Lenovo Thinkpad T420s review

Last updated: August 5, 2011 4:43 PM

Original posted: March 25, 2011

Future updates : http://twitter.com/yipcw #WFUT420s

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/products/professional-grade/thinkpad/t-series/index.html

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/products/professional-grade/thinkpad/t-series/t420s/index.html

(see its faster, bigger, heavier W520 sibling review also, some components are common)

Tech Spec

glossy datasheet

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/ww/pdf/t420s_datasheet.pdf

it says screen is 230 nits, but tabook says 250 nits.

weight

USPS Post Office - Pennsylvania Model 7300

3 lb 15.55 oz

3 lb 11.15 oz w/o optical

3 lb 10.70 oz w/o optical & 4-in-1

3 lb 00.50 oz w/o optical & 4-in-1 & battery

0 lb 10.20 oz battery

0 lb 04.40 oz optical

0 lb 00.40 oz 4-in-1

tipped library's "official Thinkpad scale" Pelouze Y50 50lbx2oz at (it is slightly off, only use for comparison between years)



4-5/16 lb.

(3-15/16 lb. w/o optical drive and expresscard/34 4-in-1 reader)



tabook is "starting" at 3.68 lb.

c.f.

T410 - 5-3/8 lb.

T400 - 5-1/4 lb.

PSREF

tabook

http://www.lenovo.com/psref/

Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM)

2011/02/28 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77103

(index for other models http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-39298 )

Forums

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-and-newer-T-series/bd-p/T400_series_ThinkPads

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=45

Configuration

4173-A29 (CTO)

i5-2520M

3GB (2+1)

14.0" HD+

320GB 5400 rpm



DVD±RW

Intel 6205

WWAN upg

Blue

vPro

Enterprise 32

some are from 4173-29U/4173-2AU

4GBx1

320GB 7200 rpm, 128GB SSD



Finger

G

Pro 64

Windows Experience Index (WEI)

Intel HD Graphics 3000 http://www.intel.com/technology/graphics/intelhd.htm Gaming graphics even faster than T410's NVS3100M, but slightly behind on Graphics (I remember reading somewhere they would devote more silicon estate for 3D than 2D improvement, which is "fast enough", can't find it at the moment. I could be dreaming it up)

WEI

T420s 3GB 5400 32

T420s 4GB 320-7200/128-SSD 64

T410

T400 (W7)

CPU

7.0

7.1

6.5

5.8

RAM

5.5

5.9

5.5

5.5

Gfx

5.3

4.7

5.0

4.7

Gfx gaming

6.2

6.1

5.9

5.7

HDD

5.9

5.9 (HDD) 6.7 (SSD)

5.5

5.4

WinSAT

winsat cpuformal T420s T510 T400/W500 CPU LZW Compression 220.56 171.94 119.46 MB/s CPU AES256 Encryption 106.00 77.55 62.17 MB/s CPU Vista Compression 745.99 569.76 368.56 MB/s CPU SHA1 Hash 653.23 420.36 568.14 MB/s Uniproc CPU LZW Compression 78.42 69.51 61.87 MB/s Uniproc CPU AES256 Encryption 46.34 38.03 32.76 MB/s Uniproc CPU Vista Compression 261.65 207.42 194.03 MB/s Uniproc CPU SHA1 Hash 319.53 238.53 297.66 MB/s Dshow Video Encode Time 2.61391 3.35620 5.31552 s Memory Performance 13239.94 6194.03 5322.44 MB/s

PassMark

7.0 Rating - 1061.1

CPU Mark - 3099.7

2D Graphics Mark - 356.8

3D Graphics Mark - 300.7

Memory Mark - 948.2

Disk Mark - 462.1

Screen

1600x900 16:9 250 nits, 300:1, fairly narrow viewing angle, particularly vertical direction.

it seems the pixels are not very tight, sometimes look "grid-dy"

Nikon 60mm macro D70s NEF->PNG

service parts http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77027 (it says WXGA+ 1440x900 HD, but that is not available for T420s, assume it is typo, the product description on driver download has the same error, fixed recently) 3 possible FRU - 93P5693 (forum post said AU Optronics B140RW02 V1), 93P5689 (forum post said LG, also ID as LGD02E2), 93P5685 (?). Not sure which one is LEN40A1 until we take one apart and/or wait for SN cross check in parts database. HWiNFO32 v3.73-1200 said it is (LG-Philips WXGA++/HD+) LP140WD2-TLB1 17cmx31cm, Gamma 2,20 101.60 MHz pixel clock. B140RW02 V1 is not any better, its surface seem to be not smooth, not sure it is the AR coating or not, like looking through textured soft focus filter.

For T410's 1440x900 P/N 93P5654 FRU 93P5655 [not even listed in part sheet] is AU Optics (AUO) China; P/N 42T0730 FRU 42T0731 is LG (Philips) China. There are two other ones FRU 42T0727, 42T0735 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-74568

T410 screen, much tighter pixels, less space between them

Pantone ColorVision Spyder USB colorimeter OptiCal 3.5 - 6500K, 2.2 gamma (probably get a new one with 3D ICM plots, the plastic and rubber started to biodegrade after 10 years also, all gooie and slimmy, yikes)

Calibrated White 231.3 nits (Candelas, cd/m²), Uncalibrated 320.9 cd/m²

preCal 1.4 Left of LCD 321.5 cd/m², center 302.9 cd/m², right 294.9 cd/m²

RGB 0 0 255 8.824 fL 30.23 cd/m² (foot-lambert, 3.4262591 candela per square meter)

RGB 0 255 0 37.323 fL 127.88 cd/m²

RGB 255 0 0 19.100 fL 65.44 cd/m²

RGB 255 255 255 67.531 fL 231.37 cd/m²

Not sure why the blue correction curve looks like that even it is quite cool color, while the uncalibrated and target are so close. Cannot validate, Delta E larger than 3. Cannot precision calibration, black point target 1.0 cd/m², 6.39 cd/m², probably need readjust luminance limits.

GretagMacbeth eye-one monitor (x-rite i1 Match) v3.6.2

native target

7000K

235.4 cd/m²

Min. 0.8 cd/m²

Not sure why Windows 7 color control panel applet doesn't plot ICC/ICM like XP download version, vs. NTSC, sRGB IEC 61966-2.1, Adobe RGB 1998

before and after

off angles, i think it is about 15 degrees for each move, i just eyeball it, need to reshoot. i need to put a real camera on tripod, and find the Bogen QTVR head.

Boot time

from SSD OEM <25s to 30, 37 seconds on HDD.

with SEP 11 RU6MP3, ~ 80 seconds.

WFU image 87 seconds

UEFI GPT

15.022 seconds boot

3.668 seconds shutdown

1.393 seconds standy

0. 645 second resume



cannot use USB media, which needs Legacy BIOS CSM enable to boot. Windows 7 won't install onto GPT disk if BIOS is on or both BIOS/UEFI enabled, need to be UEFI only

internal SATA/IDE DVD won't work either?

http://usingwindowshomeserver.com/2010/11/24/uefi-installation-of-windows-7-video-edition/

select disk 0 clean convert gpt create partition efi size=100 format quick fs=fat32 label="System" assign letter="S" create partition msr size=128 create partition primary format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows" assign letter="W"

Battery

Panasonic FRU 42T4847 Li-Ion 43.29 Wh 11.10V - ThinkPad Battery 66+ (6-cell) P/N 0A36287 rated for up to 5.5 hr. (not continuous use)

after 14 cycles, full charge is only 36.64 Wh, hope it is isolated incident ...

