Thinkpads Forum

I want to buy a P50. I am a heavy excel user, all day interface with our company web based software, and frequently host Webex meetings. My current machine is a W530. Asking opinions about these options?

Processor:

Intel Core i7-6700HQ Processor (6MB Cache, up to 3.50GHz) [Standard]
Intel Core i7-6820HQ processor (8MB Cache, Up to 3.6 Ghz)[add $300.00]
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 Processor (8MB Cache, up to 3.70GHz)Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 Processor comes with NVIDIA Quadro M2000M 4GB Graphic Card (additional $230)[add $440.00]

It states the Xeon processor includes the Quadro M2000M 4GB Graphic card. They charge an additional $230 on top of the $440 for the Xeon. However the M2000M 4GB is already standard. If I select the Xeon will there be two M2000M's? Doesn’t make sense?

SDD:

256GB SSD SATA3 OPAL2.0 [Standard]
256GB SSD PCIe-NVMe OPAL2.0 [$140]
512GB SSD SATA3 [$300]
512GB SSD PCIe-NVMe [$550]

I am not getting the HDD. A 256GB will be fine for me. I currently have a 146GB SDD and it is sufficient. What is the difference between the SATA3 and PCIe-NVMe? Also if I select the 512, it gives me the option for a second SDD 512. Don’t get the option for a second SDD with the 256. Why is this?

I am only selecting the 8GB of RAM. Lenovo is charging $120 per 8GB. I’ll buy additional RAM from another source.

Had live chat with Lenovo.

The Xeon requires the M2000M to function. If you choose a lesser processor, then you are given an option to choose a M1000M.

The difference between the SATA3 and PCIe-NVMe is speed. The PCIe-NVMe is faster.

I can go with a 256 SDD only and expand to the second bay later.

I hope to be ordering this machine within 10 days.

Let us know how it turns out. I'm interested in in the p50 mostly for the 64gb ram option I see crucial has 1x 16gb sodimm for $125. $500 for 64gb of ram is cheaper than my first 4x 8gb set in my w520.

Tim-ANC wrote: The PCIe-NVMe is faster.

It also runs significantly warmer in most scenarios, to the point of throttling. The technology is still immature, IMO. I'd go with SATA III.

I can go with a 256 SDD only and expand to the second bay later.

I'd order it with the cheapest drive imaginable and then upgrade to a proper 2.5" SSD. But that's me.

I hope to be ordering this machine within 10 days.

Happy shopping. Looking forward to reading your impressions.

ajkula66 wrote:

I can go with a 256 SDD only and expand to the second bay later.

I'd order it with the cheapest drive imaginable and then upgrade to a proper 2.5" SSD. But that's me.

I agree with you except that the newer laptops from lenovo seems to be hard to maintain and replace basic things like ram and harddisk

before going this route, check the HMM to see how easy it is to replace the harddisk.

I have not bought this yet. The funding for it was diverted. Might be able to get it in 2 months.

Thank you all for the advice about ram and SDD. I do have the HMM. I haven't seen any FRU's unusually difficult to change.