Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 Review

The IdeaPad Y550 is a 15.6" multimedia notebook from Lenovo offered in a mix of affordable and high-end configurations. The top of the list system options include an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GT 240M dedicated graphics while more affordable systems include standard Core 2 Duo processors and integrated graphics. In this review we look at a model equipped with the Intel T6400 processor and Intel X4500 integrated graphics.

Our Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 Specifications:

• Windows Vista Home Premium with SP2 (Now available with Windows 7 64-bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 2.0GHz (2MB Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1066MHz)
• 320GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
• 15.6-inch LED-backlit WXGA display (glossy, 1366x768)
• Intel X4500MHD integrated graphics
• Intel 5100AGN
• Ports and connectors: (2) USB 2.0 ports, eSATA/USB Combo, VGA, HDMI, SDHC-Card reader, RJ-45/Ethernet (Gigabit), stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Dimensions: (LxWxH) 15.2" x 10.0" x 1.02" to 1.5
• Weight: 5lbs 13.5oz
• 11.1v 56Wh 6-cell battery
• One-year standard warranty
• MSRP: $813

Build and Design
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 has a modern design with a sleek shape and a rather pronounced contrasting color scheme. The exterior view of the Y550 when closed is thin and flat with a thick orange trim piece breaking up the two black halves on the notebook. From a distance the outside color of the screen cover appears to be matte black, but looking at it closer it is actually a faintly embossed surface. This particular design is an overlapping honey-comb finish that gives the notebook a nice subtle look while also giving it a light texture. The inside is a combination of a glossy black and metallic grey with chrome accented speakers and white LED-backlit controls. I really think that the Lenovo design staff has to hold so much back when building ThinkPad models that they really go all out with the IdeaPad series.

The Y550 feels well built compared to most consumer notebooks but still seems like it could be improved in some areas. The screen hinges are pretty stiff and requires two hands to open the cover. The lip of the cover works against you when trying to open the screen since it hugs the palmrest closely. The screen cover has some minor flex but still does a good job at preventing screen distortions when you press on the back of the display. The chassis has some minor flex when you hold the notebook in the air by the edge of the palmrest, but it still feels solid if firmly pressed when the notebook is sitting on a flat surface. The keyboard doesn't flex much, but right above the optical drive if you press hard enough you can get the keyboard base to make a clicking sound. Fit and finish is good overall, but one area stuck out in a nit-picking way. I believe the speaker grills are supposed to sit flush with the bezel above the keyboard and on both speakers one edge sticks up higher than the other.

Screen and Speakers
The WXGA display on the Y550 appears to be the highest resolution offered on this model. Even the better configurations are limited to 1366x768. This is lacking when compared to the Dell Studio 15 that can be configured with a 1080p panel in configurations starting at less than $800. The panel offers good color and contrast, ranking middle of the pack compared to most notebooks. Black levels are good at low and middle backlight levels, but show some backlight creep near 100%. Peak brightness levels are great for viewing in bright office conditions with a comfortable home viewing level somewhere between 60 and 70%. Viewing angles appear average with colors showing significant inversion in as little as 10 degrees when tilted back. Horizontal viewing angles look much better, showing no notable color shift even when viewing from the very edge of the screen.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 has above average sounding speakers, making use of two primary speakers up top and a subwoofer below. Listening to music and movies the speakers have good midrange and bass, but is still weak compared to other notebooks with dedicated subwoofers. Peak volume levels sound strong enough to be listened to in a small or mid-size room, but not loud enough to over-power a lot of background noise. For watching feature-length movies in large rooms the HDMI-port is a great way to pass digital audio over to a home theater system.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is comfortable to type on and has a pretty solid typing surface. Transitioning to this keyboard from my ThinkPad was no problem, especially since the key action felt very similar. The only tactile difference I found between this keyboard and the ThinkPad keyboard is the key shape; the ThinkPad keys have a more "cupped" feel to them.

The Y550 has a spacious Synaptics touchpad with a very nice texture. While some notebook manufacturers might carry the glossy palmrest surface onto the touchpad, Lenovo breaks it up with a barely-bumpy texture that is easier to slide over. Out of the box it was hard to slide across and almost tacky from the multitouch sticker over it, but with some oil build-up over the first few hours it broke in perfectly. Sensitivity is great out of the box... requiring only a light touch to move the cursor across the screen. Lag is not present under any circumstance including very fast movement. The touchpad buttons have a long throw and emit a mild click when fully pressed.

Ports and Features
Port selection is adequate although I feel there was enough room left unused to account for an additional USB port. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 offers two USB ports, one eSATA/USB combo port, VGA and HDMI ports, Ethernet, and audio jacks. Expansion slots include an ExpressCard/34 slot and SDHC-card slot.

Lenovo also includes a number of touch-sensitive and click-style buttons around the keyboard to control quick access functions. The standard buttons include one to switch video modes, another to load the Dolby audio control panel, and audio switches to adjust volume and mute the speakers. A blinking slider bar in the middle lets you quickly access four pre-set Lenovo applications.