3-cell

3-cell ThinkPad Battery 27 (Ultra Bay) to test yet (up to 9.3 hr) - Sony 51J0508 Li-Polymer, design capacity - 31.32 Wh. 2h15m to full charge from 33%

power source optimized

brightness 0

wireless off



6.25W drain



-> 11 hours 08 minutes

Misc

no slice 6-cell, 9-cell?

135W or 170W AC adapters (W510,W520) - not compatible? only 65W or 90W?

included 65W cannot power NVIDIA laptops? takes 3 times longer to image if use (how longer for charge?)

warning in BIOS POST for T410

Maximum Performance profile

test #1 - just web browsing and video, draws

low - 1.00A, 12.01W

high - 3.75A, 40.87W

after 30 min ~75%

after 60 min ~55%

test #2 - DVD-Video (Final Fantasy The Spirits Within) WinDVD 8 playback, full screen (wireless off)

1.32-1.97A

16.13-23.69W (12.08-12.30V)

0:00 100% 2:25

0:05 97% 2:11

0:13 91% 2:06

0:22 85% 1:54 0:33 77% 1:47 0:38 74% 1:41 0:52 64% 1:30 1:07 54% 1:15

1:16 47% 1:05 1:21 44% 1:00

1:33 35% 0:48 1:38 31% 0:44 1:48 24% 0:33 1:54 20% 0:28 - WinDVD warning of low battery 1:59 16% 0:22 2:00 15% 0:21 - WinDVD stopped playback. switch to play 1920x800 mov from HDD 2:05 12% 0:17 2:07 10% 0:13 - 15 min (10%) warning 2:10 8% 0:10 2:11 7% 0:09 - plug in or hibernate soon warning 2:12 6% 0:08 2:19 6% 0:06 - battery stretch info - can give estimate +5 min 2:20 5% - hibernate

test #3 - Adobe Premiere Elements 9.0.1 transcode 30 min clips to 1920x1080 H.264 QuickTime, est. 70 min.

@2.90GHz, 75-95% CPU utlization, 2.04GB RAM

3.67-4.26A

40.81-45.84W (10.32-11.59V)

33-48°C

0:00 100%

0:03 95% 0:54 0:10 83% 0:46 0:15 74% 0:41 0:21 64% 0:37 0:30 48% 0:27 0:40 29% 0:16 0:42 24% 0:13 - battery stretch infotip pop up est. + 3min if enable 0:45 18% 0:10 0:48 12% 0:07 0:49 10% 0:06 - 10% warning popupaa 0:51 7% 0:04 - plug in 0:52 6% 0:03 0:53 5% 0:00 - hibernate



Video Playback profile

test #3 - DVD Video rundown (WinDVD 8, version for T420s not available yet) - Terminator 3

"windowed"

1.33-1.37A

15.48-16.31W (11.95V)

0:00 100% 0:03 98% 2:26 0:13 92% 2:20 0:20 87% 2:15 0:33 79% 2:02 0:36 77% 2:00 0:51 68% 1:44 1:01 62% 1:34 1:08 57% 1:28 1:13 54% 1:24 1:16 52% 1:21

1:20 50% 1:17 1:23 47% 1:13

1:25 46% 1:11 ...

pending - max CPU (encoding with Quick Sync [Premiere test plugin, Corel Video Studio Pro X4 etc.]?) rundown

pending - run all the way to battery strech kicks in

recharge

percentage - time to fully charge - elapsed time (w/ 90W adapter - 0.63-2.24A 7.85-27.50W 11.30-12.52V) 3% 0:00 5% 2:13 0:01 8% 2:05 0:05 15% 1:59 0:12 31% 1:44 0:28 47% 1:26 0:45 59% 1:13 0:57 70% 1:02 1:07 71% 1:00 1:09 83% 0:42 1:24 90% 0:32 1:38 93% 0:25 1:45 94% 0:20 1:51 96% 0:12 2:01 97% 0:08 2:08 98% 0:05 2:15 100% 0:00 2:19 with 65W adapter 2.24A, 25.30-26.65W, 11.33-11.95V 3% 0:00

4% 2:40 0:01

5% 2:05 0:02

6% 1:58 0:03

8% 1:58 0:06

10% 1:56 0:07 36% 1:33 0:34 46% 1:23 0:44

50% 1:18 0:48 60% 1:08 0:58

68% 1:00 1:06 79% 0:45 1:18 85% 0:39 1:25 90% 0:34 1:33

92% 0:30 1:38

97% 0:14 1:56 98% 0:10 2:01 99% 0:09 2:04 99% 0:07 2:07 99% 0:05 2:11

100% 0:00 2:13

Fan

If you turn on TurboBoost++ in Power Manager, it gets quite loud, may not worth that 8% ...

people also reported it will stay on after playing video, hibernation etc. it will stuck at 4500 rpm until reboot if look at with tpfancontrol http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~schmitzr/donate.html

some also has pulsing issue every 5 seconds at 2.2kHz. (also affects other models)

Pyle PSPL05R, 30 to 130 dB +/- 1.4 dB in Auralex studiofoam wedges box.

webcam level

31.3 dB - idle maximum performance, no turbo boost++

36.4 dB - enable turbo boost++, running furmark, core temp 38-72°C

41.5 dB - ~6" above left vent

Keyboard

P/N 45N2176 (I think that's NMB. not ALPS or Chicony)

FRU 45N2211

ID No. 11K3RJ

Model C989 C9LH-US E97600-B

two screws - one under battery, one under wireless cover

underneath each key - white hinges with red dome type

Hard Drive

- 5400 rpm Hitachi HTS543232A7A384 7mm Z5K320 http://www.hitachigst.com/internal-drives/mobile/travelstar/travelstar-z5k320

- 7200 rpm Hitachi HTS723232A7A364 7mm Z7K320 http://www.hitachigst.com/internal-drives/mobile/travelstar/travelstar-z7k320

- 128GB SSD is Toshiba thnsnc128gcsj (has hard red plastic bumpers instead of soft black/gray soft rubber, i guess SSD doesn't have to worry about bumping)

From Microsoft Kevin Comb's mini-review on W520 http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithcombs/archive/2011/03/28/lenovo-thinkpad-w520-mini-review.aspx, you can use SATA III also, even they have not been certified yet.

"... A number of people out there in the wild have received T420's, T520's and W520's. Several of them have run SSD tests with the Crucial and Micron drives and are reporting jumps in throughput that would be indicative of a SATA III 6GB speeds in both the primary bay, and ultrabay. I've read this now at http://www.storagereview.com/lenovo_thinkpad_t520_review_first_thoughts and from three or four different people in the various ThinkPad forums. ...

Are the supported SATA interface speeds on the new ThinkPad's SATA III 6GB? Specifically, is this true for the T420, T420s, X220, X220t,

T520, and W520?

[Lenovo] Yes, The new Huron River ThinkPads will support 6Gb/s, but our current drives that have been certified are only 3GB/s drives. The current roadmap is showing Late 3Q or early 4Q is when we'll qualify 6GB/s drives. This is true for the T420, T420s, X220, X220t, T520, and W520. ...

What SSD drives have been tested and are recommended for the new Sandy Bridge based machines?

[Lenovo]These are all 3.0 Gb/ps.

ThinkPad 160GB Intel X25-M Solid State Drive II - Released

ThinkPad 128 GB SS Drive II - Released

Intel 320 Series - Not Released. Lenovo engineering has completed testing/certification of the Intel 320 Series...."



