Lenovo ThinkPad T540p: Overview, Specs and Upgrades
Вставка
- Опубліковано 14 чер 2024
- Today we examine the T540p. This unit was the first of the "Txxxp" series laptops made by Lenovo and included many new features that were tested on the T431s. Thanks to Aquila for correcting me that there were earlier Txxp models!
/ laptopretrospe1
teespring.com/stores/laptop-r...
laptopretrospective.com/
Maintenance Manual:
download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub...
Looking for one yourself? Check eBay and your local classifieds. Amazon also has a series of parts and machines. By purchasing from the links below, as an Amazon and eBay Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases that goes to supporting the channel.
eBay:
rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-532...
Amazon.ca
amzn.to/35FybmB
amzn.to/2tOidZZ
amzn.to/2TeKjsb (TrackPad Kit)
Amazon.com
amzn.to/2TkT2sV
amzn.to/36JGFdN
amzn.to/3a2V8mQ
amzn.to/38302id (TrackPad Kit)
If you are looking for the latest and greatest version of this laptop, I suggest heading over to Lenovo's website to see what they have been up to recently. As a member of the Lenovo Affiliate Program, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through this link.
Lenovo Canada
lenovo.vzew.net/5XBWL (General)
lenovo.vzew.net/P2ZLR (ThinkPad)
Lenovo USA
lenovo.vzew.net/BXEK5B (General)
lenovo.vzew.net/zagjz0 (ThinkPad)
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
0:45 Design and Ports
1:39 Keyboard and Interface
2:00 Display and Specs
3:59 Disassembly
7:15 Start-Up
7:48 Conclusions - Наука та технологія
The Tx40p line of ThinkPads is what made me into a convert. Picked up a T440p that was in pretty rough shape from Goodwill a few years ago for US$40. One keyboard, Flexview 1080p display, SSD, and CPU upgrade later, it had become my primary laptop until it was replaced by a W550s, and later, an X1 Extreme Gen 2.
They are pretty neat but I can't help but feel these transition models were equally weighted with pros and cons.
@@LaptopRetrospective , last ones with socketed CPUs, that's what makes them epic. W541 and T440p here :)
@@zgagacz I suspect this is probably their most important and saught after feature. That and a decent screen is available without modding.
@@LaptopRetrospective , FHD TFT to FHD IPS is a simple swap, but if you want to upgrade to 3K IPS from any FHD screen, you need as well 40pin video cable for the 3K display panel. Other thing is that the basic HD TFT panels have differenr lid so despite using same 30pin video cable as FHD versions, you need to change the whole lid to upgrade from HD to FHD, and then the video cable to 40pin one to upgrade further to 3K screen. Changing the display panel is pretty easy, but swapping the video cable requires a lot of disassembly, something to keep in mind. That's live experience, I did FHD to 3K screen upgrade in T540p myself once.
Thanks for sharing this wisdom!
You always have a video for what I want to know. Thank you.
Glad to be of service!
Some great imfo there, thanks you.
Glad it was helpful!
Good overview of these systems, they have their quirks but aren't that bad. That being said, I wonder if the T540p has the same display vertical line issues the T440p commonly develops - on that system the lid has a lot of flex and the LCD is subject to stress when opening & closing. Been restoring a bunch of them recently as donations and this is the most common issue I see on them.
Interesting. I suspect it would be slightly different due to the size and how much support material may or may not be in the lid.
Oh yeaboii i've been looking forward to this video. Thanks :D
Haha, sorry for the wait!
there is one upgrade you can do that is cheaper and leaves you with a mini server, which is the upgrade to the w541, a lot of parts can be swapped out to get a decent laptop for much cheaper than the laptop itself and you gain yourself a spare low power server as well. The dual core is just too slow though but as a linux server its totally fine.
I've had the chance to look at the W540, great machine.
Nice video!
Thank you!
I won a T540p on eBay auctions for $150 USD about a year ago. Has the 4700MQ, 12GB of RAM, a GT 730M 1GB. The only thing they didn't list was that it this golden spec is a 1366x768p model.
I upgraded the keyboard to backlit and swapped the aging 240GB Kingston SSD with a 250GB Samsung Evo that I had sitting around. I've been using it for a couple years, it preforms great, but I REALLY want to upgrade the screen.
