W530 Fn+F3, F4 and F5

Some users say that pressing Fn+F3 should show me a menu of power schemes to choose between.
My W530 has a padlock icon on F3, and pressing Fn+F3 locks the computer just like pressing Win+L.
I believe this is the intended purpose for Fn+F3, right?
My F4 has an icon of a half moon. Pressing Fn+F4 takes the computer to sleepmode.
This too sounds logical.
My F5 has an icon of an antenna. Pressing Fn+F5 show a menu to turn on/off the wifi and bluetooth.
Again, this sounds logical.
...but what about that Power Selection menu that other people talk about? I don't see any key with an appropriate icon and neither does any of them start that said menu.
Do I have to manually create a shortcut to C:\Program Files (x86)\ThinkPad\Utilities\PWMOSDV.EXE in my Win7 Pro 64bit, and add a keystroke to it (like Ctrl+Alt+P), in order to get the quick menu?
(also see http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkVantage-Technologies/Please-fix-Power-Manager-Power-scheme-selectio... regarding swift access to profiles)

Yes this is weird!
My Swedish keyboard on my W530 has the same icons on F4-F12 as the picture http://www.lenovo.com/shop/WW/products/splitter/notebooks/ThinkPad/W-Series/gallery/ThinkPad-W530-La....
F3 has no battery icon though, it has a padlock icon.
And my F2 has no icon at all ...and nothing happen when I press Fn+F2.
(to be pedantic, my F5 key has an antenna icon with radio waves, not a computer icon with radio waves. This has nothing to do with this thread though, just yet another observation when comparing the keyboard on the pic with mine. Also, my ThinkVantage-button is black, not blue.)
Why did Lenovo remove the F3 battery function?

Similar Messages

W530 Drive Bay Adapter and Drive Caddy

I purchased a W530 and immediatly swapped out the included hard drive for an SSD. I also purchased the drive bay adapter and planned on moving that original drive to it, but it did not come with a drive caddy. If the drive bay does not come with an extra one, and hard drives do not come with them.... why was it not included? Where do I purchase one? Does it need those rubber sides that are now around the SSD?

Hey Chuntley,
If you search around the forums you will find a lot of post on this or close to this subject about installing a second drive to W530.
Here is a link to one such post.
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/12-7mm-Ultrabay-adapter/td-p/804275
If you have any other questions please post back.
Best Regards,
Hiro
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W530 SSD and Memory help needed for high performance systems.

Hi Guys,
After dealing with lots of laptops that got destroyed by daily use, our organizations is considering ordering 25 Thinkpad W530 laptops from Lenovo and we hope that they last a little longer.
Our main usage is video editing and design so we have chosen the best that Lenovo has to offer as far as hardware.
Since Lenovo charges arm and a leg for SSD and 16GB memories, we have decided to purchase these separately and upgrade ourselves.
Knowing the high need for performance, what would you recommend for 128GB SSD and 16GB memory?
The laptops are all coming with 7200 RPM drives for storage so the SSD is mainly for programs and the OS.
For the drive bay, does this part sound right to you? http://shop.lenovo.com/us/itemdetails/0A65623/460/89555ADB1CE946DA80E0E5D6FE77B164
This would be used for the HDD and the SSD would be moved to main HDD location.
Is there anything else we should know about these laptops?
Thank you in advanced for your time and all suggestions are welcomed.
Cheers,
Chris
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I installed 32GB (4x8GB) of Corsair Vengeance RAM, and it has been working wonderfully since day 1.
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