7mm vs. 9.5 mm

CrystalDiskInfo 3.9.4

CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1

1000MB

internal - Read:73.20 MB/s Write:73.67MB/s

HD Tach 3.0.4 (run in XP compatible mode)

even faster than 10,000 rpm WD Raptor

ATTO Disk Benchmark

(vs Seagate BlackArmor 7200 rpm USB 3.0/USB 2.0, X25E SSD eSATA/Ultrabay, T410/T400 internal SATA, Seagate XT eSATA,Seagate FreeAgent USB 2.0, DroboPro iSCSI, LaCie Firewire 800/400, coolgear eSATA, W500 internal SATA, T510 tray,)

HD Tune Pro 4.60

Average 59.8 MB/s

SisSoftware

60.3MBps

320GB 7200 rpm

128GB SSD

SSD - SATA-III 6Gbps

Crucial m4 256GB, 9.5mm

booted from Ultrabay Slim

CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 - 1000MB Seq Read 383.1 MB/s (Microsoft Defender found OpenCandy in installer version? use portable instead)

get iastor.0 timeout error and stall/trash for minutes some time after clone, need to disable

Intel Link Power Management (LPM).

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\iaStor\Parameters

Port0 through Port 5

other people has other problem with various SSD with various Thinkpad

- HDD password

- sleep/power on

- clean install BSOD w/o first loading Matrix Storage

- need to disable page files

mSATA

Intel 80GB SSD - cut (non-optimized MBR) boot time from 123.8s to 32.3s. shutdown from 15.8s to 6.13s. (Renice supposedly even faster?)

SSDMAEMC080G2C1 - OEM no screws. Only one in the machine. you need to move the WWAN cables out of the way into the slot indent.

RapidDrive Extreme customization (bios, what driver to delay load etc.) not available to end users?





USB 3.0

Renesas (formerly NEC), Driver 2.0.32.0, Firmware 4015 http://www.renesas.com/

station-drivers relehas ased Version 2.1.16.0 (2011/04/13) of the driver (uPD720200 & uPD720200a). (available only thru OEM). some people said it is more stable and may not need usb3mon running in background anymore. not sure can be used in T420s.

Acronis True Image Home 2011 Plus Pack (build 6696) cannot see Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex portable 1.5TB USB 3.0 HDD in USB 3.0 or always on USB 2.0, only the regular 2.0 (it works on T410 with NEC card)

Seagate FreeAgent BlackArmor PS110 500GB (7200 rpm) ST905003BPA1ES-RK

CDM USB 3.0 102.8 MB/s read, 93.99 MB/s write, USB 2.0 32.80 MB/s read, 23.74 MB/s

HD Tune Pro 4.60

USB 3.0 - Average read 78.9 MB/s, USB 2.0 - 27.5 MB/s

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro-portable 500GB 14.5mm (7200 rpm) STAD500100 (with STAE101 USB 3.0 adapter)

CDM - USB 3.0 103.1 MB/s read, 98.37 MB/s write, USB 2.0 32.90 MB/s read, 23.49 MB/s write

HD Tune Pro 4.60

USB 3.0 - Average read 79.5 MB/s, USB 2.0 - 26.9 MB/s

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra-portable 1.5TB 22mm (5400 rpm STAA1500100, 9ZF2N1-500) STAA1500100 [1TB STAA1000101 black works also]

USB 3.0 - Read:78.16 MB/s Write:77.39MB/s (vs Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 64GB (w/ Seagate NEC USB 3.0 ExpressCard), Patriot Xporter Magnum USB 2.0 64GB)

USB 2.0 - Read:32.80 MB/s Write:23.47MB/s

Kesington DT Ultimate 64GB USB 3.0 vs USB 2.0

CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1

HD Tach 3.0.4

HD Tune Pro 4.60

WD My Passport 1TB portable USB 3.0 gives SES error during install, need driver. Another one just plain doesn't work.

haven't tried - don't have luck with (Shenzhen 深圳) Pak Heng 百亨 http://www.pakheng.com/ usb 3.0 extension cable (blue, vw-1) on other machine before

Intensity Shuttle

couldn't get any video in Media Express via HDMI (PS3 or T410 1080 or 720 feed) or S-Video. Audio come in through RCA. (i guess it is better than Intensity (PCI-e), M55 won't even boot pass BIOS POST Starting ... if install. need to try multibridge on that again)

other said it work ...

http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/124/876510

works under OEM with Xoom 720p HDMI out (some times, still get black capture window some times), but not T410 SiiG HDMI 720p. Way too many media offline (drop frame?) i guess the disk not keeping up? Disk Speed Test shows ~60MB/s. need to try SSD

CPU

TrueCrypt 7.0a

100MB buffer size AES encryption algorithm benchmark is off the chart, AES 7x faster than T410?

c.f. Core i7-2720QM 2.8GB/s encryption, 2.9GB/s decryption

CrystalDiskMark is no slower in a encrypted container than directly to disk

CPU-Z 1.57

Chipset steppings

CPU-Z may not report correctly because of CRID

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/B2-stepping-QM67-chips-incorrectly-reported-by-CPUz-or-deviceid/ta-p/423317

C:\DRIVERS\WIN\ME>MEInfoWin.exe Intel(R) MEInfo Version: 7.1.10.1065 Copyright(C) 2005 - 2011, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel(R) Manageability and Security Application code versions: BIOS Version: 8CET28WW (1.05 ) MEBx Version: 7.0.0.53 Gbe Version: 1.3 VendorID: 8086 PCH Version: 600005 (-> B3 stepping. 6000004 -> B2 stepping) FW Version: 7.1.3.1065 UNS Version: 7.1.2.1043 LMS Version: 7.1.2.1043 MEI Driver Version: 7.0.0.1144 Wireless Hardware Version: 1.1.225 Wireless Driver Version: 14.0.1.2 FW Capabilities: 234249317 Intel(R) Active Management Technology - PRESENT/ENABLED Intel(R) Anti-Theft Technology - PRESENT/ENABLED Intel(R) Capability Licensing Service - PRESENT/ENABLED Protect Audio Video Path - PRESENT/ENABLED Intel(R) ME Dynamic Application Loader - PRESENT/ENABLED Intel(R) AMT State: Enabled CPU Upgrade State: Upgrade Capable Cryptography Support: Enabled Last ME reset reason: Power up Local FWUpdate: Enabled BIOS and GbE Config Lock: Enabled Host Read Access to ME: Disabled Host Write Access to ME: Disabled SPI Flash ID #1: C22017 SPI Flash ID VSCC #1: 20052005 SPI Flash BIOS VSCC: 20052005 BIOS boot State: Post Boot OEM Id: 4c656e6f-766f-0000-0000-000000000000 Link Status: Link down System UUID: 25062781-50c9-11cb-9fb3-d933380066f1 MAC Address: f0-de-f1-4f-6d-14 IPv4 Address: 0.0.0.0 Wireless MAC Address: a0-88-b4-10-07-fc Wireless IPv4 Address: 0.0.0.0 IPv6 Enablement: Disabled Wireless IPv6 Enablement: Disabled Privacy Level: Default Configuration state: Not started Provisioning Mode: PKI Capability Licensing Service: Enabled Capability Licensing Service Status: Permit info not available OEM Tag: 0x00000000

IntelBurnTest

v2.5.1 - 28-29GFlop

internal

without optical

Temperature

Furmark, Handbrake, Media Coder core temp/speedfan/power manager show no more than 91°C

Even better than using Fluke 62 mini IR thermometer, FLIR i7 camera. The vent on left looks like jet engine :)

Graphics

Intel HD Graphics 3000

one problem, the command C:\Windows\System32\igfxcfg.exe /SchemeName:YourSchemeName is no longer in the 8.15.10.2321 driver, so you cannot do scheme switching easily from command line/batch file. Not sure that feature has been removed or got moved to somewhere else ... http://studioshorts.com/blog/2010/06/intel-graphics-using-commands-and-profiles-to-control-display/

Minimum Graphics Memory:64MB

Maximum Graphics Memory:1284MB

DisplayPort WQXGA 2560x1600 (Dell 3008WFP) works fine

CPU-Z said it is 650MHz

GPU Caps Viewer v1.11.1 mis-read it as Intel HD Graphics 2000

GPU-Z 0.5.2/0.5.3 cannot read memory - 0MB, nor the core or memory clock, shows 0.0MHz

T410 generations supposed have problem with Display Power Saving Technology. Not sure it affects T420s yet.

