mehr und gab nur noch 2 Piepser von sich.Da das Gerät noch Garantie hat und wir Vor-Ort-Service gekauft haben, habe ich am gleichen Tag ein Ticket beim Lenovo-Service (Tel. 0800-500 46 18) aufgemacht.Nun höre ich seit 14 Tagen, dass ein Motherboard für das T450s nicht lieferbar sei. Ich finde, dass das kein Zustand ist.Auf eine Email an "[email protected]" habe ich bisher keine Antwort bekommen.Kennt jemand einen Kontakt/Stelle, an den ich mich noch wenden kann? Vielen Dank. Gruß, Wolfgang

Can't Find M.2 16GB SSD for ThinkPad T450s

Hello all. So I just purchased and received a new T450s. For storage, I picked the 500GB HDD 7200rpm and also added a 16GB M.2_SSD Single. I can see the 500 GB HDD but I can't at all see anything regarding the M.2 SSD. I am not computer savvy so I'm probably missing something obvious, but how do I access the SSD? When I look at my computer, all I see is the following: Do I need to install the SSD? Is there some driver somewhere I need to download? Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Awesome. Yes you're right, I went into disk management and found it there. But if you'd humor for a bit longer, how do I make the memory in the SSD accessible, so that I can treat it as a normal memory storage, put files there, etc? Thanks again.

ThinkPad T410 REVIEW - PC Mag

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2358981,00.asp
Moderator edit: Added model to subject.
T410 i620 4GB, Windows 7 x64

We've discussed this article pretty thoroughly on the community forum at http://Muvipix.com.
It's actually a pretty absurd review. Putting 120 fps footage into a consumer editing program makes no sense whatsoever!
So it's up to you how seriously you take it. But I've got my review of the new features if you're interested. And it's based on some pretty thorough real world testing.
http://Muvipix.com/pe10.php
Or, better yet, I recommend you download the trial and test drive it yourself. Only you can say how well it will work with your unique workflow.

Resetting Lenovo Thinkpad T450s Back To Factory Settings/Clean Install

Hello, The T450s came with "Windows 8" installed and I freely upgraded to "Windows 10 Home Edition" following prompts. ---
Need a clean install with a new windows version "Windows 10 Enterprise" so:
. I created a bootable USB 3.0 with "Windows 10 Enterprise" on it.
. Went into BIOS and changed the boot order.
. F11 into boot utility, followed prompt and chose reset from media option
Issue:
. Even after choosing the media type "USB FDD", the laptop just resets back to logon screen
I have read a few posts about "Creating A restore Disk" etc, not interested in that. would like a clean wipe and fresh restart. I can re-download all the required drivers from lenovo afterwards.
What are my missing out here? Is there another change required in the BIOS?

Try giving boot priority to USB HDD rather than USB FDD?

Lenovo ThinkPad X220 video review

We've received our Lenovo ThinkPad X220 review unit with the IPS display (lovely!), 2.5GHz Core i5 second gen and the 6 cell + 19 cell slice battery combo. Really fantastic machine!
Here's our video review: http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=40140
Lisa@MobileTechReview

Did the lenovo logo come back on the lid again? Eh.
W520: i7-2720QM, Q2000M at 1080/688/1376, 21GB RAM, 500GB + 750GB HDD, FHD screen
X61T: L7500, 3GB RAM, 500GB HDD, XGA screen, Ultrabase
Y3P: 5Y70, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, QHD+ screen

T450s scrolling issues

Hi there! I recently received a new T450s and after performing a clean install of Windows 7 and updating my computer, I find that scrolling with the trackpoint (using the middle button we all missed) is broken. In every application, scrolling is either insensitive, barely works, or most often randomly jumps a page while scrolling, as if someone was pressing PgDn every few seconds. I started with version 18.1.27.20 of the UltraNav driver, but it was simply unusable. Downgrading to version 18.1.27.14 helped things somewhat, though I am still nowhere near an acceptable point. Adjusting settings has had no impact. Two finger scrolling on the trackpad works beautifully in every application. Suggestions? Comments?