Suggestion and Comments for a w530 unit

Hello Everyone,
I've been using macbookpro for almost 4 years, and since I heavily use AutoCad, Sketchup and Lightroom on a daily basis it has been a bothersome to rebooth from one OS to another. I have been looking at the W530 for quite sometime and decided to make the swtich. I hope someone can enlighten me on how to go about the purcahsing of W530. From Lenovo site, i intend of getting this specification and minor upgrade of some specs:
Lenovo w530 Intel Core i7-3940XM Processor Extreme Edition (8M Cache, up to 3.80 GHz)
Window 7 pro 64 bit
Lightroom 4
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
NVIDIA Quadro K2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3
16 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (4 DIMM)
500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Bluetooth 4.0
Third Party Source Items:
Additional 2 8gb Ram, so total of 32GB
msata AData XPG x300 256gb
2.5" sata ssd 512gb
Hard drive caddy from new mode us. com
Questions:
1. If in case, I need to add additional ram, would it be okey to just buy an additional 2 pcs of 8GB of Corsair Vengance, or do i need to buy a new 4 pcs of 8GB? so the total ram would be 32GB. Or would it be wise to just get the 32GB of Ram from Lenovo?
2. I plan to use the 500gb HDD in the hard drive caddy and use the msata and 2.5" ssd for primary drive, What would be the best way to copy the Windows and Lightroom from the HDD to msata drive (256gb adata)?
3. How come some unit with the w530 comes with a color sensor option and the higher w530 specs does not? would it be wise to get the Color sensor/ calibration from Lenovo or Just get other calibration software? and can you suggest in your experience a good calibration software for w530?
4. and lastly, does all w530 whether it be lower end specs or high end spec has a msata connection? Sorry of the ignorance.
Really sorry for a long post and questions. I hope someone could enlighten me before i purchase this unit. Any suggestions and comment would be highly appreciated. Thanks

Hi.
I'm almost in your same boat; used a Macbook when travelling for AutoCAD and I just ordered a W530 (should arrive Thursday) after a long period of agonizing of the purchase. I'll update this thread once I've used it a bit if you'd like, but I have some comments on your post:
1. My understanding is that RAM works best when all sticks are of the same capacity. Personally, I ordered the W530 with the least RAM possible and am replacing all factory with Corsair Vengance.
2. Use drive cloning software.(check out this site: http://lifehacker.com/5839753/the-best-disk-cloning-app-for-windows). I'm eschewing the mSATA and going with a 500gb SSD (found the Samsung 840 for $279) as the main drive with the 500gb HDD in the ultrabay (mSATA slot vacant). Why do you need the hard drive caddy?
3. Not sure. I didn't go top-of-the-line as you are so my config had the color sensor option.
4. All have the mSATA.

ThinkPad W530 docked and plugged all the time.

I just got a new w530 with windows 8 and a 9 cell battery. I am using the mini dock series 3 (without USB 3.0). My question is: is it ok for the battery life to leave it in the laptop knowing that most of the time the machine is docked and plugged? If I removed the battery, the machine is unbalanced on the dock.
The power manager app does not work on windows 8, so I cannot choose what profile I want for the battery.
What do you think?

I have exactly the same requirements and I'm also trying to figure out what's the best option for the battery life.
Thinkpad W530 2447-4GG, Intel Core i7-3820QM 2.7GHz, 1920x1080 FHD with color sensor, NVIDIA Quadro K2000M GPU, Crucial 4x8GB DDR3 1600 RAM, Crucial M4 256GB mSATA SSD (07MH), Crucial M4 256GB 2.5-inch SSD (070H), Toshiba 500GB HDD 7200RPM, Intel 6300 AGN, BIOS 2.53-1.11, Thinkpad Port Mini Dock Plus Series 3, Windows 7 Professional SP1 64bit

RAID and SSD Caching Notes for the W530

Here are some interesting compatibility and limitations issues I've encountered with the W530 on Windows 7 and 8 and Linux. To the point, a trio of SSD units may prove superior to two physical disks plus an mSATA SSD for several reasons outlined here.
Original goals: quick restore of a previous OS state, data resillience on the road, and use of Intel's SSD caching feature in RST (which is fully compatible with the Lenovo W-series).
Since there are several issues involved, you may want to consider adding the RAID option only after understanding these tradeoffs, which presumably still exist on latest products.
APS (active protection) does not work when RAID is in use. Show stopper! I really don't want a head crash even with a RAID 1 mirror. APS is an outstanding feature of IBM/Lenovo products and may give better overall data stability than running with a mirror in which case both heads might crash from a drop or jar, without APS. (Disks these days sometimes have their own APS built-in so that's worth considering as well.)
Intel's Rapid Storage caching solution requires RAID to implement on an mSATA cache. See #1.
Reverting to a previous OS image by splitting and reverting to a mirror is not fast. It's easier to break the pair and swap the disks but far easier solutions are available.
Documentation is sparse for the Intel RST product and Lenovo could help fill in the gaps.
Without Rescue and Recovery, which I've used in the past to revert to earlier OS builds, other backup/restore options are still required. It is VERY HELPFUL to have a product purchased with a Windows 8 license in the EFI firmware, so that rebuilds aren't a problem. If you experience rebuild issues, quickly contact Lenovo support for workarounds and solutions. I recommend testing a rebuild several times before putting your system into production.
On a related note, the APS feature is currently unsupported on Linux because of lack of documentation for the output stream of the positioning sensor in recent Lenovo products.
Workarounds and Problems:
ExpressCache, which Lenovo provides, is simple to use as an alernative to Intel's RST-based caching.
Lenovo warns that ExpressCache is incompatible with TrueCrypt and BitLocker encryption.
FDE (full disk encryption) drives and FDE SSDs are presumably available as a workaround to #2.
I'm glad I have the RAID option under the hood, but I'm currently not using it. I would if I were on pure SSD storage, which does not require or benefit from APS. ExpressCache does seem to help boot up speed and overall performance, and doesn't appear to add any significant overhead.
References:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/rapid-storage-technology.html
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/diagnose-and-fix/detail.page?DocID=HT079225
https://www.condusiv.com/partners/oem/technologies/expresscache/
What's on your Thinkpad? T42 2379-R9U, T61 6460-DWU, W530 2436

