联想 IdeaPad Y500 笔记本测评

The IdeaPad Y500 looks rather unimposing in a closed state. The dark color and sooner basic design do not exactly indicate potent hardware. Merely the wide vents that blow out waste heat toward the (mouse) hand hint at the device's purpose. However, the manufacturer's ambitions quickly become evident as soon as the laptop is opened. The keys' red rim and speakers' red highlighted grille downright scream for games.

While the lid and the wrist rest are made of brushed aluminum, the base is completely comprised of plastic. The surfaces will soon be covered with smudge despite the matte finish because the laptop is susceptible for greasy fingers.

The glossy keyboard bed and display bezel is even more sensitive. Particularly the latter proves to be a real dust magnet. Fingerprints and scratches are also an issue here. The wide plastic bezel basically does not quite fit into the overall picture. It mars both the quality impression as well as the looks. Overall, the design places itself between the devices from Clevo (basic) and MSI (flashy).

Although the casing tends to yield in a few areas, such as the keyboard's left and right area, the stability is on a satisfactory to good level. Merely the touchpad yields very extremely at its sides and toward its bottom. The same applies to workmanship. The positive overall impression is marred by a few irregular material transitions.

The manufacturer earns kudos for the moderate size. With a height of almost 40 millimeters and a weight of approximately 2.9 kilograms, the 15 incher is significantly below the high-end Asus G55VW (50 mm, 3.8 kg), MSI GT60 (58 mm, 3.5 mm) and Schenker XMG P502 (51 mm, 3.2 kg), which partly calculate slower depending on the hardware configuration. The IdeaPad Y500's data sooner follow Asus' N56VZ GT 650 contender (37 mm, 2.7 kg), DevilTech's Fire DTX (38 mm, 2.6 kg) and Schenker's XMG A502 (47 mm, 2.9 kg). The laptop is also suitable for frequent transportation owing to its reasonable weight.

在一个封闭的状态看起来相当不起眼的IdeaPad Y500。深色越早基本设计不完全表示有力的硬件。只是宽通风口吹出余热向设备的目的（鼠标）手暗示。然而，制造商的野心很快变得明显，只要打开笔记本电脑。键的红色轮辋和扬声器的红色突出格栅彻头彻尾的尖叫游戏。

虽然制成的拉丝铝盖和腕托，基座完全由塑料制成。用涂抹的表面很快就会被覆盖，尽管粉嫩的，因为笔记本电脑是容易油腻的手指。

光滑的键盘床和显示屏挡板更敏感。特别是后者被证明是一个真正的灰尘磁铁。指纹和刮痕也是一个问题在这里。宽的塑料挡板基本上并不完全融入大局。火星的质量印象以及外观。总体而言，设计蓝天（基本）和微星（浮华）之间的设备。

虽然在壳体的倾向，得到在几个领域，如键盘的左侧和右侧的区域，其稳定性是令人满意的良好的水平。只是触摸板产生非常非常在其两侧和向其底部。这同样适用于做工。正面的整体印象是由几个不规则的材料过渡毁损。

制造商赢得荣誉的大小适中。随着高度几乎40毫米，重量约2.9公斤，15 incher明显低于高端的华硕G55VW（50毫米，3.8公斤），微星GT60（58毫米，3.5毫米）和辛克XMG P502（51毫米，3.2公斤），这部分计算更慢，取决于在硬件配置上。的IdeaPad Y500的的数据越快遵循华硕N56VZ GT650的竞争者（37毫米，2.7公斤），DevilTech的消防DTX（38毫米，2.6公斤）和辛克XMG A502（47毫米，2.9公斤）的。笔记本电脑也适用于交通频繁，由于其合理的重量。

As can be seen on the right screenshot, Lenovo installs a lot of software on the laptop. Besides useless bloatware, the hard disk also sports a few convenient programs, such as OneKey Recovery for backing up or recovering the operating system (this is also possible with Windows 8 restore function). The accessories do not include a full version of the recovery DVD. Lenovo stores the drivers on a small 25 GB partition.

在右边的截图可以看出，联想在笔记本电脑上安装了很多软件。除了没用的英国媒体报道，硬盘也炫耀了几个方便的程序，如“一键恢复备份或恢复操作系统（这也是可能的还原功能与Windows 8）。配件不包括恢复DVD完整版的。联想存储驱动程序，在一个小的25 GB的分区。

The Core i7 3630QM is a mobile high-end processor from Intel's Ivy Bridge range (22nm). The 45 watt CPU easily deals with even computing-intensive applications with its four cores and six MB L3 cache.

