diff --git a/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/feature-the-search-is-over.jpg b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/feature-the-search-is-over.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c852b37 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/feature-the-search-is-over.jpg differ diff --git a/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/index.id.md b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/index.id.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..869ccef --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/index.id.md @@ -0,0 +1,265 @@ +--- +title: "Pencarian Telah Berakhir: Mengganti T420 Saya yang Rusak dengan ThinkPad P50 yang Siap Diguncang" +description: Saya akhirnya mendapatkan pengganti untuk laptop ThinkPad T420 saya yang telah rusak, dan ini merupakan peningkatan yang signifikan. +summary: Saya akhirnya mendapatkan pengganti untuk laptop ThinkPad T420 saya yang telah rusak, dan ini merupakan peningkatan yang signifikan. +keywords: + - Lenovo + - ThinkPad + - ThinkPad P50 + - ThinkPad T420 +date: 2024-08-29T21:22:51+07:00 +lastmod: +draft: false +noindex: false +featured: false +pinned: false +tags: + - Lenovo + - ThinkPad +authors: + - ditatompel +--- + +Sudah bertahun-tahun saya menggunakan **Lenovo ThinkPad T420** sebagai laptop +keseharian saya. Sudah banyak aplikasi yang lahir dari laptop saya ini. Tidak +sedikit juga server yang saya maintenance melalui [ThinkPad T420 saya][my_t420] +ini. + +Sedikit bercerita, CPU ThinkPad T420 saya ini sudah saya upgrade secara mandiri +yang awalnya menggunakan Intel Core [i5-2520M][i52520m] ke Intel Core +[i7-2620M][i72620m]. _Head sink_ juga sudah saya ganti dengan yang lebih baik +untuk meminimasir terjadinya CPU _throttling_. + +Untuk memori, saya membekalinya dengan dua keping 8GB RAM DDR3, jadi dia +memiliki total 16GB RAM. Sedangkan untuk _storage_ terpasang 500GB +[Samsung SATA SSD 850 EVO][850evo]; 512GB SSD mSATA; dan 1TB harddisk SATA HGST +7200RPM. Luar biasa! Saya sangat menyukainya! + +## T420 Mulai Menunjukan Umurnya + +![Screen Crying T420][my_t420_monitor] + +Tapi, sekitar bulan Maret 2024 lalu, T420 saya ini mulai _"rewel"_. warna Layar +LCD menjadi tidak jelas dan sangat tidak responsif, beberapa tombol keyboard +sudah tidak berfungsi, dan yang paling parah: dia sudah tidak bisa menjaga +temperatur dan seringkali _overheat_. Bahkan untuk _streaming_ video YouTube +dengan kualitas 480p selama lebih dari 5 menit saja tidak mampu. + +Saya tahu, masalah temperatur mungkin bisa diatasi dengan membersihkan kipas +dan memberikan _thermal paste_ yang baik; tapi saya rasa jumlah dana yang harus +dikeluarkan untuk untuk memperbaiki permasalahan-permasalahan diatas akan +mendekati harga satu unit bekas untuk seri yang sama (atau bahkan lebih). + +Jadi jalan terbaik adalah membeli sebuah unit lain dengan model yang "muda" +untuk menggantikan ThinkPad T420 yang saat artikel ini ditulis sudah berusia +lebih dari 12 tahun. + +## Pilihan Pengganti + +Saya tidak perlu laptop _"slim"_, ringan, atau desain yang menawan. Tapi, +selalu ada kriteria yang wajib dipenuhi untuk laptop yang saya gunakan +sehari-hari, yaitu: + +1. Harga tidak lebih dari 6.000.000 rupiah. +2. CPU arsitekturnya harus `x86_64` dan support virtualiasi. +3. Memiliki port Ethernet (`RJ-45`). +4. Keyboard harus nyaman dan memberikan sensasi mengetik yang menyenangkan. +5. Mudah dibongkar dan dikonfigurasi serta memiliki banyak input maupun output. + Misalnya: USB port, jumlah _internal storage_ yang disediakan, dll. +6. Memiliki trackpoint. + +Maka jelas, tidak ada pilihan lain selain laptop ThinkPad bekas. Pertanyaannya, +ThinkPad apa yang cocok untuk saya saat ini? Saya suka dengan seri **"T"**, +tetapi juga sangat tertarik dengan seri **"P"**. Dari