I'd like to suggest an alternative caching product (not affiliated with them, but have used for a long while) by the name of eBoostr.
What I like about it:
- Mostly OS agnostic (runs on anything after 2000, including 2000 (!))
- Chipset agnostic (runs on any chipset)
- Device agnostic (accepts caching on RAM, SD, CF, USB, Intel's old Turbo Memory, anything that shows up as a drive)
- GUI interface for excluding files you don't want cached (ignore downloads, music, etc.)
In short, there's virtually no restrictions on how, where, and what to use it with.
I think it works fine with TrueCrypt and BitLocker, but I'm not 100% sure.
What eBoostr doesn't do is sector-level caching, or write-caching. I use CleverCache to bump Windows' file cache size to improve write caching.
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

W530 Intel Core i7-3720QM processor and tweaking?

1: Is there any knowledge of specific problems with the:
Intel Core i7-3720QM processor (6M Cache) on the W530's that prompted Lenovo to eliminate this processor from
the processors available now?
The tech said that IBM elected to go with better processors, but it seems to me, that there must be some reasoning behind "the better."
Curious about the experience others are having with their W530's equipped with such, please.
2: Also, the Technical aspects, taken from the: W530 Tech Specs page... clearly states that the aforementioned processor IS: 3.60 GHz. Nothing there about UP TO.
My W530 runs at 2.60 GHz... according to my System specifics.
When I asked the salesman about this, he just told me that the technical department can tweak it up to 3.60 GHz..
which will drain the battery life..And that is why it was not set above 2.60 GHz when shipped to me.
I would like to know other's thoughts about this tweaking of this processor.
I need the machine for photo manipulation and for website involvement. I usually have a few+ windows open at one time.
I want to tell you that I am not computer savvy at all (I imagine that is plainly seen.)
I am: a 67 year old jeweler in my wintering years who, frankly, does not know how to deal with the stress of all of these computer problems I am having with this WHEW... and, at the same time... trying to figure all of this out with your help.
Lastly, I want to say that I am very grateful for the help you give me. I sincerely am.
As all artists of my age... I am in a rush to concretely have mattered in my field,.. while I still have time. That is about all I am good for... and at.
Thank you, sincerely, for your time, know that I shall always be appreciative of it.
avs
W530: Intel Core i7-3720QM processor (6M Cache); NVDIA Quadro K1000M Graphics with 2GB DDR Memory:
8 GB DDR-1600MHZ (2 DIMM); 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200pm; FHD 1920 x 1080; Windows 8 Pro

Intel has a (rather technical) explanation on Turbo Boost: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/turbo-boost/turbo-boost-technolog...
I have a W530 with the 3720M, and am completely happy with it.
Regards, Martin

New W530 setup questions...