The LCD also switch to 50Hz on battery instead of 60Hz (also affect other models), have to manual change back, no setting in Power Manager.

QuickSync

preset won't show up in Premiere Elements 9.0.1

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/adobe-premiere-propremiere-elements-encoder-plug-in-using-intel-media-sdk-and-intel-quick-sync-video-technology/

other people has problem also

http://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/adobe-premier-plugin-using-intel-media-sdk-20/

Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 supposedly optimized for 2nd Generation Core also, but i can't stand its new activation they started using in X3 after bought Ulead (TW) which was a lot nicer company, i have to think about it.

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1175714228541#tabview=tab1

I guess have to look for

http://www.intel.com/technology/quicksync/index.htm

Arcsoft MediaConverter - http://www.arcsoft.com/intouch/intelsnbconsumer/

Arcsoft MediaImpression

Corel Digital Studio - http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1245942755341

CyberLink MediaEspresso - http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/events/OptimizeforIntel/index.jsp

CyberLink PowerDirector

Elemental Badaboom - http://badaboomit.com/node/562

MainConcept - http://www.mainconcept.com/products/partner-products/intel.html

Movavi Video Converter - http://www.movavi.com/intel.html

Roxio Creator - http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/creator/

Media Coder

0.7.5 .4796 beta - got error about xulrunner version <2.0, >1.99

downconvert Big Buck Bunny 1080p mov to H.264 1000 Kbps 480x260 at 0.87x, 20.8 fps, 123MB/s.

SpeedFan 4.43 hits 88°C

2001R3 5153 no more XULrunner problem

transcoding big buck bunny 1080p h.264 mov to baseline mp4 with Sandy Bridge hardware acceleration turn on - 289 seconds. (the UI is messed up, you can't see what the checkbox said, use wizard instead to configure [requires you to be online])



using x264 w/o hardware acceleration - 824 seconds. -> 2.85x faster?

(c.f. T410, 1064 seconds; T410 CUDA 961 seconds

W520, 438 seconds; W520 CUDA 177 seconds, won't install Intel accelerated encoder, need custom install, w/ discreet graphics, even slower 621 seconds, need to turn on Optimus, then it goes back to 280 seconds)





3D Mark Vantage

http://3dmark.com/3dmv/3046432

1.1.0.0

Driver version 8.15.10.2321

Driver status Not FM Approved

3DMark Score:P1934.46 3DMarks

P5026 - NVIDIA GeForce GT 540

P3697 - AMD Radeon HD 6750M

P4163-P772 - Intel HD Graphics 2000/3000 (Intel Core i5-2520M)



Graphics Score:1531.62

CPU Score:9170.38

Jane Nash:4.7 FPS

New Calico:4.26 FPS

AI Test:1234.7 operations/s

Physics Test:13.01 operations/s

Texture Fill N/A

Color Fill N/A

Pixel Shader N/A

Stream Out N/A

GPU Particles N/A

Perlin Noise N/A

Preset Performance

Width 1280

Height 1024

MSAA 1

Texture Filtering Optimal

Anisotropy 1

Texture Quality Performance

Shader Quality Performance

Shadow Shader Quality Performance

Shadow Resolution Quality Performance

Post Processing Scale 1:2

PPU Disabled true

PPU Used false

Disable Bloom false

Disable Streaks false

Disable Anamorphic Flare false

Disable Lens Flare false

Disable Lenticular Halo false

Disable Motion Blur false

Disable DOF false

Disable Fog false

Disable Color Noise false

Flush On Low FPS false

Fixed Framerate false

GPU Count 1

3D Mark 06

http://3dmark.com/3dm06/15595016 3DMark Score - 4134.0 3DMarks 06 1.2.0 SM2.0 Score - 1318.0 HDR/SM3.0 Score - 1756.0 CPU Score - 2907.0 GT1 - Return To Proxycon - 10.39 FPS GT2 - Firefly Forest - 11.57 FPS CPU1 - Red Valley - 0.93 FPS CPU2 - Red Valley - 1.46 FPS HDR1 - Canyon Flight - 15.51 FPS HDR2 - Deep Freeze - 19.6 FPS Driver version - 8.15.10.2321 Driver status - Not FM Approved Memory - 69 MB Default settings used - No Width - 1280 Height - 800 Anti-Aliasing - None Texture Filtering - Optimal VS Profile - 3_0 PS Profile - 3_0



FurMark



v1.9.0 (cannot detect clocks and temp.) http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/ 1280x720 - 185 points, 3FPS



CineBench 11.5

OpenGL 10.22 fps, 99.3% reference match

CPU 2.60 pts

CPU single core 1.1 pts, 2.37x MP



DisplayPort

audio not passing through using DP-HDMI adapter http://www.cablediscounters.com/product/110807_Display-Port-to-HDMI-Converter

(not output device in audio control panel, just internal). (like it was broken in T410 after nvidia driver update from 8.16.11.8898 to 8.17.12.5738 (257.38),)



SIIG DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter adapter works (also work on W520 and T410 with graphics driver 267.21,audio driver 1.2.22)

from lenovo

0A33058

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/cables-connectors/p-0a33058.shtml

web price $24.99



DP 1.1, HDMI 1.3a (not 1.4)

CB-DP0062-S1 $29.99 MSRP

http://www.siig.com/av-products/cables-and-adapters/displayport-to/hdmi/displayport-to-hdmi-adapter.html

device manager - intel display audio, volume mixer, sound control panel all work

not sure about Bizlink (NVIDIA http://store.nvidia.com/store/nvidia/en_US/pd/productID.227821800?resid=TaHbwQoBAlYAAAqxpsoAAAAQ&rests=1302453184994, http://www.bizlinktech.com/future_displayport.html)

significant overscan for 1920x1080 on old Samsung HL-S5687W DLP (April 2006)



1920x1080, 1280x720 overscanned and cropped off desktop on Panasonic Plasma (Viera TH-42Z800U, expecting 1125 (1080) 24|60i/p at 23.98/24/59.94/60Hz 95?/100% over HDMI 1.3)

go to Wizard Mode, don't go to the custom maintain settings, it really messed things up (make sure you are in extended mode, otherwise who know where the cursor wrapped to) none of the maintain scaling, aspect ratio work, let it stays on center,

change to1776x1000 would work, once that's done, you can then go back to 1920x1080 on HD1/2 (95/100%) and all sync up.

xvYCC, RGB quantization range, IT Content (IT stands for?) settings all appears with SIIG DisplayPort to HDMI cable

have not gotten around to try DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI-D Monitor Cable (45J7915)

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-70321.html

need to find a DisplayPort to VGA Monitor Cable (57Y4393)

VGA out

it will default to 1440x900 mirror for no good reason (even neither internal 1600x900, external 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 is that resolution). If you go to extended mode, it will correctly set LCD and the analog device to its maximum resolution. it is not in HKCC\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\VIDEO

for no EDID/DDC devices, it goes to 1024x768. if you change it, it will remember in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration\NOEDID_.... (and ControlSet001, ControlSet002)

Video Playback

QuickTime .mov 1920x800 H.264 AAC 9.84 Mbps

- plays at 1424x593, 24 fps, <24% CPU usage - internal 1600x900 LCD or 1920x1200 VGA

Audio

DPC Latency Checker V1.3.0

idle - maximum 270 μs

TRRS combo headphone/microphone jack

internal

works with combo headphone/mic or splitter adapter http://www.kvconnection.com/product-p/km-iphone-2trs.htm that gives your separate TRS jacks for microphone (stereo only [Griffin 0404-LAP] (sound control panel shows only right jack is in), plug a mono mic [Sony F-V410 cardioid imp 600 Ω vocal] in and it reverts to internal microphone for some reason.) and headphone

works with just headphone (keep internal mic)

it recognizses mono/stereo mini plug mic wrong, think it is headphone

Microphone

need to test in sound box again, seems to be able to have response in >5 KHz if really loud

Dolby Theater v4

Not sure how to utilize it other than in demo (big difference between off/on), does the audio file has to be special processed to take full effect, or it is just that on button (sounds louder at least)

Misc

for some reason, the VGA port is gray, not blue like everything else ...

at least ThinkLight is still white like T410, not yellow like one crazy model year (why?).