kedua seri tersebut, ada +beberapa pilihan yang saya kira cocok untuk saya, yaitu: + +- ThinkPad T480 +- ThinkPad T580 +- ThinkPad P51 + +| Model | T480 | T580 | P51 | +| -------- | ------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------- | +| Layar | 14" | 15,6" | 15,6" | +| Prosesor | i5-8250U (8th Gen) | i7-8650U (8th Gen) | i7-7820HQ (7th Gen) | +| GPU | - | - | NVIDIA Quadro M1200 | +| Memori | 2 banks, up to 32GB | 2 banks, up to 32GB | 4 banks, up to 64GB | +| Disk | up to 2 drives | up to 2 drives | up to 3 drives | +| Harga | ~3.600.000 | ~5.000.000 | ~6.200.000 | + +Dari perbandingan sederhana table diatas: + +- Harga rata-rata yang saya ambil untuk seri "T" adalah konfigurasi 8GB RAM dan 256 GB SSD. +- Harga rata-rata yang saya ambil untuk seri "P" adalah konfigurasi 16GB RAM dan 512 GB SSD. + +### ThinkPad T480/T580 + +Bagi saya, perbedaan paling utama dari T480 dan T580 dari segi spesifikasi +_hardware_ ada pada layar dan prosesor. ThinkPad T480 memiliki layar 14 inch, +sedangkan T580 memiliki layar 15,6 inch. + +Baik seri T480 ataupun T580 ada tipe yang menggunakan GPU +**NVIDIA Gforce MX150**, tapi untuk jenis tersebut harganya jauh lebih mahal +dan sulit didapat. Keduanya juga memiliki input dan output yang hampir sama, +yaitu: + +- 4-in-1 reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC). +- 2 port USB 3.1 Gen 1. +- 1 port USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 (untuk power input dan DisplayPort). +- 1 port USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 / Thunderbolt 3. +- 1 port HDMI 1.4b. +- 1 port Ethernet (RJ-45). +- Headphone/microphone combo jack. + +Konfigurasi _storage drive_ utama juga bervariasi, kebanyakan penjual tidak +menyebutkan secara detail apakah drive utama yang terpasang adalah SATA atau +NVMe M.2. + +### ThinkPad P51 + +Seri **"P"** atau penerus seri **"W"** adalah seri ThinkPad yang saya inginkan +dari dulu. Memang jika dilihat generasi CPU-nya, ThinkPad P51 menggunakan satu +generasi lebih tua (Intel Core Gen 7) jika dibandingkan dengan +ThinkPad T480/T580 (Intel Core Gen 8). Tapi jangan terkecoh dari generasinya +saja; ThinkPad P51 ini menggunakan suffix **"H"** yang artinya +**performa tinggi**. Sedangkan suffix **"U"** pada seri T480/T580 artinya +**power efisien** sehingga saya yakin dari sisi performa, i7-7820**HQ** lebih +baik daripada i7-8650**U**. + +P51 juga sudah dibekali dengan GPU **NVIDIA Quadro M1200** (beberapa ada yang +dengan seri **M2000** dengan harga yang lebih tinggi). Untuk input dan output, +bagi saya P51 jauh lebih mempesona dimana dia menawarkan: + +- 4-in-1 reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), supports UHS-II SD card. +- 4 port USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0, 1 Always On). +- 1 port USB 3.1 Type-C / Thunderbolt 3. +- 1 Mini DisplayPort 1.2a. +- 1 port HDMI 1.4b. +- 1 port Ethernet (RJ-45). +- 1 slot ExpressCard/34. + +Dan konfigurasi _storage drive_ utama memiliki **2 slot M.2 PCIe NVMe** dengan +**kapasitas masing-masing slot up to 2TB**. Kemudian ditambah +**1 slot SATA 6.0Gb/s** dengan **kapasitas up to 4TB**. Dengan kata lain, jika +dimaksimalkan dari sisi internal storagenya saja, mesin ini mampu membaca +**hingga 8TB**. + +Dari pilihan-pilihan diatas, saya sebenarnya lebih condong ke ThinkPad P51, +meskipun harganya sedikit melebihi budget. Dan untuk seri "P", saya yakin pada +akhirnya saya akan mengeluarkan jauh lebih banyak dana untuk memaksimalkan +kemampuuan laptop tersebut. + +## Akhirnya, Tawaran Yang Menarik: ThinkPad P50 + +Di pertengahan bulan Agustus lalu, saya mencoba mencari laptop bekas +ThinkPad P51 di beberapa marketplace lokal. Sangat sulit menemukan harga yang +sesuai dengan budget saya. Sampai pada akhirnya muncul sebuah produk +ThinkPad P50 dengan harga 4.700.000 rupiah! Tanpa