Thinkpads Forum

Hello, I have a W530 Type 2436-CTO. I just acquired a Mini Dock Plus 4338. When I connect external speakers to the line out of the Mini Dock, I get random, loud popping sounds in the speakers. This does NOT occur if I connect the speakers directly to the line out jack on the W530. I have also discovered that, if I load any media player software (Windows Media Player, iTunes, Media Monkey) AND begin playing a media file, the popping sounds no longer occur. Once I have begun playing the media file, I can pause the player and still no popping sounds. However, if I close the media player software, the popping sounds resume. Any help would be greatly appreciated... While this seems software related, I only have a few days remaining to return the Mini Dock if it is defective. BTW - Running Windows 7 Pro 64Bit, SP-1 with all updates. Thanks!

The audio on the dock is poor, even if the dock is in good condition. There is simply no shielding to be found anywhere on the path from laptop to dock, and even the laptop itself has poor audio-out. I can hear powerstate changes of CPU and GPU in the earbuds with the W520. Also any change on the display is audible. Like an add with moving images. It's very likely the audio players prevent the CPU or some other part from switching to a deeper sleep state, and that you hear that as pops in the audio-out.

Either connect any speakers directly to the Thinkpad, or buy an USB sound 'card' to connect to the dock.

jcvjcvjcvjcv wrote:The audio on the dock is poor, even if the dock is in good condition. There is simply no shielding to be found anywhere on the path from laptop to dock, and even the laptop itself has poor audio-out. I can hear powerstate changes of CPU and GPU in the earbuds with the W520. Also any change on the display is audible. Like an add with moving images. It's very likely the audio players prevent the CPU or some other part from switching to a deeper sleep state, and that you hear that as pops in the audio-out.

Either connect any speakers directly to the Thinkpad, or buy an USB sound 'card' to connect to the dock.

I agree. My W520 is in the same dock and I gave up on the dock's audio out, and plug into the audio out on the laptop. I am glad to hear it's not just me.

There was a problem like this reported on the W530, and a very long thread about it:
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-T ... d-p/797095

I don't know if your problem is related; by way of reference, I have experienced no
problems whatsoever with my T420 on a mini-dock plus running Linux.

Thanks for the replies...

I did find the following on the Lenovo forums: "There are several "work around solutions" for those affected, including connecting to audio output connections on the Thinkpad, or use of a USB audio connection. Lenovo introduced a minor hardware change to the system boards and rolled this into new production during Dec. New service parts were phased in during January and repairs conducted to address these symptoms would make use of the new parts stock." Full post at: https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-T ... -p/1196119

I contacted Lenovo and, since I'm out of warranty, the best they would offer is I could send it in with a $650 deposit and they would "take a look at it". Seriously? For a system board defect that they acknowledged and revised? I'd be happy to have them send me the part and install it myself... I'm sure their cost for the board is well under $650!!! I get that I can plug directly into the Laptop, but that partially defeats the point of having the dock.

I know most on this forum are big Thinkpad fans, but this is my first, and I'm sorry to say, my last ThinkPad. The one thing I'll give it is the Keyboard is excellent. Unfortunately, the rest is mediocre at best. The Lenovo logo on the LCD cover was peeling off within a few weeks of new. One of the flimsy plastic LCD latches broke without me even realizing it. The touchpad and buttons are absolutely abysmal. Real world performance is only average. And I'm not even going to get started on Lenovo's support... or lack thereof!

My previous Laptop was and MSI MS-1029 Whitebook that I assembled myself back in 2006. I used it until about three years ago when I bought the W530. I had none of the issues I've had with the ThinkPad and the MSI was still going strong when I replaced it.

I chose a ThinkPad for it's reputation for durability, reliability, and, especially, customer support. I can't begin to say what a disappointment it's been.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to get Lenovo to stand behind their product, I'd love to hear them... Otherwise, I may putting this thing on eBay soon. Anyone care to make an offer?

I chose a ThinkPad for it's reputation for durability, reliability, and, especially, customer support. I can't begin to say what a disappointment it's been.

It's true that the Thinkpad W-series have had sporadic problems since the W510 (and I'm not a statistician being paid to keep tabs on Lenovo, so take this as a personal opinion.)

W510: overheating problems (I have one, but believe that I can fix this with new thermal paste.)
W520: sudden shutdown problems (a class action suit is in the works)
W530: the audio popping problem, which, personally, I would consider minor but annoying
W540: I think Lenovo just wants everybody to forget about this one
W541: Boy, they sure rushed this one out

Really, there is no defense that Lenovo can make about any of these problems. But, one must also consider that there is really no one else who ships workstation class machines (except that a real workstation has ECC, but nonetheless) in this weight class. Except for Toshiba, which fails an essential test that I'll get to later.

For example, if you look at Dell and HP, they probably do a better job overall at QA-ing their product. But, their machines are heavy - a Dell M4800 weighs about 3.2kg and their M3800 isn't available with a trackpoint. And, needing a trackpoint with real buttons is a peculiar addiction that most Thinkpad owners have acquired; Everybody knows that our fingers do the real work, the rest of our body's sole function is to put on a cup of coffee in the morning and guide our hands to the right place on the keyboard.

If you're accustomed to just buying something and not having to fiddle with it and be assured that everything "just works," then a Lenovo W5XX is probably not the right machine for you. And, I can understand. Most people just want to buy a machine and put Windows or OS/X on it and have it work perfectly. And, sooner or later, Lenovo will probably get booted out of the workstation market for exactly this reason.

But, if you need to customize your working environment to the nth degree, and figure that it'll take 3 months or more to set up a machine and work all of the bugs out, then a Lenovo W5XX machine may be a good option. So far, they tend to write good BIOSes, so they run Linux well. If Lenovo decides to move their BIOS development to someplace where they can pay programmers $3 an hour, this may change. And, I wouldn't put it past them to do that.

That being said, all of my friends who make their living by programming have moved to Macs.

Now, about Toshiba - their Tecra W50 seems like a perfectly good machine unless you want to run something other than Windows. In that case, you'll have no end of problems. God only knows who is maintaining their BIOS code base. And, if they cut corners there, who knows what other corners they may have cut. But, they are new to the workstation market. If you want something solid then Dell, HP, and Apple may be the best vendors.