Lenovo 14" 1080p Laptop @ Lenovo $130. WOW

Macgyversite

Golden Member
Dec 8, 2002
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Not a bad little unit.

BLACK FRIDAY DOORBUSTER
14w - Black
Part Number: 81MQ000JUS
Web Price: $299.00After eCoupon:$129.00Savings: $170.00
Use eCoupon:THINKPEEK14

Ships in 1-3 business days.

42% of ecoupons claimed

  • Processor
    AMD® A6-9220C dual-core processor (1.80GHz, up to 2.7GHz Max Boost, 1MB Cache)

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64

  • Display Type
    14" FHD (1920 x 1080) anti-glare

  • Memory
    4 GB DDR4 1666MHz (Onboard)

  • Hard Drive
    64GB eMMC

  • Warranty
    1 Year Depot or Carry-in

  • AC Adapter
    45 watt AC

  • Graphics
    Integrated AMD Graphics

  • Battery
    3 Cell Li-Polymer 57Wh

  • Bluetooth
    Bluetooth® 4.2

  • Camera
    720p HD camera

  • Keyboard
    Keyboard - US English

  • Wireless
    Liteon QCA 6174A 802.11AC (2 x 2)
 
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VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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Not a bad little unit.
Just FYI, this is a Stoney Ridge APU, which is a blend of Excavator single-module / dual-thread core, and a GCN graphics iGPU.

Because of the module architecture, and the bottlenecks (that have existed since BullDozer), it has trouble doing things like running Skype (that uses FPU opcodes, and likes to take an entire core to itself), and browsing the web with Firefox at the same time. Something that would still be mostly effortless, even on as low as a Bay Trail N2840 CPU, because that one has two real cores.

For the price though, this isn't that bad for browsing and YouTube, it supports VP9 decode, and has a FHD (1080P) screen, which is a rarity at this price-point among low-cost Windows 10 laptops.

I'm going to say "good deal", for those applications that it is able to run well with, with the module architecture. But not great, as it wouldn't work for my purposes. (I have a Dell with an A6-9220e, a 6W TDP Stoney Ridge cousin to this APU, and it doesn't Skype and web browse at the same time, even with an upgrade to 8GB of DDR4.)
 
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Macgyversite

Golden Member
Dec 8, 2002
1,175
120
106
PRICE DROP to $130


I ordered one. $136.74 shipped !!!!!!!


14w - Black
Part Number: 81MQ000JUS
Quantity: 1
Ships in 1-3 business days

$129.00
SHIPPING:
FREE
Tax:
$7.74

Total:
$136.74
YOU'RE SAVING$170.00
 
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spdfreak

Senior member
Mar 6, 2000
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So, does it have a bay to install a larger SSD since it is only 64GB? It shows the model is available with a 128GB PCIe SSD.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,584
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So, does it have a bay to install a larger SSD since it is only 64GB? It shows the model is available with a 128GB PCIe SSD.
That would be really nice if it was upgradable. Throw in a 256GB M.2 NVMe for Win10, and put Linux on the eMMC.
 

Macgyversite

Golden Member
Dec 8, 2002
1,175
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I got a UPS Ground tracking number, says from USA... No more details yet.

Ditto. Mine shipped today.

I am not too worried about HD space. Thumb drives are small and cheap.

Now if you can swap out the PCIe or add a 2.5" HD. Black Friday is right around the corner.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,584
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On one hand, if one can add a PCI-E M.2 NVMe drive, then this FHD low-end laptop is kind of steal. OTOH, I just spent all last night getting my Dell with the A6-9220e and 8GB RAM and 32GB eMMC updated to Win10 64-bit 1903, and that was a royal PITA. Never enough disk space to do the upgrade through Windows Update, so I made an MCT USB stick, and did it that way, and when I was done (downloading Firefox, Skype, and both AMD video drivers, all Windows Updates available, and CPU-Z and HWMonitor, and only had 2.7GB free on the eMMC! Probably because the PAGEFILE.SYS and HIBERFIL.SYS were so huge, because I had upgraded the RAM from 4GB to 8GB, so they were bigger on my fresh install than on the default install. Maybe I'll trim them down. Still, those 32GB eMMC laptops don't have much of a lifespan, either in terms of technological obsoleteness, or in terms of storage durability, because of lack of free space.

I'm glad that this one comes with 64GB, that might be enough to upgrade the RAM to 16GB, and still have enough for Windows 10, AND be able to do a "normal" Windows Upgrade. Maybe.

Edit: Oh yes, this A6-9220e APU is somewhat slow. Sometimes, it would show as 50-60% CPU load, and 1.40GHz (with a base clock of 1.6Ghz), and other times, it would be flying at 90-100% usage, at 2.20Ghz. I couldn't make hide nor hair of why. BTW, the Dell that this was in, doesn't have any vents or fans, totally passively-cooled. I guess for 6W TDP, including graphics, it's actually not too bad.
 

gibster

Senior member
Jan 18, 2002
757
90
91
Edit: Oh yes, this A6-9220e APU is somewhat slow. Sometimes, it would show as 50-60% CPU load, and 1.40GHz (with a base clock of 1.6Ghz), and other times, it would be flying at 90-100% usage, at 2.20Ghz. I couldn't make hide nor hair of why. BTW, the Dell that this was in, doesn't have any vents or fans, totally passively-cooled. I guess for 6W TDP, including graphics, it's actually not too bad.