menunggu lama, saya +menanyakan apakah produk tersebut masih tersedia dan spesifikasi detail laptop +tersebut. + +Setelah spek laptop terkonfirmasi, saya kemudian mendapatkan promo diskon +sebesar 300.000 dari marketplace tersebut! Dua hari kemudian, barang pesanan +yang saya tunggu-tunggu akhirnya tiba. + +Berikut ini adalah spefisikasi laptop ThinkPad P50 saat saya terima: + +- Merk: Lenovo +- Model: ThinkPad P50 (**20EQS44000**) +- Prosesor: Intel(R) Core(TM) [i7-6820HQ][i76820hq] CPU @ 2.70GHz +- GPU: **NVIDIA Quadro M1000M 4GB** +- Network: + - Ethernet: 1GbE **I219-LM** + - Wireless: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 +- Keyboard: SN20H35185 (UK/EU Layout, no backlight) +- Batrai: Lenovo 00NY491 (4 cells, 66000mWh, 15V) +- Memori RAM: 8GB/64GB + - ChannelA-DIMM0: 8GB SODIMM DDR4 2133 MT/s Samsung M471A1K43CB1-CRC + - ChannelA-DIMM1: Kosong + - ChannelB-DIMM0: Kosong + - ChannelB-DIMM1: Kosong +- Penyimpanan: + - NVMe0: Samsung 256GB + - NVMe1: Kosong + - SATA: Kosong + +Untuk charger laptop, saya mendapatkan model Lenovo **ADL170NLC3A 170W** dengan +input 100-240V dan output 20V-8.5A. Saya juga mendapatkan bonus tas laptop yang +sepertinya tidak muat untuk ukuran laptop 15,6 inch ini. =) + +### Kekurangan + +Saya akan memulai dengan kekurangan dari kondisi laptop yang saya terima +terlebih dulu. + +Layout keyboard bawaan laptop ini menggunakan layout UK/EU tanpa backlight. +Dan kebetulan yang saya terima bermasalah pada trackpointnya. Dia seperti terus +menekan tombol _"middle-button"_ sehingga trackpoint tidak berfungsi +sebagaimana mestinya. + +Saya sudah komplain kepada penjual dan mereka menanggapi dengan sangat baik +serta mau memberikan potongan sebesar 300.000 rupiah untuk permasalahan ini. +Saya sangat menghargai dan mengapresiasi niat baik penjual. + +Karena trackpoint merupakan bagian penting dari cara saya menggunakan laptop, +saya mencari keyboard pengganti dengan layout US, dan saya mendapatkan versi +layout US dengan backlight dengan harga 600.000 rupiah. Jadi boleh dibilang, +kekurangan soal trackpoint diatas boleh dihilangkan alias impas (bahkan bisa +dibilang untung jika dihitung dengan diskon dari marketplace dan pengembalian +dana dari penjual). + +![UK/EU Keyboard Layout][p50_uk_keyboard] + +### Kelebihan + +Dari kekurangan diatas yang sudah saya "anulir", ada segudang hal baik yang +saya dapatkan: + +- kondisi fisik laptop yang saya terima sangat baik. Memang ada sedikit baret + tipis pada permukaan laptop, tapi saya rasa hal itu sangat wajar jika + melihat usia laptop. +- "Unit test" dari Lenovo's UEFI diagnostic semuanya "PASS" yang artinya baik. +- Layar LCD juga masih sangat baik, sampai saat ini tidak terlihat adanya + _white spot_ pada layar. +- Kipas dan _thermal_ saya rasa masih dalam kondisi optimal. +- Dari informasi `nvme` maupun S.M.A.R.T di Linux, kondisi NVMe adalah baru + (meskipun sebenarnya tidak masalah bagi saya karena saya berencana menggantinya). +- Seluruh port USB 3.0, charger, 4-in-1 card reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), + headphone/microphone combo jack bekerja dengan normal. +- Daya tahan baterai dalam kondisi sempurna. + +Diluar kelebihan dan kekurangan diatas, ada beberapa fitur / _hardware_ yang +belum bisa saya coba atau saya tidak berniat untuk mencoba: + +- Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, USB Type-C / Thunderbolt 3, dan ExpressCard slot + belum sempat saya coba karena saya tidak memiliki media untuk mencobanya. +- Wireless WAN M.2 card Micro-SIM belum sempat saya coba. +- Saya tidak berminat mencoba Fingerprint Reader dan + **Pantone color calibrator** karena saya tidak menggunakannya. + +## Kesimpulan + +_Overall_, saya puas dengan kondisi produk yang saya dapatkan. Serius, saya +terkejut dan salut dengan daya tahan baterai