Lenovo has championed the industry of business laptops for many years in a row. They give their customers the ability to choose a laptop according to their budget and offer long-term upgrades. In this article, we would go through some of the most successful laptops ever produced by Lenovo and how you can bring them back to life by upgrading.
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Lenovo ThinkPad T410
The 14-inch T410 has a robust plastic enclosure wrapped around an internal roll cage that protects the internal components, including the shock-mounted hard drive, as is standard with ThinkPad. The matte texture on the black material is resistant to fingerprints. A small fingerprint reader sits to the right of the laptop’s base, providing an additional degree of security and convenience. The laptop has a tough and robust feel to it. The lid flexes somewhat, but the display is held firmly in place by the two hinges that link it to the laptop’s base.
The Intel Core i5-540M, a dual-core chip from Intel’s generation (Arrandale) of mobile processors, powers the ThinkPad T410 2522. The laptop offers competitive application performance thanks to its 4GB of DDR3 memory. Even in heavy multitasking conditions, the performance can still survive today’s today’s demanding applications.
For graphics, the ThinkPad T410 has integrated Intel GMA HD graphics and switchable NVidia Optimus graphics. However, you have to ensure it’s not the ThinkPad T410-2522 configuration.
What CPU can you upgrade the ThinkPad t410 to?
The dual-core four-thread i7 640m, 2.80 GHz to 3.46 GHz, is the fastest CPU that can be installed in the T410. The Intel Core i7-640M is a high-end dual-core laptop processor that can run at 2.8 to 3.46 GHz, thanks to the Turbo Mode feature. The Nehalem (Westmere) microarchitecture is used to build each core. The Dual-Core CPU can manage four threads at once thanks to Hyperthreading (for better usage of the pipeline). As a result, the i7-640M is related to other dual-core i5 and i3 CPUs rather than quad-core i7 CPUs.
The integrated Intel HD Graphics (GMA HD) and memory controller are two features of the new Core i7-640M processor. Both are on a different chip, which is still made at 45nm, while the CPU is already made in the current 32nm process.
Lenovo ThinkPad w510
Even in the Thinkpad W line, Lenovo has stuck to the tried-and-true formula: a matt black case with a few color dashes in the shape of a red TrackPoint, a blue enter key, and a blue ThinkVantage button, silver hinges, and the obligatory stickers. Lenovo has also maintained its commitment to straight-line management and a highly geometrical design.
The W510 comes with a variety of display options. Regardless of whatever option you choose, you’ll get a 15.6-inch LED display with a matt surface and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Lenovo has chosen a configuration with less height and wider width, even though many computer applications have an upright position. This will assist not only movie viewers but also people who utilize programs with many toolboxes for a specific resolution.
The processor used by Lenovo is the Core i7-820QM. Under the code name “Clarksfield,” it’s made in a cutting-edge 45 nm process and comes with a slew of functionalities. It is home to the so-called “Turbo Boost” technology, among other things. Under load, the processor overclocks itself from its usual 1.73 GHz to 3.06 GHz.
However, effective cooling is necessary. For instance, “Hyper-Threading” simulates four more cores, making the Core i7-820QM appear to be an eight-core processor (which can be seen in the task manager). Above that, the client receives an 8 MByte L2 cache in addition to a 1 MByte L2 cache. The Core i7’s TDP of 45 watts is too high for most applications.
What you can upgrade
The graphics in the W510 are handled by an NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M, which is a professional midrange graphic card for mobile workstations/laptops. It supports DirectX 10.2 because it is based on Nvidia’s GeForce GT 330M.
There are three display options available right now. An RG-ph FHD display with 1920×1080, HD with 1366×768 and HD+ with 1600×900 resolutions. According to Lenovo, the FHD has a maximum resolution of 1920×1080 and should achieve 95 percent gamut and 270 nits (cd/m2).
The display isn’t the only upgradeable feature. You can also update from your current i7-720QM to an i7-820QM or i7-920XM (both will work). It’s best to upgrade now, while the i7-720QM is still valuable, and you may sell it afterward.
Lenovo ThinkPad x220
Lenovo’s latest model comes with top-of-the-line hardware. So the X220 comes with an Intel Core i7-2620M processor, USB 3.0 interface, internal UMTS, mSata SSD, and a great battery life of 23 hours. In a nutshell, it’s a dream come true for professionals who demand results.
For ThinkPad models, the rough, black, and grey synthetic material surface is standard. These business notebooks have no glossy surfaces, chrome plating, or distracting designs. Two anti-glare LED displays are offered for the ThinkPad X220. A “normal” TN panel and the HD Premium IPS display. Both have a 1366×768 pixel resolution and a 12.5-inch diagonal screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The IPS display boasts 300 nits of brightness and wide viewing angles. Like the ThinkPad X201, it can be configured with several standard CPUs, unlike their “Low Voltage” and “Ultra Low Voltage” equivalents, which provide higher performance. The Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 models available cover a wide range of performance. The screen (not tested) performs as expected. Traditional hard disks and newer solid-state drives are both available for the X220. In addition, instead of a 3G UMTS module, the customer can insert a mSata SSD.
Lenovo ThinkPad x230
The 12.5-inch matte IPS display has a native resolution of 1366×768 pixels, which is quite adequate for a screen this small. The X230 is also available with a conventional TN panel, however, after experiencing the benefits of an IPS panel, it would be tough to go back to TN displays. With the IPS and TN panels, Lenovo claims a brightness of up to 300 nits and 200 nits, respectively. Text and images are bright and crisp without being oversaturated, as some glossy screens may be.
