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Saturday, August 27, 2011

Lenovo ThinkPad X220T 4298-2YG Notebook Review

Success ThinkPad X220 range continues the tradition of their predecessors, and is also a convertible model to the new version. X220t, with a rotating display with digitizer and touch screen, to show its properties in the next revision.

Convertibles are a mix of laptop and tablet and try to combine the advantages of both in one device. The range of various models of affordable network pourable (netbooks), for example, Dell Inspiron Duo, most consumer devices, such as HP TouchSmart TM2, to expensive commercial models.

In particular, high-performance, wide range of interfaces, long battery life, flexible options for input and high-end displays are the key qualities expected of a device in the business class. The Lenovo ThinkPad X220t a member of this guild and the typical faces of their opponents, as EliteBook 2760p HP, Dell Latitude is XT3 or Fujitsu Lifebook T901.

While HP and Dell models are not yet available, Fujitsu and Lenovo will provide at least limited. The ThinkPad is built in different configurations with the dealers and starts just under 1000 euros. The entrance fee is much higher in the Lenovo online store. You should expect around 1300 euros for an Intel Core i3 skinned and configuration.

As always, Lenovo still carry very attractive special models for the beneficiaries of the education sector. Our test unit is equipped with an Intel Core i7-2620m, a 320 GB hard drive, multi-touch display, 4GB of RAM and a 6-cell battery. Price is currently not fully € 1700.

Specifications Lenovo ThinkPad X220T 4298-2YG :
  • Processor : Intel Core i7 2620M 2.7 GHz
  • Mainboard : Intel QM67
  • Memory : 4096 MB, 2x 2 GB DDR3, max. 8 GB
  • Graphics adapter : Intel HD Graphics 3000, Core: 650 MHz, shared memory, 650-1300 MHz, igdumd64 815.10.2321 / Win7 64
  • Display : 12.5 inch 16:9, 1366x768 pixel, LEN40E2, LP125WH2-SLB1, Wacom digitizer, multi-touch, glossy: no
  • Harddisk : Seagate ST320LT000-9VL142, 320GB 5400rpm
  • Soundcard : Conexant SmartAudio HD
  • Connections : 1 Express Card 54mm, 3 USB 2.0, 1 VGA, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: combined audio in/out, Card Reader: SD, SDHC, 1 Fingerprint Reader
  • Networking : Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000MBit), Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (abgn), 3.0 Bluetooth
  • Size : height x width x depth (in mm): 32 x 303 x 255
  • Weight : 1.92 kg Power Supply: 0.34 kg
  • Battery : 63 Wh Lithium-Ion, 6 cell
  • Price : 1700 Euro
  • Operating System : Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit
  • Additional features : Webcam: 720p, microfiber cloth, stylus, MS Office Starter, 36 Months Warranty, 1 powered USB 2.0, full-sized mSata slot, TPM 1.2
Case
ThinkPad X220 Tablet to the base station to remind X220 a large extent. E ', however, significantly larger than the size 303 mm x 255 mm (including battery). Then again, the details of the differences are so insignificant compared to the model's sister. Tablet typical central hinge construction is the most obvious.

It allows you to set the screen with a rotating base. This also leads to a particular design of the battery and makes the batteries in conflict with the X220 models. Stability central swivel hinge makes a good impression and seems to be better than the HP EliteBook 2740p implemented.

In return, the screen is a bit more open 'out of line that protrudes from the back of the screen to stop the battery space of the battery open. Thus, it can scratch the display is rotated horizontally compressed position several times and I'm really good. So, be sure to raise the screen a bit 'when turning.

Otherwise, the screen has the same diagonal of 12.5 "as the X220. But it came out a little different and a little more integrated controls on the bottom. Therefore, the surface of the screen appears to be slightly lower with respect to the seat and does not look as sleek and svelte as a competitor, HP 2740p.

In terms of weight, convertibles are usually not as light as subnotebooks matching their territory. The test device of 1920 g who weighed almost 400 grams more than the X220. It 'a lot. Processor, at least not always going to carry around. The battery may take a little 'working hours.

The touchpad closes flush with the front edge and it is not established in the slope as X220. There is a storage compartment for the stylus slot between the hard drive and a Kensington lock preparation. The clicks of the stylus on a spring mechanism with a smooth click. You will also find the red "ThinkPad" button in accordance with the design.

Stability case is basically very good, but suffers in the area ExpressCard slot and the light touch palm rest, both X220. The battery does not fit as tight as the X220 because of the design. The base is very stable and the openings are readily accessible. The lack of rubber feet on the right side of the bottom is very bad, however. Thus, the unit wobbles without a battery.

Display
As already mentioned, the ThinkPad X220t available with two different monitors IPS. Both have a resolution of 1366x768 pixels and therefore a point density of 125 dpi, and an LED backlight, which apparently offers a brightness of 300 cd/m2 (300 nits). Gorilla glass is available for an extra display is described as an open-air without support multi-touch. In return, it is particularly resistant surface is supposed to impress. According to Lenovo, see the current open-air has a higher brightness of 400 cd/m2, like previous ThinkPad 201T, longer.

