Lenovo ThinkPad P16v G1 AMD im Test - Entry-Level Workstation mit Zen4

[Redaktion]

Mit dem ThinkPad P16v G1 bietet Lenovo eine günstige mobile Workstation, die entweder mit AMD- oder Intel-CPUs verfügbar ist. Wir testen die AMD-Version mit der Nvidia RTX A1000, die vor allem mit sehr langen Akkulaufzeiten überzeugt.

https://www.notebookcheck.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-P16v-G1-AMD-im-Test-Entry-Level-Workstation-mit-Zen4.783947.0.html

[NikoB]

More than $2000. What are they offering us for this?

A low-quality tactile keyboard with an insignificant 1.5mm key travel. Why the hell did fashion for touchscreen lovers migrate to professional models? There must be a classic ThinkPad keyboard with long key travel and elastic tactile feedback.

A shameful fhd screen with a monstrous response time (the dynamics are a complete mess), instead of 4k@120Hz with a response of no more than 6ms on G2G/B2W.

Of course, I don't believe in the declared contrast of 2000:1+ on a regular IPS panel from BOE; according to the datasheets, everything is almost 2 times worse. Even top-end LG "Black IPS" monitor panels in practice in all reviews produce no more than 1800:1.

The processor is frankly weak (and even stifled). Here you need the 7945HX in a slightly suppressed PL1/PL2 version, but it will still be up to 2 times faster than the 7840HS. Adding 4 external USB40/TB4 controllers to the 7945HX is not a problem - it has at least 16 free pci-e 5.0 lines hanging in the air. Taking into account the frankly weak discrete video chip, the presence of an external interface of at least the x16 pci-e 3.0 level (a matrix of 4 x USB40) would be very useful for the owner in the future.

Installing one 32GB memory module is the right solution for cheap laptop options (less than $1000), but not for $2000+. 64GB here must come out of the box, especially since Zen4 Phoenix officially supports up to 256GB.

Judging by its speed in single-channel mode, the RAM again does not excel in latency and overall bandwidth, even after installing a second 32GB module.

Noise: The author allegedly writes about "pleasant" noise up to 36 dBA, but this is noise at an extremely annoying level. "Pleasant" no more than 26 dBA (which is confirmed by the aspirations of the same manufacturers of cinema projectors to keep the noise level no more than 26 dBA). Thus, the laptop cannot be considered quiet for a load of up to 30-35% by core.

What else I didn't like was the location of 2 M.2 SSDs, out of 3, it's extremely unfortunate - it's right next to the battery and under heavy load it will create increased heating for the battery cells close to it.

The obvious failure of the "professional" model is the lack of an RJ45 in the back, this is a shame for Lenovo, with a ton of space in the back. There must be a 5-10Gbps port.
And of course the absence of at least 1 usb-a gen 3.2 port on the left. Again there is plenty of space.

And again I emphasize the need to have 2 audio ports - on the left and on the right, symmetrically, so that it is convenient for both right-handers and left-handers, plus (taking into account the increased breakability of 4-pin audio sockets) the second one will be a backup in case of failure of the main one, plus this makes it possible to quickly create a 4-channel system from 2 pairs of analog speakers anywhere. Well, it would be nice to have an eSATA port on the back and an SPDIF output to external DACs for complete galvanic isolation from the laptop's power circuits, if you want to get high-quality HI-END sound from the laptop as a source.

What is stopping Lenovo or any other manufacturer from making a normal working/universal laptop with a classic keyboard and numpad and a high-quality screen for working with text and graphics? Or to other manufacturers? There are no technical restrictions today. Only pure greed and increasingly outright redneckness of marketers, because... I will never believe that adequate engineers in R&D will voluntarily create such shameful models...

And remove the red stripe at the back - why is it on the professional model? What kind of stupid fashion is this from newfangled idiots? Think about the main thing - for whom such a model is intended.