Gamers will particularly be happy about the Turbo Boost technology that lifts the clock considerably above the default rate during load. A theoretical clock frequency of up to 3.4 GHz is possible with the Core i7 3630QM. Hyper Threading, which simulates virtual cores, is sooner relevant for professional users. Only few programs presently benefit from eight parallel threads.

The graphics chip dubbed HD Graphics 4000 remains disabled in the IdeaPad Y500. The manufacturer had to waive on NVidia's Optimus technology due to SLI.

酷睿i73630QM是移动的高端处理器从英特尔的Ivy Bridge的范围（22nm制程）。 45瓦的CPU轻松处理其四个核心和6 MB三级高速缓存的计算密集型应用。

玩家将特别高兴Turbo Boost技术，提升时钟拖欠率大大高于在负载。理论时钟频率高达3.4 GHz的酷睿i73630QM可能。模拟虚拟核心，超线程，是早晚的相关专业用户。目前只有几个节目从8个并行的线程中受益。

被称为高清显卡4000显卡芯片仍然禁用的IdeaPad Y500。制造商不得不放弃NVIDIA的Optimus技术由于SLI。

The GeForce GT 650M is based on the GK107 chip from the Kepler generation and is built in a 28 nm process. The DirectX 11 GPU belongs to the upper midrange in view of 1.3 billion transistors and 384 Unified Shaders.

Lenovo opts for the faster 2048 MB GDDR5 version and a 128 bit memory bus. A clock rate of 790 MHz is slightly above average. The previously tested GDDR5 models were usually specified with 745 MHz (e.g. Alienware's M14x R2, Asus' UX51VZ, Dell's Inspiron 17R, DevilTech's Fire DTX or MSI's GE60/GE70).

However, it is too bad that the automatic overclocking GPU Boost (NVidia's counterpart to Intel's Turbo Boost) is not enabled. Unlike other GT 650M laptops, the core frequency is not increased to a maximum of 835 MHz during load, but stays at 790 MHz. In return, the memory clocks with 1000 MHz.

Two graphics cards are merged to a performance increasing array in SLI mode. We manually updated the GPU driver to the latest version to extract the maximum performance from the 15 incher (ForceWare 310.90 rather than 306.00).

GeForce®（精视™）GT650M的基础上产生开普勒GK107芯片是建立在28纳米工艺。 DirectX 11的GPU属于中频上限1.3亿晶体管和384个统一着色引擎。

联想选择了更快的2048 MB GDDR5版本和一个128位内存总线。为790 MHz的时钟速率略高于平均水平。先前测试的GDDR5模型通常被指定745兆赫（如Alienware的M14x的R2，华硕UX51VZ，戴尔的Inspiron17R，DevilTech的消防DTX或微星GE60/GE70）。

然而，这是太糟糕了，GPU Boost可自动超频（NVIDIA的对口英特尔的Turbo Boost的）未启用。不同于其他GT650M笔记本电脑，核心频率到最大的835 MHz的加载过程中不增加，但保持在790 MHz。作为回报，与1000 MHz的内存时钟。

合并两个显卡在SLI模式下的性能提高阵列。我们手动GPU的驱动程序更新到最新版本从15 incher（的ForceWare310.90，而不是306.00）的获取最大的性能。

The 16 GB mSATA SSD does not appear in Windows Explorer. Samsung's MZMPA016HMCD solid state drive merely works as a cache that speeds up the system and supports the HDD.

The 1000 GB primary hard disk also comes from Samsung and is dubbed SpinPoint M8 HN-M1010MBB. Although the HDD "only" spins with 5400 rpm, the benchmark results are impressive. An average transfer rate of 86.4 MB/s and an average access time of 17.0 ms in HDTune are pretty decent for a 5400 rpm model. The sequential read and write rate in CrystalDiskMark was just below 100 MB/s.

Subjectively, the operating system is relatively fast although the cache of course cannot replace a "genuine" SSD. Standard laptops without a cache and with a weaker HDD are partly noticeably slower in terms of installations, loading and booting times as well as in multitasking. The HDD/SSD combo is more than acceptable in view of the targeted price.

After almost 90 gaming benchmarks, we dare say that a SLI array of two GT 650M cards is not only an appealing option for casual gamers.

The majority of games also ran well with 1920 x 1080 pixels when the ultra-level and 4x anti-aliasing was left disabled where necessary. High graphics settings and 2x anti-aliasing were usually rendered smoothly. Reducing the pixel count was not necessary in most cases.