Just received my W530 in the mail and I've been trying to get up to speed on all the new technology out there and how to properly setup my computer... I've tried various searches but haven't got a clear answer I don't think - here goes:
W530 8gb RAM (2x4), K2000, 500 gb HDD with raid option, x64 win 7, hi res screen
I already bought a Samsung EVO SSD 250GB for the main drive which I will pickup from my US mailbox on Monday.
The reason I bought the computer is because my 4 year old Acer just couldn't handle the intensity of PlanSwift and On-Centre digital estimating programs for construction. In addition I dabble with Chief Architect Premiere for 3D house design and the Adobe Suite to do graphics stuff for the company, etc., etc. I will likely take some CAD related courses at school as well in the future.
My plan was to install OS and programs on the new SSD in the main bay and keep current project files on there. All misc pictures, videos and company files and other things on the HDD which would be in the UltraBay. I currently use about 180 GB and have another 250GB stored on an old laptop which I'd like to transfer over so everything is on one laptop. That one will be for internet searches in the garage for dirtbike repairs
Questions:
1. Is it worth getting a 128 GB mSata drive for the OS (under $100 for Crucial)? Then have all program files on SSD in main bay and misc files on HDD in ultrabay? do I need an adapter for the ultrabay or is it already able to accept the HDD in the ultrabay? I haven't popped out the ultrabay yet to see...
2. I hear of using the mSata drive for Caching? Is 128 GB enough for OS and caching? When is the caching helpful? Should I use the mSata just for caching?
3. Do I setup the computer with the OS on the HDD in the main bay and then clone/image it to the mSata drive oro SSD drive? Or do I start with the SSD in the main bay? I'm really confused on this part...
4. If necessary I will upgrade the RAM later - I think this is a straightforward upgrade as long as the voltages with the original RAM are the same - is this correct?
5. I currently use a Sony KDL 40XBR8 TV as a second monitor at work - what connection should I be using to get the best display settings? I currently use an HDMI with my Acer for no particular reason. I also have an Acer 23" at home which will be replaced with another Sony or Samsung TV when we move into our new house...
sorry for the noob questions... I am typically really good at finding answers to my questions but i really didn't find any clear answers or they were so technical I didn't realize it was the answer to my question ;-)
Can someone give me a practical approach to setting up my computer so I can start off right... thanks!!
Daniel
Thanks in advance
Daniel
ps can't wait to light this thing up with the SSD! It should rip pretty good...
| W530 | i7-3630QM | 16GB DDR3 | 128GB mSATA | 250GB 840 EVO | 500GB HDD | 1920x1080 | QUADRO K2000M |

Hi Daniel. When I bought my w530 I immediately installed a 256gb SSD. And now, over a year later I'm looking at getting a 256gb mSata for the boot drive.
1. The mSata port may only be Sata II but I figure it's not likely that I'll notice the difference. High transfer rates are really only realized with large files and the OS is usually a large collection of very small files. But that's just an opinion and your experience may vary.
For an ultrabay adapter, check out newmodeus. Quite a few forum posts mention success with this adapter versus the cheap ones from eBay. I haven't bought one yet myself, but this is what I will get when the time comes. (they also sell an adapter to convert your optical drive into an external USB optical drive.)
http://www.newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_7&products_id=400
Also, search the forum and be aware that there are many who report problems of the w530 kicking out the ultrabay drive, but it seems better with the newmodeus adapter (as I recall; it was quite a while back when I read about it). I haven't looked at what ncix carries for adapters but would be interested to know if you find something that works.
And the drives shipped with the w530 come in different heights, and if it doesn't match the height of your SSD you will need rubber rails. I still haven't ordered mine and I'm letting my drive sit in the overheight internal bay without proper support. I just carry it very carefully. I'm not sure of the best place to get rails, direct from Lenovo or elsewhere. Last time I checked with Newmodeus they didn't sell just rails, but that may have changed (it was quite a while ago that I checked).
2. Caching only helps if your OS boot partition is on a traditional harddrive. With an SSD you won't utilize the caching as it won't be any faster (and may be slower).
3. I would try installing direct to the mSata/SSD instead of cloning. For a new system it's probably just as easy and less prone to issues. Windows will take care of alignment, etc., and turning off features unnecessary for SSD (superfetch/prefetch/and all that).
I also don't believe it necessary to install Win7 fresh. It depends on your view. I didn't want the hassle of tracking down a legit copy of Win7 install that I would trust, not to mention the hassle of installing it. Instead, I made the restore DVD(s) using the Lenovo tools whlie the original harddrive was installed, then switched the drive with the new SDD and restored from the DVDs. Then I went through and uninstalled any Lenovo software I didn't think was useful. It's been working nicely ever since and I don't regret not starting with a fresh install. Your experience may vary, though.
4. Upgrading ram is very easy. I'm not sure about specs, but if you don't match voltage and speed the system will downgrade both to the lowest common available. You should be able to find many discussions about matching RAM voltage on the 'net. You also would have to wait until your system arrives anyways because you don't know the specs of the RAM in advance (since Lenovo uses different suppliers).
I'm not sure how much RAM you'd need for CAD software. I upgraded mine to 32gb because I didn't want to find myself wishing I had more (for software development). I think I only ever hit as high as 20gb used, and am usually around the 6-12gb mark (depends on how many VMs I have going).
5. Sorry, I can't answer your video question. I use the docking station with two monitors via DVI. I haven't tried HDMI.
Before you sell off the extra parts, make sure you don't need them for warranty coverage. Warranty will only cover the system with original parts, so if you have to send in your system you would remove all custom parts and reinstall the originals. I'm not sure about onsite service, if you have to revert your system or not to original specs.
All comments I made above were in respect of Win7 Pro. I have no idea if anything changes under Win8/8.1.
Good luck! I hope you enjoy your w530 as much as I do mine.
w530 i7-3820QM / 32GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 RAM / 256GB Plextor M3P SSD / Quadro K1000M