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Performance and Benchmarks
The Y550 performs well in average day-to-day activities like surfing the web, typing documents, listening to music, and watching movies. If you plan on using it as a multimedia-only rig the shortcomings of the integrated graphics don't become a problem, but if you do intend to game, you might want to look at a better configuration. In our tests the Y550 with Intel X4500 integrated graphics had no trouble playing 720p and 1080p video while still multitasking in the background. Using the HDMI port you could output a video with audio to an HDTV and still use the notebook for surfing the web. If your ideas of gaming include titles like Left 4 Dead 2 or Modern Warfare 2 instead of Peggle, one of the higher configurations with an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GT 240M graphics would be recommended.

Wprime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):

PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):

HDTune storage drive performance test:

Heat and Noise
Thermal performance is good under normal conditions when the system is not under much stress. The palmrest and keyboard stay just above room temperature which is nice for longer typing sessions. Fan noise is excellent with a very relaxed cooling system. Under light usage the fan defaults to fully off; only coming on when needed. Increased system activity makes the fan stay on in longer intervals but overall the notebook still stays relatively quiet.

Battery Life
The Y550 offers reasonable battery life for a 15.6" notebook, but still shows some room for improvement. In our battery test with the screen brightness set to 75%, wireless active, and Vista on the balanced profile the system stayed on for 3 hours and 52 minutes. During the test the Y550 consumed between 13 and 14 watts of power; well above more power efficient notebooks.

Conclusion
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 is a stylish and well built multimedia notebook offered with a wide array of options. Build quality is good overall with only a few areas sticking out at us as needing improvement. The design is very nice with a subtlety textured lid and an attractive color scheme. The keyboard proved to be comfortable to type on with an equally usable bumpy touchpad. System performance was more than adequate for everyday use with our configuration ... and if you have gaming in mind Lenovo has alternative builds for that purpose. Overall the Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 fits the bill regardless if you are looking for a basic desktop replacement or gaming system.

Pros:

• Textured lid design
• Better than average speakers
• Comfortable keyboard and touchpad

Cons:

• Some minor fit and finish concerns
• Low 1366x768 resolution with all configurations

Related Articles:

• Lenovo IdeaPad U350 Review
• Lenovo G550 Review

 

Great review Kevin!

How come the G105 or GT240M config was not reviewed??

 

Would have liked to see the temperatures of the i7 + GT240M combination, but good review - many Lenovo forumers have been asking about a review of this notebook for quite some time. Thanks!

 

Blegh, another low-res screen. I don't personally need full 1080p in a 15.6in notebook, but 1600X900 would be ideal. Apparently it's a rare option amongst manufacturers.

Of note, Newegg currently has this system for $999 after a $200 instant rebate:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834146613

Pretty nice deal?

 

Really like the design on that notebook, as it does not include unnessesary flashy details.
But the low resolution screen and the fn / ctrl buttons breaks the deal.

 

Good review. 1388x768 is a deal breaker for me. That is the only reason i am not going to buy this one.

 

Great review!

 

Nice review. If I was in the market for a 15.6" notebook, this Lenovo would be competing with the HP dv6t for my money. It's a shame about the screen resolution; I have 1366x768 on my 13" laptop and I think that's ok given the screen size, however on a screen as large as 15.6" there should be 900-1000 pixels of vertical space. Otherwise, aesthetically this notebook seems good. The keyboards on Lenovo's consumer notebooks are top-notch. The Fn/Ctrl keys switched I can live with.

 

The best about this laptop is the flexibility it has. Besides the screen resolution, you can put in most C2Ds or an i7, comes with a 3 graphic solutions very different and it is priced very competitetively (sp?). Great review on this laptop, but the Y550p version is the most appealing as of now. What worries me the most is the i7 inside.

Considering lots of owners have not had heat problems even with the GT240M and a faster P8700...what would the effects of an i7 be?

 

was gonna get this thing but the screen res killed it for me

 

Hi! This is a question for Kevin. I enjoyed your reviews of both the Lenovo Y550 and the Asus G51J; I am curious as to how you would compare the two. Does one strike you as an overall better notebook than the other? They both look like interesting options for appealing prices. Thanks very much!

 

Thanks for the review, quite helpful!

I've been in the market for a notebook in the 16" neighborhood and narrowed it down to this one and the Sony FW. I'm about to retire and just need something reasonably priced with enough horses to last me a few years until my cash flow re-stabilizes. The screen rez is somewhat of a non-issue for me since my eyes are going south anyhow, I may actually prefer the 1366x768 resolution (crazy as that sounds). So the only real remaining sticking point for me (albeit a petty one) in both manufacturer's model configurations in the $800-$900 range has been the 4650 vs GT 240M. Anyway, I think your review may have nudged me far enough to make my decision.

Nice job!

 

Can anybody give us screens/pics of the i7 with GT240M version's temperatures during idle and load, I and many others would be really grateful. Thanks.

*Gasp if P8700 (at 25TDP) is so hot, this 45TDP mofo would be scary. Getting mine next week or later - not arrived yet

 

Subscribed.

 

Hi everybody
can you tell me about temperature and battery life in y550 with corei7 ?

 

battery life form me wasn't too terrible, same with temperature. However, after having a ton of graphics driver issues, I got rid of mine. I had a replacement from lenovo and sold it.