Optical

Matshita UJ8A2, Firmware SB01, CAV

no DVD-RW DL nor DVD+RW DL?

Optical Drive Control 1.50

Nero Disc Spped 5.4.24.0

ExpressCard/34 and 4-in-1 reader

- need to pop 4-in-1 out to use ExpressCard/34

- no plastic spacers for travel to replace Ultrabay Slim optical drive (Travel Bezel, 45M2657) and ExpressCard slot (45N5684)

Firewire

PrE 9.0.1 capture DV fine from Sony Z1 (HDV-DV conversion) using SIIG

NN-EC2012-S1 (TI) ExpressCard/34 Firewire 400 2 port with Windows driver (it doesn't need a OS specific one).



It didn't do so well on LaCie d2 Bigger Disk Extreme RAID, using either Firewire 400 or 800->400 ports crashed.



won't show drive, or can't tell how much space and lock in scanning, diskmgmt cannot start virtual volume manager etc. It works fine

on the T410 ...

try card with VIA or other chipset?

Modem

pending - Lenovo USB 2.0 Modem 43R1814

Trendnet TFM-561U (white kind) works. <$30



it is Conexant CX93010 ACF based.



haven't seen it even hit 56K though, 24,34,48 ... ...



and no dial up dodooodooo noise .... ...

Wireless

66.62% max utlization on 144Mbps (20MHz 2.4GHz) ~95Mbps

29.73% max utilization on 300Mbps (40MHz 5GHz) ~89MHz

802.11a 5.13-5.33GHz wireless warning only in Japanese, under the battery, the English message under that is complete different.

ご使用のThinkPadに802.11a 準拠の無綫機器が搭載されている場合は、5.15-5.33GHz周波數帯での使用は、電波法の規定により屋内に限られます。

Intel Wireless Display (WiDi)

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wtech/iwd/sb/CS-031395.htm

WiDi 2.0 (dual band 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz, 1080p H.264 hardware encoding) will turn on My WiFi (WMT).

see WiDi page for details (some times "application has an issue", and desktop resolution confusion etc. maximum 9.94% of 130Mbps PAN, 12.9Mbps) Dreamweaver really doesn't like that many images in one page :(

have not tried WiDi 2.1 (paid content, surround sound), only intel driver updates, not in lenovo support site yet.

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wtech/iwd/sb/CS-031109.htm

2.1.38.0, 4/28

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wtech/iwd/sb/CS-031395.htm

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19782

HD driver, 15.22.1.2361 2011/04/13 (Lenovo still at 8.15.10.2342)

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20035

Epson Wireless Projector

PowerLite 1775W

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=V11H363020

Quick-Connect wireless via USB key works (need to disable Firewall first?)

project via USB also work

Ethernet

NASPT

NAS 1.7.1

synology

Disk Station DS1511+, dual core D525, 1GB RAM

DSM 3.1-1613

SHR 2 disks FT



don't have any Constellation/RE4/XT,

five not recommended st2000dl003-9vt1 (no RVS) 5900rpm (not sure why they add 500rpm nowadays on 6G) 64MB 4KAF.

peak 40% CPU usage on DSM's resource monitor



130.9MB/s NASPT HD Video Record, almost 100% net utilization





Netgear

over 70% utilitzation.

73.1 MB/s HD Video Record test, RAIDiatr 4.2.17 XRAID-2 over WRT610N 1.00.03 B15

iSCSI

6.9GB, 1014 files, 200 folders over to Drobo Pro 2TB partition (physical 8-bay 14TB - 6x2TB+2x1TB [and with the wrong front panel they forgot to put transparent covers on power status lights, never sent me the corrected one, arrrr]) 1.2.1 firmware, 1.7.3 dashboard



xcopy /s /e /c /f /x /y /b

3 min



robcopy /e /copyall /dcopy:t /sl /x /v

4 min (31.84 MBps)



winzip 15.5 pro

8 min

Webcam

- 720p webcam is Ricoh USB\VID_04F2&PID_B221&REV_0751&MI_00 chicony (what is difference from bison?) 5U877 UVC http://www.ricoh.com/LSI/product_pcif/usb/5u877/index.html

Communication Utility

- new FnF6 UI. SmartAudio II now says SAM (Small Array Microphone) A Fortemedia Technology

with Camera

Docks

fits the old Gen. 3 port replicator fine (position 1 instead of 2 vs. T410)

pending advance dock.



Drivers

device matrix - "new" site

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?LegacyDocID=TPAD-MATRIX

old site

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TPAD-MATRIX, http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77167

OS installation guide wasn't available until month after box release

System Update only pulls down couple drivers and several QFEs. not installer for RapidStorage AHCI download, but works in SU

driver download section still missing EnablePS, message center plus, lenovo welcome, warranty lookup, userguide, WinDVD, Intel Turbo Boost Technology Monitor, Create Rescue Disc, BurnNowSD, DMFSD and

SMBIOSDRV

you cannot just do \swtools\drivers\smbiosdrv\i2cinst.exe -install" it will said "No Chipset support for this PC", you will miss SM bus service, just SM bios service if you run dsetup, no I2C. that uses tvti2.sys, i2cw.dll. tvti2.inf said "The INF file you selected does not support this method of installation" if you try right click install. In MODULES.LOG, there are two CMDs

Starting c:\SWWORK\app1\ZREC65Z5.cmd SM BUS/BIOS DRIVER PATCH for Windows 7 Finished c:\SWWORK\app1\ZREC65Z5.cmd Starting c:\SWWORK\app1\ZREC65Z7.cmd SM BUS/BIOS DRIVER PATCH for Windows 7 Finished c:\SWWORK\app1\ZREC65Z7.cmd which are start /wait c:\swtools\drivers\smbiosdrv\psainst.exe -install

start /wait c:\swtools\drivers\smbiosdrv\i2cinst.exe -install

you have to do it from administrator cmd

swtools\drivers\SMBIOSDRV>i2cinst -install

Copyright Lenovo 2005-2008, all rights reserved.

Windows ThinkVantage Technoligies SM Bus driver installer Version 5.1016

dsetup.exe install tvti2c.inf "{9d2fe6d0-9b76-11db-b606-0800200c9a66}\tvti2c"

Device node created. Install is complete when drivers are installed...

Updating drivers for {9d2fe6d0-9b76-11db-b606-0800200c9a66}\tvti2c from C:\SWTOOLS\DRIVERS\SMBIOS

DRV\tvti2c.inf.

Drivers installed successfully.

The latest version of Tvti2c has been installed.