I am investigating these customer reports of dissatisfaction with the response on T450s TrackPoints and TrackPads.
I'd like to get some more information:
Are you running Win 7 or Win 8.1?
Has your laptop been updated to Synpatics driver 18.1.27.20 release 4/3/15? http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t450s/downloads/DS102029
I reviewed and sorted your feedback:
TrackPoint:
In-line flash images conflict with the T450S trackpoint scrolling
The trackpoint scrolling sticks and intermittently jumps during use
In-line flash images conflict with the T450S trackpoint scrolling
TrackPad:
Scrolling with the trackpoint using the middle button is broken
Scrolling with the middle button is lagging and slow
In every application, scrolling is either insensitive, barely works, or most often randomly jumps a page while scrolling, as if someone was pressing PgDn every few seconds
The scrolling function sticks and jumps while using a file explorer window
The trackpad also misses on 2 finger scrolling about half of the time
If you have any additional feedback for the TrackPoint or TrackPad, please add it so I can include it in my investigation.
Thank you,

Another W530 Review

Lenovo Thinkpad W530 Review
by Djembe
One of the longest and most enduring brands in computers is Thinkpad. Originally developed by IBM in the USA, Thinkpad notebook computers are now manufactured by the Chinese company Lenovo. The W series debuted in 2009 as the highest-end Thinkpads offered. They came with the same patented Thinkpad technologies, such as an internal rollcage and shock-mounted hard drives. However, they also offered competitive workstation-class graphics cards with drivers optimized for professional graphics work.
The W530 is the latest in that line, and it looks almost identical to its predecessor, the W520, with three differences. Two of these differences are ports: thefull-size DisplayPort of the W520 was replaced with a mini DisplayPort in the W530 and eSATA was eliminated. The third change is the most noticeable and it has caused some consternation among Thinkpad traditionalists: the traditional Thinkpad keyboard has been replaced by a chiclet-style keyboard with one fewer row. Does the new keyboard live up to its predecessor? And is the notebook as a whole a worthwhile addition to the Thinkpad lineup? Read on to find out.
Specs
My W530 came with the following specifications:
Intel Core i7-3720QM processor
Nvidia K2000M graphics
15.6” 1920x1080 screen
500GB 7200RPM hard drive
4GB memory
Bluetooth 4.0
Intel Ultimate 6300 wireless card
DVD burner
9-cell battery
Since Lenovo (like virtually every other configurable computer company) vastly overcharges for memory upgrades, I upgraded the memory and storage myself. Lenovo provides an excellent installation guide for how to do this, which includes instructions for how to replace even the most difficult of items. Upgrading to a system-maximum 32GB RAM and a 256GB Samsung 830 series SSD was a simple operation.
Design and Build Quality
Lenovo advertises that Thinkpads are designed to withstand use by the military. While they are not marketed as rugged notebooks, Thinkpads are expected to be well-built, high quality systems. In general, the W530 does not disappoint in this. The chassis is very rigid and does a very good job of protecting the internal components. I was only able to make the screen image distort when pushing very hard on the back of the lid, and even then, I could only make the image distort when I pressed close to the upper corners. The hinges are solid and easily hold the notebook lid open at any angle. Vigorous shaking will cause the screen angle to shift, but it never appears to be the slightest bit wobbly or unsteady. There is minimal flex anywhere in the chassis. The W530 is a very well built machine. The only potential detraction from perfection is that there does seem to be a small amount of wiggle room around the 9-cell battery (which protrudes approximately an inch out the back of the system), but I had no difficulty at all in holding the system up only by the battery and rocking it back and forth. No disconnections occurred and nothing gave any hint of coming apart or breaking. As a result, I can confidently say that the small amount of wiggle around the battery does nothing to mar the stellar build quality of the W530.
As to design, Thinkpads have looked basically the same for the last 10 years or longer, so you know what to expect. At 1.4 inches think, the system is almost twice as thick as many Ultrabooks, but still thinner than some gaming systems with similar performance. You won’t find aluminum highlights or lighted logos on the W530, but the matte black W530 has an understated look that is appropriate in most environments.
Screen
The screen on a notebook is an important aspect, since it’s what you’ll be looking at for the majority of the time you’re using the system (except when you’ve got it attached to an external display). Lenovo offers three screen options for the W530, and I chose the high-resolution 1920x1080 matte display option. The higher-end screen also has increased brightness over Lenovo’s other screen options, up to 270 nits. The screen is model number B156HW01 v4 from AU Optronics, which was also used in the last two generations of W-series Thinkpads: the W510 and W520. So why did they use the same screen? As the saying goes, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. The screen is bright enough that I only use it on full brightness if I’m using it outside. For the record, it is sunlight-readable at maximum brightness, although it has a tendency to look a little washed out in bright sunlight. In all other circumstances, the screen looks very good. It also has good viewing angles, maintaining color integrity (no color inversion) even at extreme horizontal angles. Vertical angles are not as forgiving, but the screen definitely has a much larger “sweet spot” than most, it is evenly lit (less than 10% difference between brightest spot and dimmest spot, according to Notebook Check), and its 95% Adobe RGB color gamut means colors are rich and vibrant.
Keyboard, Touchpad, and Trackpoint