I've been keeping my eye out for a Pentium/i3 model in 1080p model for parts so I can take the lid/screen, because upgrading
resolutions requires swapping the entire lid/bezzel/hinges/cables because ALL of the mounting locations are different due to having a different screen ratio/size in the 1080p model. If anyone has one with water damage internally but the screen is fine, I'll gladly toss you $50+shipping for it!
Imgur link for specs for anyone not believing that I have one ;) i.imgur.com/JDRaQyk.png
Good luck finding your parts!
I'm in the same boat, mine has i7 4710 cpu and the 730m gpu 16G ram and everything works great, but it had a slightly cracked screen and I plug it into a monitor and it works fine. I didn't check the resolution before buying it and it feels like I'm stuck with crappy resolution if I use it solely as a laptop. I gave up on trying to figure out what would need to be done to replace the screen when 2 screen manufacturers said I couldn't upgrade the screen on my model. One day out of desperation I took it to my local repair shop and was willing to bite the bullet and pay, but they said the soldered on chip for the screen can only do 1366 x 768 resolution. After more research I got discouraged to learn that possibly the only way to upgrade the screen is to swap out the motherboard and get a whole new screen assembly. Is that really the only way? If I have to buy 2 more things for it, the total spent will just not be worth it for me. I see this poster mentions buying a damaged laptop that might include the parts they need. Do people have luck finding this type of thing? I like the tinkering but I don't want to just keep throwing money at the thing. Should I sell it with a new TN screen so it all works and get the one I want or is it possible to gather all the right parts and do it myself without spending more than a new laptop costs
It appears you're correct. I'm also reading that dropping in a better panel isn't possible on those models without swapping out several parts.
Amazing vid keep up the good work
For upcoming videos I'd like you to feature the t450
I'd love to as well but I'm at the mercy of what comes my way.
I've been at a real lost as to what used Thinkpad to purchase. I've been watching your videos and many others to try to decide and I do hear that the 't440p' is a great solid machine (with upgrades) to have. My basic needs will be internet browsing, Zoom video conferencing, possibly teaching English in the future via video conferencing and installing Linux for dual boot purposes. Would the t440p be sufficient for that or another model? Seeking some advice, any guidance will be much appreciate. Love your content by the way!
I'd take a look at the T450. Have you seen that video?
@@LaptopRetrospective I have not! I will check that out! Thank you very much!!!
That Boxy Shaped is the one of the another reason why we Love and Adore Thinkpads. I hope lenovo make again a "P" version in the T's in order for other to have Consumer Grade laptop instead of the Thinkpad P fleet of Quadro's GPU's
Yep, that design is iconic.
@@LaptopRetrospective Agree! 😃
If you like the design of them, have you seen my Project Kodachi video series on the development of the ThinkPad X300?
@@LaptopRetrospective Half of it I finish. Truley Remarkable Words for AN ICONIC pièce de résistance.
Nice video
Thanks!
I will to see an overview of the budget Thinkpad L540 and what your thoughts are. That one has also a socket CPU and very easy to acess it.
One day I'll get my hands on an L series.
Which one is better laptop Lenovo L540 or T540p?
T series is generally considered better than the L but it really comes down to your needs.
@@LaptopRetrospective are these two model specific same battery life,performance?
That depends on how they are configured. I haven't had the chance to look at the L model yet.
Other than using a dust can into the holes is there a good way to clean the fan? I bought mine used and about a year later the fan is beginning to get louder.
Disassemble and clean the fan. These fans do wear out over time and are common parts online. So if a quick clean doesn't work, a replacement is an option.
Do I need to install something when changing a regular keyboard to a backlit keyboard?
I don't suspect so.
The biggest issue I encountered with my T540p is that after about 4 months of use it stopped charging the battery. It is powered by the charger when it is plugged in, however the battery's do not actively get charged when plugged in. I have attempted numerous driver fixes, however I fear that it is a hardware issue within the laptop. I have attempted using other batteries but this has not fixed the issue. I was very sad when this happened.