Windows Driver Package

Windows Driver Package - Intel (e1c express) Net (12/21/2010 11.8.8...) 12/21/2010 11.8.84.0 Windows Driver Package - Intel (MEIx64 System (10/19/2010 7.0.0.1...) 10/19/2010 7.0.0.1144 Windows Driver Package - Intel System (09/10/2010 9.2.1011) 09/10/2010 9.2.0.1011 Windows Driver Package - Intel System (09/10/2010 9.2.1011) 09/10/2010 9.2.0.1011 Windows Driver Package - Intel System (10/04/2010 9.2.1015) 10/04/2010 9.2.0.1015 Windows Driver Package - Intel USB (09/16/2010 9.2.1013) 09/16/2010 9.2.1013 Windows Driver Package - Lenovo 1.61.00.11 (11/11/2010 1.61.00.11) 11/11/2010 1.61.00.11 Windows Driver Package - Synaptics (SynTP) Mouse (01/19/2011 15...) 01/19/2011 15.2.9.1

Remove the manual installs (if already installed), do a Plug and Play scan let them failed. (otherwise it won't pre-install)



in preboot TIB, \DRIVERS

rename DPInst.exe (x64)

search for DPInst32.exe in \SWTOOLS\DRIVERS\WIN, grab a Vista version and rename it (or get the 7.1 version from WDK ISO)

run DPInst.exe /c (or /p)

64-bit OEM

32-bit Windows 7

- stock Windows 7 before install device drivers, yellow missing driver items

OEM programs

new

Bing Bar (Why?)

Broadcom InConcert Maestro (for Bluetooth & wireless) no GUI? http://www.broadcom.com/products/brands/InConcert

Business-in-a-box installer (Why?)

No WinDVD installed, no installer in swtools. Use WinDVD 2010 (10.0.5.828.119684) - Bad - click on time lapsed no longer toggle between time left.

Intel Identity Protection Technology IPT, install with iAMT 7.1 Management Engine Interface and Serial Over LAN driver no separate GUI to use? http://ipt.intel.com/



Lenovo RapidBoot (Yamato Thinking blog http://www.lenovoblogs.com/yamato/?p=1281&language=en and http://www.lenovoblogs.com/yamato/?p=1306&language=en )

(from download) AutoLock



(from download) Lenovo Screen Reading Optimizer (really want users to stand their Thinkpad on its side to read in portrait, covering the exhaust vent???)



how to install Windows Driver Package like that?

Start Menu

Lenovo Device Experience 3.0 - ready-to-install feature, part of Enhanced Experience 2.0? http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/na/LenovoPortal/en_US/special-offers.workflow:ShowPromo?LandingPage=/All/US/Sitelets/Enhanced%20Experience2

Lenovo ThinkVantage Tools - too bad they din't bring back Presentation Director

Disk layout

UEFI BIOS

- F12 boot screens

Tab to go to Application Menu -

Setup

or

Diagnostic Splash Screen (Phoenix SecureCore Tiano(TM) for ThinkPad (UEFI) http://www.phoenix.com/pages/phoenix-securecore-tiano-tm - System BIOS and Video BIOS shadowed)

RAM

Samsung (China) 1GB + hynix (Korea) 2GB 1Rx8 PC3-10600S-9-10

Processes

Task Manager

~ 80 user processes, 941MB memory in use

Details

CTO A29 base off 4173-28U/4173-KTU

Comparison

2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 2006-2007 T420s (4173) W520 (4282) T410 (25224BU) T400 (2767) W500 (4061) T61 14W (7663) T60p 15W (8741) R60 15 (9462) T60 15 (2007) CPU 2.50GHz, 3MB Cache Core i5-2520M Turbo Boost 2.0 3.20GHz HT (32nm Sandy Bridge) i5, i7, i7-QM 2.4GHz 3MB Cache Core i5 M520 Turbo Boost 2.93GHz HT (32nm Arrandale [Nehalem]) 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8600 3.0 MB L2 cache 800 MHz (45nm Penryn) 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8600 3.0 MB L2 cache 800 MHz (45nm Penryn) 2.1GHz 3MB Cache Core 2 Duo T8100 (45nm Penryn) 2.00GHz 4MB Cache T7200 Core 2 Duo or 1.83GHz 2MB Cache T5600 (65nm Merom) 1.83GHz 2MB Cache T5600 Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz 2MB Cache T2400 Core Duo (Yonah) RAM 3GB PC3-10600 1333MHz 3GB PC3-8500 1066MHz 2GB PC3-8500 1066MHz 2GB PC3-8500 1066MHz 2GB 2GB 1GB 1GB Hard Drive 320GB-5400 7mm SATA 3.0 320GB-7200 9.5mm SATA 3.0 160GB-5400 SATA 1.5 160GB-7200 SATA 1.5 160GB 120GB 120GB 100GB Video Card Intel HD 3000 () 2GB NVIDIA Quadro 1000M/2000M 96/192 CUDA Optimus () 256MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 3100M not switchable(N10M-NS) 256MB ATI 3470 (M82XT) switchable with GMA 4500 MHD 512MB ATI FireGL V5700(3650 Pro/M86GL) switchable with GMA 4500 MHD 128MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M (G84M) 256MB ATI FireGL V5250 (M66GL) 128MB ATI X1400 (M54) 128MB ATI X1400 (M54) LCD 14.1“(LEN40A1)

250 nits LED 15.6“()

LED 14.1“(LEN4036)

220 nits LED 14.1“ (LEN4036)

250 nits LED

15.4“ ()

200 nits CCFL (LEN4053) 14.1“ (LEN4033) [Samsung LTN141WD-L05 ] 15.4“ (IBM2887) [LG Philips LP154W02] 15“ (LEN4042) [LG-Philips LP150E07-TL03 or SamsungLTN150PF-L03] 15“FlexView IPS (LEN4043) [LG Philips LP150E05] LCD resolution HD+ (1600x 900) HD+ (1600x 900) 220 nits 60% gamut or

FHD 192x1080 270 nits 95% gamut WXGA+ (1440x 900) WXGA+ (1440x 900) WSXGA+ (1680x 1050) WXGA+ (1440x 900) WSXGA+ (1680x1050) SXGA+ (1400x1050) SXGA+ (1400x1050) LCD contrast ratio 300:1 500:1 300:1 300:1 500:1 300:1 >500:1 unknown >400:1 Casing Hybrid Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic top/ Magnesium alloy bottom Carbon-fiber / Glass-fiber hybrid top/Glass-fiber reinforced plastic without paint bottom ABS top/CFRP bottom Super-Elastic PolyCarbonate (SEPC) top/Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic bottom Super-Elastic PolyCarbonate (SEPC) top/Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic bottom SEPC top/ CFRP bottom CFRP top/bottom ABS plastic top/bottom CFRP top/bottom Footprint WxD 13.5" x 9.1" 14.68" x 9.65" 13.2" x 9.4" 13.2" x 10.6" 14.1" x 10" 13.2" x 10.2" 14.1" x 10.0" 13.1” x 10.6” 13.2” x 10.6” Height 0.83–1.02" 1.25-1.40" HD+