The keyboard is new for this year’s Thinkpads, and even though it loses a row of function keys, it retains the comfort and ease of typing found on previous Thinkpad keyboards. The keys have adequate travel and typing is an effortless experience. I find myself making significantly less typing mistakes due to accidental keypresses or overlaps while using the W530 than with most other computers that I’ve used. And it comes with an additional bonus: the new keyboard, unlike the previous one, is backlit. The backlighting is customizable in three steps: low backlight, high backlight, and Thinklight, a small light built into the lid that shines down on the keyboard area. Personally, I find the Thinklight somewhat distracting, since it highlights my hands much more effectively than it highlights the keys underneath them. However, the keyboard backlighting is done very well and allows for easy key identification in any lighting conditions.
The touchpad is textured, and easily accommodates multitouch gestures. However, I prefer smooth touchpads and the one on the W530 does not seem as responsive as some of the Asus touchpads I’ve used. For most gaming or other situations where precise control is needed, I would elect for an external mouse. However, in its favor, the W530 has dedicated touchpad buttons – two sets, no less! Another of my personal preferences is that I abhore clickpads. As an example, I find using Macbook Pros to be annoying due to the fact that you need to press down on the whole clickpad in order to register an action. The twin sets of left and right click buttons on the W530 are easy to press and responsive.
Additionally, since this is a Thinkpad, it contains a little round nub between the G and H keys that allows for alternate cursor control. It’s called a trackpoint, and is one of the IBM-patented features that is found in a number of business notebooks today. I very rarely use this while websurfing or working with productivity applications, but I found it to be significantly more useful than the touchpad while playing Portal 2 and I ended up using the trackpoint throughout the game.
Connections
The W530 has a full selection of ports. On the right side of the notebook, you can find the DVD tray, Ethernet, the combined headphone/microphone port, a card reader, and an ExpressCard slot. The left side holds 3 USB ports, two of which are the latest USB 3.0 spec. Also on the left side are VGA, mini DisplayPort, IEEE 1394 (Firewire), a hardware wireless switch, and the exhaust vent. The vent makes a very effective hand warmer, if you are doing anything resource-intensive. On the back, in addition to the battery, there is the power plug and a yellow USB 2.0 port that can remain powered even when the system is turned off in order to easily charge cell phones, tablets, or other USB-powered peripherals.
Performance
Three years ago, the first time I tested a system with a quad-core processor, I was disappointed because there was no noticeable performance increase. Intel has done some improvements with their quads since then and the i7-3720 performs admirably. Its default clock speed is 2.6 Ghz, however it happily will use Turbo Boost to overclock up to 3.6 Ghz as the cooling allows. Under maximum load with all cores via Prime 95, the CPU still maintains an overclock to 3 Ghz. I must mention, though, that this is all when the system is plugged in. In order to preserve battery life, Lenovo has limited the CPU to slightly under half its default clock speed while on battery power. This means that even with a high CPU load, the processor will not go faster than 1.2 Ghz while on battery. To benchmark the processor, I used Geekbench, an OS-agnostic CPU performance benchmark tool. The i7-3720QM scored 10870 plugged in and only 4100 when unplugged, so the difference in CPU capacity is clear. But even with this difference, I have found that this limitation actually has comparatively little effect on my usage while on battery. Games, for instance, run perfectly well on battery power. For those who need more processing power unplugged, you can remove this limitation with a program called Throttle Stop. Of course, it goes without saying that running heavy CPU-intensive programs will drastically reduce the battery life.
The W530 comes with an Nvidia Quadro K2000M and uses Nvidia’s Optimus graphics switching to go between the dedicated graphics and the integrated Intel 4000 graphics, according to program need. In my experience, Optimus seems to switch graphics adapters in a logical manner according to program need, but in the case that it chooses the wrong graphics adapter for the program you need, you can set up program-specific preferences to use either integrated or dedicated graphics as desired. The K2000M is based on Nvidia’s Kepler architecture and 28nm process technology. As a professional GPU, it is aimed more at content creation than content consumption. Still, the K2000M is a capable midrange graphics card, able to play all the latest games at medium-high settings. The K2000M has comparable performance to the Fermi-based 560M and is a little bit less powerful than the Kepler-based 650M. Portal 2 can be played at fluid framerates at native resolution and maximum settings. Starcraft 2 is playable on native resolution at maximum settings, but some more demanding sections are not fluid (30+ FPS), so I lowered to high settings and everything runs smoothly. Civilization 5 runs smoothly at medium-high settings, and Dragon Age: Origins works well at near maximum settings, all on native resolution. The system scores right around 2000 points in 3DMark 11, varying from 1970 to 2053.
The Samsung 830 SSD contributes a lot toward making the system feel fast. The system boots in approximately 32 seconds from pressing the power button to everything loaded in the Windows desktop and shuts down in 14 seconds. On battery power, these numbers rise slightly with 45 seconds to start and 17 seconds to shut down. The SSD also allows for higher scores in PCMark 7. And speaking of PCMark 7, I experienced a curious thing when running the benchmark multiple times on two different W530 units. The first W530 provided a very respectable top score of 4910 in the benchmark, which is roughly the same as scores by the new Retina Macbook Pro. However, the second W530 on which I ran the benchmark netted a score of 6765, which is, as of the date of this review, the highest score among systems with the Intel Core i7 3720QM processor.
Audio
The W530 comes with Dolby Home Theater v4, which allows music and video to sound quite good. There are three presets as well as a graphic equalizer that comes with the software. While bass is lacking compared to any dedicated speakers, this is a common situation in notebooks and bass in the W530 is better than most. Overall, the W530 has very acceptable audio at reasonable volume.
