Lenovo W520 Owner's Thread

[Jarhead]

Last question. Are their any alternates to the mega brick that will not force a low performance load? Crysis 2 is about as hard as I will push this thing (in reduced settings of course). If not no biggie.

If you want to game and have "high performance" on AC, you'll need the 170W brick. 135W brick is good for charging the laptop quickly (when it's off), and 90W is only good for a slow charge while it's off. So basically, you should probably stick to the original 170W brick.

[huberth]

Last question. Are their any alternates to the mega brick that will not force a low performance load? Crysis 2 is about as hard as I will push this thing (in reduced settings of course). If not no biggie.

The 135W brick works just fine with my i7-2820 system.

I use it while travelling and there is no perceivable performance difference compared to the 170W brick (except the 135W brick's smaller size - it weighs about the same though).

Note: Perhaps the i7-2920, which uses 10W more power, needs the 170W brick?

[Razorbak86]

Last question. Are their any alternates to the mega brick that will not force a low performance load? Crysis 2 is about as hard as I will push this thing (in reduced settings of course). If not no biggie.

For what it's worth, I was really worried about the size and weight of the W520's power brick, given the photos that I had seen and the weight listed on the stats sheet, especially in comparison to the smaller 90W brick on my T500, but once I actually held it in my hand, the issue effectively went away.

In my honest opinion, the W520 brick is not as big or heavy as it seemed from afar -- I've actually carried larger, and heavier, power bricks on previous laptops -- and it is, frankly, a necessary compromise for the increased power of a mobile workstation. There are a lot of things that my T500 simply cannot do, and I was more than willing to make the trade-off.

[ivant_]

I am thinking of buying this backpack for W520..

Targus A7 Backpack - 16-inch: Details & Specs at NexTag

targus a7 for 16inch laptops

Will it fit?

[Razorbak86]

I am thinking of buying this backpack for W520..

Targus A7 Backpack - 16-inch: Details & Specs at NexTag

targus a7 for 16inch laptops

Will it fit?

It should be fine, albeit a little tight on Compartment Height and Depth. Compartment Height is 14.75", Compartment Width is 13", and Compartment Depth is 1.53".

W520 dimensions are: 14.7" x 9.7" x 1.4". Add 0.9" to the second dimension for the extension of the 9-cell battery.

[jhwelch]

Remove a Stripped Screw with a Rubber Band

It won't hurt to try this, except the screw was stripped while trying to remove it, not while it was being installed. It is easy to mess up a screw while installing it by overtightening.

[jhwelch]

EEK!!!
try an easyout screw remover.
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Danger Will Robinson! Even if you could find an easy out for a screw this tiny you would have to accurately drill in the center of the old one and then hope the easy out does not break. If you are already able to accurately drill in the center of the messed up screw then you are already in a position to drill the screw out and retap the threads with the next size up, per my machine shop suggestion.

I have seen many broken bolt issues in engines only made worse by an easy out that has snapped off. I would stay away from them; better to drill and retap.

[badhabit_wb]

Danger Will Robinson! Even if you could find an easy out for a screw this tiny you would have to accurately drill in the center of the old one and then hope the easy out does not break. If you are already able to accurately drill in the center of the messed up screw then you are already in a position to drill the screw out and retap the threads with the next size up, per my machine shop suggestion.

I have seen many broken bolt issues in engines only made worse by an easy out that has snapped off. I would stay away from them; better to drill and retap.

if you can drill off the top of the screw, and this is one of the keyboard screws, then remove the other screw and take the keyboard out you will be able to remove the screw with a pair of pliers. If a drill doesn't work a dremel tool probably would. I would pull the battery before I did anything.

[astrohip]

I'm getting ready to order a fully-loaded W520, and I always order an extra AC adapter/cord/brick. I currently have a T61. Will the adapter/cord for my T61 work on the W520? I can save the ridiculous $120 they want for an extra cord.

[badhabit_wb]

I'm getting ready to order a fully-loaded W520, and I always order an extra AC adapter/cord/brick. I currently have a T61. Will the adapter/cord for my T61 work on the W520? I can save the ridiculous $120 they want for an extra cord.

I replaced my t61p with a w520 and it will charge the battery. if you boot with the t61 adapter it will give you a warning that it is not the adapter that shipped with it. you will love the 520 it's so much better than the t61!