The X230, like the rest of Lenovo’s 2012 portfolio, is powered by Intel’s third-generation Core ix processor. Some models have the new 2.6GHz Core i5-3320M processor, but you can upgrade to a 2.8GHz Core i5-3360M or a 2.9GHz i7-3520M processor, or even downgrade to a 2.4GHz Sandy Bridge i3-2370M processor if necessary. In any case, all alternatives are standard-voltage dual-core CPUs, implying that performance will not be compromised in the name of potentially lower system temperatures.
At a 35-watt TDP, the i5-3320M supports Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading, just like its 32-nm bigger brother. Turbo Boost allows single-core and multi-core activities to run at speeds of up to 3300MHz and 3100MHz, respectively. Lenovo does provide several SSD options before purchasing, including a 32GB mSATA disk and SATA III SSDs with capacities ranging from 128GB to 256GB. An SSD upgrade, while costly, is likely the most noticeable change for the X230, second only to the IPS display.
Lenovo ThinkPad T420
From the outside, the ThinkPad T420 looks like a dinosaur. The T420 is as old-school as a laptop can go, with a keyboard studded with enough auxiliary buttons to seem like a space shuttle control panel. It’s also built like a tank; it’s not a rugged laptop, but it includes a spill-resistant keyboard and a magnesium roll-cage chassis, which most laptops lack. It also has more connectors and functionality than most computers, which goes against the current minimalism trend.
The ThinkPad T420 comes with various upgrade options, including small-ticket items like Bluetooth, fingerprint sensor, HD Webcam, WiMAX, and a 1,600×900-pixel display rather than a 1,366×768-pixel display. The T420 comes standard with a second-generation Intel Core i3 processor, but it can be upgraded to a Core i5 or even a 2.8GHz Core i7-2640M for some extra cash. RAM may be increased to 8GB, and you can choose between a 500GB 5,400rpm or 7,200rpm hard disk or a 128GB or 160GB solid-state drive (SSD).
The inbuilt Nvidia Optimus graphics aren’t spectacular, but they significantly improve upon the standard Intel graphics. They’re adequate for light graphics work and even gaming.
Lenovo ThinkPad T520
Lenovo continues to be the company to beat in the business notebook industry, and the ThinkPad T520 appears to be a continuation of that dominance. This 15-inch PC can tackle just about any task thanks to a Core i5 processor and Nvidia graphics. The T520 boasts a solid frame, a good keyboard, and a built-in fingerprint scanner, but is that enough to keep it at the top of the business heap? In any case, it’s one of the greatest laptops available at its price point right now.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T520 features a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i5-2540M processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive, and switchable graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000, Nvidia NVS 4200M GPU with 1GB of VRAM). The system handled pretty much everything we threw at it, including video playback, office tasks, and light gaming. The Nvidia Optimus technology in the Lenovo ThinkPad T520 enables it to instantly transition between its integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 and its discrete Nvidia NVS 4200M GPU with 1GB of VRAM for optimal performance and battery life.
What Upgrades Can you make on this Old Lenovo Laptop?
The easiest to upgrade would be the RAM. Although this Laptop was built to take a maximum of 8 gigs of RAM, you could make some more upgrades to other parts that would make the laptop compatible with 16GB of RAM.
To get the best out of this device, you should upgrade the HDD. It is the second component you should upgrade after the RAM. Upgrading the HDD to an SDD would significantly increase the performance of the Laptop. The laptop also has the capability of running both the HDD and the SDD at the same time. If you’re willing to sacrifice the optical drive, you could take out the HDD, replace it with an SDD, then slot your HDD into the spot where the optical drive was.
Upgrading the CPU can be tricky, this is because the CPU is a QH type. “Q” stands for Quad-core, while the “H” is their high-performing graphics. The tricky bit of upgrading the CPU is that QH CPUs can be replaced mostly by switching out the Motherboard for a new one. Luckily, you can get this machine to a Core i7-2760QM.
Lenovo ThinkPad T440p
For the ThinkPad T440p, Lenovo provides three matte display options. The TN HD display (1366×768 pixels) is the most economical option, followed by the TN HD+ display (1600×900) and finally the IPS FHD display. Lenovo’s web shop allows users to customize the Lenovo ThinkPad T440p in a variety of ways. An Intel Core i7-4900MQ processor, a 512 GB SSD, and an IPS display are just a few of the attractions on offer.
Preconfigured devices come with an Intel Core i3-4000M processor, 4 GB of RAM, and an HD display. Some key components, including an IPS screen, SSDs, and the most powerful CPUs, are presently only accessible through Lenovo’s online store. The Intel Core i7-4700MQ quad-core processor is one of the highest-performing mobile processors ever and performs admirably in all scenarios.
However, with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 47 Watts, it consumes more energy than the Intel Core i7-2-core (37 Watts) or the ULV CPUs (28 Watts) of the same generation (Haswell). The highest cycle rate of 3,400 MHz has advantages when employing applications that can use fewer cores due to programming constraints.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T440p features two graphics chips that can be used. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600 and the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 730M can be accessible using Nvidia’s Optimus technology. The GPU can choose for you, or you can do it yourself if you choose. Users can generally rely on the automatic function because Nvidia’s Optimus works so well. We just wanted to know in which instances the dedicated graphics card would have outperformed the integrated graphics system.
Conclusion
Lenovo has produced some of the most durable laptops of the decade, with Laptops that can span several years. If you’re looking for a laptop that would run today’s task comfortably and not have to worry about it ruing your productive experience, you should look out for a Lenovo laptop. Old Lenovo laptops are easily upgradable and are very cheap.
