Lenovo ThinkPad P50

Last Update: 2016-06-03 4:43 AM

first posted: 2016-02-01

announced : 2015/08/11 http://news.lenovo.com/news+releases/lenovo-thinkpad-p50-p70.htm (press release moved)

main page : http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/p-series/p50/, https://www.thinkworkstations.com/products/p50/

forum - https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-P-and-W-Series-Mobile/bd-p/tp07_en, http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/announcing-thinkpad-p-series-p50-and-p70.779841/page-45,

spec - https://djpdld25uved3.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WW_DS_ThinkPad_P50_Final_10.1.15.pdf

support - http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-p-series-laptops/thinkpad-p50

user guide - https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/p50_ug_en.pdf

video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrpHLTBEH10, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phGz0bhspgk

HMM - https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/p50_hmm_en_sp40j71944.pdf (20151115)

Good

• barely 35% CPU playing 4K video in VLC (not using GPU?)
• exceptionly high score on NVMe SSD
• lay flat screen like X1 Carbon

BAD

• video driver issues
  • digital audio won't install first time using mDP, need to delete and reinstall in devmgmt.msc
  • mirror mode over mDP only work in 1st use. afterwards, internal LCD stuck in 1280x720 with 2 displays duplicated, external disconnecte video+audio. need to use nvidia to get it to work again (windows+p won't work when using that)
  • Adobe Photoshop encounters error if nvidia default auto select, if select nvidia, just automatically change back to integrated, then Photoshop.exe will use P530
  • crashed in some tests
  • slower than GTX 960M 2GB GDDR5 in some tests
• no USB 3.1 Gen 2 10Gbps, Type-C only for Thunderbolt 3? (has USB 3.1 intel driver installed?)
• Thunderbolt 3 -hard to update NVM & PD firmware, if follow onscreen instruction, only update from 13 to 16 of NVM. need HDMI plugin to update PD, fixed GPU tray, cannot disconnect HDMI, HDMI audio still not detect
• RAID after production BIOS still not released
• no WiGig (Intel tri-band AC 18260 only for Skylake X1 Carbon option?)
• no HDMI 2.0a
• no OneLink port
• 720p only camera
• no touch and pen option for 4K display
• keyboard not center (but you got numpad)
• no separate drive(s) and memory compartments on bottom for easy access adding options (one piece?_
• additional M.2 SATA need special adapter/cable/carrier? FRUs?
  • crapware/bloatware, unnecessary drivers/cus tomizations
• Windows Update will have optional drivers for Intel Ethernet, Lenovo PM Device, LCD that Lenovo System Update should update
• Intel ATM wireless profile sync registry patch to disable not installed
• some keys softer than others
• no TPM 2.0
• no NFC
• connected standby?
• event log got entries from 2014/11/13? build was 2016/01/19
• Dreamweaver bootstrap 3.3.6 update error (pending Adobe support solution)
• boot (27073 ms), shutdown (35254), standby (1785)/resume (915) not very fast. Windows 8.1/10 would perform better?
• slower than old i7-4720HQ in some tests

Spec

• (some may be for P70 only)
• Xeon E3-1505M v5 (2.8/3.7GHz), E3-1535M v5 (2.9/3.8GHz), i7-6700HQ (2.6/3.5GHz 6MB cache), i7-6820HQ (2.7/3.6GHz, 8MB cache) quad 47W TDP (Skylake)
• 64GB DDR4-2133 ECC (Xeon) or non-ECC RAM dual channel (4 SODIMM)
• Intel HD Graphics 530, P530 (Xeon)
• NVIDIA Quadro Display and Video Graphics (N16S/Quadro N16P) M1000M (2GB) M2000M (4GB)
• Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C)
• FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 250 nits (300 in glossy), 600:1, 45% gamut, 160° - SDC, BOE, LGD
• FHD capacity N-Touch (1920 x 1080) IPS 220 nits (270 in glossy), Wacom ActPen?
• 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS, 300 nits 1000:1, 100% gamut, 178°, anti-glare
• support dual 4K
• X-Rite Pantone color calibration
• four PCIe/SATA storages (256/512GB/1TB SSD SAMSG/TOS OPAL, 2TB HDD 5400/7200 7mm SEA/HGST/WD)
• 0, 1 RAID
• dual fan FLEX Performance Cooling system
• USB 3.0 x4, 1 Always-on Charging
• HDMI 1.4
• Mini DisplayPort (mDP) 1.2
• Integrated 4-in-1 SD Card Reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC), supports UHS-II
• ExpressCard 34mm
• SmartCard reader TAI
• 8260 802.11 2 x 2 a/c
• Bluetooth 4.11
• vPro
• Sierra EM7445 4G LTE-A
• 4 cell 66 WHr (optional 6 cell 90WHr up to 6.1 hours with MobileMark 2014) LGC, Simplo
• 170W power supply DEL, LTN
• Starting at 5.6 lbs (2.5 kg)
• Stereo with Dolby Home Theater speakers 1.5W x2
• Reaktej ALC3268 codec
• Digital-array microphone
• Dimensions (W x D x H) (inches) : 14.86" x 9.93" x 0.96" - 1.02" (mm) : 377.4 x 252.3 x 24.5 - 25.9
• ThinkPad Precision Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and Backlit (Optional) spill resistant
• 3-bitton trackpoint
• 3-button crystal silk surface multi-touch touchpad
• RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet
• Docking Connector
• Microphone / Headphone Combo Jack
• 720p low light sensitive fixed focus camera Chny, Ltn, Bsn

