Thinkpad W520 cheap config that is upgradeable

[varunet]

What would you guys recommend for a Thinkpad W520 config that is upgradeable in the future.

RAM and HDD is one that seems to make sense to buy with a lower config. Probably a 4 GB ram and 300 GB HDD and upgrade it manually.. maybe even a SSD will be cheaper than buying it from lenovo.

are there any other components that should be considered as to buy in the basic model and upgrade it in the future?

[plympton]

What would you guys recommend for a Thinkpad W520 config that is upgradeable in the future.

RAM and HDD is one that seems to make sense to buy with a lower config. Probably a 4 GB ram and 300 GB HDD and upgrade it manually.. maybe even a SSD will be cheaper than buying it from lenovo.

are there any other components that should be considered as to buy in the basic model and upgrade it in the future?

Get the quad-code base model - that has 4 DIMM slots vs. 2 that the dual-core has. You can NEVER have too much memory. I have 12 in my dev. machine now, and a 90GB SSD that pretty much everything fits into, and it's a nice improvement over my 4-yo T60.

Also, I vote that the FHD screen isn't mandatory. It might be nice, and if it is your only screen, then go for it. But I use a 24" IPS all day, and after using the HD+ screen while setting up a co-worker's laptop, I would have preferred to put the extra $ is RAM or a Vertex 3 SSD, dock, you name it.

Also, get RAM while RAM is cheap. It tends to go up a year or 2 out - try and price DDR2 to see what I mean.

Battery life on the W520 is insane, by the way. Really good.

-Dan

[ausmike]

Hello Var*;
Welcome to forum...

Well as you can see I have a few W* Sseries machines (and my work site has 1200+ of T/W series)

This is what i do for my Personal use machine:
a) Order the highest proc (my pref = always for top one offered)
b)HD - lowest (now mostly lowest SSD) and upgrade to better later
c) Ram -get std offer (dont even any money on this - unless free upgrade - then get single chip eg -curent W520 get 4GB single stick if for free)
d) Wirless = if you require WIRELESS Broadband = get the Gobi3* if not than get WiMax card which gives you free built in mobile boradband -depends where you live - its even free in some places!!)e) Display = ALWAYS get MAX/BEST Options Avalible (better screen displays are a Charm! makes your day watching Blueray movies on FHD screen1)
e) Warranty - save your money -Most issues can be easily resolved during the initial warranty period!

Ugrades for RAM, Wireless Cards and HD (even SSD) is easy as ABC! There are excellent HMM documentations for DIY..... However; Proc & Display Screens etc can be challanging even require expert experiances in some cases and not EASY but can be done.

Hope this helps - enjoy your new TP! (s0oon)

[varunet]

wow.. that was fast.. nice..

ausmike... thats a nice idea.. getting an SSD with lower capacity. Since it will already come with a casing. It would not be too difficult to move to a bigger SSD. But not sure if I ever want to go back to HDD will it be possible. I am jus thinking about something flexible.

I am not too keen about the wireless, as I would almost never pay for internet on the go. If I ever have to, then I can buy a small device from the ISP provider that would enable internet. So I am ruling out the Gobi 3000. I might go for a wimax as it is just 15 USD more than my preferred Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)

I have upgraded rams and hdd on my R61, so i am a bit familiar with it.

plympton:
I will be going in for the Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor (2.30GHz, 8MB L3).
The 8MB cache seems helpful.. and worthwhile. I hope this comes with 4 DIMM slots

Paying 750$ extra for the Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor (2.50GHz, 8MB L3, 1333MHz FSB) does not make much sense for me. The processors seems very identical.. this has just extra GHz

I am still not sure about the Color Sensor, doesn't feel like a need for me.

What about RapidDrive/ Micro SSD? Is it available on W520 or not?

[pianowizard]

Definitely get the cheapest RAM and HDD and upgrade later if necessary.

For the CPU, I usually get the cheapest one as well, because for the vast majority of people including myself, even the cheapest CPU is overkill.

As far as display resolution, it will depend heavily on whether you will hook it up to an external monitor and whether you will use it on the road frequently. If it's going to be used with an external monitor most of the time, then get the 1600x900 and save $200. But if not, then you may want to have the 1920x1080. Don't get 1366x768, unless you have terrible eye sight.

