Thinkpads Forum

Had read that T420 even with CPU dual heatpipes version can not handle 45W quad core i7 yet the T520 is built to handle quad i7 processor but the heatsink design I do not like how it looks. Do Lenovo ever built T520 heatsink with CPU dual heatpipes?
This depends on my thinking of getting future Tx20 notebook as I liked 14.1" chassis but really like to have quad's massive 8MB cache as the data states that iGPU on intel processors does share with L3 cache. Also really appreciate to have 32GB size plus DDR3 1600 as well.

Can anyone provide photos of T420 and T520 heatsinks side to side and note the height of the heatsink fins of both? Thanks.

Thanks and cheers, thinkpadcollection

Cooling is a more complex topic than it may initially appear. There are more factors to consider than just the amount of heatpipes, such as the fan, exhaust vent material, thickness and length of the heatpipe and so on. You can easily find good pictures of both heat sinks on the web which should be sufficient for comparisons.

That being said, the T420 will take a Quad Core and will be able to cool it as well. There are different T420 heat sinks, you will want to get this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-LENOVO-THIN ... 2c791bbb3f

For even better cooling performance, replace the fan from 04W0409 with the fan from 04W0407.

Source: http://thinkpad-forum.de/threads/170582 ... ost1733065

600X wrote:Cooling is a more complex topic than it may initially appear. There are more factors to consider than just the amount of heatpipes, such as the fan, exhaust vent material, thickness and length of the heatpipe and so on. You can easily find good pictures of both heat sinks on the web which should be sufficient for comparisons.

That being said, the T420 will take a Quad Core and will be able to cool it as well. There are different T420 heat sinks, you will want to get this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-LENOVO-THIN ... 2c791bbb3f

For even better cooling performance, replace the fan from 04W0409 with the fan from 04W0407.

Source: http://thinkpad-forum.de/threads/170582 ... ost1733065

LOL this comment on swapping fans, "what!" what's saying here, which fans to take from to replace said heatsink's original fan?.

Why the fat single heatpipe over parallel twin heatpipes? I may go with discrete video.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

thinkpadcollection wrote: Also really appreciate to have 32GB size plus DDR3 1600 as well.

I'd love to know how you intend to shovel 32GB RAM in either T420 or T520...

There are different i7 processors on same G2 socket that takes 16GB or 32GB max
For example:

dual core i7-2620M is 16GB dual channel; 1066/1333 fsb. 35W
quad core i7-2820QM is 32GB dual channel; 1066/1333/1600 fsb. 45W
note: these wattage is TDP, dual channel means two slot memory usually and all are DDR3 type.

OOPS, hit the new thread by mistake, reposted here instead.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

thinkpadcollection wrote: note: these wattage is TDP, dual channel means two slot memory usually and all are DDR3 type.

OK let me make my point clearer:

Both T420 and T520 have 2 RAM slots each.

There are no DIMMs larger than 8GB that will work in these systems. Therefore, the max is 16GB.

W510/520/530 models with 4 slots will, however, take 32GB.

thinkpadcollection wrote: LOL this comment on swapping fans, "what!" what's saying here, which fans to take from to replace said heatsink's original fan?.

Why the fat single heatpipe over parallel twin heatpipes? I may go with discrete video.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

I pretty much answered all these questions in my post. However, I haven't looked into discrete graphics heat sinks, so you're on your own there.

Okay, 600X, please clarify on the fan swapping and which heatsink is regarded best and what fan is best to use? I was not sure what you was trying to explain?

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

thinkpadcollection wrote:Had read that T420 even with CPU dual heatpipes version can not handle 45W quad core i7 yet the T520 is built to handle quad i7 processor but the heatsink design I do not like how it looks. Do Lenovo ever built T520 heatsink with CPU dual heatpipes?
This depends on my thinking of getting future Tx20 notebook as I liked 14.1" chassis but really like to have quad's massive 8MB cache as the data states that iGPU on intel processors does share with L3 cache. Also really appreciate to have 32GB size plus DDR3 1600 as well.

Can anyone provide photos of T420 and T520 heatsinks side to side and note the height of the heatsink fins of both? Thanks.

Thanks and cheers, thinkpadcollection

T420 can handle quad core i7 - look at my signature. My heatsink is FRU 04W0627. No problems or overheating at all. For 45W i7 CPU you need at least 90W power adapter. Good luck !