Tragic. Sounds like a motherboard related issue if swapping in other batteries doesn't do anything.
i think its an issue with the charger. Remove the battery and see if the power button flashes or doesn't turn on. Its an indication of voltage and all new lenovo PSUs from 2021 i find dont even last a year. Whereas i have a very old thinkpad t61p acting as a mail server with its original PSU still going strong. I had this issue as well, went out and bought a not original PSU of higher watts that is not only cheaper but i figured why pay for original crap when the non original stuff will be just the same or at least better. Without the battery inserted, run a stress test and see if the laptop shuts off.
How do i enable virtualization on my t504p? I wanted to install linux through a vmware but was met with this thst issue.
Usually done via the BIOS,if your CPU supports it. support.lenovo.com/ca/en/solutions/ht500006
This is my 1st Thinkpad. I'm a STEM Student in PH transitioning to College Next Year. The "HEAVY" upgrade to it is the CPU. It's VERY Difficult to buy in eBay and Aliexpress. I don't mind having the IPS and the Backlit Keyboard though I have my own "WAYS" & "MEANS". My Unit also had a bezel snaps but as I said I don't mind it. I just want to upgrade the CPU to i7 4702mq. 73 de John (Best Regards, Don't have a license yet just embracing and learning the hobby/system)
It's a great system to tinker with and learn. It will serve you well.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks! I upgraded the Minor Technicalities like how a normal student can since all of the upgrades is from my own pockets including the T540p. First is the Ultra Bay, I use a ODD to HDD Caddy and equip it with a 500GB spinning HDD because the original OS Drive has only 120GB SSD and added a 8GB DDR3L in total of 12GB of Memory. Also seaching for a genuine 9 Cell battery and lastly the CPU. I already contact a seller for 90W AC Charger. Cheers!
Excellent stuff!
This might be my next ThinkPad purchase. I like the idea that you could potentially have four drives in it.
Main bay, UltraBay, M.2 Short and what is the fourth? I seem to be drawing a blank.
@@LaptopRetrospective My bad. I thought you said you could fit two M.2 drives in it. Still, three drives are pretty cool. It's what I have in my T430.
@@TrenchReynolds Two m.2 slots but only one is the right size for any kind of drive.
@@LaptopRetrospective Gotcha.
Do you have made a video about T440p yet?
Nope, one hasn't shown up yet. One day, I'm sure.
Do a video on the T560
If one ever shows up, I will.
Great video! This thinkpad ultrabay is reminiscent of the one in my L440, as it too requires some disassembly to swap the tray.
It's a shame to have the feature but not really have it, you know?
Hi, I just came in to possession of a similar model (t540p core i5 4300, 8 gb ram) and was wondering if there's any way to upgrade from the stock gpu? It's a snappy little unit otherwise.
Pretty sure GPU is not socketed so that's a motherboard swap.
yes, but via a motherboard swap. While you're at it, just upgrade it to a w541, it'd cost a bit more in total but could be well worth it. You would need to change the heat sink as well, and get a different screen but you get thunderbolt (which means you can now have many eGPUs). Also you can use a PSU and adapter to use the expresscard with an eGPU.
Is there a dual band WiFi adapter available to upgrade the T540P without running into white list problems?
If my sources are correct, the Intel 7260ngw was a OEM part for these and is dual band.
Hello, I saw you video today. It was very professionally done. I need to put a Wireless Ethernet on my T540p. Which one would you recommend for this laptop and also works out to be cost effective. Will the wireless be able to catch the 5Ghz band
The following cards are supported:
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260
Intel Wireless-N 7260, 2x2
ThinkPad Wireless 2x2
The top two for sure will do 5GHz, as will the third I believe.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thank you so much for replying back. I somehow missed your reply as I didn't get any notification for the same. I appreciate your time on this.
No problem, it's what I do. 😁 Best of luck.
@@LaptopRetrospective well I kind of hurried up and got a WiFi card ... An Intel ax200 ngw card. This is a WiFi 6 card that perfectly fits into an M.2 slot. I just plugged it in and I am getting an error Unauthorized network card is plugged in power off and remove the network card (8087/0029)
Yes, nearly every laptop has a whitelist of WiFi cards that are allowed. The one you bought you'll see isn't on the list of cards I posted that this laptop supports. Some can be flashed with a custom BIOS to make the card work. I don't know if ivyra.in works on this model. You might need to return that one and get a supported card.