And do not succumb to the calls of newfangled worthless "professors" that students do not need to study STEMs, but should study to become nannies and social workers. Remember "Interstellar"? "We don't need engineers and scientists...we need farmers." Prophecies come true...

[LG]

Habe das P16v G1 zum Black Friday Sale für 1300€ mit i7 13700H, dem 4K 800 Nits hellen Bildschirm, 32GB RAM und 1TB SSD gekauft.

Alles in allem ein sehr guter Arbeitslaptop, gerade der matte Bildschirm ist bis auf etwas Screenbleeding an den Seiten hervorragend, die vollen 800 Nits habe ich allerdings nie ansatzweise gebraucht, nicht einmal direkt am Fenster im Licht.
Die Tastatur ist besser als 90% aller anderen Laptops, aber es bleibt unverständlich, warum man nicht zumindest die hervorragende alte 1,8mm Tastatur wählen kann. Mehr als genug Platz gibt es definitiv.
Qualität macht trotz Plastik einen guten Eindruck, Anschlussvielfalt- und positionierung gefällt mir auch ganz gut.

Habe den Laptop aber retourniert, aus zwei Gründen. Bei so einem schweren Laptop mit so großem Akku hätte ich eine deutlich bessere Akkulaufzeit erwartet, komme aber bei etwa 40% eingestellter Helligkeit nie über 4-5 Stunden, und zwar im Akkusparmodus. Außerdem laufen die Lüfter ständig, trotz aller Updates etc. Die AMD Variante war leider mehrere hundert Euro teurer, aber es gibt ja eh nur die HS-Serie zur Auswahl. Mit AMD Ryzen Pro 7 7840U hätte es der ideale Arbeitslaptop für mich sein können. Akkulaufzeit wäre signifikant besser, Lüfter würden wohl fast nie anspringen und die Leistung wäre trotzdem für viele Aufgaben absolut ausreichend.
 

[Enma45]

Ein tolles Produkt, wir müssen nur sehen, wie hoch der Endpreis ist und welche künstlichen Intelligenzfunktionen es für das zukünftige W12 bietet. Die Wahrheit ist, dass ich es sehr interessant finde und viele Leute in professionellen Foren auf einen niedrigeren Preis als das warten Intel-Modelle.

[NikoB]

Screenbleeding an den Seiten hervorragend, die vollen 800 Nits habe ich allerdings nie ansatzweise gebraucht, nicht einmal direkt am Fenster im Licht.

Because at home, even with the sun rays in the room, if they are not directly into the screen, you do not need more than 150nits, maximum 200.
And outdoors in bright sunshine, 800 nits may not be enough

Bei so einem schweren Laptop mit so großem Akku hätte ich eine deutlich bessere Akkulaufzeit erwartet, komme aber bei etwa 40% eingestellter Helligkeit nie über 4-5 Stunden, und zwar im Akkusparmodus. Außerdem laufen die Lüfter ständig, trotz aller Updates etc.

What surprises you with the cheaters from Intel, who, in order to catch up with AMD, simply raise the processor consumption on an outdated technical process much higher? You can't argue with the laws of physics, even if AMD has problems with consumption when the processor is idle. 10nm++++++, versus 4-6 nm for AMD.

The 7840U by today's standards (especially taking into account the reserve for 3-4 years ahead) is already too weak in a multi-threaded load. But if you're happy with it, then it would probably be a good choice.

I would rather see something like LG Gram 18" (16:10) with 7840U (or Zen4+/Zen5) with semi-matte 4k@120Hz and soldered 64GB lpddr5 7500. With a first-class classic keyboard. With power supply via an angled round plug ( or rear via USB-c up to 240W) to serve the power supply to the second USB40 port up to 130W, the same as for the USB-A 3.2 Gen2 pair.

It seems to me that LG will finalize its 17-18" Gram series faster than others than Lenovo will figure out what customers need for their homes and offices. They would also add RJ45 at 10Gbps and everything would be in order.

