What are the differences between the T530 and the W530?

[StevenD]

I've tried to configure both on Lenovo's site, and I've chatted with them, and they say that the graphics card is the only difference. Anyone have other information?

[Q-Ball]

Well... they're right. There is no difference other than the GPU.

Just like there was no other difference when IBM's 'workstation' laptops just had a 'p' at the end; it's just another way to say it while being able to create another "line" of laptops. It also removes certain confusion, which I'll detail below.

A history lesson. Take a standard ThinkPad (any T series, really) and a "p-suffix" T series (i.e. T60p). Look up their pictures.
You'll see that there's no external difference; both use the same chassis, and if you look further you'll see that they use the same processors, hard drives, RAM, batteries, screens, keyboards. In fact, a motherboard from a 'p' machine will fit in a standard model's case. (With some exceptions due to size, though).

The only difference between the two is the motherboard itself. The T530 and W530 are both offered with the same processors and same options. The only differentiating feature is the graphics card (also, RAID- but that requires a 'special' order in the subset of all W530s, so I'm not counting it here, and you're not missing anything by not getting it).

In fact, other than the W700 and W701 series (and their DS variants; there was no T700/T701), the last time a different-chassis, "desktop-replacement" machine was in the ThinkPad line was the G series, and the A series before it. That was back in 2005, with the release of the ThinkPad G41 (the G50 doesn't count, as it was not designed to do the same job the A2x/A3x/G4x series did).

But I'm getting off topic. The only difference is the graphics card; which of course directly affects the price of the unit.

[awolfe63]

W530 is available with a color calibration sensor and some faster CPUs that are not available in the T530.

We don't have all the CPU details yet since the spec sheets are not out.

[StevenD]

Here's a little more info, fwiw:

The User Guide available here:
http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... _ug_en.pdf
is for the T530 *and* the W530. Reading through, it says that the W530 has four memory chip slots to allow a total of 32G, and the T530 has two memory slots for a max of 16G. That seems to be the only other difference.

It says that the T530 does have a color sensor, and you find the color sensor when configuring a T530 on shop.lenovo.com, but I chatted with Lenovo today, and the rep was fairly positive that the T530 does *not* have a sensor.

I'm trying to decide between a T530 and W530. I just can't imagine needing 32G rather than 16G of memory; I don't need a high-end video card because I don't do cad/cam, and no gaming at all; but I do a lot of Photoshop, and I need good color accuracy. I'm not sure if I would go to the W530 just for the sensor if it really is not in the T530.

But overall, they seem to be verrrrrrrry similar devices.

[underclocker]

As with the W510 and W520, the power supply requirement is greater for the W530. A very physically large and heavy 170w power supply is required with the W530.

The T530 still uses either the 65w or 90w, dependent upon configuration.

W530 datasheet --> http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/lapto ... asheet.pdf

T530 datasheet (can't find US version yet) --> http://shopap.lenovo.com/au/en/pdf/Thin ... _Sheet.pdf

[wolfman]

And this isn't to be underestimated (the weight of the adapter). Our team has W520's and while the battery life is much better than with the W510's, no one carries a second power brick back and forth to work anymore like we did with our T500's. So if you are away from your desk and out of power you are often out of luck as the 1.4 pound adapter is too much to drag around just in case someone needs it. W520 is a real nice machine, but man, I really, really dislike the power brick. Traveling with the machine is a pain. Fortunately I don't have to do it often.

[awolfe63]

You can get a USB color calibrator for a T530 if you need one - it just isn't built in. If you are not a full-time or professional photographer or editor, it is unlikely that you need to calibrate very often.

It does not sound like you need a W530. Why take the 20% battery life hit, extra charger weight, cost, etc. if you don't need it.

[StevenD]

I really need the very best screen I can get. From the datasheets, the T and W screens seem to be similar, but not identical. A chat representative said they were identical, but I think they confabulate sometimes. I'm waiting around to see if some definitive info pops up.

[awolfe63]

In the previous several generations they have been identical. Given the specs - it would be surprising if they are not identical this time.