untuk pemakaian normal yang mampu +**bertahan hingga 7 jam dengan mode "hybrid"** dan +**3 - 4 jam pemakaian dengan mode grafis**. + +Untuk _disk storage_, saya pasti akan melakukan upgrade. Saat ini saya lebih +memprioritaskan upgrade NVMe storage ke kapasitas yang lebih besar. + +Sedangkan untuk RAM, saat ini saya masih merasa cukup dengan 8GB. Namun +kedepannya saya pasti akan memaksimalkan RAM pada ThinkPad P50 saya ini! + +Informasi hardware dan konfigurasi sistem (Linux) ThinkPad P50 ini bisa dilihat +di [repositori GitHub][my_p50] saya. + +Sedangkan untuk nasib ThinkPad T420, kedepannya saya berencana menjadikannya +sebagai sebuah mini server dan _testing machine_. + +[my_t420]: https://github.com/ditatompel/ditatompel/tree/main/machines/t420 "My ThinkPad T420 GitHub Repo" +[my_t420_monitor]: screen-cryin-t420.jpg#center "Internal monitor T420 saya: tidak jelas dan sangat tidak responsif" +[my_p50]: https://github.com/ditatompel/ditatompel/tree/main/machines/p50 "My ThinkPad P50 GitHub Repo" +[p50_uk_keyboard]: uk-eu-p50-keyboard-layout.jpg#center "UK/EU keyboard layout" +[i52520m]: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/52229/intel-core-i52520m-processor-3m-cache-up-to-3-20-ghz/specifications.html "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2520M specifications" +[i72620m]: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/52231/intel-core-i72620m-processor-4m-cache-up-to-3-40-ghz/specifications.html "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2620M specifications" +[i76820hq]: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/88970/intel-core-i76820hq-processor-8m-cache-up-to-3-60-ghz/specifications.html "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6820HQ specifications" +[850evo]: https://www.samsung.com/id/memory-storage/sata-ssd/850-evo-sata-3-ssd-500gb-mz-75e500bw/ "Samsung 850 EVO SATA III" diff --git a/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/index.md b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..66161b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,259 @@ +--- +title: "The Search is Over: Swapping Out My Broken T420 for a Ready to Rock ThinkPad P50" +description: I finally got a replacement for my broken ThinkPad T420 laptop, and it's a significant improvement. +summary: I finally got a replacement for my broken ThinkPad T420 laptop, and it's a significant improvement. +keywords: + - Lenovo + - ThinkPad + - ThinkPad P50 + - ThinkPad T420 +date: 2024-08-29T21:22:51+07:00 +lastmod: +draft: false +noindex: false +featured: false +pinned: false +tags: + - Lenovo + - ThinkPad +authors: + - ditatompel +--- + +I've been using a **Lenovo ThinkPad T420** as my daily laptop for years. Many +applications have been born from this laptop, and I also maintain several +servers through [my trusty ThinkPad T420][my_t420]. + +To share a little story with you, I upgraded my ThinkPad T420's CPU +independently - initially, it used an Intel Core [i5-2520M][i52520m] processor, +which I later swapped out for an Intel Core [i7-2620M][i72620m]. Additionally, +I replaced the heat sink with a better one to minimize CPU throttling. + +For memory, I outfitted it with two 8GB DDR3 RAM chips, giving it a total of +16GB of RAM. As for storage, my ThinkPad T420 is equipped with a 500GB +[Samsung SATA SSD 850 EVO][850evo], a 512GB mSATA SSD, and a 1TB SATA HGST +hard drive (7200RPM). I must say, I'm quite pleased with the result! + +## The T420 Starts to Show Its Age + +![Screen Crying T420][my_t420_monitor] + +However, around March 2024, my T420 began to show its age. The LCD screen's +color quality became unclear and unresponsive, some keyboard buttons +stopped working altogether, and worst of all: it struggled to maintain a stable +temperature, often overheating. Even streaming YouTube