Thinkpads Forum

My fully loaded W500 is out of gas as my apps need more capacity ... am looking for a healthy machine in reasonably clean shape, with the following preferred content:

i7-3940XM, -3920XM, -3840QM ... CPU preference order
FDH display (any IPS version?)
Nvidia Quadro K2000M Optimus
Express Card/34 slot
Smart Card Reader
Multicard Reader
170W AC adapter
W7-64 S/N (I have MS disc for W7-64 Pro)

Everything else is "don't care"

Why a W530? Somewhat future proof and the last in the series with a reasonably useful dock, the 433835U, for my purposes. My W500-W7-64-Pro had the last good dock with an expansion slot which is populated with a 4-port SATA board; and now I am scratching my head how I will connect my two 2.5" RAID drives plus my two 3.5/2.5 HDD/SSD docks. And both my A31Ps are still chugging with XP-SP3 and on their docks with expansion slots busy with frame grabbers for machine vision cameras and vertical apps.

FK-F
=======

In your place I would buy W520
Better machine in my opinion.

Thanks, Khipata.

Could you elucidate on your preference for the W520?

unlike the w530, the w520 have better keyboard layout, and also have modifiable bios if you want to install a custom wireless adapter.

the w530, have added a security chip to the battery, to require only lenovo issued batteries to work, so after-market batteries won't work.

(modifying bios isn't impossible, but require extra tools ..etc)

Thank you, hhhd1.

* The keyboard issue seems like a minor point ... perhaps a personal preference at this point.
* The BIOS and wireless issue ... I have been using a Netgear router in my office ... no problems anticipated.

However, when I consider the CPU ... the W530's chips look like a big jump beyond what the W520 offers.
What only the W520 has is the eSATA connector ... something that is very important to me as I have 4 external storage devices with eSATA only. And the "483835U Mini Dock Plus Series 3" ... compatible with both units lacks an eSATA connector.

A head scratcher for me as I don't want to dump my two RAIDs plus my two HDD docks ... I am looking for a USB3 to eSATA adapter/dongle, a 1-4 solution if such exists.

hhhd1 pretty much nailed it. Besides, W520 is cheaper now than W530

Only benefit a W530 might have aside from slightly faster CPU at that configuration is better integrated graphics. Lol

I have a top-of-the-line W530. Sending PM...

Hi, Mr. Motoring ... looking for your PM.