Refurbished Thinkpad, good or bad idea? - help and suggestions

[giorxi01]

Hi everyone,
I will soon need to get a new laptop and I had a look to the Lenovo website and to some forums to have an idea of what could I get.
Now, I'm completely new to thinkpads, or other business-level laptops, but the idea of getting a solid, durable and reliable machine (maybe without some fancy features that I won't need) is up in my head. I am still using an 8 years old Toshiba ultrabook and I'd like my next laptop to last many years without the problems I had with my Toshiba Satellite.
Actually the price for a brand new E470 isn't insanely high, I'd say it's almost comparable to other consumers laptops. Bt I've read on a few forums that they have almost nothing in common with the other series (e.g. T series), except for the keyboard, trackpad and the thinkpad logo.
On the other side,I see the prices for the T (or equivalent) series are sky-high, so I am considering getting a refurbished thinkpad.
Unfortunately I'm not from the US, and looks like Lenovo has not an official outlet store in Europe... I searched a a few refurbished laptops resellers and I found something that may be close to what I'd like and to how much I'd like to send (let's say from 600 to 900 Euro):

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3rd Gen
i7-5600U
8GB RAM
240GB SSD
14.0" Full HDTN (1920x1080)

Do you think this could be a good option? Considering that for 100 euro more than this I could get a brand new E470 with I7 and dedicated graphic card, is the build and other qualities worth of the cost difference?

Other than that, about the possibilities to upgrade, would it be possible (if needed, in future) to upgrade the HD storage, or the RAM (the seller says it has RAM soldered to systemboard, no socket)??

Or could you suggest me any other reseller of refurbished laptops in Europe?

Sorry for the many questions, and thanks for your help

[Thinkpad4by3]

I would suggest visiting the lenovo outlet for good reliable deals. Their refurbished machines are just new machines sold cheaply. Got a W700 for 1500$ instead of 5000$ as configured. Everything in that X1 is good except the screen. I will urge you to get an IPS not TN due to superior color quality and viewing angles. Youll thank me later if you get IPS. Dont get the E470. You drop an X1, you get a scratch or 2. Drop the E470, and it will be shattered in pieces. The X1 is a 1000x better than the E470 regardless of a dedicated card. Also, get the max amount of RAM you can. I accidentally bought a Yoga with 4GB. Bad choice by me .

[giorxi01]

Thanks

Unfortunately, looks like the Lenovo does not have outlet shops for Europe... I'm not sure if I can buy from the US store. I think I will have to pay extra VAT adn not sure about the warranty....

Anyone has experiences about it?
P.S. Can you tell me whats the difference, in fact of system performance and battery life, between a 5th genertion and a 7th generation processor?

[RealBlackStuff]

Check our sister-forum in Germany: https://thinkpad-forum.de/
They usually sell decent stuff there.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Check our sister-forum in Germany: https://thinkpad-forum.de/
They usually sell decent stuff there.

That's run by Bill too??? I thought that was a totally different forums just on the same topic?

[ZaZ]

Worth of course being highly subjective is difficult to answer for another person. If you need it to be bulletproof you're more likely to get it buying new than 3rd party refurbed, though nothing in life is guaranteed. You might want to consider adding on-site and/or accidental warranty coverage. Some eBay sellers ship overseas, so that might be an option.

[RealBlackStuff]

The US and the German Forums are run by different people, but generally with the same "spirits".
Bill's US forum is historically the older (and the original AND THE BEST) one, but many people in Europe do not speak/read English...

[Thinkpad4by3]

The US and the German Forums are run by different people, but generally with the same "spirits".
Bill's US forum is historically the older (and the original AND THE BEST) one, but many people in Europe do not speak/read English...

Biased...but I can't argue with any of your claims

[CASPER]

P.S. Can you tell me whats the difference, in fact of system performance and battery life, between a 5th generation and a 7th generation processor?

As far as I'm concerned battery life would be a bit better. Performance-wise there should not be that much difference because newer TP (aside high performance models like P50, P70, etc.) use low voltage CPU's. What might change is the graphics chip which is built in CPU, but I don't know how big performance increase might be.

Take a look at this website: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare.php ... cmp[]=2936
It is a comparison of two i7 CPU's, both available in thinkpads (i7-5600u and i7-7600u).

[RealBlackStuff]

You could also scrounge around this (Irish) forum: https://www.boards.ie/b/forum/9

And on Reddit I found this (older) entry: https://redd.it/2klm08
May give you some ideas.

[giorxi01]