1.29-1.44" FHD 1.1–1.3" 1.1–1.3" 1.2–1.3" 1.09–1.26" 1.13–1.34" 1.47-1.58” 1.2-1.4” Weight 3.68 lb. (w/o optical?) 5.5 lb. 5.0 lb. 5.4 lb. 5.9 lb. (it has a 6-cell0 5.3+ lb. <6.07 lb. 6.4 lb. 6.3+ lb. Battery Life <5.5 hr (6 cell) <6.5 hr (6 cell) <5.0 hr (6 cell) <9.8 hr (9 cell) <9.4 hr (9 cell) (it has a 6-cell0 <3.8 hr (6 cell) Est. <3.8 hr (6 cell) 3.1 hr (6 cell) < 6 hrs. (6 cell) (spec. just kidding right?) Wireless Centrino Advanced-N 6205 2x2 ( Taylor Peak) Centrino Advanced-N 6205 2x2 ( Taylor Peak) or Centrino Ultimate-N 6300, 3x3(Puma Peak) Centrino Advanced-N 6200 2x2 (Puma Peak) 5100 1x2 (Shirley Peak) 5100 1x2 (Shirley Peak) 11abg, Draft-N – Intel 4965 11abg 11abg 11abg Bluetooth Bluetooth 3.0 Bluetooth 3.0 Bluetooth 2.1 Bluetooth 2.0 Bluetooth 2.0 USB USB 3.0

Always On USB 2.0 USB 3.0

Always On USB 2.0 Always On USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 Camera 720p camera 720p camera 2MP camera 1.3MP camera (Sonux) 1.3MP camera (Ricoh 5U875 UVC) Firewire 400 No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No S-Video/Other DisplayPort DisplayPort DisplayPort No DisplayPort (no audio) No No Yes No Ultrabay Slim: 9.5mm Enhanced: 12.7mm Slim: 9.5mm Slim: 9.5mm Slim: 9.5mm Slim: 9.5mm Slim: 9.5mm Enhanced: 9.5 or 12 mm Slim: 9.5mm Rollcage one-piece magnesium frame one-piece magnesium frame one-piece magnesium frame ThinkPad Roll Cage and Top Cover Roll Cage (one-piece magnesium) ThinkPad Roll Cage and Top Cover Roll Cage (one-piece magnesium) top/bottom Bottom Bottom Bottom chipset QM67 (Cougar Point)

Huron River platform (7th gen Centrino) QM67 (Cougar Point)

Huron River platform (7th gen Centrino) QM57 (Calpella) GM45 (Montevina, ICH9M) GM45 (Montevina, ICH9M) 965PM (Santa Rosa) Centrino vPro 945PM (Napa) 945PM 945PM Audio Conexant 20672 Conexant 20672 Conexant 20585 Conexant CX20561 Conexant CX20561 AD1984 (stereo mix/CD disabled) AD1981HD AD1981HD AD1981HD Media reader 4-in-1 (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC) 4-in-1 (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC) 5-in-1(MMC,MS,MSP,SD,SDHC) Ricoh 7-in 1 (MMC,MS,MSP,SD/MS/SD/SDHC,xD,xD Type H) Ricoh Other ExpressCard/34 No Modem optical (Matshita UJ8A2) ExpressCard/34 eSATA (USB 2.0 combo) ExpressCard/34



Fingerprint reader



eSATA (not USB combo) ExpressCard/54



Type I/II PC Card/CardBus 32bit No IR ExpressCard/54



Type I/II PC Card/CardBus 32bit No IR Ethernet 82579LM GigE (Lewisville) 82579LM GigE (Lewisville) 82577LM GigaE (Hanksville) 82567LM GigaE (Boazman) 82567LF GigaE (Boazman) 82566MM Intel Active Management Technology Yes, vPro Yes, vPro Yes, vPro iAMT 4.0, vPro iAMT 4.0, vPro Yes No No No

For older ones

see http://www.wfu.edu/~yipcw/WFUcmp04/thinkpads.html from 1995-1996's 360CE to 2004-2005's R51

see http://www.wfu.edu/~yipcw/WFUcmp06/thinkpads.html adding 2005-2006's R52 and 2006-2007's T60

see http://www.wfu.edu/~yipcw/is/thinkpad-08_09/ addming 2007-2008's R60, T60p, 2008-2009's T61

go to main index for entries on W500, T400, T410

Driver Matrix



These are not listed

Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox 6.0.5802.24 2011/05/03 http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?&LegacyDocID=MIGR-73783 old 6.0.5717.35 2011/01/12 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-73783 Device Experience (ThinkVantage Tools) 3.0 2010/10/09 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-74803 Registry Patch to Disable AMT Profile Synchronization Pop-up 1.0 2009/12/17 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-74274

available (the new support site is very hard to use, no webpage for each entry, have to wait to get this updated. rss feed date messed up, some driver dates are wrong also, cannot sort, takes several click to open one up. it is just aweful, did they do any usability studies with more advance users? [even i don't buy i is "easy" for causual user either])

Power Manager 3.62 2011/07/14 3.62

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8ru410ww.txt

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8ru410ww.exe 3.59 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70601 BIOS Update Utility 1.25 2011/07/10 1.25 http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8cuj06us.txt

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8cuj06us.exe 1.13 http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8cuj05us.txt http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8cuj05us.exe vs old style

1.12 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77010 UltraNav driver 15.3.8.0 2011/06/28 http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-66898 Intel Wireless LAN (bg, abg, abgn) 14.01.1000 2011/06/26 http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-77063 ThinkVantage System Update 4.0.0048a (cannot download directly) ? 4.0.0046 2011/02/22 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-73695 Intel AMT 7.1 - Management Engine Firmware 7.1.13.1008 2011/06/18 http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS014884 old 7.1.10.1065 2011/04/14 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-77012

Hotkey Features Integration 3.52.0000 2011/06/10 http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8mvu32ww.txt

http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/8mvu32ww.exe vs old style 3.40 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-74261

Intel Wireless Display 2.0.31.0 Intel generic at 2.1.39.0 (2011/05/20) (incl. firmware update and WiDi widget 1.1 (2011/06/07) [home editions only?]) 2011/05/20 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-75695 Intel HD Graphics Driver 8.15.10.2342 (support site is messed up again, it is listed as 2011/03/29, readme said it should be 2011/04/28. 8.15.10.2321 (2011/03/29) also listed for some reason) intel generic is at 15.22.1.2361 (2011/04/13) T410 integrated at 8.15.10.2401 (2011/06/27) (Fix) Fixed an issue where Adobe Flash Player 10.3 running on IE9 and

Windows 7 does not work properly. not sure affect T420s or not 2011/05/16 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77037 Intel Chipset Support 9.2.0.1021 2011/05/16 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-73684

Bluetooth with Enhanced Data Rate Software II (w/ Bluetooth 3.0) DO NOT INSTALL MANUALLY. IT MAY ERASE YOUR OS 6.4.0.1700 (removed. reverted to 6.4.0.1500) 2011/05/16 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-76986 ThinkVantage Communications Utility 2.06 2011/05/16 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-53285 Lenovo AutoLock 1.02 2011/05/16 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77008 Monitor file 4.36 2011/05/16 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-62923 Dolby Home Theater v4 User Interface 7.2.7000.4 2011/04/18 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77262 Ricoh Multi Card Reader Driver 2.13.18.02 2011/04/18 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77000 Conexant Audio Software 8.32.23.0 2011/04/13 (the new site said 6/28 on 6/24) http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-76999 PC Doctor for DOS bootable CD 2.0.1794 2011/03/29 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77018 ThinkPad BIOS Settings Capture/Playback Utility (SRSETUP) 1.03 2011/03/29 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77041 ThinkPad Power Management driver 1.62 2011/03/29 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-4GXPEG Intel AMT 7.1 - Management Engine Interface and Serial Over LAN driver (SOL) Driver 7.1.2.1041v2 2011/03/28 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77015

Ethernet driver (Intel PRO/1000 LAN adapter software) 11.8.84.0 2011/03/28 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77016 RapidBoot 1.00 2011/03/28 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77013 Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver 10.1.0.1008 2011/03/28