Heat and Noise
The fan on the W530 is always on by default, and its 2700RPM minimum rotation speed is loud enough to be noticeable in a quiet room. Under maximum load, the fan can ramp up to 4200RPM, which makes it louder but never really unpleasant. Still, in order to reduce the fan noise when the system did not need it, I installed Thinkpad Fan Control, which allowed me to set my own temperature points and fan speed levels. As a result, the notebook is completely quiet as long as the processor is under 55 degrees Celsius. Further, the fan is very effective and able to quickly cool the processor and video card without significantly heating up the rest of the chassis. Under maximum load (Prime 95 + Furmark), the keyboard only felt slightly warm, and the only really hot area on the notebook was immediately above the exhaust vent. Under normal use, the notebook remains cool and as comfortable to use on my lap as it is on a table.
Battery Life
My W530 came with a 9-cell battery rated for 94 Watt-hours. While playing games such as Starcraft 2, the battery lasts approximately 2 hours. Playing DVDs at full brightness with the K2000M resulted in approximately 4 hours of battery life. Web surfing at half brightness results in 7-8 hours battery life, depending on surfing habits. And very light web surfing, note taking, and word processing at half brightness results in 9 hours of battery life. That number can be extended all the way up to 11 hours at minimum brightness. Basically, the W530 can last an entire business day unplugged as long as it was not needed for anything very resource-intensive.
Customer Service, Support, Repair and Replacement
Typically, a review would not include a section on support. However, something happened to my initial W530 unit and I can provide a perspective on Lenovo’s support experience. The problem that developed was a failure of the Intel 4000 integrated graphics. All other systems and components, including the quad-core processing cores on the i7-3720QM, worked fine. However, running only on the Nvidia graphics caused the battery life to be affected (6 hours maximum, compared to 11 hours maximum running on Intel graphics), and so I called Lenovo. The service tech to whom I spoke remoted into my computer and looked at the recent Windows updates I had downloaded. He suggested that I restore to an earlier point prior to the Windows updates, and if that did not work, to call back and Lenovo would fix it. Needless to say, it did not work and I called back. The service rep sent a box for the computer to be sent to the EasyServ repair depot.
I sent the box out the following day with my computer, and did not see my system again for over a month. The online status listings for my system changed from “being repaired” to “waiting for customer information” at least 4 times during that period. Since I was frequently checking the status in hope that my computer would be repaired and sent back to me quickly, I called Lenovo whenever I saw that the status was “waiting for customer information.” As a result, I was able to follow along with the story of how my computer’s repair was progressing. It went something like this: First, the techs re-imaged my hard drive (I sent the machine back with all the original parts, keeping my upgrades until I got it back). That did not fix the issue (which I could have told them, since I tried using different drives myself before calling Lenovo) and led to the first “hold for customer information.” At no point during any of these holds did they actually need any information from me, but it seems to be the universal code they chose to use for “waiting for [whatever].” First, they were waiting to escalate it to a higher level tech. Then, I was told I needed a new motherboard and they were waiting on the new board. Then, I was told that the new motherboard did not work and they were referring the system to a design team. Then, the design team discovered that they shipped and installed the wrong new motherboard and it needed a different one. Then, I was told that the different new motherboard was backordered and it would take longer to arrive.
During the first four weeks that they had my system, I called Lenovo maybe six or seven times, and they did not call me once. The situation was rather frustrating. However, after approximately four weeks, one of the service reps gave me the phone number of a specific employee, who informed me that since my repair had taken so long, Lenovo was going to replace my computer. He said a member of Lenovo’s Executive Replacement Team would call me to set up the replacement. A week later, I was able to talk to the Executive Replacement Team member, who confirmed the specifications of my unit and said the replacement computer would arrive in 2-3 weeks. Two days later, I got my original computer back from the depot. Thankfully, I was then able to use the original system until the new one arrived. Now, I am typing this review on the new system and everything works well.
Lenovo’s customer service staff were unexceptionally friendly and helpful. I spoke to a number of them, and each and every one was courteous and willing to help. Lenovo’s replacement staff were also easy to talk to, responsive, and effective. The EZServ repair techs, however, appear to leave something to be desired. I bought a 3 year warranty , including Thinkpad Protection and on-site service. If anything goes wrong again with my Thinkpad, I am going to insist on the on-site service option.
Value & Recommendation
The Lenovo Thinkpad W530 is a well-built notebook with very good performance, thermal design, and battery life. Very few computers manage all of these together, and the down side of the W530 is price: it is more expensive than other systems with similar performance. Still, I believe the extra price is justified by what the computer delivers: a solid system with no compromises.
You should buy one too if:
You want a system that will last a number of years
You need a combination of excellent performance and excellent battery life
Consider something else if:
You’re on a strict budget and want the most performance for the money
You want a computer with a style that will turn heads
Thinkpad W530, i7-3720QM, 1920x1080 screen, 32GB RAM, dual SSDs (Samsung 830, Crucial M4 mSATA), Quadro K2000M, 9-cell battery, DVD burner, backlit keyboard, Bluetooth, Intel 6300 wireless card