Thank you guys,
here are the specs:
3G: No
4G: No
AC adapter included: Yes
AC adapter power: 45 W
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Audio system: HDA
Battery life (max): 10.4 h
Bluetooth: Yes
Bluetooth version: 4.1
CPU configuration (max): 1
Cable lock slot: Yes
Card reader integrated: Yes
Colour of product: Black
Combo headphone/mic port: Yes
Compatible memory cards: MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC
Configurable TDP-down: 7.5 W
Conflict Free processor: Yes
DC-in jack: Yes
DVI port: No
Depth: 23.2 cm
Discrete graphics adapter model: No
Display diagonal: 35.6 cm (14")
Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Display surface: Matt
Docking connector: Yes
ECC supported by processor: No
EPEAT compliance: Gold
Embedded options available: No
Energy Star certified: Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology: Yes
Ethernet LAN: Yes
Ethernet LAN (RJ-45) ports: 1
Ethernet LAN data rates: 10,100,1000 Mbit/s
Execute Disable Bit: Yes
FSB Parity: No
Form factor: Clamshell
Front camera: Yes
Graphics & IMC lithography: 14 nm
Graphics adapter Open GL support: Yes
HD type: Full HD
HDMI ports quantity: 1
Height: 2.1 cm
Idle States: Yes
InTru™ 3D Technology: Yes
Intel 64: Yes
Intel Clear Video Technology: Yes
Intel Demand Based Switching: No
Intel Dual Display Capable Technology: No
Intel Enhanced Halt State: Yes
Intel FDI Technology: No
Intel Fast Memory Access: No
Intel Flex Memory Access: Yes
Intel HD Graphics: Yes
Intel Rapid Storage Technology: No
Intel Secure Key Technology version: 1.00
Intel Small Business Advantage (SBA) version: 1.00
Intel Smart Response Technology version: 1.00
Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX): 1
Intel Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP): No
Intel Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP) version: 0.00
Intel TSX-NI: Yes
Intel TSX-NI version: 1.00
Intel Trusted Execution Technology: No
Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT): Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x): Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d): Yes
Intel segment tagging: Home Office, Small Business
Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI): Yes
Intel® Anti-Theft Technology (Intel® AT): No
Intel® Built-in Visuals Technology: Yes
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology (Intel® CVT HD): Yes
Intel® Clear Video Technology for Mobile Internet Devices (Intel CVT for MID): Yes
Intel® Hyper Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology): Yes
Intel® Identity Protection Technology (Intel® IPT): Yes
Intel® Insider™: Yes
Intel® Iris Pro Graphics: No
Intel® My WiFi Technology (Intel® MWT): Yes
Intel® OS Guard: Yes
Intel® Quick Sync Video Technology: Yes
Intel® Secure Key: Yes
Intel® Small Business Advantage (Intel® SBA): Yes
Intel® Smart Cache: Yes
Intel® Smart Response Technology: Yes
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology: 2.0
Intel® Wireless Display (Intel® WiDi): Yes
Intel® vPro™ Technology: No
Internal memory: 8 GB
Internal memory type: DDR3L-SDRAM
LED backlight: Yes
LightScribe: No
Maximum internal memory: 32 GB
Maximum internal memory supported by processor: 32 GB
Maximum number of PCI Express lanes: 12
Maximum on-board graphics adapter memory: 1.74 GB
Memory bandwidth supported by processor (max): 34.1 GB/s
Memory channels supported by processor: Dual
Memory clock speed: 1600 MHz
Memory clock speeds supported by processor: 1866,2133,1600 MHz
Memory form factor: SO-DIMM
Memory layout (slots x size): 1 x 8 GB
Memory slots: 2x SO-DIMM
Memory types supported by processor: DDR3L-SDRAM, LPDDR3-SDRAM, DDR4-SDRAM
Mini DisplayPorts quantity: 1
Number of SSDs installed: 1
Number of battery cells: 3+3
Number of built-in speakers: 2
Number of displays supported (on-board graphics): 3
Numeric keypad: No
On-board graphics adapter DirectX version: 12
On-board graphics adapter ID: 1916
On-board graphics adapter OpenGL version: 4.4
On-board graphics adapter base frequency: 300 MHz
On-board graphics adapter dynamic frequency (max): 1000 MHz
On-board graphics adapter maximum resolution (DisplayPort): 4096 x 2304 pixels
On-board graphics adapter maximum resolution (HDMI): 4096 x 2304 pixels
On-board graphics adapter maximum resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel): 4096 x 2304 pixels
On-board graphics adapter model: Intel® HD Graphics 520
On-board graphics adapter outputs supported: DVI, Embedded DisplayPort (eDP), DisplayPort, HDMI
On-board graphics adapter refresh rate at maximum resolution (DisplayPort): 60 Hz
On-board graphics adapter refresh rate at maximum resolution (HDMI): 24 Hz
On-board graphics adapter refresh rate at maximum resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel): 60 Hz
Operating system architecture: 64-bit
Operating system installed: Windows 7 Professional
Optical drive type: No
PCI Express configurations: 1x4, 4x1
PCI Express slots version: 3.0
Panel type: IPS
Password protection: Yes
Pointing device: ThinkPad UltraNav
Processor boost frequency: 2.8 GHz
Processor cache: 3 MB
Processor cache type: Smart Cache, L3
Processor code: SR2EY
Processor codename: Skylake
Processor cores: 2
Processor family: Intel Core i5-6xxx
Processor frequency: 2.3 GHz
Processor lithography: 14 nm
Processor model: i5-6200U
Processor operating modes: 64-bit
Processor package size: 42
Processor series: Intel Core i5-6200 series
Processor socket: Socket B2 (LGA 1356)
Processor threads: 4
Product type: Ultrabook
Recovery operating system: Windows 10 Pro
RoHS compliance: Yes
SmartCard slot: Yes
Solid-state drive capacity: 256 GB
Speaker power: 2 W
Stepping: D1
Storage media: SSD
Supported instruction sets: SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX 2.0
Thermal Design Power (TDP): 15 W
Thermal Monitoring Technologies: Yes
Tjunction: 100 °C
Total storage capacity: 256 GB
Touchscreen: No
USB 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1) Type-A ports quantity: 3
USB Sleep-and-Charge: Yes
USB Sleep-and-Charge ports: 1
Weight: 1.73 kg
Wi-Fi: Yes
Wi-Fi certified: Yes
Wi-Fi standards: 802.11a, 802.11ac, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
Width: 33.9 cm
Windows keys: Yes

I paid 600 euro for it, (just a bit more than 600 US $)... I contacted the amazon website to confrm that it's a brand new product, and so it seems.... btw, even if it's a refurbished one in good condition, it should still be a good deal, isn't it? It's sold and shipped by Amazon itself, hope I'm safe enough with the purchase.

Any suggestion on something that I'd better want to check when I'll receive it, to be sure it's original and brand new??