t520 lcd panel replacement video free sample

Simultaneous to the T420, we also looked at a 15.6 inch model from the T520 range. Here, the only significant change in comparison to the T510 is also the hardware refresh with the new Sandy Bridge processors from Intel.

Our test device"s exact name is T520 4240-4CG. An Intel Core i5 2410M CPU supplies the adequate computing performance inside. Either an NVIDIA NVS 4200M graphics card or solely the Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated in the processor takes care of pixel calculations (Optimus). A four gigabyte DDR3 main memory and a fast 500 GB hard disk with a revolution speed of 7200 rpm complete the configuration.

The T520"s immediate opponent is found in Dell"s Latitude E6520, which can be configured at most with an i7 and the NVS 4200M graphics card as well. Unlike Lenovo, Dell uses a new look. We hope to provide you with all details in this review.

In regards to design, we have had this case in review a few times before. Starting with the T500 over the T510 up to the latest T4x0 series, Lenovo couldn"t compel to make any surprising design modifications in the current T520, except for minor ones. Considered by itself, sticking to the tried and tested isn"t at all bad, but innovations don"t stop in case design. And compared to the competition, you would think that a high-priced laptop such as the T520 would, in a sense, deserve a complete metal case now, though.

Instead, Lenovo still sticks to the plastic look & feel. Nevertheless, the T520, practically dressed entirely in black has a certain air of elegance and the matt slightly roughened surfaces have a pleasant feel anyway.

Two USB 2.0 ports and the eSATA/USB 2.0 socket are located on the left edge"s center. In addition, there is an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) port in the front area. It is mainly used for fast data exchange between the computer and multimedia or other peripheral devices, for example video cameras. Both video interfaces, analog VGA and a digital display ports, are also placed on the left edge center. Thus, left-handed users are definitely disadvantaged depending on what"s in use.

It looks better on the right. There is a 4in1 cardreader, which supports SD, SDHC, SDXC and MMC formats, and an ExpressCard34 slot, which makes it possible to extend the T520"s functionality. The combo audio port, the optical drive, an RJ45 for connecting the laptop to the Ethernet and a Kensington Security slot follow towards the rear.

Apart from the Kensington Security lock for physical securing against theft, the T520 is also equipped with a fingerprint reader among other things. A splash water proof keyboard and a shock proof hard disk protect the system against data loss in case of the corresponding mishap.

Appropriate for a business device, Lenovo equips the T520 with a matt screen and thus meets the requirements placed on display workstations. Alike the predecessor, three alternatives are available, all in a 15.6 inch, 16:9 size and with a built-in antenna for a broadband modem. The potential buyer is spoilt for choice with HD, that is 1366x768, HD+, that is 1600x900 or FHD, that is 1920x1080 pixel resolutions.

The Thinkpad T520 is based on the QM57 chip set. It"s offered with a range of second generation Core i processors, called Sandy Bridge. The performance spectrum ranges from various Core i5 CPUs up to the Intel Core i7 2820QM quad core processor.

Our T520 test laptop is at the start with a Core i5 2410M CPU. It is a midrange dual core processor. It can process up to four threads at the same time due to Hyper Threading. Its base clock rate of 2.3 GHz can be increased to 2.6 GHz (2 cores loaded), respectively 2.9 GHz (1 core).

Our performance tests were all executed with the NVIDIA NVS 4200M, which has been installed in the fully equipped Thinkpad T520 at hand. For comparison, the same chip, with a lower clock rate, was used in the recently reviewed Dell Latitude E6420.

The business graphics card positions itself in the entry level range in terms of 3D performance. The NVS range is especially optimized for stability and business applications. The NVS 4200M also supports PureVideo HD (VP4) for decoding HD videos (H.264, VC1, MPEG-2, Full Spec Blu-Ray Decode). Monitors with a resolution of up to 2560x1600 pixels can be connected via the display port. One gigabyte of DDR3 RAM are tethered to the 64bit wide memory bus.

Let"s look at our Cinebench test results once more. But this time at the shading rate, which assess the graphics card"s OpenGL performance. Our test system can score 5355 points in the Cinebench R10 64 bit Shading Test. Thus, the T520 positions itself in the immediate vicinity of laptops with a GeForce GT 540M or even Radeon HD 6550M graphics card in our database. So, it exceeds the Latitude E6420 that reaches 4471 with the same, but lower clocked graphics card and weaker processor, with surprising clarity.