I have a budget of €350 and want a 2nd hand laptop. I want a largish, decent screen with good definition for youtube, internet browsing etc. I want to do some writing and would like a good keyboard. I would like to play Rome Total War 2 and have good graphics but nothing amazing. I am not worried about weight or great battery life. My research is leading me to buying a thinkpad on ebay. I am not sure what model or what pitfalls to avoid. I am not a technical person. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Find the system requirements of the most demanding application you plan to run to get an idea of what system specs you require. That's where I'd start.
Hi, great video!
I have two questions for you:
1. Is the RAM upgrade worth it? I'd be going from 8gb to 16gb so I wanted your opinion.
2. Do you know if the screen connector is 30 pin or 40 pin? I'd like to upgrade the screen to one that is on Amazon.
Thank you!
Don't know about the screen connector. RAM should be upgradable. SSD first.
How many hours will the 9cells battery last on this model?
Really depends on how hard you push it. I don't remember the exact numbers. It's been a while.
The disk drive screw is accessible via the service bay on the bottom, which I would hardly call taking apart the laptop. The W540 is the exact same device except for factory configuration specs, with four ram slots, thunderbolt 1, and Quadro graphics in every model, and the option for a color sensor. The W541 is the same as the W540 but with a three-button trackpad. There is one super speed port on each side I believe. I think the W540 is at an amazing price right now for its power and build quality, as I just scored a W541 with an i7-4940mx and Quadro k2100m (the more powerful option).
Very true you aren't taking apart the entire laptop but it does not have the same quick eject system on older models. The W series is certainly more powerful and that shows in the available configurations. Hope to feature one soon.
Plz how to openn the pc and change the termal ??
See the hardware maintenance manual for detailed instructions.
Hey, I got the Lenovo w541 (almost the same as the T540p) Can i upgrade my processor to a i7 6th gen? Now it is a i7 4th gen. Is it possible? Thanks
I don't think you are able to jump generations on that model.
I have a T540P with 1t hdd, 16 meg RAM, i5, I was wondering what would be the best things to upgrade. I see alot of ssd drives not sure what to buy. Also i see a ssd drive can be added to the wwan slot plus the internal drive. Your thought please
SSD will be the biggest bang for your buck in terms of performance. Samsung drives are a safe bet for quality and speed. I can't remember the slot style of the WWAN slot and what drives would be compatible. A quick Google search will likely tell you what will work.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks, Samsung it is. It's a great laptop for the price.
Can I change cpu on this model?🤔
If your answer is yes ,which cpu is going to work better on this model.
Yes you can, as for what is better, that will be subjective. More powerful CPUs will generate more heat and use more battery life.
Bom dia
Tenho uma máquina dessas
Dá para fazer um upgrade para uma gráfica nvidia?
Obrigado
A GPU não pode ser atualizada sem uma troca de placa-mãe. Traduzido com o Google.
These are cool.
They have their charm. Not my personal favourite but there is lots to like.
@@LaptopRetrospective I prefer the classic ThinkPads and some modern ones, but 1080p IPS and quad cores are very nice to have.
@@oinkey Agreed!
can this laptop use for graphic design (photoshop and illustrator) and also some light video editing (adobe premiere ,after effect) Pls advise. Thanks !
I'd stress the "light" part. Anything intensive will likely have it show its age.
Traditionally their W workstation range were designed for these tasks, so a W540 is the one to go for.
If you were to choose between a similar priced t440p (8gb ram) and t540p (12gb ram), which one would you go for?
Would depend on CPU's, condition, if dGPU were present. If all of that is equal, size preference would be for me personally the smaller one.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for replying! Great vid as always, I've learned a lot from your channel.
My pleasure, let us know what you ultimately choose. I'm pleased to hear that you have been able to learn something from the channel.
Can the simple keyboard of t540p be replaced with backlite ketboard as I have to work late at night when there is dark?
Yep, check the HMM to get the part number.
yes sadly they removed the thinklight.
Can you do a tutorial on installing linux on this laptop ?
I don't have the unit anymore but the process is fairly trivial. What version were you looking to install?
