I have to admit, I was a bit concerned when I first purchased this product and was waiting on shipment because I realized there was an SLI version for only $200 more. However, when I received this laptop, IT CAME WITH A GT750M SLI ALREADY INSTALLED (not to mention the bluray player as well!). This laptop config is WELL worth the price with the 4th gen i7 processor, 16 gb of ram, 1TB of HD and 24gb of SSD, and TWO nvidia GT750M SLI! I instantly downloaded all my games and booted up Guild Wars 2 first. It ran like a CHARM; all settings maxed and doing World Vs World with huge battles.
I am upgrading from an Alienware m11x R1 and I don't think I have EVER had a gaming experience as amazing as this one. I recommend this to ANYONE looking for a gaming laptop at an affordable price that can play ANY game on the market right now with all settings max.
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As other reviews have mentioned, there were some discrepancies with Amazon's description of this product in regards to the supposed model number. Amazon's info is a bit all over the place on the product listing, but we have confirmed that this is, as far as I know, the BEST Y510P spec/bundle out there. This model is not even available on Lenovo's site (I checked regularly for a system spec'd like this), and those on Lenovo site were also not as good of a deal price-wise. At time of purchase, Amazon's price was $1,179.99 (MSRP is $1,299.99).
This PC includes the following:
-Intel i7-4700MQ (2.4GHz, up to 3.40 GHz. 6MB Cache)
-16GB RAM
-1TB HDD
-24GB Cache SSD
-Nvidia GT750M built-in
-Nvidia GT750M Ultra-Bay module (to make the system SLI GT750M)
-BluRay BD-RE/DVDRW Ultra-Bay module (swap-able with SLI module) [YES, IT BURNS BLU-RAYS IT SEEMS, this is an expensive drive!]
-1920x1080 Anti-Glare LED Back-lit Screen (another good rarity as the others I found are a glossy screen, such as those on Lenovo's site)
-Plus the usual slew of standard features found on most laptops these days (USB 3.0, USB 2.0 [with always on capability], phones/mic ports, Kensington lock slot, 720P webcam w/ dual mics, card-reader, HDMI, VGA, LAN, Bluetooth).
Fit 'n' Finish:
Knowing Lenovo's high quality already, as I've worked on many laptops throughout the years, I knew this was going to be a solid system. The whole system has a very nice fit and feel, rather classy in a way too. It's overall very tight with solid build quality featuring brushed metal on the top surfaces such as the lid and the area surrounding the keyboard/touch-pad, accents in red. Considering how powerful of a system it is, I was surprised by how thin and light it felt, especially compared to what I was coming from (ASUS G60JX). The system is very aesthetically pleasing. Also, being a fan of the red/black color scheme, this was very attractive to me. The keyboard has an adjustable back-light, which illuminates the keys in a red color (most notable in darker settings). Keyboard is very pleasing to type on. I use a mechanical keyboard on my desktop system and this one has a nice tactile response reminiscent of a mechanical. Another big point for me, and a must-have, is the inclusion of the number-pad. I cannot use a laptop without a number-pad as I frequently use it for work. Most 15" models do not include them, requiring buyers to step up to a 17" or larger to get one. This Lenovo has a number-pad which means it was ahead of many of the competing models right from the get-go in my eyes. Onto the touch-pad, it is rather large and surprised me with how many functions it has. The software allows many different gestures (incorporating multiple fingers if you so please), settings, and etc. Sensitivity of the touch-pad is also quite nice, but I had to turn it down a bit for me and increase the resistance to wrist movement. Out of the box, the touch-pad settings were a little too touchy, but spending the time to adjust them to your liking is definitely worth your time.
File/Desktop Performance:
The system has run flawlessly since I received it. It's very fast and gets increasingly faster as you use it (as this is how the 24GB SSD cache functions). The more you use the PC, the more it figures out which files are being processed frequently and adds them to the cache. Lenovo uses ExpressCache (pre-installed and configured), so you do not have to do anything additional to start to see the benefits. The 16GB of ram is also nice to have (and the same amount I have in my desktop system). I tend to load up a PC with applications like Photoshop, multiple browsers with a ridiculous amount of open tabs, and more at all times, which tends to eat up RAM like it's a delicious cookie. Having the 16GB RAM is definitely awesome in this regard as, much like my home system, I have not been able to come close to full utilization; however, even on an 8GB system, I start to slow them down. System has been very responsive and a pleasing experience to use. Programs launch instantly, which is always nice. When it comes to PCs, I need them high performance and running fast or I get cranky.