videos in 480p quality +for more than 5 minutes was no longer possible. + +I realize that the temperature issue might be addressed by cleaning the fan +and applying good thermal paste; however, I think the cost of fixing these +problems would be comparable to purchasing a used unit from the same series +(or even higher). + +So, it seems the best course of action is to purchase another model that's +"younger" and more modern to replace my aging ThinkPad T420. At the time of +writing this article, my trusty laptop is well over 12 years old. + +## Replacement Options + +I'm not concerned with a laptop's slim design, lightweight build, or +aesthetic appeal. However, I do have some essential criteria for my +daily laptop, which are: + +1. The price must be capped at $380. +2. The CPU architecture must be `x86_64` and support virtualization capabilities. +3. It must feature an Ethernet port (`RJ-45`) for reliable connectivity. +4. The keyboard should provide a comfortable and pleasant typing experience. +5. Easy disassembly and configuration are important, along with a variety of + inputs and outputs, such as USB ports, internal storage, and more. +6. A trackpoint is also a must-have. + +It's clear that I'm leaning towards a used ThinkPad laptop. The question is, +which model would be the best fit for me right now? I've always been fond +of the "T" series, but I'm also intrigued by the "P" series. +Among these options, the following models stand out to me: + +- ThinkPad T480 +- ThinkPad T580 +- ThinkPad P51 + +| Model | T480 | T580 | P51 | +| --------- | ------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------- | +| Screen | 14" | 15.6" | 15.6" | +| Processor | i5-8250U (8th Gen) | i7-8650U (8th Gen) | i7-7820HQ (7th Gen) | +| GPU | - | - | NVIDIA Quadro M1200 | +| Memory | 2 banks, up to 32GB | 2 banks, up to 32GB | 4 banks, up to 64GB | +| Disk | up to 2 drives | up to 2 drives | up to 3 drives | +| Price | ~ $232 | ~ $323 | ~ $400 | + +From the quick comparison table above: + +- The average price I took for the "T" series is the 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD configuration. +- The average price I took for the "P" series is the 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD configuration. + +### ThinkPad T480/T580 + +In terms of hardware specifications, the primary differences between the T480 +and T580 for me are the screen size and processor. The ThinkPad T480 features +a 14-inch display, whereas the T580 boasts a 15.6-inch screen. + +Both the T480 and T580 series offer variants that utilize the +**NVIDIA GeForce MX150** GPU; however, these models are significantly more +expensive and harder to find. Additionally, both series share similar +input/output configurations, including: + +- A 4-in-1 card reader supporting MMC, SD, SDHC, and SDXC formats. +- Two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports. +- One USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1 port, which serves as a power input and DisplayPort. +- One USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 / Thunderbolt 3 port. +- One HDMI 1.4b port. +- One Ethernet port (RJ-45). +- A headphone/microphone combo jack. + +The main storage drive configurations also vary, with most sellers not +providing detailed information on whether the primary drive installed is SATA +or NVMe M.2. + +### ThinkPad P51 + +The ThinkPad P51 is the "P" series or the successor to the "W" series, which +has always fascinated me. While it may seem that the CPU generation is one step +behind compared to the ThinkPad T480/T580 (Intel Core Gen 8), +don't underestimate the performance capabilities of the ThinkPad P51. +The suffix **"H"** indicates **high-performance** processing, whereas the +**"U"** suffix on the T480/T580 series signifies power **efficiency**. +I