@@LaptopRetrospective Idk, i'm very new to linux and i'm planning to buy to this laptop and planning to install Manjaro KDE
I got a question, from what I've seen on your video and some reading online the T540p is somewhat similar to the T440p with the major differences being 15" screen size, 3K screen option, numpad on keyboard.
I got my refund for the X260 that had the wrong specs I got a while back and commented on your X250 video and I'm actually looking into getting a T440p with i5 4300m, 240gb ssd, 16gb ram, 1080p IPS screen, US keyboard layout, 6 cell battery, with charger for about USD $209. Performance wise looking at benchmarks it doesn't seem that far off from the i5 of a X260.
What other aspects do you think I should ask the seller about the T440p? Thanks
Sounds like you got it all covered. Maybe battery condition.
@@LaptopRetrospective Had a chat with the seller and they said its the original 6 cell and should last about 3~4 hrs. Doesn't surprise me considering its used.
I'll be asking the seller about the fingerprint reader as that's the one part I'm really uncertain due to the listing pictures and description mentioning/showing a T440p with one, but 2 reviews with pictures that don't. Not really a dealbreaker for me even if there isn't. For sure I'll be also asking if it has been cleaned internally and repasted. If the answers satisfy me then I may get a T440p.
Sounds good, best of luck. I'd set some money aside for a battery later just in case.
@@LaptopRetrospective Pretty unfortunate as I didn't luck out again. Good thing I messaged the seller again before it got shipped out. Learned that the screen wasn't 1080p and filed for a cancelation of the order got a refund. It became another case like with the X260, its the same problem both instances. The listings said 1080p screen, but aren't and in both cases the sellers didn't update the listings, difference is they said it only has 8gb of ram instead of the 16gb which I paid a bit more for. Not fun and I'm getting tired of those.
Maybe my bad luck or being broke and only finding sub ~$250 ones reachable or just encountering too many crappy sellers in my country or a combination of all 3 factors.
At the end of it maybe I'm just cursed to be stuck with crappy laptops with TN screens that die on me and be better off staying away from them. Buying new is out if the question as getting something with at least 240gb ssd, 16gb ram, IPS screen, and a somewhat modern processor is very much out of my very limited budget. And the Celerons close to my bydget are 4gb ram and use eMMC storage so no go.
Anyways sorry if that was too long. I may try again (after I look away from laptops for a while) with a different seller and laptop model that hopefully uses DDR3L (so I can use my 8gb stick from my last laptop) and can meet my needs as I would probably need one in the near future. Though I may have to compromise on the screen type due to my budget.
Finding a reliable seller is worth their weight in gold. I hope you find a good one soon.
Ia this a good laptop for designing software? Such as 3ds max, Autocad, Revit with the configuration, i5, 8gb ram, 4th generation, 240 ssd.
Please suggest me.
I'd be checking the system requirements of all of those programs closely. Integrated chipsets aren't known for amazing 3D performance.
no. with the gt730M it'd run but not render well, and with the CPU thats a dualcore. However you can upgrade to quadcore easily and you can swap out to the w541 via the t540p as they share the same chassis and design which will give you a much better GPU. SSD will be very important as well (sadly unlike older thinkpads you only have 2 board slots for m.2, for wifi and SSD). my old thinkpad has 3 mini PCIe slots and i used to do all sorts of things with them. One thing in particular the t61p was the most modular of the lot, 3 slots, ultrabay with more options, dock that can fit a GPU and another ultrabay slot, PCMCIA, expresscard and thanks to the ultrabay i could have 2 batteries for 10 hours of run time. Heavy but the GPU could overclock to 2.5 times the frequency. I could have esata and usb3 via pcmcia while egpu via expresscard. Good times but those earlier LCD models had a lot of screen failures that i just gave up on fixing it up and it is now a mail server. doing the swap is much cheaper than getting a w541.
What to do when my t540 went black out and when i try to open there is no display in screen and the keys only blink?? Pls help
What blinks and how many times? Will it not turn on or is the display just malfunctioning?
@@LaptopRetrospective i think its turning on but the no display in screen or monitor its total Blocked out
@@LaptopRetrospective turning on but not continuing, when i pressed hard the start buttonsome keys and the start buttons blink 5sec
Have you tried plugging in an external display?