[ausmike]

wow.. that was fast.. nice..
ausmike... thats a nice idea.. ... I am jus thinking about something flexible.

I am not too keen about the wireless, ... the Gobi 3000. I might go for a wimax as it is just 15 USD more than my preferred Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)
I have upgraded rams and hdd on my R61, so i am a bit familiar with it.
plympton:
I will be going in for the Intel Core i7-2820QM Processor (2.30GHz, 8MB L3).
The 8MB cache seems helpful.. and worthwhile. I hope this comes with 4 DIMM slots
Paying 750$ extra for the Intel Core i7-2920XM Processor (2.50GHz, 8MB L3, 1333MHz FSB) does not make much sense for me. The processors seems very identical.. this has just extra GHz. I am still not sure about the Color Sensor, doesn't feel like a need for me.

What about RapidDrive/ Micro SSD? Is it available on W520 or not?

Glad I was of some help .... here are some more 0.02c worth !
a) buy small SSD and "clone" it to beigger faster one later...
b) FYI- GOBI 3000 = can do Verizon+ Sprint+ ATT+Tmobile using the SAME ONE HARDWARE....(thus max feliability when changing!! and is TOTALLY UNLOCKED SIM SLOT!
c) Most pple would NEVER use nor fully utalize the i7 capacity = so I always buy mid i5 pro and save $400+
d) screen - colour sensor = only if u doing REFERANCE LEVEL Desktop publishing or Photography work
e)Micro SSD + HDD = be offered at later stage - am told by Lenovo ACC REP = Design and Mfg is not fully set yet ...however we tested W one machine - it boots up in under 12 sec !!! ((not that we would ever buy it for normal work in prof use! Geat toy to have !

Cheers

[udvranto]

I would say, try out different combinations and choose what you want to go with. I learned from this forum that you can save some buck by choosing less memory, hdd and no ssd. But others are completely your choice.

[davidhbrown]

Depending on how far and in what direction you want to upgrade, you will want to know that the integrated RAID capability is reportedly achieved via a main board variation and so if not configured at ordering, it will not be available for future upgrades. If this concerns you, you can search and find some fairly grumpy threads (may be on Lenovo's forum) from people who thought they could put a second HDD in the Ultrabay and do RAID.

[varunet]

ausmike: I have a ATT connection with iPhone. Do I need to pay extra to use that sim along with GOBI 3000. If I can run internet without any extra charges, I will go along with it to be up and running on a rainy day.

I am a high end user as I work on 3D Max, Most of Adobe products, Tomcat, Apache Servers and multitasking on a zillion things. So I will go for a high end CPU.
HDD and RAM .. I will be upgrading later.

I will be buying the color sensor just for the heck of it. I am not sure if it is that useful, could not find enough videos showing the difference, but I might aswell buy it now if I cant upgrade it later.

now I thought I wont need GOBI 3000. But if it works with my existing SIM without extra charges.. I might as well get it too.

[varunet]

also is the GOBI 3000 a worldwide version? If i am travelling and using the SIM in any other country would it work?

[ausmike]

YESSSSSSSSSS>> that ONE OF MAJOR REASONS for buying the "GOBI" card
100% UNLOCKED and TOTALLY INTERCHANGEABLE GSM SIM card SLOT
have testing and worked in Following countries / Carrier's that I remember
Oceania

Australia - Telstra + vodafone + Optus
> New Zeland - telecom NZ + Vodafone
> Fiji - vodafone

AsiaMalaysia - Digi + TMobile
Singapore - Sig tel + Digi
Philipines - Smart + Globe Telecom
Japan - ??
Korea ??

Erupoe Ireland - vodafone
Uk - O2
France - ??
Germany - vodafone

USA and Canada = ATT + Sprint + Rodgers + Verizon

Curently in use = Gobi3000 (in w420s) AND Edge 220s with Err'son version

Hope it helps

[varunet]

beautiful.. thank you very much ausmike.. this is very helpful..

i am goin for it .. !!

liking this forum more n more..