Just ordered a Lenovo Y500 with i5 and GT650 SLI

[EliteRetard]

15.6" 1080P i5-3230m 6GB 1TB SLI GT650M (GDDR5) $900 total.

My friend wanted a new gaming laptop RIGHT FUSKING NOW, with a hard cap at $1,000. I scrambled to find something decent...found some GTX660 options and such with i7s or whatever but nothing really stood out as a decent deal. I recall posting a "hot deal" about the Y500 a while back and saw the deal was still live. He immediately jumped on it, but I was still kind of weary.

SLI doesn't always work great in a desktop not to sure about it in a laptop. Reviews said quality was questionable, and I don't know about the i5 holding up with SLI. Its got a 5400RPM HDD and he wont buy an SSD...unless I can get a good 256GB MSATA unit for $100. Wont go for anything less either. Then there's the Win8...it's horrific bad. I'm certain the second he uses it he will be smashing the laptop. Win8 is such a massive pile of shit, there are no words to properly describe it. I think the last $100 must be spent on a copy of Win7.

His last notebook was an Asus G50v 15" 13x7 2GHz C2D 9800M GT 4GB 250GB that we got for $600 back in 08 (I think). I was hoping to get an awesome deal like that (top single GPU for dirt cheap) but no go this time. If I could have found an i7 unit with a GTX670 or better under $1k...hell even a Dell outlet with 30% off... *sigh*

Well I'll see if I can do a little review of it when it comes in. For some reason I feel like I did bad finding him this "deal".

 

[dave_the_nerd]

15.6" 1080P i5-3230m 6GB 1TB SLI GT650M (GDDR5) $900 total.

...

Well I'll see if I can do a little review of it when it comes in. For some reason I feel like I did bad finding him this "deal".

It's not the most balanced system, IMO. But it could be worse, and it looks like decent gaming laptops aren't running anywhere close to $600 anyway.

 

[LanceAvion]

If I were you I would reconsider that particular order. While the i5 that ships with that y500 is not the worse (I assume you ordered from NewEgg) you could simply go to Lenovo's site and order an i7 3630QM y500 with a single 650M and DVD burner for $849.00 + the second 650M for $137.99. The 170W power unit will cost an additional $70, but since it's not stated as needed on the website I'm sure you could haggle that in. Lenovo also has a student discount if that applies here.

Take a look at the difference in CPU specs:

i5 3230M: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Notebook-Processor.84823.0.html
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-3230M+@+2.60GHz

i7 3630QM: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i7-3630QM-Notebook-Processor.80051.0.html
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-3630QM+@+2.40GHz

 

[Gintaras]

Make sure you won't have to pay them for OS again...if you want to modify HDD partitions, install new HDD or install SSD...
Lenovo does want $60 for recovery discs that they don't ship with laptop and no option to create recovery discs on 1st startup...
Recovery made on usb drive won't work on new HDD or blank ssd...

 

[EliteRetard]

??? So this laptop basically doesn't come with an OS.

We can just do a regular old Win7 install with no hassle right?

Order already placed, stuck with the i5 whether we want it or not.
Didn't even get the $50 off Vme thing.

I just checked the student discount page, but with shipping/tax its over $1030.
Could of got the i7 8GB RAM option for $1050, but he didn't want to spend the extra $150...and in principle was over the max $1k anyway.

 

[Anteaus]

Removed by poster.

 

[Gintaras]

Don't listen to Gintaras he's been pushing that inaccurate agenda over multiple threads now. New laptops that come with Windows 8 don't ship with the same rescue media they used to. The Windows 8 code is imbeded in the bios so to reinstall the OS you simply need to acquire free install media from MS or borrow someones install disc. You can in fact install on any SSD or HDD you want. You just won't be able to use the restore media that included on the laptop if you swap out the drive. Lenovo drivers and software can easily be gotten from their website. You can restore all you want from the rescue partition as it has always been.

Note that as this is only if you want to swap the drive. As long as the laptop stays in its as delivered condition restore works normally.

Don't listen to me and try for yourself(i'm not pushing anything):
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=HT076024

misleading info on Lenovo site: "if the hard drive is blank":

Below are the instructions if the hard drive is blank.

Select "Yes" to repartition the HDD or "No" to keep the existing partitions.
Click either choice, but these instructions follow the repartition scenario.
Select "Fully Clean the drive" as this will take several minutes to complete.
Click Reset to begin the process.
The reset/recovery process takes approximately 90 minutes.
Once the reset/recovery is complete, the system will reboot into Microsoft Windows 8.

then, do google: "Unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing".

Yes, Win8 can't be easily reinstalled using Win8 retail dvd(same version - std, in my case) - either buy(~$100) or borrow(if you can), borrowed Win8 dvd key won't be used, installation won't ask Win8 key - it will use key that's in bios.