One ambush is an artificial shortage of AMD processors on the global market due to the fault of AMD. Every year we go in a vicious circle - a new series is announced, but in reality it becomes available only when an even newer one is released almost a year later. Everyone is already waiting for laptops with new SoCs again, but the old ones are no longer interesting. Well, then they would announce new series once every 2 years, but so that by the time of the announcement, all stores would already be filled with new models with a new series. This is roughly what Apple is aiming for at the start of sales, right? Why don't laptops have this practice?

[kuro68k]

I think Lenovo got this mostly right. 2x USB4 ports, 2x RAM sockets, and 2x NVMe sockets, make it a proper workstation. The position of the USB4 ports at the back is convenient.

Performance is good for the price. The dedicated GPU is enough for most workstation stuff like CAD, video/image editing, light gaming. Thermal management is okay.

I would like a 4k colour calibrated screen, but probably wouldn't like the price. I'll put it under my desk, use it with some USB4/Thunderbolt docks, and have some nice 4k 27" displays. The screen and keyboard are only needed for traveling, for serious work 16" is not much fun anyway.

Lenovo offered me 64GB RAM and 2TB SSDs for £1440. You can covert to Euro, but I don't think it's bad at all.

[NikoB]

would like a 4k colour calibrated screen, but probably wouldn't like the price.

4k@120Hz panels cost $150-200 in retail.

The professional model must have RJ45 at 5-10Gbps for guaranteed access speed, including NAS. The back of the laptop is almost empty. It's crazy to leave so much free space and not even get the 2.5Gbps Ethernet built into the SoC. And on the back of the professional model I would like to have a 5.1 audio output, optical SPDIF and eSATA for checking the HDD in exclusive mode. It was possible to output at least one more miniDP for direct connection with a miniDP-DP cable.

And of course the location of the hdmi is completely stupid - it should be in the back, and in its place is usb-a 3.2 Gen2.

I don't see the point in such a model, it is not completed and abandoned halfway.

[Neenyah]

Remember "Interstellar"? "We don't need engineers and scientists... we need farmers." Prophecies come true...

There was no use of farmers at all in Godzilla though.

[kuro68k]

would like a 4k colour calibrated screen, but probably wouldn't like the price.

4k@120Hz panels cost $150-200 in retail.

The professional model must have RJ45 at 5-10Gbps for guaranteed access speed, including NAS. The back of the laptop is almost empty. It's crazy to leave so much free space and not even get the 2.5Gbps Ethernet built into the SoC. And on the back of the professional model I would like to have a 5.1 audio output, optical SPDIF and eSATA for checking the HDD in exclusive mode. It was possible to output at least one more miniDP for direct connection with a miniDP-DP cable.

And of course the location of the hdmi is completely stupid - it should be in the back, and in its place is usb-a 3.2 Gen2.

I don't see the point in such a model, it is not completed and abandoned halfway.

There is 2.5G ethernet in the SoC?

You can use a dock for all that stuff. The AMD CPUs don't seem to have a lot of PCIe lanes, and some are needed for NVMe and the GPU.

Having a display output on the back would be nice.

I think you are asking a lot of a budget workstation though. As for the price of a 4k screen, I agree it should be affordable, but Lenovo will probably charge a premium for it...

[NikoB]

You can use a dock for all that stuff.

A high-quality docking station costs monstrous money and needs to be specially carried with you - why do I and most people need this? It is necessary to reduce unnecessary waste on the planet, when everything can be built in from the very beginning for much less money and waste of the planet's resources.

A laptop for $2000+ is never a budget one. This is a professional model, of an average level, and it must contain everything that I have indicated, because... this all requires minimal effort and improvements on the motherboard and is not done purely for marketing reasons. The most vile thing is that these same corporations make duplicitous statements about the "green" economy, deliberately provoking the opposite among the masses...

[RavenS]

Suggestion for the editorial team:
Could you check for compatibility with 96GB RAM configurations in the future?