Lenovo Y480 Review

[grndmstr]

This is very disappointing. Do you think I should continue with this or should I get the y570 or find another laptop. It's very hard to come across a decent "gaming laptop" from where I'm from.

[gadgetrants]

I'm looking at the Y480 more for mathematical computing than gameplay, but my sense is that even with the 640m LE it will handle BF3, Skyrim, Crysis 2, etc. at the native screen size (1366x768) and medium settings -- I'd guess in the neighborhood of 30fps.  So for my hardcore fps-addicted son it will be sufficient.  This is kind of a difficult form-factor though -- definitely 15" machines have better graphics options.  If you need something "yesterday" the y570 may be a good choice -- though I know I'd feel buyer's remorse when I see what the Y480 and Y580 have by summer. 

-Matt

[grndmstr]

Thanks matt, you've been of great help! Oh why couldn't the Y580 come out sooner (. If they release the y580 this June, it'll probably be available in my country by late June or early July, and I can't wait that long. sigh

[amondal13]

Are you sure that the video card is the Nvidia GeForce 640M LE and not just the 640M? On their website it doesn't say LE and neither does their customer service.

[gadgetrants]

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amondal13 wrote:

Are you sure that the video card is the Nvidia GeForce 640M LE and not just the 640M? On their website it doesn't say LE and neither does their customer service.

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Here is what we know so far:

(1) The review unit in the OP (which came from Tigerdirect) has the 640m LE:

http://www.laptopreviews.com/lenovo-ideapad-y480-review-2012-04

(2) Amazon is listing a Y480 with the same specs, and specifically mentions the 640m LE:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CL3AZC/

(3) In Lenovo's teardown spec sheet, they also list two cards that come with the Y480, the GT640M LE and GT650M (p. 27)

http://consumerdl.lenovo.com.cn/UserFiles/UserGuide/en/User%27s%20guides%20and%20manuals/Y480Y580/Le...

My gut feeling is that we'll see Lenovo put out units with the standard 640m and 650m somewhere down the road.

My two cents:  take everything that front-line sales reps tell you with a big grain of salt.  I find that I learn a lot more by aggregating over mutliple websites, than I do by talking to the reps.  Often sales begin/end or specs are modified before the sales staff are updated. 

Disclaimer:  I don't own the y480 and personally won't conclude anything until another owner verifies the card (as in #1 above) or I see it myself!  Anything else I say is educated guessing. 

-Matt

[gadgetrants]

An update on the Y480 listings at Lenovo:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.det...

- the entry-level Core i3 (20934QU) has dropped to $679 -- competes pretty favorably with the Y470p, which went up in price today

- the upper-end Core i7 (209386U) with dual hard drives is still at $949, but since it updated last Friday, I'd expect a price drop (or perhaps an increase mixed with a drop in the other two i7 models) tomorrow morning.

The "Ships in more than 4 weeks**" warning has me wondering if there is a component-supply issue...?  If anyone needs one yesterday, it looks like TigerDirect and Amazon have stock, but make sure to read the OP!

Still have my fingers crossed on the 500GB/8GB RAM Core i7 (20934YU) dropping to $800.  Of course, for $150 more, the unit with the 32GB SSD is probably equivalent. 

-Matt

[gadgetrants]

Wow, not sure if it's a pricing error, but bensbargains.net just posted that the coupon code USPY4880503 takes the 209388U (Core i7, 8GB, 1TB drive) down to $850.  That beats the listed $999 that you get with 1TBSALE.  That's mighty tempting!

http://bensbargains.net/deal/lenovo-y480-3rd-gen-core-i7-quad-14-notebook-849-at-lenovo-253314/

-Matt

[dalane]

Couple updates.

Just spoke to a Lenovo representative (so grain of salt..) but it appears the 2GB GT 640M is indeed the LE version.

Interesting news....he said 4 different, new Y480 models will be up on the website this coming Monday (May 7) but he did not have any of the specs on them. Fingers crossed for the GT650.

[andrewbaxter]

I'm surprised they're already discounting that much, apparently the deal is good through 5/10. Just posted about it myself, thanks for the heads up!

http://www.laptopreviews.com/lenovo-y480-on-sale-for-849-with-550-off-coupon-2012-05

[gadgetrants]

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dalane wrote:

Couple updates.

Just spoke to a Lenovo representative (so grain of salt..) but it appears the 2GB GT 640M is indeed the LE version.

Interesting news....he said 4 different, new Y480 models will be up on the website this coming Monday (May 7) but he did not have any of the specs on them. Fingers crossed for the GT650

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@dalane, thanks for posting, that's FABULOUS news (and I'm OK with salt).  I'd bet on the black color showing up (with the etched lid and lovely orange stripe) -- it would be really cool if we see a better graphics card too.

Keeping my fingers crossed 'til Monday. 

-Matt