I didn't want laptop stay in delivered condition with 6 partition, 5 of these very small, I do need 2 partitions: "C:" - for Win and programs and "D :" - for data and reinstall/recovery option that would reinstall "C:" only without touching anything on "D :"

hth

 

[kbp]

Again...
I just bought a Lenovo E530 and it came with all three disks at No extra charge to me. Intalled a fresh copy to a clean SSD on it's first boot. I did not have to enter a "key code" on installation but it was flawless right down to installing all the drivers. A two year old I believe could manage this. AND it did not place any unnecessary partions on the disk.
If you think it may be trouble then just boot it up (with original drive) let Windows run a backup to a USB or even burn the copy, and use that to install to a new drive. It does not get much simpler than that.

 

[Gintaras]

Again...
I just bought a Lenovo E530 and it came with all three disks at No extra charge to me.

You must be a special person...a VIP...where did you buy your lenovo from?
Google about Lenovo laptops with Win8 preinstalled...I did call myself to Lenovo....well, I'm not you(don't work for Lenovo, not a "special buyer", not somekinda vip to Lenovo), they asked $59.99 to get recovery discs...

Looks like you're a "Lenovo lotto winner" ....

 

[Anteaus]

You must be a special person...a VIP...where did you buy your lenovo from?
Google about Lenovo laptops with Win8 preinstalled...I did call myself to Lenovo....well, I'm not you(don't work for Lenovo, not a "special buyer", not somekinda vip to Lenovo), they asked $59.99 to get recovery discs...

Looks like you're a "Lenovo lotto winner" ....

I can understand you're disappointment with your experience with Lenovo lately, but based on a number of posts you've made over various threads over the past few weeks, I can only think you are on some sort of anti-lenovo crusade. You do have specific complaints with how they deal with restore media and I think you have the right, but you've been sarcastic and obtuse to the point where noone takes you seriously about it. Lenovo should definitely take some criticism for some recent decisions, but the way you go after the whole brand like they are the devil simply makes you look foolish.

Lenovo is one of the better laptop brands out there right now and many of us have had multiple positive experiences with them in contrast to your negative. I've purchased three machines from them over the past 5 years and once I had to deal with their support, and I've got nothing but good things to say. That doesn't mean every person has had a positive experience, but it does mean they get the benefit of a doubt.

You are correct that you can't create rescue DVD media like it had been in the past, but you're own Lenovo links describe the precedures for creating USB recovery media. I'm not sure what you are pissed about. Are you mad that you didn't get dvds with the computer or are you mad that you can't burn any? Lenovo specifically states that you need to use a USB device to create the media. What's so hard about buying a flash drive and doing what it says?

Maybe I've missed something but you've been screaming that you can't create rescue media and how you would be screwed if your HDD died, when in fact you can just create the rescue media as described in your own link and use that. The catch is you need to do it BEFORE anything happens to the drive.

 

[Gintaras]

I can understand you're disappointment with your experience with Lenovo lately, but based on a number of posts you've made over various threads over the past few weeks, I can only think you are on some sort of anti-lenovo crusade. You do have specific complaints with how they deal with restore media and I think you have the right, but you've been sarcastic and obtuse to the point where noone takes you seriously about it. Lenovo should definitely take some criticism for some recent decisions, but the way you go after the whole brand like they are the devil simply makes you look foolish.

Lenovo is one of the better laptop brands out there right now and many of us have had multiple positive experiences with them in contrast to your negative. I've purchased three machines from them over the past 5 years and once I had to deal with their support, and I've got nothing but good things to say. That doesn't mean every person has had a positive experience, but it does mean they get the benefit of a doubt.

You are correct that you can't create rescue DVD media like it had been in the past, but you're own Lenovo links describe the precedures for creating USB recovery media. I'm not sure what you are pissed about. Are you mad that you didn't get dvds with the computer or are you mad that you can't burn any? Lenovo specifically states that you need to use a USB device to create the media. What's so hard about buying a flash drive and doing what it says?

Maybe I've missed something but you've been screaming that you can't create rescue media and how you would be screwed if your HDD died, when in fact you can just create the rescue media as described in your own link and use that. The catch is you need to do it BEFORE anything happens to the drive.

I won't argue with an idiot who wants to drag me to their level and finish me with a experience......

This isn't Off Topic. Keep the insults out.
admin allisolm

 

[EliteRetard]

I guess Ill find out when it shows up...Tuesday/Wednesday.

 

[Gintaras]

This isn't Off Topic. Keep the insults out.
admin allisolm

Insult is, when some can NOT read what was said before....with tips how to google and to find out more on that topic...

Ignorance? Arrogance?

Well, some feel good when they try to belittle someone, when someone keep posting some BS after it was said IT IS a BS......and in this case it isn't called an insult...

Well, I did found how to fix my computer and get it up and running(NOTE: without help of this forum/board)...And all I tried, to inform other potential buyers of similar computer to beware....

Here comes someone, who tries to put sticks in someone wheels...not an insult....


If it doesn't work, why should someone keep parroting that it works? If there are hundreds, thousands facing similar problems? It wasn't that hard to google about...

 

[Gintaras]

I guess Ill find out when it shows up...Tuesday/Wednesday.

Did you get?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Insult is, when some can NOT read what was said before....with tips how to google and to find out more on that topic...