am confident that the i7-7820**HQ** processor in the P51 outperforms the +i7-8650**U** in the T480/T580. + +The P51 also features an **NVIDIA Quadro M1200** GPU (some models come with the +**M2000** series at a higher price). In terms of input/output capabilities, +I am impressed by the P51's offering: + +- A 4-in-1 card reader supporting MMC, SD, SDHC, and SDXC formats, + with UHS-II SD card compatibility. +- Four USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (one always-on). +- One USB 3.1 Type-C / Thunderbolt 3 port. +- One Mini DisplayPort 1.2a. +- One HDMI 1.4b port. +- One Ethernet port (RJ-45). +- One ExpressCard/34 slot. + +The P51's main storage drive configuration is particularly impressive, +featuring **two M.2 PCIe NVMe** slots with a capacity of **up to 2TB each** and +**one SATA 6.0Gb/s** slot with a capacity of **up to 4TB**. In other words, +this machine has the potential to **store up to 8TB internally**. + +Of the options above, I find myself leaning more towards the ThinkPad P51, +despite its slightly higher price point. Furthermore, for the "P" series, +I am prepared to invest additional funds to maximize the laptop's capabilities. + +## Finally, a Good Deal: ThinkPad P50 + +In mid-August, I tried to find a used ThinkPad P51 laptop in several online +marketplaces. It was challenging to find a price that fit my budget until +finally, I found a fancy ThinkPad P50 for about **$304**! +Without hesitation, I inquired about the product's availability and +specifications. + +Once the laptop specifications were confirmed, I received a discount promo +of ~$20 from the marketplace! Two days later, the order that I had been waiting +for finally arrived. + +The following are the specifications of the ThinkPad P50 laptop as they stood +when I received it: + +- Brand: Lenovo +- Model: ThinkPad P50 (**20EQS44000**) +- Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) [i7-6820HQ][i76820hq] CPU @ 2.70GHz +- GPU: **NVIDIA Quadro M1000M 4GB** +- Network: + - Ethernet: 1GbE **I219-LM** + - Wireless: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 +- Keyboard: **SN20H35185** (**UK/EU** Layout, no backlight) +- Battery: Lenovo **00NY491** (4 cells, 66000mWh, 15V) +- Memory : **8GB**/64GB + - ChannelA-DIMM0: 8GB SODIMM DDR4 2133 MT/s Samsung M471A1K43CB1-CRC + - ChannelA-DIMM1: None + - ChannelB-DIMM0: None + - ChannelB-DIMM1: None +- Storage: + - NVMe0: Samsung 256GB + - NVMe1: None + - SATA: None + +As for the laptop charger, I received the Lenovo **ADL170NLC3A 170W** model +with a 100-240V input and a 20V-8.5A output. Additionally, I got a bonus +laptop bag that didn't seem to fit this 15.6-inch laptop. + +### The Bad + +I'll start by discussing the negative aspects of the laptop I received. + +The default keyboard layout on this laptop is set to UK/EU, without backlight. +Additionally, the trackpoint was faulty, as if it had a sticky middle button +that prevented proper functioning. + +I reported these issues to the seller and they responded promptly, offering a +discount of ~$20 to compensate for the problem. I appreciated their willingness +to resolve the issue. + +Since the trackpoint is crucial to my laptop usage, I sought a replacement +keyboard with a US layout (with backlight), which I purchased for about $38. +In essence, this issue has been mitigated, effectively breaking even +(or even making a profit) when considering the discount from the marketplace +and the refund from the seller. + +![UK/EU Keyboard Layout][p50_uk_keyboard] + +### The Goods + +Despite the initial issues, there were many positive aspects to the laptop: + +- The physical condition of the laptop I received was excellent. While there + were some minor scratches on its surface, I believe this is reasonable + given the laptop's age. +- The Lenovo's