Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 3 (2015)

by Ching-Wan Yip

First published: April 6, 2015

Last Updated: May 25, 2015 7:12 AM

Announced : 2015/01/04 http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1877

• Store - http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/x-series/x1-carbon/
• Detail Spec - http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-x-series-laptops/thinkpad-x1-carbon-20bs-20bt/documents/PD100511?tabName=ProductParts
• Overview - http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-x-series-laptops/thinkpad-x1-carbon-20bs-20bt/documents/PD100509?tabName=ProductParts
• Views - http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-x-series-laptops/thinkpad-x1-carbon-20bs-20bt/documents/PD100467?tabName=ProductParts
• Setup Guide - http://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x1_carbon3_sg_en_SP40G55016.pdf
• User Guide - http://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x1_carbon3_ug_en.pdf
• Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) - http://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x1_carbon3_hmm_en_sp40g55065.pdf
• System Service Parts - http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-x-series-laptops/thinkpad-x1-carbon-20bs-20bt/documents/PD100478
• System Service Parts FRU - http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd100192 PDF - http://download.lenovo.com/parts/ThinkPad/x1carbon_3_frubom_20150106.pdf
• Service Training & Videos - https://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/showcase?sid=538&key=TGVuZw==
• Forums
  • https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-ThinkPad-Laptops/bd-p/tp02_en
  • http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=62
  • http://forum.notebookreview.com/forums/lenovo.2/

Videos

• First Look - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnblvKYwDZ8
• X1 Carbon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wffJa_BZiEA
• ThinkPad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkpIGar3UjI
• Yamato Lab - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kudsncaZn14
• ThinkPad Three Button ClickPad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnFNuevMQoE
• ThinkPad Soundless Fan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1qe2QrpbSo
• ThinkPad Stack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u264vHf_4-w
• ThinkPad Stack - Professional Kit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDzwmOCiz3U

Good

• trackpoint, 3 physics buttons trackpad back
• PCI-e SSD optional
• no more 1680x1050, minimum 1920x1080 TN, QHD (2560x1440) IPS optional
• mini-Ethernet

Bad

• wash out TN FHD panel, bluish in white, grayish black - when you are paying for a premium machine, spend the extra and get the IPS (ThinkPad Yoga 12 on left. not the best quality pics from cellphones, you got the idea, don't go there)
  
• terrible speakers - not sure the upgrade premium ones any better, price unknown
• no more physical wireless etc. lights
• no physical volume up/down, mic/speaker mute buttons
• no SD card reader
• maximum 8GB, 4GB only for i5 online, only available with i7 unless CTO
• very expensive 512GB SSD and PCI-e upgrades, 256GB PCI-e not available online, CTO only?

Specification

• 5th Gen Intel Core 14nm 15W Broadwell-U, Intel SoC
  • i5-5200U (2.2GHz, 2.7GHz Turbo, 3MB L3 cache)
  • i5-5300U (2.3GHz, 2.9GHz Turbo)
  • i7-5500U (2.4GHz, 3.0GHz Turbo, 4MB Cache)
  • i7-5600U (2.6GHz, 3.2GHz Turbo)
• Intel HD Graphics 5500
  • supports three independent displays
  • Max resolution: 3840x2160 (Mini DisplayPort)@60Hz; 4096x2304 (HDMI)@24Hz (HDMI 3840 @ 30Hz also works)
• Display
  • 14.0" (355 mm) FHD (1920 x 1080) AG LED backlit 300 nits 400:1 (AUO or INX)
  • WQHD+ (2560x1440) 300 nit 700:1 IPS AG 170° viewing angle, WQHD+ Capacitive-type 10-finger multi-touch 270 nit (LGD, IPS AG, HH140AG, TPK140AG)
• SSD M.2 2280
  • Intel 180GB, 240GB, 360GB Temple Star OPAL 6Gb/s 2280-D3-B-M RoHS
  • Samsung 128GB PM851, Toshiba HG6-128 6Gb/s
  • Samsung 256GB PM851, Toshiba HG6-256 Opal 2.0
  • Samsung 256GB, 512GB PCIe2x4 STD
• Intel 7265ac dual band+Bluetooth 4.0 2x2, Antenna MQ2? M.2, wireless 7265-AC, dual band 7265-N
• 4 or 8GB PC3-12800 1600MHz DDR3L
• Weight
  • FHD 2.996 lb / 1.359 kg
  • WQHD 2.877 lb / 1.305 kg
  • WQHD Touch 3.175 lb / 1.44 kg
• Case Materials
  • Display cover: Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic + Glass-Fiber Reinforced Plastic
  • Bottom: Magnesium/Aluminum
• Dimensions
  • WQHD (WxDxH): 13.03" x 8.92" x 0.70"; 331.0mm x 226.5mm x 17.72mm
  • FHD (WxDxH): 13.03" x 8.93" x 0.71"; 331.0mm x 226.8mm x 18.16mm
  • WQHD Touch (WxDxH): 13.03" x 8.94" x 0.73"; 331.0mm x 227.1mm x 18.46mm
• fingerprint reader
• RJ45 Ethernet extension cable
• 720p HD Camera low light sensitive, fixed focus, gesture input, LiteOn or Chicony + Sony IMX188 + Realtek RTS5841)
• LED Backlit 6-row keyboard, spill-resistance, multimedia Fn keys
• TrackPoint, buttonless glass surface muti-touch touchpad, 3+2 button clickpad?
• 50 Wh polymer rapid charge battery 10.9 hours MM12 (LGC or Simplo 4s2p)
  • FHD 10.9 hr
  • WQHD 9.9 hr
  • WQHD Touch 9.9 hr
• 65W AC adapter (Delta, Liteon, Chicony), 65W Slim AC adapter, or 65W AC adapter - the one comes in the package - ADLX65NCC2A 65W 20V FRU 45N0480 INPUT 1.8A OUTPUT 20V 3.25A