Ignorance? Arrogance?

Well, some feel good when they try to belittle someone, when someone keep posting some BS after it was said IT IS a BS......and in this case it isn't called an insult...

Well, I did found how to fix my computer and get it up and running(NOTE: without help of this forum/board)...And all I tried, to inform other potential buyers of similar computer to beware....

Here comes someone, who tries to put sticks in someone wheels...not an insult....


If it doesn't work, why should someone keep parroting that it works? If there are hundreds, thousands facing similar problems? It wasn't that hard to google about...

You should stop before you get banned.

Just saying.

 

[Gintaras]

You should stop before you get banned.

Just saying.

Will you feel better if I get banned?

Just wondering....

 

[EliteRetard]

Yeah the laptop is in...but I haven't had a chance to play with it yet. Had a plumbing emergency I had to go help with that's actually still ongoing. Initial impressions are mearly O.K.

Lots of low quality plastic glued together, very thin and flimsy screen (could break just opening it), but the body of the unit itself seems rigid enough (until the plastic parts/glue start separating). Keyboard is O.K. for a laptop, touch pad is garbage even for a laptop. Screen is O.K. for a laptop, there are color and uniformity issues and uneven lighting/back light bleed...but the higher res helps a lot and viewing angles are better than any of the other 13x7 laptops I've seen.

It could use a calibration, I want to say everything is to bright/contrasting or over-saturated or something. Its just off somehow, but I've only had about 30 minutes to play with it. Enough time to turn it on and try to uninstall most of the shart that was on it. Holy fusk did it have a massive pile of shizzle too, almost 20GB worth of crap. You must buy a 32GB flash stick to make the backup copy. I originally thought an 8GB stick would be overkill LOL.

 

[fdoasusg50v]

hey i have the asus g50v laptop i bought a few years ago, im thinking of buying the lenovo y500 on ebay for around $850 (its the i7-3630QM) it seems like a good laptop can you tell me your experience with it? i know you bought the i5, but i think if you think its a good gamming laptop for that price the i7 will only be better (i hope)... thanks

 

[EliteRetard]

hey i have the asus g50v laptop i bought a few years ago, im thinking of buying the lenovo y500 on ebay for around $850 (its the i7-3630QM) it seems like a good laptop can you tell me your experience with it? i know you bought the i5, but i think if you think its a good gamming laptop for that price the i7 will only be better (i hope)... thanks

Which GPU does it have? The 750M SLI (vs 650M) is worth looking for if you can find it in your price range. If I recall correctly the 750M was ~20% faster.

The i7 would be nice, at the time it would have cost ~1200$ for an i7 version for me. I don't think the i7 alone will do much for gaming, but if you run a lot of stuff all at once the extra cores could be useful. The i7 can also run at slightly higher speeds (3.4 vs 3.2 GHz), so it certainly wont hurt.

No serious issues with the laptop, there are quite a few games that don't utilize SLI but they seem to run fine anyway even at the full 1080 (the screen is hugely better than cheap 1366x768 screens).

Build quality is kinda poor, the track-pad is SUPER cheap and flimsy...while the screen/case is a little flimsy, so you need to be careful how you handle/carry it. I wouldn't toss it in a bag with heavy books or odd shaped objects (like a mouse), they could potentially damage the laptop.

Speakers aren't bad, but not good either...and could use a higher max volume but they're usable when needed. The keyboard is pretty good, the back-light can seem a little bright even on low but it's nice to have.

Hmmm...can't really think of anything else to say about it. It gets used a lot for school, movies, reading, games...it gets taken all over the place and is used without really thinking to much about it. Windows 8 is pretty stupid and annoying, but you eventually find ways to deal with it. For under a thousand, it seems like a good performer, games especially if/when SLI kicks in (you do need to make sure it gets enabled in the software before you game). No problems running Crysis or the like (right now it's mostly X-COM 2 EW).

Edit: Actually the stock HDD is rather slow and annoying...still using it because upgrading to an SSD seems annoying now that everything is installed and setup. I think I would suggest a good 7200RPM drive at the least...and an SSD upgrade if you can (before setting it all up). Don't recall if it has an MSATA slot or not, if so that would be nice, make the MSATA a boot drive and use the slow stock 1TB for storage.

 

[kyrax12]

I have the y410p and I think the build quality is very similar to the Y500.

Yeah I like the design, but not really digging the filmsy and the cheap plastic feeling.

I think I should have gotten a Thinkpad instead but oh well.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Will you feel better if I get banned?

Just wondering....

I'm trying to save your ass.

:whiste:

 

[EliteRetard]

hey i have the asus g50v laptop i bought a few years ago, im thinking of buying the lenovo y500 on ebay for around $850 (its the i7-3630QM) it seems like a good laptop can you tell me your experience with it? i know you bought the i5, but i think if you think its a good gamming laptop for that price the i7 will only be better (i hope)... thanks

Just saw this at Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834313584

The newest version with Haswell CPU and SLI 750M for $950 new.
Dunno what deal you're looking at on ebay, but this might be a better option for the money.