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-74431

USB 3.0 Driver 2.0.32.0 (firmware 4015)

station-drivers has 2.1.16.0 (2011/04/13) already 2011/03/27 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77006

ThinkPad BIOS Settings 3.01 2011/03/24 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70658 Lenovo Screen Reading Optimizer 1.06 2011/03/23 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-76682 Integrated Camera Driver (XP, works also) 1.1.0.1147 2011/04/01 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77077 Integrated Camera Driver 1.1.0.1141 2011/03/16 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-76908 Rescue and Recovery 4.31.011 2011/03/04

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-76254 Enabling Wake on LAN from Standby for ENERGY STAR Version 4.0 1.0.7 2011/02/15 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70044 ThinkVantage Active Protection System 1.74 2011/01/21 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-53150.html UltraNav Utility 2.1.3 2010/09/17 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-67226 Fix for issue of HDD with HD detection 1.02 2009/09/08 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-72837

OS installation guide

Legacy BIOS - Windows 7 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-77353

it said UEFI instruction will be posted later

Applications

Firefox 4

about:startup 0.1.5 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/about-startup/



31ms main function warm start for all (i didn't test cold start, takes too much time)



- no extension (QT disabled), no addons (except the timer itself of course)

503ms sessionRestored, 469ms firstPaint

- w/ Adblock Plus 1.3.6

504ms sessionRestored, 475ms firstPaint

- w/ DownloadHelper 4.8.6

567ms sessionRestored, 538ms firstPaint

to test - Start Faster 0.2 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/startupservice/, 2x but buggy huh ...

Handbrake

0.9.5

external USB2 HDD rip -> xoom compatible custom baseline profile

- CABAC entropy coding - off

- 8x8 transforms (DCT) - off

- B frames - 0

- Weighted P-Frames Prediction - off



- burned-in sub



33 min to finish 111 min/44 chapters Evangelion 2.22 region 3



average 118 fps, max. >246 FPS



core temp hit 91°C



vs



T410 - 52.80 fps (frames per seconds)

T61 - 29.13 fps

0.9.4: DVD -> H.264, normal preset, w/subtitle track rendered to image

VMD

http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd/

~12 fps (T410 vs 60 fps) with DNA licorice

Chimera

Molecule 1f4h pdb (33805 atoms) fps Wire Stick BStick Ribbon Sphere T420s v.1.53rc 26.1 2.9 2.3 22.8 2.0 T410 v.1.41 122.7 12.2 12.3 33.1 14.7

Photoshop

CS5

GPU, OpenGL support

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404898.html

GPU and OpenGL features and preferences

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405745.html

no normal or advanced OpenGL acceleration, disabled, only basic

Corel VideoStudio Pro X4

no difference turning on file creation hardware encoder acceleration (need 512MB VRAM?), what about Sandy Bridge acceleration?

see review

Adobe Media Encoder CS5.0.1

2 min 36 seconds to transcode Red Cliff trailer 1920x800 .MOV to YouTube HD 1280 H.264, same asCorel VideoStudio Pro X4

Adobe Media Encoder CS5.5

speed does not seem to be not one of what's new in 5.5.



"Improved" turned out to switch from 1-pass to 2-pass VBR.



it took twice as long w/ it than old default, not faster. (haven't customized a 2-pass setting in 5.0 to test exact difference)



5 min 27 seconds using AME 5.5 to transcode Red Cliff trailer to YouTube HD (1280)

it also does not show elapsed time once finished like in 5.0, you have to read it by opening the encoding log.



http://blogs.adobe.com/premiereprotraining/2011/04/adobe-media-encoder-cs5-5-whats-new-and-changed.html

"... - Improved encoding presets for YouTube, Vimeo, and other popular output

formats.

- Added encoding presets for iPad devices and other tablet devices. ..."









*nix

Ubuntu 11.04 beta 1, 2, final (32-bit) boot fine from Live CD or USB - Display, Sound, Ethernet. (it crashed with W500's switchable though)

some bug reports



Fn-Home/End doesn't work (the OSD shows) {i got no OSD, but brightness changes)



https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/773710

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/773716



nouveau driver 3D issue

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-nouveau/+bug/773516 (duplicate)

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mesa/+bug/759562

kernel panic on heavy I/O

http://fossplanet.com/f10/%5Bbug-769252%5D-%5Bnew%5D-kernel-panic-heavy-i-o-t420s-sandy-bridge-132864/

10.10 certification - 3D, card reader (only SD,SDHC, not MMC/SDXC?), mute LED issues

http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201102-7326

To Do

- dock - how many monitors for integrated graphics - 2, 3, 4?

supposedly 4 for T420/T420s/W520 with nvidia Optimus,

in the strangest way,

flagship W520 only support 3, why?

- eGPU (DIY ViDock from some taiwan company) - people got X220 to work, not sure about T420s, need older BIOS also

http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html

http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4L.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/418851-egpu-experiences.html

Reviews

PCWorld (AU) has one with T420s in title, but what they described is a T420.

Kevin Comb's mini review http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithcombs/archive/2011/04/16/lenovo-thinkpad-t420s-mini-review.aspx

Laptop magazine - http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-t420s.aspx

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=6124&review=lenovo+thinkpad+t420s+user+review

Computer Shopper http://computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/lenovo-thinkpad-t420s

Tech Gear Guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAfoq_6oeJE

d2tbydt2 http://dabblearound.blogspot.com/2011/04/t420s-vs-t410s-comparison.html

technet - http://blogs.technet.com/b/keithcombs/archive/2011/04/16/lenovo-thinkpad-t420s-mini-review.aspx

(in Japanese) http://d.hatena.ne.jp/espresso3389/20110413/1302665251

(in Chinese) http://thinkpad.cn/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1081859

notebook check T420 review (in German) http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Lenovo-Thinkpad-T420-Notebook.51125.0.html

tests which we haven't done, some should be similar to T420s

temperature - Raytek ST ​​Raynger IR Thermometer - http://www.reliabilitydirect.com/tempproducts/RAY-stpro.htm

IR Thermometer - http://www.reliabilitydirect.com/tempproducts/RAY-stpro.htm Display brightness - cd / m² (Maximum, Average, Uniformity, Black level, Contrast) - Gossen Mavo Monitor Meter - Digital Illumination Level Meter http://www.gossen-photo.de/english/licht_p_mavomonitor.php

- Gossen Mavo Monitor Meter - Digital Illumination Level Meter http://www.gossen-photo.de/english/licht_p_mavomonitor.php ICC color profile - Datacolor Spyder3Elite http://spyder.datacolor.com/product-mc.php

viewing angles

Cinebench - http://www.maxon.net/ja/downloads/cinebench/cinebench-115.html

PCMark Vantage - http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/pcmarkvantage/introduction/

3D Mark 05 - http://www.futuremark.com/products/3dmark05/

Voltcraft SL-300 Plus sound level meter http://www.voltcraft.de/index.php?site=messtechnik

Prime95 - http://www.mersenne.org/

CPUID Hardware monitor http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

Core Temp http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

Battery Eater - http://www.batteryeater.com/

power consumption - Voltcraft VC 940 Digital-Multimeter

Anandtech Review of ASUS K53E (same Intel Core i5-2520M that can be useful for comparison, rest are different - Intel HM65, 4+2GB RAM, 15.6" WLED Glossy 16:9 768p (1366x768)

(AU Optronics B156XW02 v6 tested with ), 640GB 5400RPM HDD (Seagate Momentus ST9640423AS), Bluetooth 2.1, USB 2.0)

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4262/asus-k53e-testing-dualcore-sandy-bridge/3

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4262/asus-k53e-testing-dualcore-sandy-bridge/4