A single GeForce GT 650M lags behind by about 66% in all benchmarks. The performance gain is between 0 and over 90% depending on the game. The GeForce GTX 670MX also lags behind, although its difference of 10% is sooner marginal. The SLI array is no threat for the GeForce GTX 675MX. NVidia's Kepler-based high-end graphics card manages a lead of approximately 20%.

A few words about micro-stutters as they are a significant issue in the IdeaPad Y500. Annoying interruptions partly occur due to the varying frame spacing, which is caused by the deviating image calculation and theoretically affects all dual GPU systems. The range below 40 fps, where the laptop often hovers in demanding tracks, is particularly affected. Rendering appears a lot smoother with the GeForce GTX 670MX despite its weaker performance.

We included a comprehensive comparison chart at the end of this review. More information about the different graphics cards can also be found in our gaming list.

System Noise

Many multimedia and gaming laptops have to accept serious reproach when it comes to noise development. The casings' fan spins at a high speed particularly in load. Although the IdeaPad Y500 is not exceptionally quiet in gaming operation, the 15 incher is very remote from a distractingly loud level. Just below 40 dB in 3DMark 06 is a decent result.

For comparison: Schenker's XMG A522 (GeForce GTX 660M) and Medion's Erazer X6821 (GeForce GTX 670M) both reached approximately 43 dB in the test. The fan sometimes completely receded into the background depending on the volume and intensity of the game's sound track.

The laptop is generally hardly audible in idle. Except for a unobtrusive fan or HDD noise, the laptop remains agreeably quiet. An average of 31 dB will unlikely aggravate even sensitive users.

The temperatures only convinced us to a part. When the laptop was idle, so hardly or not at all loaded, the casing's surface temperature settled to acceptable 31°C.

In return, the chassis heated up quite strongly during full load. Our thermometer recorded an average of 43°C on the top and 41°C on the bottom after one hour of stress testing via the tools Furmark and Prime95. We even partly measured 50°C. The IdeaPad Y500 did not heat up quite as badly in "normal" 3D programs. Games can thus be enjoyed without major restrictions.

The components also get fairly warm in extreme conditions. The CPU clock dropped to still viable 2.4 GHz while climbing up to 90°C. The graphics cards exhibited a completely different behavior in the stress test. While the one GT 650M ran with the usual 790/1000 MHz (maximum 84°C), the second GT 650M throttled to low 135/203 MHz very soon. However, we are not sure whether Furmark ran properly on the second accelerator since the load tended to 0 in GPU-Z.

The removable lithium ion battery provides a decent capacity of 72 Wh or 6700 mAh. At least theoretically because its real-life runtimes are not exactly compelling. 1.5 hours during high load and maximum brightness are just as poor as three hours of wireless Internet browsing (medium brightness). The 15 incher only managed over four hours in idle and minimum brightness.

Following the successful IdeaPad Y580, Lenovo presents the next gaming-suitable laptop based on NVidia's Kepler architecture. The IdeaPad Y500 particularly impresses with its well-conceived UltraBay. The option of inserting an optical drive, a second graphics card or an additional hard disk is a fresh idea in the gaming sector.

Owing to NVidia's great driver support, the GeForce GT 650M really revs up in SLI mode. Even high-end graphics cards like the GeForce GTX 670MX have to bundle up in most games. There is hardly a faster laptop currently available for EUR 1100. The lush memory configuration and the swift quad-core processor contribute to the high overall performance. The lack of a "full-blown" solid state drive is somewhat regrettable, but the small 16 GB ExpressCache compensates this drawback quite well.

The fairly high-quality TN screen also reaps in praise although its glare-type surface disturbed us. The relatively good JBL speakers are another plus point. Owing to the bright red keyboard light, the 15 incher looks good 24 hours a day (with exception of the sensitive surfaces).

Regrettably, the black and mainly metal casing exhibits a few needless flaws. For example, its clattery touchpad that does not always work reliably and displays poor stability or the adverse placing of interfaces and fan. Who wants the whole waste heat to be blown on their hand when playing with an external mouse? Moreover, the keyboard lacks crisp feedback. Lenovo's IdeaPad Y500 sooner proves to be inconspicuous, so middling up to good, in the other categories (build, noise, temperature, battery runtime, weight, etc.).

Buyers looking for a versatile and a (still) attractively priced gaming laptop and who can live with the listed shortcomings should give the 15 incher a chance. The non-SLI version is not quite as interesting due to superior and/or cheaper alternatives. The surcharge for the dual GPU model is definitely worthwhile in view of performance.