UEFI diagnostic "unit test" all reported a "PASS" result, + indicating good starting point. +- The LCD screen remains in good condition, with no white spots visible to date. +- I'm satisfied that the fan and thermal systems are functioning optimally. +- According to `nvme` and S.M.A.R.T information in Linux, the NVMe condition + appears new (although this is of little consequence, as I plan to replace it). +- All USB 3.0 ports, charger, 4-in-1 card reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), and + headphone/microphone combo jack were functioning normally. +- Battery life was in excellent condition. + +In addition to these goods and bad, there are some features/hardware that I +have not been able to test or do not intend to use: + +- I haven't had the opportunity to try the Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, + USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3, or ExpressCard slot, as I lack the necessary media. +- The Wireless WAN M.2 card Micro-SIM is another feature I have yet to test. +- I'm not interested in testing the Fingerprint Reader and + **Pantone color calibrator**, as I do not utilize these features. + +## Conclusion + +Overall, I am satisfied with the condition of the product I received. +To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the battery life for +normal use, which can last up to **7 hours in "hybrid" mode** and +**3-4 hours in graphics mode**. + +For disk storage, I plan to upgrade it. Currently, I prioritize upgrading +NVMe storage to a larger capacity. + +As for RAM, while I currently feel sufficient with 8GB, I do intend to maximize +the RAM on my ThinkPad P50 in the future! + +Hardware information and system configuration (Linux) of my ThinkPad P50 can be +found on my [GitHub repository][my_p50]. + +As for the fate of the ThinkPad T420, I plan to repurpose it as a mini server +and testing machine in the future. + +[my_t420]: https://github.com/ditatompel/ditatompel/tree/main/machines/t420 "My ThinkPad T420 GitHub Repo" +[my_t420_monitor]: screen-cryin-t420.jpg#center "My T420's internal monitor: unclear and unresponsive" +[my_p50]: https://github.com/ditatompel/ditatompel/tree/main/machines/p50 "My ThinkPad P50 GitHub Repo" +[p50_uk_keyboard]: uk-eu-p50-keyboard-layout.jpg#center "UK/EU keyboard layout" +[i52520m]: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/52229/intel-core-i52520m-processor-3m-cache-up-to-3-20-ghz/specifications.html "Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2520M specifications" +[i72620m]: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/52231/intel-core-i72620m-processor-4m-cache-up-to-3-40-ghz/specifications.html "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2620M specifications" +[i76820hq]: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/88970/intel-core-i76820hq-processor-8m-cache-up-to-3-60-ghz/specifications.html "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6820HQ specifications" +[850evo]: https://www.samsung.com/id/memory-storage/sata-ssd/850-evo-sata-3-ssd-500gb-mz-75e500bw/ "Samsung 850 EVO SATA III" diff --git a/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/screen-cryin-t420.jpg b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/screen-cryin-t420.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79ee485 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/screen-cryin-t420.jpg differ diff --git a/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/uk-eu-p50-keyboard-layout.jpg b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/uk-eu-p50-keyboard-layout.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4786fc Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/the-search-is-over-swapping-out-my-broken-t420-for-a-ready-to-rock-thinkpad-p50/uk-eu-p50-keyboard-layout.jpg differ