• AC adapter	45W	65W Slim	65W
  Charge to 80%	1.1 hr	55 min.	55 min.
  Charge to 100%	2.5 hr	2.3 hr	2.3 hr

  
  
• 2 USB 3.0 (one Always On)
• 4-in-1 SD
• mini DisplayPort
• HDMI
• Realtek ALC3232 codec
• 1 watt x2 dual speakers, premium JBL 1.5W x 2 speakers optional
• Dolby Home Theatre
• dual noise-canceling HD microphones
• 3.5mm combo headphone/microphone port
• OneLink connector
• TCG 1.2
• ThinkEngine
• optional vPro
• WWAN M.2 - Ericsson N5321 HSPA+ 21Mbps GSM/GPRS/EDGE, GPS, Sierra EM7345 LTe/HSPA+ 42Mbps GSM/GPRS/EDGE, GPS

Weight

post office scale

Pricing

as of 2015/04/07

• $1079.10 i5-5200U (3M cahce, 2.7GHz)/4GB/128GB/FHD 1920x1080
• +$100 i5-5300U (3M cahce, 2.9GHz)
• +$450 i7-5600U (3M cahce, 3.2GHz)/8GB
• +$150 QHD IPS
• +$350 QHD IPS multi-touch
• +$100 180GB SSD OPAL 2.0
• +$150 256GB SSD OPAL 2.0
• +$700 512GB SSD PCIe
• +$19 1 year onsite NBD
• +$59 1 year accidental damage protection
• +$69 1 year onsite NBD + Accidental Damage protection
• +$199 3 year onsite NBD + sealed battery
• +$339 3 year onsite NBD + ADP + sealed battery

Tested System

i5, 8GB, 256GB 20BTS1BB00

TPM

- pending

Device Manager

Thermal

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

right vent the hotest spot almost 40 °C

front

bottom

left

right

Benchmark - IntelBurnTest

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

v2.54

Benchmark - PassMark

http://www.passmark.com/

v8 build 1046

Benchmark - WinSAT

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

Benchmark - PCMark

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

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated 3.0

PCMark 7 pending

v7 v1.0.4 X1C score: 4698

v7 v1.0.4 T430s score: 3093

v7 v1.4.0 T420s HD 3000 i5-2520M 3GB RAM W7E64 SSD score: 3427

Benchmark - GeekBench

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

v3.3.2 x32

Benchmark - SiSoftware Sandra

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

2015-SP1a 21.32.2015.3

2014 SP1C 20.25 -

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

** Aggregate Memory not reported, OpenCL error 339

Benchmark - CPU - Handbrake

http://handbrake.fr/

Handbrake - 2h10m Grandmaster 7.27GB DVD

Benchmark - SunSpider

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

1.0.2

Benchmark - Firefox

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/fx/

about startup 0.1.12 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/about-startup

c.f. with other http://users.wfu.edu/yipcw/atg/moz_ff_tb/firefox/startup/

Benchmark - Graphics - 3D Mark

http://www.3dmark.com/

v1.5.884.0

graphics driver not approved)