Hi. I own a T540p:
Intel Core i7 4710MQ @ 2.50GHz
8,00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-11-28)
Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz)
Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Lenovo)
1023MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M (Lenovo)
298GB Western Digital WD
I downloaded two progams to watch the core processor temperatures.
While i am writing down this comment its in the range of 90 - 95C. (i dont have anything else opened except Chrome)
And now it went down to 70-75`C...okay..
So my questions.. What is a safe temperature for this setup. How can i setup the fans to work on full blast if it goes over 100`C and can you actually control the fan speeds. I am planning on giving it a good clean the next couple of days. Gonna try to find a thermal paste too. The laptop is used for programs like AutoCAD, MathCAD, Autodesk Invertor. It handles the progams okay,
And playing World of Tanks on low graphics (getting like 120+fps) and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim also on low to medium graphics (getting like 30-40 fps).
I don't use a laptop cooling pad, maybe i should consider getting one.
I am also planning on putting a Solid State Drive, like a 512GB, im gonna wait for a discount or something.
I really love my laptop, one of the few things which i am feeling satisfied for buying, did lots of things with it.
That, my friend is not a normal operating temperature for that computer. Either your fan is failing or dirty, thermal paste is dried up or there is an airgap between the CPU cooler and CPU. I'm surprised that when you go over 100 it doesn't just shut down on you.
dissassemble, clean the heatsink and fan, clean thermal paste off and use a good thermal paste on it. Some suggest the arctic mx-5. Another thing you can do is use a software to adjust the fan profile too. Alienware will prevent you from running cooler via software as they will just shutdown if you try anything, including any undervolting. Intel XTU will let you tweak, same with throttlestop.
Does it has a strong battrey? Can you tell me how long time can run if battrey was 100%? (When was new)
Laptop battery longevity is entirely dependent on configuration and use. We'd need more information to give an accurate picture like the specs and what you plan to use it for.
@@LaptopRetrospective Using it for running small softwares like FireFox, Adobe reader and some old directx 8 games with lowest brightness setting.
Lenovo t540p i7 4 gen ram 16gb ,128gbssd , Nvidia 730 , processor 2.8ghzmq Can I run revit architecture with this specs plz reply???
According to the system requirements on their website it should but I'm not familiar with that piece of software to give you a definite answer.
How's your opinion to compare this With W540 or W541?
Haven't had the pleasure of a W series machine yet. I can tell you that the W540 uses the same maintenance manual.
It’s almost the same but comes with quad core cpus and accepts up to 32gb ram. I bought a used one with 3K IPS panel, 32gb ram, i7-4900MQ quad core, 256gb ssd, nVidia Quadro 2100K video for a lousy $400. Absolute beast for the money. For photo/video editing is a dream. Make sure you get one with 3K panel, the lower tier TN panels are crap. Great video as usual! 👍🏻
@@aggressor776 thanks for sharing your experience! I hope to feature one someday. Glad you enjoyed the video.
@@aggressor776 , I agree. Great machine. I got same configuration W541 recently for 400 EUR which is very good deal here in Ireland.
@@aggressor776 I will use it as my powerhorse for my engineering works, I read that quadro GPU is more suited for these type of works
Where can i find restart hole?
Sorry? Not sure what you are referring to.
Can I ask you a favour? Can you use a machine with the click pad for a week? Including the trackpoint! I find it much nicer than the 30 series, especially the X240s touchpad was a big improovement over the X230 imho. I don't mind the touch zones for the trackpoint. It doesn't get in the way. It works about 95% of the time. I actually think it's being hated on just bc it's something different. It's also qute accurate compared to previous generations.
I tried a T450s, but I actually prefer the clcikpad, simply bc I can click everywhere, just like a macbook trackpad. I rate it 8/10. Please give it a fair chance.
I'll keep that in mind for the next ThinkPad that comes across my desk.
@@LaptopRetrospective can't wait!
Hope not to keep you waiting too long.
i have the click pad and i think i still prefer the classic 3 button touchpad.
I haven't been able to get Linux to boot with UEFI and secure boot turned on.
That's not unheard of, having to disable those to install Linux that is.
@@LaptopRetrospective have you tried installing Linux with all those on turned on?
Depends on the machine if it plays nice or not and what restrictions are in the boot loader.
