Lenovo ThinkPad P16: New spec sheet reveals TGP values & iGPU option of powerful workstation

With the ThinkPad P16, Lenovo is doing something special. Normally, the largest PC manufacturer is never shy about expanding its portfolio with new models. The P16 represents a movement in the opposite direction: It is the successor of two Lenovo ThinkPad, the ThinkPad P15 G2 and the ThinkPad P17 G2. It is a rare simplification of the lineup.

As a successor to two model lines, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has to satisfy the needs of both the P17 and the P15 users. Especially the P17 is important, as its main advantage compared to the ThinkPad P15 (available at Amazon, affiliate link) was the higher Total Graphics Power (TGP) of its Nvidia GPUs. While the P15 only could provide up to 90 W, the P17 allowed a GPU power consumption of 115 W.

Up until now, it was not public knowledge which TGP the ThinkPad P16 would offer. The P16 if closer to the ThinkPad P15 in terms of chassis size, so there were fears that the ThinkPad workstations would suffer a performance downgrade. Recently, Lenovo published the detailed PSREF spec sheet for the ThinkPad P16 G1. According to the specs, the ThinkPad P16 has a TGP of 115 W for its top of the line GPUs, matching the big P17. Supposedly, this is enabled through the use of a new cooling system that combines classical heat pipes with a vapor chamber.

Besides the spec sheet, Lenovo also published the manual. This is interesting, because the ThinkPad P16 keeps the modular approach of its predecessors, putting the GPUs on a daughter board. This enables far more choice for buyers, as all the CPU options can be combined with all GPU choices. On older models without the modular approach, powerful GPUs were tied to the most expensive CPU choices.

The manual also mentions an iGPU version of the ThinkPad P16. Buyers who do not need the Nvidia GPU and just want a powerful CPU should be very happy with this option.