Benchmark - Maxon CineBench

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

R15

Benchmark - FurMark

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

1.15.1.0

720 preset

Benchmark - Graphics - Unigine Heaven 4.0

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

Mac:

• Darwin 14.3.0 x86_64
• Intel Iris Graphics 6100 (256MB) x1
• OpenGL 1680x1050 fullscreen high/medium Quality (won't go to 1920x1080)

ThinkPad Yoga

• Windows 8 build 9200 64-bit
• Intel HD Graphics 10.18.10.3960 (1024MB) x1
• Direct3D11 1920x1080 fullscreen High Quality

X1C3

• Intel HD Graphics 5500 10.18.14.4156 (1024MB)x1

Benchmark - Graphics - Unigine Valley 1.0

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

Benchmark - Graphics - VMD

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

1.9.2

DNA

CPK

Benchmark - Graphics - Chimera

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

1.10.1

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

mDP

pending 4K 60Hz?

VGA

pending

CPU-Z

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

1.7.2

Intel XTU

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/motherboards/desktop-motherboards/desktop-boards-software-extreme-tuning-utility.html

Extreme Tuning Utility 5.1.2.2 2015/04/01 - won't install - unsupported platform

4.4.0.4 2014/03/17

(first part of graph before benchmark is Chimera install)

GPU-Z

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

0.8.2

HWInfo

http://www.hwinfo.com/

4.60

Display

TN LCD

LEN40A7

B140HTN01.2 (AU Optics?)

when OneLinkPro dock attached, HDMI disabled (works in ThinkPad Yoga 12)

default to 29Hz

ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock

http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd023761

DisplayLink based - http://www.displaylink.com/technology/technology_overview.php

OneLink Pro dock

http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd029981

max. 9 displays connected [not all can be active] (even with HDMI disabled when OneLink Pro in use, works on ThinkPad Yoga 12. can be use together with mDP though.)

DisplayPort Topology Viewer

WiDi

Toast

WiDi Remote

LCD - color/brightness

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

adaptive brightness off

(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

Storage

SSD - SATA, optional PCI-e

Samsung

Firmware EXT

why 7GB OEM partition?

Storage - CrystalDiskInfo

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

6.3.2

Samsung MZNTE256HMHP-000L7 (PM851) 256GB

Storage - SSD utility

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html

samsung magician 4.5.1 and 4.3 (for comparison to old result) cannot find it

Benchmark Results

Storage - Intel Rapid Storage Technology RST

Link Power Management: Enabled

Storage - CrystalDiskMark

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

3.0.4 x64

1000MB

Storage - AS SSD

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

1.7.4739.38088

Storage - ATTO Disk Benchmark

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

Storage - Anvil's Storage Utilities

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

1.1 2014

Storage - BlackMagic

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

Disk Speed Test

to/from external USB

269 MBps write (297 MBps read) - from external SSD - Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SATA-III ASMT 2105 SCSI UASP enclosure

124 MBps read (119 MBps write) - to external SSD [limit by Samsung issue? http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-news/latest-buzz/samsung-to-release-magician-4-6-and-840-evo-firmware-update-performance-degradation-fixed-at-last/ ]

to/from external USB SD

spotty performance?

Sandisk SDXC extreme pro 64GB UHS II UHS speed class 3 U3 280MBps 1867x read, 250MBps1667x-write (SDXC 4.0?)

Sandisk SDDR-329 USB 3.0 UHS adapter

read from SD to SSD 59.6 MB/s write

write SD to SSD 37.8 MB/s read

USB devices

max. ?? pending

Wireless

intel 7265 802.11ac dual band http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-products/dual-band-wireless-ac-7265.html

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 - worse performance - need re-test

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

got to be real close and right orientation of laptop to get to 0 dBm

407Mbps (48.53 MBps on server side) - download from QNAP 4 (5-8 of 8 bays) SSD (2x 850 Pro + 2x MX100, yeah, i know, they should be the same) RAID6 TVS-871 (i7-4790S, 16GB, QTS 4.1.3 build 20150313) https://www.qnap.com/i/en/product/model.php?II=160

TamoSoft Throughput Test Ver. 1.0 Build 28

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

server: ThinkPad Yoga on Ethernet

:

Ethernet

Dongle - Intel Ethernet Connection I218-V (Clarkville?)

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/embedded/products/networking/ethernet-connection-i218-family.html

http://ark.intel.com/products/71305/Intel-Ethernet-Connection-I218-V

979 Mbps down from Netgear ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition [X-RAID2 6x Seagate ST31000528AS] RAIDiator 4.2.27 1GB [4-5-5-15 DDR2] 

981 Mbps (only has pix for 979 Mbps) through OneLink Pro down from Netgear ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition

Bluetooth

task manager shows not connected during send file?

