Review Lenovo IdeaPad Z500 Notebook

Visually, the IdeaPad Z500 leaves a very good impression. Color and material choice are not dissimilar to the current Asus N56VB. While the silver-gray keyboard area consists of brushed metal, the lid and bottom plate are manufactured using plastic (black matte).

The fact that the all-rounder seems of high quality, can be attributed to the good workmanship, which is better than the average - apart from smaller flaws (the optical drive of our review unit wasn't perfectly aligned with the side plate). Because of the slim build (just about three centimeters high) and the somewhat more sophisticated visuals, the IdeaPad Z500 appeals to us more than the Asus N56VZ. The notebook conveys a noble character both in a home and business environment.

However, it is just not enough for an outstanding performance. On the one hand, the display frame is too bright. Due to the different color, it slightly conflicts with the cover of the notebook. On the other hand - although a success overall - there is a distinct bulge above the keyboard.

However, the biggest point of criticism is the lack of stability. While the bottom plate fares fairly well, the keyboard gives in to pressure during normal usage. This is also applicable to the area around the optical drive.

The hinges are not optimal either. Even though the lid requires both hands to be opened, it clearly starts to swing when there are vibrations from the ground. A maximum opening angle of about 135° corresponds to notebook standards. Positive: Thanks to the moderate weight (~2.36 kilograms/~5.2 pounds), the 15-inch unit can be transported easily.

Lenovo provides the IdeaPad Z500 with some nice bundled software. Besides the tool "Energy Management” (a special battery mode and an option for fan cleaning) we also liked the “OneKey Recovery”, which allows for easy reset of Windows 8.

Movie lovers would enjoy the provision of PowerDVD 10. The package is completed by an extensive webcam software (see screenshot), and time-limited office and anti-virus applications. Lenovo did not include any unnecessary bloatware.

Accessories

Following the current trend, the manufacturer does not provide a Recovery DVD either. The buyer must make do with a setup leaflet, warranty card and a safety instruction. We were surprised about the power adapter: The external 90 W power supply is designed like a traditional remote control, i.e. long and narrow (167 x 41 x of 30 millimeters/~6.6 x 1.6 x 1.2 inches).

Warranty

The warranty is valid for 24 months. Accident cover is provided as an option.

Lenovo has made a very intelligent choice concerning the processor. While a majority of the mobile Intel quad-core CPUs are specified at 45 Watt TDP, the Core i7-3632QM - like most dual-core processors - has a TDP of 35 Watt. In everyday life, this not only means less heat emissions, but also lower power usage.

Generally, the Core i7-3632QM does not have to hide behind its 45-Watt siblings. Six MB L3-Cache are as impressive as 1.4 billion transistors. In comparison to the popular Core i7-3630QM, which is also based on the Ivy Bridge architecture and the smaller 22 nm structure, the Core i7-3632QM is clocked lower (2.2-3.2 vs. 2.4-3.4 GHz).

The feature list is largely identical. Owing to the Hyperthreading technology, the CPU can manage eight threads in parallel. However, one should not expect too much from the integrated GPU HD Graphics 4000. Regardless of the graphics card: The Core i7-3632QM offers an ideal compromise between performance and energy consumption.

Although Nvidia has already launched the 700M series, the GeForce GT 645M is still not a legacy product. The GK107-Chip produced in the 28-nm process is part of the current Kepler generation.

As with the smaller model, the GT 640M contains 384 Unified Shaders and 2,048 MB DDR3 graphics memory (900 MHz), which is connected with only 128 bits. 1.3 billion Transistors come close to the numbers of the Core i7-3632QM.

Pity: The overclocking function “GPU Boost” remains unused with the IdeaPad Z500. The tool GPU-Z also indicated the default 709 MHz under load. Theoretically, it would be possible to go up to 780Mhz. Depending on the benchmark, other GT-645M colleagues are better off (e.g. the Nexoc M507II). colleagues.

Within the Multimedia area, it has now become common that notebooks can switch between the integrated and dedicated graphics card without any delay - this is not any different for the IdeaPad Z500. Nvidia’s Optimus technology has established itself on the market and seldom causes grief. The Nvidia control panel scores with numerous comfort functions, optical assistance and settings (profiles, global setting etc.).

Annoying: Our review unit came with an extremely old GPU driver, i.e. the ForceWare 305.46. Lenovo does not seem to be aiming at maximum performance. In order to unlock the full potential of the GeForce GT 645M, we manually installed the brand new ForceWare 314.22. The installation of an official Nvidia driver is not a problem.