Replacing w530 US keyboard with UK one

I have bought a w530 in the US and wish to replace the keyboard with a proper UK one. The original US one was not backlit - can I just replace with a UK backlit one? Is the backlighting built into the keyboard?
Does it matter which I buy of these two? :-
04W3092 FRU CS12 B/L KBD UKE CHY
04W3166 FRU CS12 B/L KBD UKE SRX
Thanks.
W530, 32GB ram, K2000m
Solved!
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Well the part arrived and it was the right one, swapped out perfectly. The backlighting is aweome, well worth getting. Also the UK keyboard has a large Return key!!
W530, 32GB ram, K2000m

OEM Pro, then upgrade or install Full Retail Ultimate 7 directly. W530.

Hi. I've calmed down a bit after the excitement of my first computer upgrade in a few years (went from T61p to W530). Pretty happy with the W530. In fact, very happy. Wish Lenovo would have as much published info about the W530 as was offered for the T61p. I think that info enhances the value of Lenovo's user's experience. Makes Lenovo a better value proposition. Anyway...
I have the (legitmate) OEM Windows 7/64 Pro recovery disks for my W530. I want Ultimate (because of Bitlocker, and a few other features that are nice). I have the UItimate Install disks (w/ legitimate key), but they arent' Lenovo OEM disks. Ideally, I'd install the OEM version (which has all the drivers installed) of Pro, then would use the Ultimate disks to upgrade. If that works, that's what I'll do. Alternately, I could just load Ultimate directly, then load update manager 5, and update my drivers and such.
The question is: is it ok (or even better) to load Ultimate directly, without the Lenovo OEM stuff? Pluses, minuses?
If I can't use the full version key of ultimate to do an upgrade, I guess I can troll eBay for an upgrade key. Can OEM versions be upgraded?
If it matters, the install is going onto a Samsung 850 Pro 500Gb SSD.
Thanks!
Two W530s, i7-3820QM, 2.7Ghz, 500Gb Samsung 850 Pro, 1920x1080, nVidia K2000m/100m, Win 7 Pro
T510, M540, 2.53Ghz, 1Tb hybrid drive, Win 7 Pro
Two T61ps, T9500/T9300, 2.6GHz, 8Gb RAM, 256Gb Samsung 840 Evo, 1900x1200, nVidia 256Mb FX 570m, Win 7 Pro/Ultimate
Solved!
Go to Solution.

