E540 HDMI max resolution / 4k

[cc99]

Does E540 (with Intel HD4600 + NVidia GT740M) support 4K resolution (3840x2160) on external monitor via HDMI?
(just for office/developer tasks, so 24-30Hz should be enough and 2D only).

[pianowizard]

Welcome to the forum!

Not many people on this forum own E Series Thinkpads, because fake Thinkpads are frowned upon here. No more than a dozen people here have the E540 specifically, and I bet none of them have tested their E540 with a 3840x2160 monitor. Lenovo's official documents might state that the E540's HDMI output maxes out at 1920x1080, but I have found these figures to be almost always underestimates, so if I were you I wouldn't trust them too much. Thus, I don't think any of us can give you a definitive answer, but let me provide some general information.

The Intel HD4600 is most certainly capable of generating a 3840x2160 output, but you need two more things as well: the computer's HDMI output needs to be version 1.4 or newer, and the monitor needs to allow its HDMI input to deliver 3840x2160. For example, my Dell U2711 monitor's DisplayPort and dual-link DVI inputs permit 2560x1440, but its HDMI input is limited to 1920x1080 no matter how capable the computer's HDMI output is. But another monitor that I have, the Dell P2815Q, doesn't have any limit for its HDMI input, and displays the full 3840x2160 when driven by my Sony Pro13 laptop via HDMI.

When shopping for a 4K monitor, be sure to check specifically whether its HDMI input supports the monitor's native resolution. If possible, bring your E540 and an HDMI cable to a local store that has 4K monitors and test them yourself.

[cc99]

Thank you for the response.

Yes, I checked the specifications, but for this model max resolution isn't specified.
My monitor (Iiyama B2888UHSU) accepts 3840x2160 via hdmi 1.4 (limited to 30Hz of course).
But I can't find anywhere which version of hdmi is used in E540.

[pianowizard]

I just did a Google search using these keywords and found quite a few hits:

E540 "HDMI 1.4"

The caveat is that none of these pages are from Lenovo's own sites, so it could be misinformation. For the E530 and E535, Lenovo.com does explicitly state that they have HDMI 1.4 (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/th ... tech_specs and http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/th ... tech_specs), though it just says "HDMI" for the E540. If we assume that technologies always get better over time, then the E540 should be as good as the E535 and the E530, meaning it too should have HDMI 1.4.

My monitor (Iiyama B2888UHSU) accepts 3840x2160 via hdmi 1.4 (limited to 30Hz of course).

I didn't know you already have a 4K monitor. Does this mean you haven't bought the E540 yet? Why would you want to buy the E540, when there are so many other better laptops to choose from? Get one that is guaranteed to have HDMI 1.4, or DisplayPort 1.2.

[arthurdaniel]

The E540 is a good laptop, far better than the new T series.
Talk to people, computer people that own them.

Don't pay any attention to pretentious snobs, their opinions have been
implanted by advertisers.

[pianowizard]

The E540 is a good laptop, far better than the new T series.
Talk to people, computer people that own them.

The recent T's have clearly gone downhill -- I was very, very unimpressed by the brand-new T540p I bought a couple weeks ago. But the T continues to use stronger material than the L, which in turn uses stronger material than the E. Qualitywise, the E series is comparable to the $300 - $500 consumer laptops sold at Best Buy, except that it's designed to *look* professional. This is a well-known fact, not just "advertisement".

You may have seen far more complaints against the T than the E series. That doesn't mean the former is now worse than the latter. All it means is that people have much higher expectations for the T then for the E.

[arthurdaniel]

On the T540 the material is so thin around the display frame that in time
it warps from the heat of the display.

[pianowizard]

On the T540 the material is so thin around the display frame that in time
it warps from the heat of the display.

I have read about many recent T-series Thinkpads having warped lids, but I don't believe it's caused by heat of the display. First of all, the display never heats up much. Second, the lid of my brand-new T540p lid was already warped when I received it, before I even powered it up. And no, it was shipped during an unusually cold week in late November, so it couldn't have come across damagingly high ambient temperatures.

Fit and finish has indeed gone downhill in recent years for all Thinkpads. Wobbly batteries can be annoying, and warped lids do look ugly, but the T series is still stronger than the E series.

Incidentally, I didn't mind that warped display lid much. After all, this T540p cost me only $623.04 including tax. When I bought my very first laptop in 2002, which was just an entry-level Dell Inspiron craptop, it cost me $1,756, equivalent to $2,318 in 2014 according to http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm . Back then, a T30 Thinkpad would cost a lot more than that. Nowadays, laptops are intended to be disposable. I don't understand why people would expect a $600 laptop to be perfect in every single way.

[arthurdaniel]

600X

Post subject: My ThinkPad T540p review

"The screen bezel is rather thin as well and is secured only with clips. On my unit the bezel has

already become arched due to the heat discipation of the LED backlight.."

[pianowizard]

600X

Post subject: My ThinkPad T540p review

"The screen bezel is rather thin as well and is secured only with clips. On my unit the bezel has

already become arched due to the heat discipation of the LED backlight.."

So, you believe everything that some random stranger says? How did this person know the arching was due to heat discipation [sic] from the backlight? Perhaps the lid was already warped from day one but he never noticed it until much later?

What other "evidence" do you have in support of your claim that "The E540 is a good laptop, far better than the new T series"?

[arthurdaniel]

I'm evidence.

I keep three computers going, all working fine, but over five
years old, about to replace. Money is no object to me in getting replacements.
I use the computers to work and research, very important to me. They are
a tool to me.

I want certain qualities, such as sense of reliability, ease of doing simple maintenance,
such as replacing RTC batteries, replaceable main battery, etc.

I have no problem paying $5000 for a computer that has the qualities I want.

I'm not a computer person, but know and have relatives that are.

I was about to order 2 T440p & 1 T540p computers, but after inquiring and researching NO F___ING WAY!!!

I'm still considering the L440 and E440.

[pianowizard]

I was about to order 2 T440p & 1 T540p computers, but after inquiring and researching NO F___ING WAY!!!

I addressed this three posts earlier: "You may have seen far more complaints against the T than the E series. That doesn't mean the former is now worse than the latter. All it means is that people have much higher expectations for the T then for the E." Think about it, if you bought that hypothetical $5000 laptop, you would be critical about even the slightest imperfections, but if you find the exact same imperfections on a $500 laptop, you would just shrug your shoulders and move on.

Also, keep in mind that T-series models are more likely owned by demanding professionals, while the E's and L's are bought mainly by cheapskates with simple needs. The former demographics are much more likely to nitpick.

Finally, for any kind of electronics, there will be an occasional dud that escapes quality check. Many of the negative reviews you've come across may not be about the T440p or T540p per se, but instead about the defective units the reviewers received. Many people have difficulty distinguishing the two.

[cc99]

Thanks for your comments.

I have bought L540.
psref/tabook maximum resolution specification for L540 is: 3840x2160@30Hz, but it works at 60Hz too.