It looks different in the 3DMark tests. The E6420 and our T520 are on the same level throughout the tests. The graphics chip places itself in the range of a GeForce 320M, respectively GT 130M in the 3DMark06 test (1280x1024). Interestingly, even the incorporated Intel HD Graphics 3000 can come close to the 4000 point mark, depending on the test configuration.

Our T520 has really not been designed for CAD applications. A look at the SPEC Viewperf 11 benchmarks proves this. The T520 can again surpass the Latitude E6420 across the board, but the overall performance remains in the lower field of our database, just before the NVS 3100M. Graphics solutions from the Quadro FX or FirePro category supply a multiple of performance here.

The T520 doesn"t show any irregularities in use with low load and stays at a constant noise level of 32.5 dB(A). It can be perceived as a low pitched noise. The fan noise remains on an idle level for a long time when the load is increased, for example in 3D applications, only to turn up to 34.4 dB(A) later. A maximum noise level of a very audible 36.8 dB(A) can be reached.

We could do research on the internet for almost five hours via WiFi hotspot in brightness 12/15 and in energy savings profile in both practical tests. Movie entertainment ends after almost three hours in maximum brightness and "Video" profile.

The Thinkpad T520 thus represents a solid notebook with good application performance and, thanks to Optimus, good mobility qualities for business clients. It is definitely to be placed in the office field in view of performance. However, it"s not suitable for CAD applications despite the dedicated graphics card. But the Thinkpad W520 is designed for that and its review will follow shortly.

Simultaneous to the T420, we also looked at a 15.6 inch model from the T520 range. Here, the only significant change in comparison to the T510 is also the hardware refresh with the new Sandy Bridge processors from Intel.

Our test device"s exact name is T520 4240-4CG. An Intel Core i5 2410M CPU supplies the adequate computing performance inside. Either an NVIDIA NVS 4200M graphics card or solely the Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated in the processor takes care of pixel calculations (Optimus). A four gigabyte DDR3 main memory and a fast 500 GB hard disk with a revolution speed of 7200 rpm complete the configuration.

The T520"s immediate opponent is found in Dell"s Latitude E6520, which can be configured at most with an i7 and the NVS 4200M graphics card as well. Unlike Lenovo, Dell uses a new look. We hope to provide you with all details in this review.

In regards to design, we have had this case in review a few times before. Starting with the T500 over the T510 up to the latest T4x0 series, Lenovo couldn"t compel to make any surprising design modifications in the current T520, except for minor ones. Considered by itself, sticking to the tried and tested isn"t at all bad, but innovations don"t stop in case design. And compared to the competition, you would think that a high-priced laptop such as the T520 would, in a sense, deserve a complete metal case now, though.

Instead, Lenovo still sticks to the plastic look & feel. Nevertheless, the T520, practically dressed entirely in black has a certain air of elegance and the matt slightly roughened surfaces have a pleasant feel anyway.

Two USB 2.0 ports and the eSATA/USB 2.0 socket are located on the left edge"s center. In addition, there is an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) port in the front area. It is mainly used for fast data exchange between the computer and multimedia or other peripheral devices, for example video cameras. Both video interfaces, analog VGA and a digital display ports, are also placed on the left edge center. Thus, left-handed users are definitely disadvantaged depending on what"s in use.

It looks better on the right. There is a 4in1 cardreader, which supports SD, SDHC, SDXC and MMC formats, and an ExpressCard34 slot, which makes it possible to extend the T520"s functionality. The combo audio port, the optical drive, an RJ45 for connecting the laptop to the Ethernet and a Kensington Security slot follow towards the rear.

Apart from the Kensington Security lock for physical securing against theft, the T520 is also equipped with a fingerprint reader among other things. A splash water proof keyboard and a shock proof hard disk protect the system against data loss in case of the corresponding mishap.

Appropriate for a business device, Lenovo equips the T520 with a matt screen and thus meets the requirements placed on display workstations. Alike the predecessor, three alternatives are available, all in a 15.6 inch, 16:9 size and with a built-in antenna for a broadband modem. The potential buyer is spoilt for choice with HD, that is 1366x768, HD+, that is 1600x900 or FHD, that is 1920x1080 pixel resolutions.