If you're not going to use the Lenovo-provided 3rd-party software products (which mostly are lite or trial versions that you need to pay for anyway if you really want to use them fully-featured), or if you already have your own collection of 3rd-party products (both free and non-free) that you would be installing after-the-fact and using anyway on your new W530 no matter how you got whichever Windows version installed (and thus you'd probably be UNINSTALLING any "bloatware" from your delivered W530 in any case), just do what you want if you have a retail Ultimate and you want to use it.
As a 2-year owner of a W530 (243852U, Win7 Pro x64, K1000M, 8GB memory) who 1 year ago replaced the original 500GB spinner with a 512GB Samsung 840 Pro and reinstalled "from scratch" using a retail Windows Pro x64 installation DVD rather than even considering using Lenovo's recovery media (which I never even kept in the first place!), my own feeling is that creating a "pure" self-installed Windows is amost always the way to start if you have a day or two... assuming you have a retail Windows installation DVD and your own collection of 3rd-party software products which characterize any machine setup that you build.
I already maintain my own manually maintained collection of latest up-to-date drivers and Lenovo system products for the W530, as I am periodically checking for any recent updates on their W530 driver download site and maintain my own local folder of all of these installer files anyway so using them all if I had to start over from scratch is not an issue. Actually, I also use more recent versions of drivers from Intel and nVidia than Lenovo provides.
In actuality, the ONLY piece of Lenovo-provided software I have SOMETIMES used is System Update installed on my machine. This is actually a theoretically automated and accurate way of getting all latest drivers and other software needed by your own particular machine which have not already been obtained through standard Windows Updates anyway. But in my experience the database referenced by System Update is not always up-to-date, and often lags somewhat from the actual W530 download site.
Bottom line: I could have my W530 totally devoid of ANY Lenovo-provided system utilities and it would not affect me, but then that's just me. I certainly have not used ANY of the Lenovo-provided 3rd-party software products, as I have my own collection of fully-licensed products that mostly all get installed onto all of my machines (desktop or laptop).
Bottom bottom line: swapping a hard drive spinner for an SSD doesn't normally justify reinstalling Windows. There's no licensing reason to reinstall (i.e. a new hard drive/SSD is an allowable upgrade to continue using the same instlaled Windows with the same license key). So you can just use one of many products to "clone" your existing partition(s) to your new drive (e.g. Macrium Reflect, Minitool Partition Wizard, even the Samsung-provided cloninig software, etc.). Or, if both drives aren't available simultaneously you can just do a 2-step equivalent, by taking a "system image backup" of the existing environment out to an external USB 3.0 backup drive, then swap internal drives, and then do a "system image restore" from the external backup drive to the newly installed internal hard drive. Of course if you really wanted a new version of Windows (e.g. Ultimate, in your case), then a reinstall from scratch is the course you must take since I don't think OEM licenses for a given Windows can be upgraded (but I may be wrong).
NOTE 1: even if you were to just clone your current spinner-based Windows onto the SSD, avoiding the Ultimate install for now, you'd still want to run Samsung Magician to "optimize/tweak" Windows for SSD performance since it had originally been installed as intended for spinner performance. There are some additional tweaks you should probably look at to get the most out of SSD. And Samsung Magician provides (a) rapid mode, and (b) over-provisioning, for still more SSD performance.
NOTE 2: Lenovo also provides a "driver grabber/updater" set of utilities for System Admins, which is like System Update but more under your control and is intended to maintain a folder of drivers/utilities (exactly as I do myself manually, without any assistance from the Lenovo software). But again, it's based on the same database that System Update works off of, so even it can lag behind what's actually available directly on the Lenovo W530 driver download site.
Sorry if this is providing unnecessary information to you. But I've gone through several such spinner->SSD upgrades, or in the case of several M93p desktop machine configurations for friends and family, have ADD'ed an SSD as a second drive (to become the primary boot/system drive), retaining the original Lenovo-provided spinner but repurposing it to become a secondary data drive.
In the case of these M93p situations, I opted to "quickly and easily just clone" the existing Lenovo installed Win7 from spinner to SSD, and avoid having to reinstall Windows from scratch onto the SSD (also avoiding Windows and driver updates, reinstall of 3rd-party software and Windows customizations, etc.). In the case of my own W530, I instead opted to reinstall from scratch onto the newly installed SSD, using the opportunity of the hardware upgrade to truly "build my own Windows" and not have any leftover pieces from Lenovo other than what I chose to manually reinstall myself.

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

Run FOUR 2560 x 1440 displays from W530?

Hi all,
I have a setup most folks don't see every day, but it serves me well. I find myself in need of updating it, though.
CURRENT setup:
W530 laptop with 32GB and the NVidia Quadro K2000M card
Sitting in a 4338 dock
Four (4) HP 24" LCD displays, each running at 1920x1200
Displays 1 & 2 are connected directly to the dock using the two DVI ports on it
Displays 3 & 4 are connected to a Targus USB 3.0 adapter.
What I want:
Four of these (or something similar) displays at the full 2560 x 1440 resolution
So... I guess the first question is... Can this be done with this laptop and this dock? If so, the second question is... What do I need? I have scoured these forums and Google and found a great deal of info that is close, but nothing I can find has made me think anyone else is running 4 displays at this resolution. I know my current Targus adapter won't support that resolution. Help!
If the W530 won't do this, would a W540? And would a W540 work with this dock?
I would greatly appreciate any help.
Chris
PS. I don't game. This is purely for the office. I just need a lotta screen real estate. I will watch a video every now and then, but this is 99.9% for typical office use.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

goretsky wrote:
As to whether it would work, or how well it would work, I don't think anycould could really say as you are likely to be the first person to attempt this particular configuration.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
Hi again, everyone! Well...
It worked! Two Samsungs connected directly to the dock, each via DP; then one each connected to a StarTech USB32DPPRO. 10,240 pixels of super high-definition glory.
Thought you'd like to know.