Price

• $1358.10 starting

Accessories

• workstation dock

CPU - Handbrake

http://handbrake.fr/

Handbrake - 2h10m 7.27GB DVD

Adobe Media Encoder

10 seconds 4K MP4 to H.264 high bitrate

Pr 2015.0.2 release 9.0.2 (6) build prior to P50

WinSAT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_System_Assessment_Tool

GeekBench

http://www.primatelabs.com/geekbench/download/windows/

v3.3.2 x32

PCMark

http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/pcmark

PCMark 8 Home

SiSoftware Sandra

http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/

2014 SP1C 20.25 -

* didn't completely finished test first time. mouse crashed on second time.

** Aggregate Memory not reported, OpenCL error 339

PassMark

http://www.passmark.com/

IntelBurnTest

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?197835-IntelBurnTest-The-new-stress-testing-program

v2.54

JetStream

http://browserbench.org/JetStream/

SunSpider

http://www.webkit.org/perf/sunspider/sunspider.html

1.0.2

CPU-Z

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

1.75.0 x64

HWInfo

http://www.hwinfo.com/

5.12-2740 (no new version still said update available)

Monitor - LEN40BD LQ156D1JW05

how are notebookcheck using oscilloscope and photosensor to check gray-to-gray, white-to-black? no details on setup.

- Tektronix DPO5104 http://www.tek.com/oscilloscope/mso5000-dpo5000 digital scope and Thorlabs DET36A https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=DET36A 350-1100nfsoum, 14 ns rise time, 13 mm2 Si detector, $118

dimming appears around 50% brigtness on battery, ~250Hz PWM

LCD - color/brightness

x-rite i1display pro i1profiler 1.4.2- http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx?ID=1454

turn adaptive brightness off

(previous - still crash if ADC on, compare profile also crash like Helix?)

Datacolor Spyder4Pro 4.5.4 - http://spyder.datacolor.com/portfolio-view/spyder4pro/

pending

LCD - viewing angle

pending

Maxon CineBench

http://www.maxon.net/products/cinebench/overview.html

R15

Unigine Heaven 4.0

https://unigine.com/products/heaven/

Unigine Valley 1.0

https://unigine.com/products/valley/

(save result button doesn't work with trackpoint, need to use keyboard)

FurMark

http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/

http://www.geeks3d.com/20150828/furmark-1-17-0-gpu-stress-test-opengl-benchmark/

1.17.0.0

720 preset

3D Mark

http://www.3dmark.com/

CPU & GPU not recognized, graphics driver not approved

VMD

http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd/

1.9.2

DNA.pdb

Chimera

http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimera/docs/ContributedSoftware/benchmark/benchmark.html

http://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimera/

1.10.2

pythonw crashed during solid rendering, max. out RAM and disk at 100%, have to be terminated in taskmgr

molecule benchmark PDB 1f4h

NVIDIA

control panel, system topology

problem installing digital audio driver first connect

have to delete and reinstall

mirror mode worked first time, stop working next time connect, think mirror to P530 integrated at 1280x720

(simulated according to registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\DISPLAY
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Connectivity ),

nothing on external mDP-HDMI. have to go back to nvidia control panel to fix (the thunderbolt tray icon would appear for no reason for)

sometimes audio show not connected also, need reboot to fix.