Display:
The display is quite nice as it's a Full-HD (1080P) LED back-lit LCD with anti-glare (matte) screen. As I mentioned above, all the other systems (or at least those on the Lenovo website) come with a glossy screen (which was the only thing I was not too excited about). When I received this and noticed the anti-glare, I was pleasantly surprised. Using this system mostly for work being under fluorescent lights, I was very happy that this had anti-glare. The screen also boasts very good brightness and a large range of adjustable brightness. The color accuracy and over-all picture is quite good for right out of the box (I will calibrate with Nvidia controls later, but no rush). Having a resolution like 1080P in a 15" model is nice as you really cannot notice individual pixels like on a much larger screen. On my home system, I use a 27" screen and the difference is quite noticeable.
Sound:
The stock JBL speakers were surprising when I first used them. I loaded up some music and I thought something was wrong initially. These little laptop speakers actually have some bass response! My ASUS (while featuring Altec Lansing) had a rather shrill, bright sound with very little low-end response (and nothing below around 500Hz). These speakers on the Lenovo are a big improvement. Not only do they have low-end response, but they get rather loud also, which is a pleasant surprise. I listened to quite a few tracks of music and while they are not audiophile quality like my home or car setups, these are the best laptop speakers I've used yet. Plenty good enough for listening to some tunes while at work, watching videos/movies, or playing games.
Gaming:
Why did I purchase a SLI-GT750M laptop for work?! Well, let's just say sometimes it gets boring at work (or if I'm away from home for any substantial length of time)! Anyway, the other night I loaded up Rise of the Triad (2013 re-boot by Interceptor Entertainment / Apogee) and set the game on "Ludicrous" (it's highest settings). I loaded up the first level on the highest difficultly and had myself a fun-filled frag-fest. The game ran beautifully with all the eye candy turned on. While that game is not the most cutting edge game out there graphically, it still looks good with the eye candy turned up and is a fast paced type game where having anything but a high frame-rate is unacceptable. Also, I had been playing this at home on my i7-3770K @ 4.8GHz and over-clocked AMD 7970 (clearly a more powerful system), but the enjoyment level was just as good on both. I loaded up a few other games for a quick spin and again was very surprised, usually being able to do at least "high" settings, but obviously some games on their tip-top settings would leave a less than desireable frame-rate. Over-all, however, this laptop provided a much better gaming experience than I would have expected. I'm quite happy that I decided to get the system with the SLI GT750M as that definitely helps (and most games support SLI these days). I should also mention that the sound quality coming from the JBL speakers while playing games was quite good as well. There was plenty enough sound with no distortion to become fully immersed in game-play, which is exactly what you want from your speakers.
Conclusion:
This was purchased mostly as my work laptop. As a desktop system builder, tweaker, overclocker, etc, I have very little patience with a slow system. This system is quite an awesome upgrade from my ASUS G60JX as it blows it away in every way possible and is a much better fit to my desktop system. Lenovo builds a quality system (as I know from doing repairs on various systems throughout the years) and this one does not disappoint. I really cannot complain about anything so far as it's exceeded my expectations thus far. Time will tell how it holds up, but I'm confident it will be good. Lenovo is the number one laptop I recommend to people who ask me for laptop advice and so far, that recommendation has always proved solid as the systems really are built well. It's a dream to work on and I actually look forward to turning it on (or waking it from sleep as I usually do), both of which are very quick. The fact that I can also do some high-quality gaming, movie-watching, and listen to tunes and not have my ears cringe are all positives as well. I highly recommend this system. I am not going to spend much time commenting on the Windows 8 as I know some people are sketchy about it. I personally have been using Windows 8 on my desktop system since last year (and currently using the 8.1 Preview, which has some great changes and additions, coming official in the Fall). I thoroughly like W8 after configuring it to my preferences.
If I had to make any gripes, it would be battery-life. It can get about 3 hours, but I wasn't really expecting much more than that on a standard capacity battery. Also, Lenovo does install quite a few apps from the factory, however they really don't slow the system down, so it's not a huge deal. I just disable and uninstall the ones I do not want / will not use. Both of these are fairly minor gripes considering the positives of this system.
I will update later if I come across anything else worth mentioning, also feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments section.
UPDATE: I installed the Blu-Ray Ultra-bay module... It's actually a Blu-Ray BD-RE drive, so it can burn to Blu-Ray disc. Pretty damn awesome if you ask me as these drives aren't cheap by any means! I thought it was only a Blu-Ray player / DVDRW combo, not the case. The part is a MATSHITA BD-MLT UJ262 (look it up if you want) featuring Panasonic Blu-Ray lens (judging by the Panasonic logo on the top). I've also added some pictures to the User Photos on the Amazon listing, so, check it out!