I've got one of these and want to upgrade grade it. Right now it just has 4 gb of ram, has the i5-4300m CPU. Want something that will handle windows 10 easier and not be so slow. What should I upgrade and what parts do you suggest?
Have you upgraded to an SSD? That's going to be the biggest change.
@@LaptopRetrospective not yet, that was going to be first, wasn't sure if certain ones are better/ faster than others. Any suggestions?
@@yangor8260 Most SSD's from reputable brands will be fine and give you a significant boost in booting time and program loading. It also depends on what you are doing with the computer. i5-4300m depending on what you are asking it to do will be fine for a lot of tasks.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thanks for your vid and the info. Kids giong to use it for school. Run WIndows 10, Teams. Prob not much more than that.
You'll be fine with what you've listed. Put in an SSD, make sure you got a fresh battery and maybe 8GB of RAM later on. Happy to help!
Used this laptop for work over 5 years now. Got a thesis due soon and now it refuses to power on. :')
Yikes, hopefully you can get the data off and continue your work while you come up with a solution.
sounds like a psu issue. lenovo PSUs are notoriously terrible as of late.
Is there a non p version of this? I strangely see a T540 Lenovo desktop model.
There might be a desktop with similar naming nomenclature but it wouldn't be directly related.
@@LaptopRetrospective Yeah of course, but it is confusing that there is an IdeaCentre T540. This really threw me when I was trying to find information. I was getting hits, and in my brain I kept asking what are the differences between the Thinkpad T540 and the T540p? There is no Thinkpad T540. ;)
Is it possible to put on a ssd disc?
2.5" SSDs will work.
@@LaptopRetrospective ok thk
This laptop has the exactly same design with W540, isn't it?
Yep. Same maintenance manual too.
AFAIK, you can even swap a W540 motherboard in a T540p, creating a frankenpad
@@TerribleToaster I believe that is correct, the chassis is the same. Only thing to check would be display options and connectors.
I don't know if anyone has said anything. But you can put a mobo from a w540 straight I to the t540p and have the 4 ram slots upgradable to 32gb. And have the better GPU as well
I don't think the motherboards are the same size?
@@LaptopRetrospective yeah they are a straight swap
Ah very cool. Thanks for the tip. No issue with clearance in the chassis with the extra RAM slots?
@@LaptopRetrospective I haven't done it personally. But know people who have. And there's no issues at all. I live in Australia and can't find a t540p for under $500 used
Yikes. Availability really does vary from region to region.
Is this powerful enough at this point to run Photoshop with 3D tools?
What are the system requirements?
The default spec is powerful enough to run Autocad, C4D, or any other 3D editor.
dual core nope, you will really suffer. grab the quad core, make sure you have nvidia GPU, and a SSD.
Is it good for programming?
Depending on the requirements you have, it should be just fine.
Hi. What screwdriver kit is that?
Mastercraft Electronic Repair kit, I bought it at Canadian Tire.
@@LaptopRetrospective Thank you!
@@naran_naran You're most welcome.
Getting a t540p with i7 4900mq soon. Had an amazing deal that was hard to pass up on compared to similar dells
P.s Great video by the way! Very professional and informative unlike some who just unbox and boots it up and give it a cosmetic rating
Thanks Tanji, glad I was able to be of service to you. Let me know when your T540p arrives.
@@LaptopRetrospective Well the t540p was great cosmetically(practically new) but after a couple of days it wouldn't boot up. I tried changing cmos battery and regular battery but had no luck. So I sent it back. I was disappointed but I didn't want to mess with it and not find the problem. I would have wasted $200 for nothing then.
ah, the 4900mq is actually a very cheap upgrade, its about $100. If you got the base variant like me and was cheated on both price and specs, at least i can easily upgrade it
can this run VR without modifying it at all ?
No, it doesn't have the GPU for it. You'd want something considerably newer.
@@LaptopRetrospective But would it run it even if it lags or just it can't handle it at all ?
If it ran at all it would be a slideshow. I suspect the applications wouldn't even run.
@@LaptopRetrospective well I wanna play roblox VR on it and my pc runs roblox non VR almost perfectly so idk
What's your PC build? VR is very demanding. I had an i7 4770K with a GTX 770 which will out perform any T540p by a comical amount and that GPU couldn't do VR.