The Thinkpad T520 is based on the QM57 chip set. It"s offered with a range of second generation Core i processors, called Sandy Bridge. The performance spectrum ranges from various Core i5 CPUs up to the Intel Core i7 2820QM quad core processor.

Our T520 test laptop is at the start with a Core i5 2410M CPU. It is a midrange dual core processor. It can process up to four threads at the same time due to Hyper Threading. Its base clock rate of 2.3 GHz can be increased to 2.6 GHz (2 cores loaded), respectively 2.9 GHz (1 core).

Our performance tests were all executed with the NVIDIA NVS 4200M, which has been installed in the fully equipped Thinkpad T520 at hand. For comparison, the same chip, with a lower clock rate, was used in the recently reviewed Dell Latitude E6420.

The business graphics card positions itself in the entry level range in terms of 3D performance. The NVS range is especially optimized for stability and business applications. The NVS 4200M also supports PureVideo HD (VP4) for decoding HD videos (H.264, VC1, MPEG-2, Full Spec Blu-Ray Decode). Monitors with a resolution of up to 2560x1600 pixels can be connected via the display port. One gigabyte of DDR3 RAM are tethered to the 64bit wide memory bus.

Let"s look at our Cinebench test results once more. But this time at the shading rate, which assess the graphics card"s OpenGL performance. Our test system can score 5355 points in the Cinebench R10 64 bit Shading Test. Thus, the T520 positions itself in the immediate vicinity of laptops with a GeForce GT 540M or even Radeon HD 6550M graphics card in our database. So, it exceeds the Latitude E6420 that reaches 4471 with the same, but lower clocked graphics card and weaker processor, with surprising clarity.

It looks different in the 3DMark tests. The E6420 and our T520 are on the same level throughout the tests. The graphics chip places itself in the range of a GeForce 320M, respectively GT 130M in the 3DMark06 test (1280x1024). Interestingly, even the incorporated Intel HD Graphics 3000 can come close to the 4000 point mark, depending on the test configuration.

Our T520 has really not been designed for CAD applications. A look at the SPEC Viewperf 11 benchmarks proves this. The T520 can again surpass the Latitude E6420 across the board, but the overall performance remains in the lower field of our database, just before the NVS 3100M. Graphics solutions from the Quadro FX or FirePro category supply a multiple of performance here.

The T520 doesn"t show any irregularities in use with low load and stays at a constant noise level of 32.5 dB(A). It can be perceived as a low pitched noise. The fan noise remains on an idle level for a long time when the load is increased, for example in 3D applications, only to turn up to 34.4 dB(A) later. A maximum noise level of a very audible 36.8 dB(A) can be reached.

We could do research on the internet for almost five hours via WiFi hotspot in brightness 12/15 and in energy savings profile in both practical tests. Movie entertainment ends after almost three hours in maximum brightness and "Video" profile.

The Thinkpad T520 thus represents a solid notebook with good application performance and, thanks to Optimus, good mobility qualities for business clients. It is definitely to be placed in the office field in view of performance. However, it"s not suitable for CAD applications despite the dedicated graphics card. But the Thinkpad W520 is designed for that and its review will follow shortly.

In the business notebook category, Lenovo continues to be the company to beat, and it looks to continue its dominance with the ThinkPad T520. Thanks to a Core i5 processor and Nvidia graphics, this 15-inch $1,299 system can handle just about any task. A sturdy chassis, excellent keyboard, and built-in fingerprint reader further sweeten the pot, but is it enough to keep the T520 at the top of the business heap? Regardless, it"s one of the best laptops you can buy.

Click to EnlargeAs with other ThinkPads, the T520 is as buttoned-down as they come. Its black matte rubberized lid is highly resistant to fingerprints and smudges, and is only accented by a chrome Lenovo emblem and a ThinkPad logo. Following the ThinkPad aesthetic, the deck features the traditional all-black interior with the keyboard nestled between two speakers. The telltale blue Enter key and the bright red TrackPoint located between the G and H keys are also on board. A raised panel above the function keys houses buttons for mute, volume, microphone mute, the ThinkVantage toolbox and Power.

Click to EnlargeEven though 15-inch systems aren"t meant to be carried around extensively, the 6.2-pound, 14.7-by-9.7-by-1.3-1.4-inch T520 is on the chunky side compared to other machines we"ve recently reviewed with this size display. For example, the

After streaming a full-screen video on Hulu on 15 minutes, the touchpad, space between the G and H keys and the notebook"s underside measured 82, 85 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. The middle of the notebook"s bottom measured 98 degrees, which is 3 degrees above what we consider to be comfortable, but then this is not a machine that will see a lot of time on your lap.