Our test unit is the basic version with multi-touch support. Although it is anti-glare screen, makes the impression of somewhere between Matt and shiny look. Depending on the lighting situation, you can see the vague outlines, which are not as annoying as the screen displays with the smooth. There is no evidence of problems inside, but you can always count on an ergonomic 140-160 cd/m2 brightness, and without hesitation.

Vague reflections could be annoying. Since the LED provides a brightness 256 cd/m2 and 244 cd/m2 and the maximum mid-level, image overlays can be eclipsed well. However, we can confirm that 300 cd/m2 Lenovo promises.

Homogeneous illumination of the displays approximately 91% is very good. With regard to the levels measured, the brightness decreases slightly towards the bottom of the screen. But that fact is not visible, even in black and white content.

Because of the scanner bed, the screen surface has a slightly grainy texture, in addition to quality semi-gloss. It does not provide quite as clear a representation that the X220 IPS screen when viewed up close. You can also see a dot matrix, when held against the light in an off mode. But more or less all the screens of this type had this effect and have a side effect of additional input options.

The LED backlighting can not defy the outside of direct sunlight, but the content can still see them in a satisfactory manner when the seat position is selected. They are also covered by the diffuse reflections. The maximum brightness is also available in battery mode. 883:1 contrast ratio also has a good positive impact on the readability of texts and websites.

Black, saturated colors and are really like the X220 screen IPS provides a good representation of images and video. In exchange, the spectrum of color is only on the level of a laptop usually around 70% of the sRGB color space.

Viewing angle stability is a very high level, because of the display provided IPS. Colors and contents remain very stable laptop, and scholarships for good, even if the recognition and the quality of reproduction in all directions. Just brightness varies the viewing angle. Differences between horizontal and vertical image is not detectable subjectively. Thus, a very good ability to use the tablet.

Performance
The performance of the test pattern is more or less based on the X220. The range of Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3 i5 Core i7 in place (dual core only) is also used here. Our test model is based on the QM67 chipset and is equipped with a Core i7-2620m (4 MB L3 cache), including two key players and main Turbo Boost Hyper Threading. The default clock frequency of 2.7 GHz to 3.4 GHz may increase in wire applications and can handle multi-threaded tasks with up to four threads simultaneously.

The Intel integrated graphics HD 3000 is responsible for the video industry. It also has a dynamic clock frequency (650-1300 MHz). Their effectiveness is not negligible according to the configuration of the RAM. 4 GB of RAM is divided into two slots in our test unit and can operate in dual channel mode.

See the review of the ThinkPad X220. We tested the graphics performance with different memory configurations. The use of 2x2GB of RAM has a problem upgrading users eager to know the existing bars were exchanged.

X220 is the answer to the entire test. In addition to the normal reference classifications, such as PCMark Vantage (8153 points) and Cinebench R11.5 (10.94 and 3.11 points), we also implemented a series of short tasks to convert. Badaboom reach 114 fps at standard resolution (Intel Quick Sync), we test for the film and iTunes to convert our MP3 song with 45.6 times the speed of the AAC format.

You can not say because technically stronger than the Core i7 CPU 2620m (131 fps), works a bit 'slower than the test environment as a Core i5 (150 fps) in the CPU with pure converting the X220 is Badaboom.

We explained X220 is to throttle problem in depth, and it is again in the convertible version. The adapter 65 watts can not always generate enough force to maximum load scenarios and performance of the CPU is throttled automatically. But we were unable to determine bottleneck anything when converting to a real situation, it was only possible in the benchmarks. For example, the constant of 3.2 GHz registered Badaboom (CPU conversion time of 23 min).

Like the X220, the CPU clock is limited to 800 MHz with 65 watts of power is connected without the battery. CPU Cinebench R11.5 points to obtain a low 0.76 and iTunes to convert only 10.9 times the speed. 90-watt adapter will help to restore full capacity, but does not change the battery when not flaky. It would be best to take care of battery life, use the Energy Manager, Battery Management (download limit), or buy a second battery in a smaller capacity, but not so great.

The 320 GB Seagate hard drive installed in the test model runs significantly faster than the alternative of Hitachi, which we did in X220. It belongs to the fastest conventional portable hard as we have ever encountered in laptops, with a maximum of 107 MB / s and an average of 85 MB / s.

More memory capacity of 320 GB is not currently possible on the hard drives because the hard drive models with a height of 7 mm can be used. It also limits the choice of SSD, working mainly in the silence of a thing and could also provide an additional performance increase for another.

Even 600 GB SSD would be possible with the 320 Intel currently around 900 euros. In addition to the mass memory installed, you can also use the slot for SSD MSAT MSAT. However, while excluding the use of an internal modem UMTS as it is only one slot.