Does it have CD rom?
If you don't see it in the video, I'm not hiding it from ya. 😁
no HDMI?
This machine was display port equipped I believed.
Is this good for roblox? Or gaming?
Always check your system requirements against the hardware configuration you're looking to purchase.
Is this a durable (long lasting) laptop
Yes, generally speaking ThinkPads are exactly that.
Of course.. i got one in 2014..still its going well
@@cheezzslize39 For how much did you pay for it at that time.I got mine for 400euros
It is L540
Is this running on windows or chromebook?
Windows.
@LaptopRetrospective thank you I've looked at the T540 for $314
Cool, depending on how it's equipped that could be a good buy.
great
Thanks 😁
thanks to my x230 tweet post like :)
@@muchatczew thank you for sharing your setup, I love it!
Hmm.. I just got one of these in my hands and it seems to be a bit of a lemon.. 1366x768 display, single-band 11bgn WiFi, broken K key keeps falling off (inexplicably despite everything else being base, it was ordered with a backlit keyboard, so I can't just pull a key off one of my non-backlit spare keyboards, who tf ordered this??). Figures it's one of the only 40-series models you can't get a hacked BIOS without the whitelist for.
That's most unfortunate. Especially the busted keycap.
@@LaptopRetrospective found a way to fix the latter... $100 for a new original backlit keyboard, or... $10 for a broken one that has a K key I can harvest 🤣 Looking around for a cheap 50-series touchpad and IPS panel as well, might look for busted ones to source all three parts I need lol
That's the plus side of having access to multiple units. Lots of parts to mix and match.
How to enable virtualization in lenovo t540p pleeeeeeezz
Depends on the CPU if it is supported. If it isn't in the BIOS then you are out of luck.
ممكن سؤال كيف تقييمك لهاد الابتوب هل تنصحني بشرائه هل هوجيد للجرافيك على الاقل لبرامج ادوبي الاخيرة اتمنى ان ترد لاني اريد شرائه ومحتارة بما انك عربي قررت الاستفسار منك احسن
Is this laptop good?
Depends on what you need.
@@LaptopRetrospective for gaming 360 dollars Is ok does still get updates,
What kind of games? You're working with an integrated GPU with most configurations so performance isn't going to be great depending on what you're playing.
@@LaptopRetrospective Minecraft that is literally it
Depending on the complexity of the world it will run but it might not be smooth all the time.
saying m.2 when hes pointing at msata
You might be surprised to know that isn't an mSATA slot. forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-and-newer-T-series/T540p-mSATA-installation/td-p/1360779
@@LaptopRetrospective after reviewing the manual I stand corrected.
I remember having to double check myself back in the day. I was so used to seeing mSATA in the older models.
@@LaptopRetrospective Is it different from an NVMe ssd? How slow is the mSATA compared to NVMe? Thnk you for such an impressive review!
Why price is so high 😭😭
Used laptop prices have gone up in general I think due to the pandemic.
@@LaptopRetrospective 😭😭
Too bad it has no latches like t420s
Latches were iconic during a certain period but advances in design I think rendered them obsolete.
انا من العراق
im watching this on a thinkpad L512 lol
Cool! How is it?
@@LaptopRetrospective it works well for videos and web use still
Is it good to play gta 5 on it?
I wouldn't.
@@LaptopRetrospective what do u mean by that?
This isn't a gaming laptop so if it did run and meet minimum system requirements, you might not be satisfied with the results.
I have the t540p right in front of me 😅
Awesome!
@@LaptopRetrospective i bought it 2 days ago and the screen was damaged like the cd drive i replaced the screen and it works perfectly fine now but i don't have a replacement cd drive
A replacement drive shouldn't be too hard to source. Or throw in a drive caddy instead.
@@LaptopRetrospective yea i know the drive is bent that's why it won't come out technically it works i had like 2 Replacement drives but idk where they are but thx for you comment and Good luck on your YT channel
Thank you, you as well.
Hi, did you need to change the BIOS to do those upgrades?
No BIOS updates should be needed.
There are more popular models? Which one people prefer?
The T430, T450 tend to get a lot of attention. I've featured both on the channel. 😁