Click to EnlargeAn ExpressCard/34 reader, a 4-in-1 card reader, a combination headphone/microphone, Gigabit Ethernet, and a tray-loading DVD burner sit on the right side of the T520. Two USB 2.0 ports, a USB/eSATA port, DisplayPort, VGA, Firewire 400 and a wireless switch sit along the left side. A single USB 2.0 port can be found on the notebook"s rear right corner. At this point, we wish the notebook came with USB 3.0, too.

Despite the two wide speaker grilles on either side of the keyboard, the T520 doesn"t offer the greatest sound. At full volume, the notebook barely filled a small room, even after tweaking settings in the Smart Audio control panel. Still, Robin Thicke"s soulful tenor were nicely balanced on "Love After War" as were the strings, piano, and crisp snare drums.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T520 comes equipped with a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i5-2540M processor, 4GB of RAM, 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive and switchable graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000, Nvidia NVS 4200M GPU with 1GB of VRAM). The machine took just about everything we threw at it, including playing video, performing productivity tasks and some light gaming.

On the PCMark07 benchmark, which measures overall performance, the T520 scored 2,177, slightly less than the 2,278 mainstream category average. The HP Envy 15 and its 2.4-GHz Intel Core i5-2450M and 6GB of RAM notched 2,385 while the Samsung Series 7 Chronos" 2.2-GHz Intel Core i7-2675QM CPU and 8GB of RAM delivered 2,447.

The T520"s 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive booted the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional in 49 seconds. That"s 10 seconds faster than the 0:59 category average. During the LAPTOP File Transfer Test, the ThinkPad T520 duplicated 4.97GB of mixed media files in 3 minutes and 1 second, a transfer rate of 28.1MBps. That"s slightly slower than the 31 MBps mainstream average.

On the OpenOffice Spreadsheet test, the T520 took 4 minutes and 54 seconds to match 20,000 names to their corresponding addresses, 1:32 seconds ahead of the 6:26 average. The Series 7 Chronos was a close second with 4:56 while the Envy 15 lagged with a time of 6:31.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T520 comes equipped with Nvidia"s Optimus technology, allowing it to automatically switch between its integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 and its discrete Nvidia NVS 4200M GPU with 1GB of VRAM for optimal performance and battery life.

On 3DMark06, which measures graphics performance, the T520 scored 5,627. That"s 678 points above the 4,949 mainstream category average. During the "World of Warcraft" benchmark, the T520 delivered a frame rate of 38 fps on autodetect at 1600 x 900. While that fails to match the 58 fps mainstream category average, most notebooks in this category sport lower resolutions. When we cranked the settings to maximum, the T520"s frame rate dropped slightly to a still-playable 33 fps. That"s enough to defeat the category average and the Envy 15 (28 fps).

Click to EnlargeLenovo sent us a big 9-cell battery with the ThinkPad T520, and it didn"t disappoint. During the LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi) the business laptop lasted a whopping 9 hours and 4 minutes. That"s 4 hours and 8 minutes longer than the 4:56 mainstream category average. If you"re constantly dashing from one meeting to the next, you"ll appreciate the 9-cell battery"s endurance; if you do most of your work at your desk, the smaller 6-cell battery will probably suffice.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T520 comes with a limited one-year warranty with depot repair service. See how Lenovo fared in our annual Tech Support Showdown and Best and Worst Brand report.

Our $1,299 review unit of the T520 came equipped with a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i5-2540M CPU with 4GB of RAM, 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive, switchable graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000, Nvidia NVS 4200M GPU with 1GB of VRAM) and a 15.6-inch 1600 x 900 display. The $899 base model features a 2.3-GHz Intel Core i3-2350M processor, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB 5,400-rpm hard drive, an Intel HD Graphics 3000 GPU and a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 display.

Click to EnlargeWhile it"s a bit thick and heavy for a 15-inch laptop, the $1,299 Lenovo ThinkPad T520 offers business users everything they need: good performance, durability, and security. Of course, you also get Lenovo"s trademark fantastic keyboard and accurate pointing stick. Add in wide viewing angles for the matte screen and extra-long battery life and you have a sound investment.