UPDATE 2: Battery life improves if you disable SLI in Nvidia control panel OR remove the GT750M Ultra-bay module in favor of the BD/DVD drive. Last night during testing of the BD/DVD drive, I was getting over 3 hours.
UPDATE 3: The USB ports on this system have a great feel to them. They are very tight and have a nice definitive click when inserting a device. Another thing which is nice, and was part of my reason for Lenovo, is that the headphone and microphone jacks are metal barrel. It's far too often that the plastic barrel jacks break if you jolt them while something is plugged into them. The steel barrel jacks definitely hold up better I've noticed. Also, the fact that the barrel is tightly fitted into the chassis means that there is no wiggle room for the jack to move around again strengthening the jack by adding rigidity and no possible way for it to shift and break, unlike how most companies employ the plastic type.
UPDATE 4: Windows 8 Pro Performance Assessment results:
Processor: 7.8
Memory (RAM): 7.8
Graphics: 7.7
Gaming graphics: 7.7
Primary Hard Disk: 6.9
Pretty solid results. Windows 7 had a max rating of 7.9, Win 8's max is now 9.9. The HDD performance is better than I had anticipated considering I rarely see regular HDD's score higher than 5.9 unless they're under RAID-0.
Best Deals for Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p 15.6-Inch Laptop (Metal - Dusk Black)
Differences between the $999 Y510p and this one, that make this one a much better deal:
1. this one comes with the maximum 16 Gigabytes of RAM installed (2x8GB), the $999 one only has 8 GB (2x4GB)
2. this one has the 24 GB solid state drive installed, the other one does not come with a SSD
4. this one has a writable internal Blu Ray drive included for the Ultrabay, the other one does not. To install the Blu Ray you slide out the SLI graphics card.
Now, these are 3 pretty major upgrade items included for an extra 180 bucks especially considering you cannot even buy Ultrabay peripherals from Lenovo at this time. In other words, this one is fully loaded with every upgrade as soon as you open the box.
Honest reviews on Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p 15.6-Inch Laptop (Metal - Dusk Black)
I have had the y510p for about 5 days. Other than being a finger print magnet I found it to be a extremely fast laptop. The screen is NOT glossy but has a fine textured antiglare finish. I have a dell 2713h and it is every bit as good! Nicest screen I have seen on a laptop other than a retina display. The keyboard is very comfortable and has a good feel to it. Like the backlighting and easy to adjust brightness. The only drawback is the 5200 rpm hdd which I am swapping out with an ssd. I will move the hd to the drive bay as I rarely need the second graphics card. Not a big issue.
There seems to be a change where the 4600 intel graphics chip is being used most of the time rather than the gpu's. works great at 1440 or 1080 using hdmi. I can only assume Lenovo is trying to address the low run times reported by some users. The fans are quiet unless you are heavy gaming. Not sure how much the cash sad helps but is seems quick to boot and load programs. Faster than I expected. This is really the first laptop that really has some power. I have a VAIO i5 and It feels like a net book in comparison.I bought it to run autocad and pcb pads and it handles those programs amazingly well. I do not want another "tower",
I am not a gamer per se and was really looking for a high performance machine and I found it at an extremely good price. I have been running windows 8 for some time and still learning to drive it. I think I have passed the threshold of frustration and now beginning to enjoy it.
There seemed to be a lot of complaints with the trackpad, however, the one I have works great! No complaints. the speakers are "ok" but was expecting more.
In summary.
Plus: keyboard, performance and the screen is amazing! USB ports are fast.
Cons: bit heavy, hard to keep case clean of finger prints, and documentation. Glossy bezel around screen could be better. The USB ports etc. are up front and cabling gets in the way (minor complain). No type "n" on wireless, It is not easy to rest on your lap in the summer.....
All in all the performance is certainly capable of competing with any upper mid range DIY desktop without needing a set of wheels to move it. I am impressed and hopefully I can say the same thing in a year from now. And one more thing about the display. It is usable outdoors. It is much brighter than other laptops on is much easier to view than my ipad or iPhone. Lenovo made a really good decision to use a top quality panel!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p 15.6-Inch Laptop (Metal - Dusk Black)
Hi I don't normally do reviews but I felt it was needed for this laptop. Let me first start off by telling you I have experience with computers a lot and I currently own a gaming desktop as well. Also, i wanted to clear up any confusion of whats included, because if youre like me at all you research for days to find the right pc with the best options. Lets get started.