Adobe Photoshop has problem if auto detect

http://www.adobe.com/go/photoshop_gpu_cc_en

if choose integrated, it works. cannot change back to auto or discreet

Artboards complains about not good GPU

GPU-Z

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

0.8.6

SSD

Samsung NVMe MZVKV512 (SM951 OEM?)

C: 461GB capacity, 408GB free, 53.0GB used

Q: Lenovo Recovery 14.8GB, 3.36GB free

(REACHit Drive system folder)

according to Acronis TrueImage 2016

BIOS boot order

CrystalDiskInfo

http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html

6.7.x

NVMe driver works for OEM?

Magician not work for OEM?

CrystalDiskMark

http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskMark/index-e.html

(other data from 3.x)

Anvil's Storage Utilities

http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-news/latest-buzz/anvil-storage-utilities-releases-new-storage-and-ssd-benchmark/

1.1 2014

AS SSD

http://alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/downloads.php?download_id=9

1.8.5636.36856

previous 1.7.4739.38088

ATTO Disk Benchmark

http://www.attotech.com/products/product.php?sku=Disk_Benchmark

BlackMagic

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/intensity/software

Disk Speed Test

10.5.4 2016

error on write

USB 3.0

pending

SSD to internal SSD

max.

xxx MBps transfer

xxx MBps write

xxx MBps read

to/from external Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SATA-III ASMT 2105 SCSI UASP StarTech enclosure http://www.startech.com/HDD/Enclosures/USB-3-SATA-III-Hard-Drive-Enclosure-UASP-Support~S2510BPU33

64.55GB OEM image ~4 min. using Acronis TrueImage 2016 Windows PE boot (ATI 2014 and ATI 2016 rescue media boot [*nix] won't recognize NVMe and external USB drive)

and Seagate Fast 4TB

http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/portable-hard-drives/performance/backup-plus-fast-hdd/

Wireless

pending

Netgear Nighthawk R7500 AC2350 (600+1733 Mbps) http://downloadcenter.netgear.com/en/product/R7500 wave 2 Quantenna chipset firmware 1.0.0.46 -> 1.0.0.82 http://downloadcenter.netgear.com/en/product/R7500 -

max. xxxMbps/xx.xMBps - download from QNAP 4 (5-8 of 8 bays) SSD (2x 850 Pro 512 + 2x MX100 CT512) RAID6 TVS-871 (i7-4790S, 16GB, QTS 4.1.3 build 20150313) https://www.qnap.com/i/en/product/model.php?II=160

max. xxxMbps/xx.xMBps (xx.xxMBps on server side) - upload to OCZ Vertex 460A + MX200 CT250 + SanDisk XPS240Gx2

Netgear Nighthawk R7000 AC 1900 (600+1300) (firmware V1.0.3.24_1.1.20) 802.11ac http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-routers/R7000.aspx

33.2MBps download from Synology DiskStation DS1511+ Atom D525 1.8GHz 1GB DSM 5.1-5004 SHR 5x ST2000DL003-9VT166

xxxMbps/xx.xMBps download from QNAP 6x Seagate ST3000DM001-9YN1CC4H RAID6 TS-659 Pro II 1GB, QTS 4.1.3 build 20150313)

TamoSoft Throughput Test

pending

Ver. 1.0 Build 28

http://www.tamos.com/products/throughput-test/

server: ThinkPad Yoga on Ethernet w/ Belkin GigE USB 3.0

Ethernet

103MBps to EMC CIFS server

Speedtest

http://www.speedtest.net/

SD

pending

251MBps to internal - Sandisk SDXC Extreme Pro 64GB UHS-II UHS speed class 3 U3 280MBps 1867x read, 250MBps 1667x-write

84MBps to internal - Sandisk SDXC Extreme Pro 64GB UHS-I 95MBps, 633x

Samsung Pro 64GB MicroSD XC read 90MB/s. write 80MB/s UHS-1 Class 10 MB-MG64DA/DM with SD adapter

<.MBps transfer, burst MBps write to internal

Bluetooth

pending

Bluetooth 4.?