As mentioned initially, there is a large 1,000 GB HDD, which runs at 5400 rpm. Despite the fact that it is not a 7200 device, the hard drive delivers above average values.

Beginning with the tool HD Tune: An access time of nearly 17 ms and an average transfer rate of approximately 86 MB/sec should not be taken for granted in the HDD area. In the CrystalDiskMark, the IdeaPad Z500 even exceeded the 100-MB mark (sequential test).

Just so there is no misunderstanding: The HDD obviously cannot compete against Solid State Drives. During multitasking, the outdated technology quickly reaches its limits.

Gaming enthusiasts will have fun with the IdeaPad Z500. At the native resolution of 1366x768 most games run smoothly even with high details and activated anti aliasing. Only when playing extremely processing intensive titles such as Hitman: Absolution, Crysis 3 or Far Cry 3, one must reduce the quality levels to medium.

As hardware requirements will rise on the back of upcoming console generations, one shouldn't expect too much future-proofing. At the moment, the performance is still sufficient for current games.

As shown in the table below the article, the GeForce GT 645M is slightly defeated by the GeForce GT 740M. The gap is usually less than 10%. The GeForce GT 650M can often differentiate itself clearly.

The high temperature emission is one of the largest weaknesses of the all-round notebook. With an average temperature of 30 °C (86 °F), the case already reaches a relatively high level during idle operation. After one hour of stress test, the base unit reached over 40 °C (104 °F). During spot testing, our measurements showed even 49 °C (120.2 °F top side) to and 60 °C (140 °F bottom). Playing a PC game on your lap would not be very wise. Some users will feel that the surfaces become unpleasant during long gaming sessions.

The components are not faring any better. Although the Core i7-3632QM operates at the basic clock rate under full load, the CPU reaches 90 °C (194 °F) according to the tool Hardware Monitor. A GPU temperature of 87 °C (188.6 °F) maximum is also relatively high. Under normal conditions (incl. games), the components do not become that warm. A combination of FurMark and Prime is considered an extreme and unrealistic scenario.

The IdeaPad Z500 offers a reasonable sound quality. Lenovo has integrated two speakers at the bottom front, which do not deliver stellar performance, but are able to produce usable results via Dolby Home theater v4.

The technology gives the sound more volume, richness and dynamics. Great: The Dolby software allows for preset profiles as well as individual profiles (plus equalizer).

Nonetheless, there is still some room for improvement. As with most notebooks, the sound is tiny, dull and soft. The good maximum volume can only make up for this flaw to a small extent. In the long term, we would recommend using headphones or external speakers. The Asus N56VB definitely produces better sounds for games, music and movies. For occasional use, the 2.0-System is usable however. Compared to competitors, the Z500 is above average.

As the manufacturer has only integrated a 4-cell battery with 4500 mAh, the battery life does not reach peak values. About five hours in the Reader's Test of Battery Eater (minimum brightness, low load) and one hour in the Classic Test of Battery Eater (high load, maximum brightness) does not necessarily generate applause.

Performance could also have been better when performing more practical tasks. 2.75 hours of DVD playback and 3.75 hours of web browsing are neither particularly much nor particularly little.

At first sight, the IdeaPad Z500-MBYG2GE appears to be a successful multimedia notebook overall. Beside the capable energy-saving hardware, there is also the slim case of three centimeters. The all-rounder combines a simple and nevertheless sophisticated design. Lenovo also shows good thinking in terms of the power adapter and software.

However, the overall impression suffers due to various flaws, which are quite annoying when adding them all up. For example, there is the low-resolution HD panel that annoys with poor viewing angles and a highly reflective surface. Users who use the device primarily for work and web browsing, should look for a matte version. The weaker colors are compensated by lower sensitivity to reflections.

Furthermore, we had to criticize the connectivity options (no Gigabit LAN!), the keyboard (spongy typing) and the heat emission. The loud DVD burner, non-existing upgrade options and the non-removable battery also push the rating downwards. It is also hard to understand why Lenovo installed an extremely old GPU driver.

Despite the good starting point, the multimedia notebook was not able to impress us in the end. Within the price range around 800 Euros (~$1044), one can find better alternatives. AMD fans should take a look at the Samsung Series 5 510R5E, which is lighter and slimmer, hence offering better mobility. If you place great importance on good image quality, the Acer Aspire V3-571G (high-contrast IPS panel) or the Asus N56VB (high brightness TN-panel) might be what you are looking for.