I think this is the "C" version, not the "e", looks like there is a bit of difference between the 2, the "C" is definitely newer and faster.
Here is a comparison I found: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/AMD-A6-9220C-vs-AMD-A6-9220e/3455vs3198
 
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Macgyversite

Golden Member
Dec 8, 2002
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I am sorta excited. It should do light work very well.

What about using a fast micro thumb drive with "Ready Boost" as the larger Cache and make the page file on the 32gb HD smaller?

 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,300
4,960
136

gibster

Senior member
Jan 18, 2002
757
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Seen this thread so hopped onto Lenovo's site, with the ebates and got the $799 14s for $719.10 shipped. Dunno if that was a good deal or not. But since my laptop just had a inglorious disability permanently affixed to it, was my 14s a good deal?
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptop...series/Lenovo-ThinkBook-14s-IWL/p/88LG8TB1343
20RM0004US

Looks nice, but for that price, you should be able to get an i7 (instead of i5), with at least 8GB memory (vs. 4GB), which you probably want to upgrade to 16GB anyway. Not sure about the graphics, I'm more of an nVidia fan... Looks like this laptop comes with an m.2 drive, which is a plus, even if it's not too big (256GB only, 512GB would be better). Would be nice to have an SSD option, not sure if they have a drive slot available, but as SSD prices fall, I'd stick a 1-2TB drive in there, if possible. Bluetooth 5 though - I wonder when we'll start seeing BT5 devices...
 

SinfulWeeper

Diamond Member
Sep 2, 2000
4,567
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It was an i7, with 16gb ram and 512gb pcie ssd. I think you were looking at a lower level same model.
 

gibster

Senior member
Jan 18, 2002
757
90
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It was an i7, with 16gb ram and 512gb pcie ssd. I think you were looking at a lower level same model.

That's cool, I assume that deal is gone now, in which case I think you did well, it seems to be a nice laptop, the one you are talking about is $1100 now. I'd say the only weak point may be the graphics card at 2GB.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,584
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Well, mine arrived today. I'm kind of afraid to open it, I don't want to spoil the "newness" of it. (I bought it to give as a gift to a relative, that really didn't want a new laptop. But I was looking for an excuse to buy this one, along with the price drop to $129.99. The FHD and 64GB eMMC really got to me.)

So, anyone know for certain, if this particular model also has an M.2 socket? (I have some spare M.2 screws from my ASRock AM4 mobos, floating around here somewhere, I think.)

Edit: Also, if someone takes one of these apart (yeah, it's probably going to be me, being the guinea pig here), let me know if they have any SO-DIMM sockets, or any way to upgrade the RAM. If these will take an 8-16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM, and an M.2 PCI-E NVMe drive, I would be SO happy. I could really soup this one up for my relative, for cheap. (Already have the SO-DIMMs and a 256GB-class NVMe SSD.)

Edit: Let me check YouTube, maybe someone has a disassembly video that will show the upgradability of these units.

Nope, no teardown videos of this particular model, nor "Lenovo 14w". You could be first, and become a YouTube star...
 
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Macgyversite

Golden Member
Dec 8, 2002
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Edit: Let me check YouTube, maybe someone has a disassembly video that will show the upgradability of these units.

Nope, no teardown videos of this particular model, nor "Lenovo 14w". You could be first, and become a YouTube star...

LOL. I am tempted too but the idea for me was $136 shipped.

I will test it out stock and get it set up for my wife. I know she is not gonna be thrilled to get a present early. She is however running a 17" HP bought from Radioshack on Black Friday sales oh geez. 7 years ago? Its worn but still works. She just wanted something smaller.

Oh crap. Its 9 years old.......

 

Macgyversite

Golden Member
Dec 8, 2002
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Really nice build quality. So far stellar buy. Just finishing up setup. Setup is a breeze. No testing yet.

So 36.5 gb out of 57gb used on the hard drive. That's not terrible.

Installing Windows updates.

@VirtualLarry ....... There are 9 screws on the back as you probably know already. Its an actual panel. Should come off easy.
 
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VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,584
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Yeah, I was making mental comparisons to my Dell 11.6" with the A6-9220e, before I open the Lenovo, and from watching the YT promo vids, about the aluminum shell, re-inforced ports, drop-testing, spill-resistant keyboard, and 10-11 hr battery life (depending on which video you watch), the Lenovo honestly sounds like a pretty darn good deal, and it's the cheapest ("New") laptop with Windows 10 and a FHD screen around, as far as I can see.

If this thing does support upgraded RAM and a PCI-E NVMe SSD, it will cease to become a fun little toy, and actually progress (well, limited by the CPU) into more of a real tool, although I think that I still like my Ryzen 3 3200U laptop a lot too. (But it only has 4-5 hour battery life.)

Edit: Did yours come with Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and did it come in "S-Mode" or not? IMHO, S-Mode is a PITA, and it blocks you from installing and using Firefox and Chrome.
 

Macgyversite

Golden Member
Dec 8, 2002
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@VirtualLarry ....... I just installed Opera. Its my favorite browser. Runs fine. Its chrome based.

Its Win 10 Pro Education. It seems wide open. Never seen this Win10 version before but it works so far.

I had no issues turning off anything. Bloat is non existent.

The 1080p screen is pretty good. Just watched a few Youtube vids. 1080p streams fine. Its a little slow switching from Full screen to windowed.

Win 10 Pro Ed is a version of Win 10 Pro. Wow I guess.

 
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