College Laptop: T420s vs T520

Hello community!
I am buying a lenovo through my College's computer program and I cannot seem to decide which one to get! I was hoping to get some feedback! They both have basically the same hardware but there is a link for specifications below.

Here are the specs:
http://www.uvastudentcomputers.com/shop_matrix_lenovo.asp?mscssid=216B23C48E2C46BEB29695DD1DC6A56E

My main concerns are the bulkiness of the T520 and the short battery life of the T420s. I am going to be an engineering student at the University of Virginia so I expect to do a lot of walking / lab time. I also have a 23" monitor that I will be keeping in my dorm room.

Is the battery life on the T420s too short to last through a given day of 3-4 hrs of class?
Is the T520 too bulky to make it practical to bring it and pull it out during labs and just hanging around?
Which laptop is better overall for college?

P.S.: I do intend to do a bit of gaming on the laptop (Starcraft 2, etc.) which is the main reason why I have not really considered the T420 but I'm still open if someone can make a convincing argument.

Thanks!

 

You can buy an Ultrabay battery for the T420s, which slips into the gap created when you take the optical drive out.

As for discrete graphics, you can get the machine with a Nvidia Quadro NVS 4200M if you want. The discrete card is around 20% faster than the integrated graphics.

 

The T420s main battery can give up to 5 hours typing in word with a dim display and no wireless or internet usage. Get an UltraBay battery for the T420s (the previous UltraBay II batteries are less expensive but have slightly lower capacity) and you can add about 60% to the run time (to somewhere between 5 hours and 9 hours depending on what you are doing and the display brightness).

I can't comment about the Intel GPU's performance in specific games except to say that using two RAM modules, not one, will significantly boost performance because the GPU uses the system RAM and only one module gives it single channel speed.

John

 

May I ask why gaming precludes you from choosing the T420? It can carry the same display card as the other two does.

I'll recommend the T420s simply because of its mobility. If you'll be carrying the laptop around for a lot, having a lighter laptop would make life much easier. That is, of course, if you have the extra cash.

The X220 is also worth a look too, if you can stand small screens. You can buy a minidock series 3 to hook it up to your 23 inch screen in your dorm.

Hope it helps.

 

Is this one of those buying programs where you have to give it back upon graduation? If not, buy the most expensive one, sell it, and get whatever laptop you want with the money.

 

Oh man, those prices are quite high. Look into the T420, it uses the same parts as a T520, and is only thicker than the T420s, and offers the best battery life of all 3 choices.

 

The T520 seems to have optimius while the t420s does not.
It will give you better graphics and good battery life though it has less battery life than the T420. You can always buy a slice battery to increase battery life.

 

Thanks for the responses thus far!

The only reason I as wild about the T420 was due to the graphics card.

If the Intel integrated graphics card in the t420 is at all comparable to the NVIDIA graphics card in the T520 and T420s, I would be much more interested in the T420! I just was not sure about how it would perform with my gaming habits.

I run games including Starcraft 2, Elder Scrolls Oblivion, Counter Strike (I'm sure this ones fine), TF2, Dead Space, League of Legends, etc...

Anyone have any experience running these on the Integrated Graphics Card?

 

The T420 can be had with the exact same GPU as the T420s and T520. Can you not get this from your school?

 

Unfortunately no. The school only offers the Integrated Graphics for the T420.

 

Possible to configure directly through Lenovo? They have a lot more options, and you can configure the T520 w/ quad-core i7 processors and a FHD display.

But, if you have to go thru your school, go with the T520. I did my undergrad in electrical engineering, and it's nice to have the extra screen space and graphics power for your engineering apps. (Yes, GPU power, since you can accelerate MATLAB and a lot of apps w/ the GPU. Yay CUDA & Jacket!)

Also, these prices are higher than usual because they come with 4-year warranties and accidental damage. My school does something similar and sells all their laptops with 3-4 year warranties, and you can't buy one without it. Lenovos from my school also have the 4-yr depot + accidental, the whole shebang.

 

In which case I would buy from Lenovo directly. You can get the same unit at half price.

 

the T520 have the same GPU option as the T420s. The only thing that i see that is the benefit of is the fact that T520 can be optioned with quad core and FHD.

If you are going to go with HD+, just stay with T420s, it is lot more portable.

 

yikes, the pricing on the UVA computer store is terrible! You can save a lot by buying direct from Lenovo.com (search for coupons and checkout their latest eCoupon page) or using their student discount portal Student Laptops - Student Computers - Student Discounts Laptops - Shop at Lenovo.com. Plus you get a lot more options, looking around on the UVA site it appears you have the option to just go your own route and then install the "special UVA" software yourself.

 

a lot of the price comes from the warranty as well. 4 year accidental is expensive sadly.

 

I would take the T420 as well. I know the T410 quite well and it is an excellent machine. I would not go any bigger than 14" if you still want some mobility. I am now using the X220 and it is amazing how quickly you adapt to a light machine.

 

I bought from the Cav program as well and I was hesitant to choose the T420s over the T420 because of battery life and price and other things. I picked the T420s for the graphics and weight and have not been disappointed. The pricing isn't awful either when you factor in the 4 year onsite and 3 year battery warranties. On the Lenovo site, a T420s with all of this comes to $1,790. Cav has it for $1,599.

 

Did you use B&N account for it?