Features
This laptop comes with many features. I bought the one specced with 16gb ram, dua NVidia 750m's (sli, well get more into later), 4th gen i7-4700 haswell processor, and 15.6" 1080p antiglare screen. the cpu is clocked at 2.4ghz with smart boost technology that will automatically overclock to 3.4 ghz if the cpu is in need (mostly for gaming. This model does actually come with a 6-in-1 sd card reader/writer, 2 3.0 usb slots, 1 2.0 slot, hdmi output and stand rj45 Ethernet connection port. Feautring a 720p camera for supposed hd video calling. Last but not least, this model definitely includes a blu ray player, I have inserted and successfully installed it.
Gaming
I mostly bought this laptop for the intent of gaming when im not at my pc and also for running AutoCAD and various other design programs im taking through college. This laptop performs beautifully and at a cheap price of $1279.99 at the time of purchase. When I got the laptop I, it does in fact come with an NVidia 750m installed into the ultrabay. With this sli onfiguration, I can run Battlefield 3 on ultra at 30 fps and on high at 75 fps, Skyrim on ultra at 60 fps, starcraft 2 WoL and HotS on ultra at 140 fps. I also got the chance to beta test Elder Scrolls Online ;p that runs maxed out at 60 fps. SO, what im saying is these graphics cards are certainly here to stay for quite a few future games.
Ultrabay
This model features the ultrabay where you can swap out the current NVidia card for a blu ray, a better card, a fan, or even a ssd. However, at the moment I do not know where you can buy these peripherals so ill update it if ever find out, more on that later.
Optical Drive
Now ive definitely had some extensive tests and issues with the optical drive that comes bundled into this computer. I will tell you now, it is 100% possible to play blu rays as I have watched 3 since I figured it out. When my package arrived, the box containing the optical drive just said removable dvd burer, upon opening you will learn it is the Matshita bd-uj262 blu ray reader/writer drive! Now, a few people have complained about having to upgrade Cyberlink Power DvD (used to play your dvds in the drive, like a windows media player) and others saying just download a program that plays blu ray. I can assert with confidence you 100% HAVE to upgrade, an extra $71, which if you don't really care about blu ray playback isn't a problem, but I really enjoy movies and blu ray. The reason I know its this way is I did download several other programs to get it to work and it never worked so I just bought the upgrade. However, after the upgrade they still didn't work, so I called Lenovo and tried to figure this out. Apparently our "Dual nvidias" are built into "one removable unit" rendering the blu ray use less sinc it needs a graphics card to play. Knowing a lot about computer I called B******* on that. One of the cards is built into the computer permanently, and in order for your omputer to recognize its there, you must update the intel onboard graphics, then nvidias, then it will work. SO, after much hassle I finally got it to work and I cannot ven begin to express how satisfied I am with the beauty of the picture. If you cant get your blu ray working, just comment or email me (wilkinsontaylor33@yahoo.com). Id love to help.
JBL Speakers
Not much to say hear, they have a pseudo-5.1 surround but the bass isn't too deep but what do you expect from laptop speakers :p I think theyre fine as I use external speakers and headphones anyway!
Trackpad
A lot has been said about the trackpad being bad, and I agree to an extent, but heres why. There is no separate buttons so the whole thing is usable for mouse cursor movement, which can get annoying but its no biggie for me as I use an external mouse anyway.
Power
The battery last around 3 hours playing basic games like minecraft, however if youre using to play music while you clean up or do homework you can get around 4.5 hours!
Storage
Comes with 1tb HDD and a 24gb cache ssd. Now, I have had the laptop 2 days and alreay noticing a difference with the ssd. The more you use a certain program or file (such as startup, and games) the faster the computer will load these. cool feature I think!
Misc
Havent tried the usb 3.0 yet but it does have a solid grasp on usbs plugged in(plugged my mouse in for a bit). The keyboard is reminiscent of my Cherry MX RED mechanical keyboard, tacktile feedback with slightly more resistance. Heat ventilation vents out the sides of the graphics cards and also out the bottom. As of now my internl temp n any component hasn't gone above 72 degrees celcius. Not bad for 6 hours of skyrim :p I have read the a cooling pad drastically reduces that number as well.
All in all, Im very very happy with this laptop, considering everything you get the $1279.99+$71.00 for that software you have to get is an amazing price. I wanted to do this in depth review for those out there skeptical of the laptop and whats in it and how t runs. I guarantee you wont be disappointed in it! If you have any questions, again comment or email me (wilkinsontaylor33@yahoo.com) Id love to help!