I used 1600Mhz Corsair Vengeance RAM. You can either get it in matched sets or in single modules.
The default system RAM is made by Samsung and also runs at 1600Mhz.
Thinkpad W530, i7-3720QM, 1920x1080 screen, 32GB RAM, dual SSDs (Samsung 830, Crucial M4 mSATA), Quadro K2000M, 9-cell battery, DVD burner, backlit keyboard, Bluetooth, Intel 6300 wireless card

T450s: missing 6-cell battery option in the configurator

Dear all,
now that the hardware trackpoints buttons are back it's time to buy a new thinkpad!
I'm configuring a T450s on shop.lenovo.com, but I noticed that the 6-cell battery option is missing. The only option that appears is:
ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Polymer (23.2Whr) Rear
but I'd like to have the big one.
What am I missing?
Thanks!

JNavas wrote:
cavolaccio wrote:
now that the hardware trackpoints buttons are back it's time to buy a new thinkpad!
I'm configuring a T450s on shop.lenovo.com, but I noticed that the 6-cell battery option is missing. The only option that appears is:
ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Polymer (23.2Whr) Rear
but I'd like to have the big one.
What am I missing?
Same battery (0C52862) as T440, T440s, T450, available here.
There's a big bulge on the bottom for the additional capacity.
UPDATE: ThinkPad Battery 68+ (6 cell) is available during checkout in the Accessories section.
Hope that helps,
John
ThinkPad T450s [ i7-5600U | 8GB | 1TB SSD | Full HD IPS | 802.11ac | BT | Webcam | FR | Win8.1Pro64 ]

T450s Impossoble to change brightness, neither in win8.1 settings or with hotkey

I have windows 8.1, the hotkeys havent worked since i upgraded. Neither does it work to change brightness in the charms menu. My eyes are literally screaming of pain while working in dark rooms, please help! I have installed ALL updates in System update and Windows Update. I have also installet the new Hotkey package: http://support.lenovo.com/no/nn/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t450s/downloads/DS029026.

Colonel:
I am not sure where it updated from, but its the 10.18.14.4206 driver, released 29.04.2015. This is the same driver available on lenovo support: http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t450s
Sliout
I am not sure if it worked pre- win 8.1 since upgrading from 8.0 was the first thing i did when booting the computer. (Win 8.1 Enterprise by the way).
I bought it brand new.
Display adapter version: 10.18.14.4206. I can see that Intel has released .4222, should I install that? Its not available through lenovo or windows update.
I have a touch screen. I found a sticker with the text P/N on the chassis: Label P/N: SL 10G56446
Yes I have tried Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (tip from google), but i tried it again now since we have updated other drivers along the way. Still not working

ThinkPad T450s Review

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