Keyboard

OSD - first run

Battery

powercfg /batteryreport

SMP 00HW003 LiP

Design Capacity 50,080 mWh

Full Charge Capacity 52,170 mWh - good or bad ;)

720p MP4 over wireless - batterybar 3.6.6 estimate 4:31 after 1:00 discharging ~10,492 mW

1080p .ts over wireless - batterybar 3.6.6 estimate ~4:30 discharging 9910-14152 mW

Battery - Windows Assessment

ADK 8.1 http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/hh825285.aspx

failed in Administrator account

MP4 need to associate with Metro Video App, Windows Media Player won't work

battery life during full video playback settings

pending

Mouse/TrackPoint, TouchPad

Click Anywhere?

Fingerprint reader

Fingerprint Manager Pro - Softex

Camera

realtek

USB\VID_04F2&PID_B45D&MI_00

under indoor natural light

x-rite Munsell ColorChecker (Classic)

• http://xritephoto.com/ph_product_overview.aspx?id=1192
• http://www.xrite.com/top_munsell.aspx?action=products&CategoryID=28
• http://www.xritephoto.com/ph_product_overview.aspx?catid=28

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

Audio

speakers on ?

cannot have HDMI active also with OneLink Pro dock

Realtek HD Audio Manager

Mic Mute

control panel applet

Dobly Digital Plus

http://www.dolby.com/us/en/categories/pc.html

Benchmark - DPC Latency Checker

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

1.3.0

max. 1123 μs

Acoustic - noise level

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

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

pending

TPM

STM 13.12

ADK

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/use-windows-7-event-viewer-to-track-down-issues-that-cause-slower-boot-times/3253

http://blogs.technet.com/b/mspfe/archive/2012/09/19/measure-boot-performance-with-the-windows-assessment-and-deployment-toolkit.aspx

ADK 8.1 download

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39982

assessment - startup and shutdown experience - fast startup

* with missing device drivers

Device Drivers

http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-x-series-laptops/thinkpad-x1-carbon-20bs-20bt/

pending - Yoga 12 table placeholder

OEM software

desktop

start screen

programs

• Lenovo DOit Apps - SHAREit, SECUREit, SYNCit, SNAPit, SEEit

Lenovo Solution Center

installer didn't create start menu shortcut, if you close tray, have to go in program files to find LSC.exe to run again

Lenovo Settings

Metro

Lenovo Companion

Metro, incoporated Lenovo Support

Lenovo Instant On

Beta?

Startup

• Realtek Camera Man
• External Application Support for Optical Mouse - why?
• Intel PIcon startup ultilty
• Intel PROSet/Wireless Framework
• Lenovo Multimedia and Communications Framework Custom Rundll x2
• Intel Delayed launcher - IAStorIcon

Firmware / BIOS

no graphics

uses Phoenix's SCT Flash update

ME update not via System Update, need manual (used to need disable Bitlocker also, fixed?)

Accessories

• ThinkPad OneLink Pro Dock (4X10E52935) (supports 2 external monitors) $179.99
• ThinkPad OneLink Adapter (4X90G85927) $59.99
• Lenovo 65W Travel AC Adapter (4X20H15594) $79.99
• ThinkPad Ultra Messenger (4X40E77331) $99.99

Reviews

• http://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Carbon-Ultrabook-Review.138033.0.html
• http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/02/thinkpad-x1-carbon-review-a-fine-heir-to-the-thinkpad-name/
• http://www.anandtech.com/show/9264/the-lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-review-2015
• http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-2015
• http://www.mobiletechreview.com/notebooks/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Carbon-2015.htm
• http://hothardware.com/reviews/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-2015-review-back-to-basics-with-broadwell
• http://www.thinkscopes.com/blog/2015/01/06/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-gen-3-review-2/
• http://www.thinkscopes.com/blog/2015/01/11/comment-the-x1-carbon-2015-finally-a-worthy-x301-successor/
• http://www.digitaltrends.com/laptop-reviews/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-3rd-gen-review/
• http://gadgets.ndtv.com/laptops/reviews/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-2015-review-only-if-money-is-no-object-678694
• http://major.io/2015/03/30/review-lenovo-x1-carbon-3rd-generation-and-linux/
• http://fredrik.wendt.se/2015/02/24/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-3rd-gen/
• http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:X1_Carbon_3rd