W520 vs W530

[RasmusP]

Hi,

I'm looking into getting a heavy duty laptop to be used for statistics and simulation. I'll be using lots of RAM (four spaces) and I want a quad core, and eventually I'd like to look into CUDA calculations with e.g. Python Theano. Being in need of this kind of hardware is a new situation for me.

I don't like the look and keyboard(!) of the W530. The W540 is even worse with its numpad and lack of proper trackpoint. The W520 seems OK. The Dell M4700 also seems OK, but I'd prefer the W520 over the M4700.

Thus, I was wondering how big of a 'toll', in terms of performance, I would experience if I picked up a top W520 over a 'normal' W530. E.g. how much would I 'lose' with, say, a W520 with 7-2860QM and a Quadro 1000M over a W530 with a i7-3840QM and a K2000M? The processors seem similar, although the FSB is higher on the newer generation, but the K2000M seems to be a big upgrade.

In real life, would I (in general) suffer much performace loss going with the W520?

Again, I appreciate your advice as this need of this kind of power is a new situation for me.

Thanks,
Rasmus

[ZaZ]

Have you tried the new keyboard? I've used the X1 Carbon, X230 and T430, and thought the new keyboard was pretty good from a typing perspective, though if you've got the old layout ingrained in your brain, nothing else will make you happy. I saw try it out before discarding the idea.

[RasmusP]

Thanks for the reply. Your approach is the more rational one, I grand you. I have disliked other chiclet keyboards I've tried on Sony and Apple laptops. The change in layout is another concern. I'll check out

[Rochefort]

...The W540 is even worse with it's numpad and lack of proper trackpoint. ...

Does it means that the trackpoint can't be used with the trackpad disabled !?

[Ibthink]

I am using the new solution right now. You can still disable the TrackPad in the BIOS or in the Driver, at least with Windows.

[Rochefort]

I am using the new solution right now. You can still disable the TrackPad in the BIOS or in the Driver, at least with Windows.

You mean that after disabling the trackpad the thin red lines on the t-pad are still active ?
Thanks a lot

[Ibthink]

Exactly. If you disable the TrackPad, the TrackPont buttons that are integrated into the TrackPad stay active.

[Rochefort]

Exactly. If you disable the TrackPad, the TrackPont buttons that are integrated into the TrackPad stay active.

Thanks a lot for your CLEAR answer

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

Graphics card performance is bad for both flavours of the W520 and W530; all four have the same, slow RAM that, with 28.8 GB/s is just over half of the memory bandwidth the desktop high-end game card of 2006(!!) had (7900 GTX, 51.2 GB/s)

The biggest difference I could find between W520 and W530 was reduced power draw under load on the W530, a castrated keyboard for the W530, lack of eSata on the W530 and a higher price for the W530.

I bought the W520; just the keyboard was reason enough for me to pick the W520. Even though a W520 keyboard fits in a W530, not all keys will work properly :/

[ssd_thinkpad]

I am currently typing on a T440s and the keyboard is not flexing at all. From my experience it is the best keyboard on a notebook, it comes second to my desktop cherry keyboard. I did use a 600 series for some time abut I do not really remember the typing experience (it was good, though).

The keys are positioned in a different way. You have to adapt to that, otherwise it is obvious you will not like the new keyboard. I do use some of the F keys for simple tasks like reloading a page or fetching the next element in a search, I haven't figure out how to do that without pressing the activation FN button as FN+F5 (for reloading a page) - the F keys are used for sound, backlight and other thinkpad functions.

[Ibthink]

I haven't figure out how to do that without pressing the activation FN button as FN+F5 (for reloading a page) - the F keys are used for sound, backlight and other thinkpad functions.

Press FN + Esc and the F-key functions will be switched.

[ssd_thinkpad]

I haven't figure out how to do that without pressing the activation FN button as FN+F5 (for reloading a page) - the F keys are used for sound, backlight and other thinkpad functions.

Press FN + Esc and the F-key functions will be switched.

This is an amazing function. Thanks!

[cacophony]

...The W540 is even worse with it's numpad and lack of proper trackpoint. ...

Does it means that the trackpoint can't be used with the trackpad disabled !?

No, it's probably a reference to the fact that having the trackpoint buttons as part of the trackpad is far less usable. They're awkwardly positioned on the trackpad and much less natural to press than the old dedicated buttons. The presses also make a lot more noise.