Camera

pending

indoor fluorescent lights

DKC-Pro - Digital Kolor Card Pro - digitalimagflow.com (defuncted) http://www.dgkcolortools.com/dkc-pro-multifunction-color-tool.html

front

Audio

Realtek

how is notebookcheck testing third octave SPL, where to point microphone(s) towards? no details on setup.

Pyle PSPL05R - http://www.pyleaudio.com/sku/PSPL05R/Digital-Sound-Level-Meter-With-recording-Function

Auralex Studiofoam Wedge box http://www.auralex.com/absorption/studiofoam-wedge/

Audacity 2.0.2 Frequency Analysis spectrum plot -noise (normalized) recorded Sony PCM-D50 http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-audio/resource.latest.bbsccms-assets-cat-audio-latest-pcmd50.shtml or Zoom H4n https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h4n-handy-recorder

pending

DPC Latency Checker

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

1.3.0

Audio output

TRRS 3.5mm combo output to TRS splitter (optional)

KM-IPHONE-2TRS http://www.kvconnection.com/product-p/km-iphone-2trs.htm

• Dynamic Microphones
• Lavaliere microphones (with batteries)
• Wireless microphone systems

KM-IPHONE-2TRS-ECM - http://www.kvconnection.com/product-p/km-iphone-2trs-ecm.htm

• ECM Microphones that require 2 VDC plug in power
• Lavaliere ECM Microphones (without batteries)
• ECM PC Microphones
• ECM Headset/boom Microphones

pending

Battery

pending

playing x videos in VLC - hours

AC Adapter

?

power usage

P3 Kill A Watt http://www.p3international.com/products/p4400.html - 0.57-0.62A - 41W

APC Back-UPS Pro 1500 https://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR1500G - - pending W

Security

pending

TPM 1.2

Sensors

pending

sensors?

Thermal

pending

FLIR i7 thermal camera - http://www.flir.com/thermography/americas/us/view/?id=54156

FLIR One for iOS

during IntelBurnTest

front

back

left

right

Device Manager

Apps

desktop

~59 programs, 2.24GB

Adobe AIR (needed by Lenovo Solution Center)

Adoe Reader XI 11.0.10 MUI (needed by Lenovo User Guide)

Create Recovery Media (Lenovo)

Dolby Audio X2 Windows API SDK

Dolby Audio X2 Windows APP

Integrated Camera

Intel Network Connections Drivers

Intel WiDi

Intel Wireless Bluetooth path version 18.1.1533.1852

Intel Graphics Driver

Intel Management Engine compoenets

Intel PROSet/Wireless Software

Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver

Intel USB 3.1 Device Driver

Lenovo Active Protection System (not needed for SSD)

Lenovo Auto Scroll Utility

Lenovo Communicatin Utility

Lenovo On Screen Display

Lenovo Power Management Driver

Lenovo Solution Center

Lenovo System Update

Lenovo Touch Fingerprint Software (softex)

Lenovo User Guide

Lenovo Warranty Information

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.2

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (various versions)

Multifactor Authentication Client - Nok Nok Lab (try to add extension to Google Chrome)

NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver 352.65

NVIDIA 3D Vision Driver 354.25

NVIDIA Graphics Driver 354.25

NVIDIA HD Audio Driver 1.3.34.4

NVIDIA nView 146.78

NVIDIA WMI 2.22.0

PANTONE Color Calibrator 1.2.0 (X-Rite)

Power Manager (Lenovo)

Realtek Card Reader

Realtek High Definition Audio Driver

Synaptics Pointing Device Driver

Synaptics WBF Fingerprint Reader Drivers

Thinkpad USB Ethernet Adapter Driver (already has built in Ethernet?)

Thunderbolt Software (Intel)

Windows Driver Package - Lenovo 1.67.10.20 (08/06/2015 1.67.10.20)

crapware/bloatware

McAfee LiveSafe (trial?)

Message Center Plus (Lenovo)

Microsoft Office (trial?)

Lenovo PowerENGAGE - by aviata

REACHit (Lenovo)

SHAREit (Lenovo)

unnecessary customizations

changed IE defaults to

http://lenovo13.msn.com/?pc=LCTE
http://mystart.lenovo.com/

Control Panel

References:

• http://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-P50-Workstation-Review.158713.0.html
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKl-vz2nrcc
• https://www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/3zukez/p50_power_on_and_first_thoughts/