Does w530 msata support 6Gbps SATA III?

Hi everyone, I know W520 mSATA support 3 Gbps connection. but by launching new mSATAIII SSDs I hope W530 with Ivy Bridge and QM77 chipset suports 6 Gbps connection.
thanks for any Idea or references abaut it?
==========================================================================================
W530: i7-3820QM Quadro1000M 1920x1080 Display 32GB RAM (1600MHz) - 2x240GB SSDs (RAID 0)
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Since my general recommendation for a normal SSD is the Samsung 830, my recommendation for an mSATA SSD is the Samsung PM830. The PM830 is the Samsung 830 in a mSATA format. It is also somewhat future-proof in the sense that it is capable of SATA III speeds.
When asking for help, post your question in the forum. Remember to include your system type, model number and OS. Do not post your serial number.
Did someone help you today? Press the star on the left to thank them with a Kudo!
If you find a post helpful and it answers your question, please mark it as an "Accepted Solution"! This will help others with the same question in the future.
My TPs: Twist 2HU: i5-3317U Win 8 Pro, 4GB RAM 250GB Samsung 840 | T420 4177CTO: i5-2520M, HD+, Win 7 Pro x64, 8GB RAM, Optimus, 160GB Intel 320 SSD, Intel 6300 WiFi, BT 3.0 | T400 2764CTO: P8700, WXGA, Win 7 Ult x64, AMD 3470, 8GB RAM, 64GB Samsung SSD, BT, Intel 5300 WiFi | A20m 14.1" PIII 500 (retired). Monitors: 2x Dell U2211h IPS 100% sRGB calibrated w/ Spyder3.

Dual Booting Ubuntu Linux and Windows on a RAID 1 setup

Hi,
I just bought a Lenovo W530 with Windows 7 and two 500GB hard drives in a RAID 1 setup, is there a way for me to install Linux with dual boot while maintaing my RAID 1 setup?
Thanks.

Hi
Welcome To Lenovo Community
if you want both in a raid on two drives, there is no way simpler than using fakeraid.
Windows simply has only the fakeraid as a software raid and can't be run from a linux software raid. An Ubuntu 10.10 install to fakeraid is relatively simple but should not be undertaken without some understanding of what a raid install looks like or behaves.
As a starter, some simple rules have to be followed:
1) Install Win 7 first
2) If Win 7 occupies the whole raid drive, use Win 7 disk manager to shrink it to make room for Ubuntu.
3) Use gparted on a live cd to place all your unallocated space for installing Ubuntu into an extended partition. This will insure that you will not likely exceed the 4 primary partition limit and thus bar an Ubuntu install.
Once prepared as above you should be able to install Ubunto to the largest unallocated space, as long as the partitioner recognizes the raid (ie the win 7 partitions will show in gparted). You should plan to run the install from the live cd so that you have determined beforehand that 10.10 will run on your system.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1600991
Hope This Helps
Cheers!!!
WW Social Media
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W530 Display Problem

Newb here. I just purchased a W530 running Windows 7 and it appears to have a defective display which flashes/flickers/jumps, etc. and is unstable. This happens randomly but is becoming more frequent after a week of use. I can't seem to find the right channels to pursue warranty repair/replacement. Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

Hi quasimodo,
Sorry to hear that your W530 has problems right out of the box. There are probably issues related to the display itself, display cables, or graphics chips. Also, what do you mean by not being able to find the correct channels for warranty? The phone number for customer support for Thinkpads is 1-800-426-7378. Make sure to have your serial # and model information with you (they are located in the BIOS page of the laptop, and on the box the laptop shipped in).
Best regards,
Brian
My Thinkpads: T42 (GPU failure), T60, W530
W530: Windows 7 Pro | i7-3720qm | FHD screen | 256gb Samsung 840 Pro SSD | 500GB Ultrabay HDD | 16gb Crucial RAM | Nvidia K1000m

W530 Fn+F3, F4 and F5

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