Affordable Gaming Laptop Review: Lenovo ThinkPad with GeForce 740m GPU

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Laptop Specs
3. Gaming Benchmarks
   • Railroad
   • CS GO
   • Dota 2
   • The Elder Scrolls Online
   • The Crew 2
   • Battlefield 1
   • The Division 2
   • Watch Dogs Legion
4. Conclusion
5. Pros and Cons
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the gaming performance of a used laptop that was purchased for only 130 euros. The laptop in question is a Lenovo ThinkPad, and although it may not be the latest and greatest gaming machine, we will see just how far we can push it within its limitations. We will discuss the specifications of the laptop, including its CPU, RAM, and GPU, and then dive into various gaming benchmarks to determine its performance in different games. Let's get started and see if this budget-friendly laptop can deliver a satisfactory gaming experience.

Laptop Specs

The Lenovo ThinkPad laptop that we are testing features an i5 3230m CPU. While this dual-core CPU is not as powerful as today's quad-core processors, it still performs decently, especially considering its age. The CPU has a maximum boost clock of 2.9 GHz, which, although not impressive compared to modern standards, was considered decent back in the day. Additionally, the laptop is equipped with 8 gigabytes of DDR3 RAM, which should be sufficient for most gaming tasks. The standout feature of this laptop is its dedicated GPU, the GeForce 740m, which is uncommon in low-budget or used laptops. With its 2 gigabytes of DDR3 VRAM, it provides a commendable gaming experience. However, it's worth noting that the GPU's DDR3 memory is not as fast as the GDDR5 counterparts found in newer models. The laptop also boasts a 1080p screen, although it is a TN panel, which has its limitations in terms of color reproduction and viewing angles. Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the laptop's specifications, let's proceed to the gaming benchmarks.

Gaming Benchmarks

Railroad

To assess the gaming performance of the Lenovo ThinkPad, we started with the Game Railroad. Running the game at medium to high settings and native 1080p resolution, we were able to achieve a stable 60 frames per Second (FPS) for the most part. However, some minor drops in FPS were noticeable when menus were open or during intensive moments in the game. These drops were mainly due to the CPU rather than the GPU. Overall, the game was perfectly playable on this hardware.

CS GO

Moving on to CS GO, we opted for low settings with high shadow quality. At 1080p resolution, the game averaged between 40 to 80 FPS during the benchmark. However, by decreasing the resolution to 900p, it was possible to achieve a more consistent 50 to 60 FPS. Although the CPU seemed to be the bottleneck in this game as well, CS GO remained perfectly playable on this hardware.

Dota 2

In Dota 2, we selected the second lowest preset at native 1080p resolution but with a resolution Scale of 65. During heavy action in the game, the FPS dropped to around 30. However, during calmer moments, it reached about 50 FPS. Surprisingly, when we increased the resolution scale to 100, essentially rendering the game at native 1080p, the drop in FPS was not as significant as anticipated. Considering that Dota 2 is not as demanding as some first-person shooters, it remained playable on this laptop.

The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online is known to be CPU-bound, so we targeted 30 FPS for our benchmarks. Even on higher-end PCs, the game can experience dips below 60 FPS in towns due to its heavy reliance on single-threaded performance. With lower settings and a resolution scale set to achieve a lower quality, we managed to maintain around 30 FPS most of the time. While the graphical fidelity was compromised, the game was still visually appealing and playable.

The Crew 2

Unfortunately, The Crew 2 did not run properly on the Lenovo ThinkPad. Despite our efforts to troubleshoot and disable the integrated Intel HD Graphics, which should have allowed the dedicated GPU to take over, the game simply wouldn't work. It was disappointing not to be able to test this game on the 740m, rendering it unplayable on this hardware.

Battlefield 1

With Battlefield 1, which requires a minimum of a GTX 660, we experienced mixed results. While the game ran at above 30 FPS for the most part with low settings, there were frequent stutters and freezes, making it difficult to truly enjoy the gameplay. While single-player mode might be bearable with these performance issues, we would not recommend playing multiplayer, as the freezes and stutters would likely worsen the experience.

The Division 2

The Division 2 boasts a minimum requirement of a GTX 670, which is significantly more powerful than the 740m in our laptop. Surprisingly, the game approached playable levels when we reduced the settings and resolution to their minimums, achieving around 30 FPS most of the time. However, the CPU proved to be the bottleneck once again, leading to stutters and freezes that hindered the overall experience. Ultimately, The Division 2 was not deemed playable on this laptop.

Watch Dogs Legion

Despite the minimum requirement being a GTX 970, we were able to run Watch Dogs Legion on the Lenovo ThinkPad with significantly reduced settings. With a resolution of 720p and all settings at their lowest, the game's benchmark yielded between 20 to 30 FPS. Intrigued by these results, we decided to venture into the actual gameplay. However, the performance started to deteriorate rapidly, with FPS dropping as low as 15 during driving and traveling sequences. The frequent freezes and stutters made the game essentially unplayable. While it was impressive that the 740m could run the game at all, the overall experience was underwhelming.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Lenovo ThinkPad with its GeForce 740m GPU was able to handle various competitive titles reasonably well. Games like CS GO, Dota 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online proved to be playable and enjoyable, even at higher settings. However, when it came to more demanding games like Watch Dogs Legion and The Division 2, the limitations of the laptop's CPU became evident, hindering the overall gaming experience. Considering the laptop's affordable price and its capability to handle basic tasks, it may still be an interesting option for casual gamers who primarily play competitive games and are not worried about running the latest AAA titles.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Capable of running competitive games
• Suitable for basic tasks such as web browsing and video watching

Cons:

• CPU limitations hinder performance in demanding games
• Not suitable for running the latest AAA titles
• Limited upgrade options due to older hardware

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I upgrade the RAM in the Lenovo ThinkPad? A: Yes, the laptop supports a maximum of 16 gigabytes of RAM, providing some room for future upgrades if desired.

Q: Will the Lenovo ThinkPad be able to handle newer games with upcoming updates? A: It is unlikely that the laptop will be able to handle newer games with upcoming updates, as its hardware is already limited and may struggle to keep up with the increasing demands of modern games.

Q: Can the Lenovo ThinkPad handle multitasking while gaming? A: While the laptop can handle basic multitasking while gaming, it is recommended to close unnecessary applications to ensure optimal gaming performance.

Q: What is the battery life like on the Lenovo ThinkPad when gaming? A: The battery life of the laptop will be significantly reduced when gaming, as gaming puts a strain on both the CPU and GPU, consuming more power. It is recommended to keep the laptop plugged in during gaming sessions.

Q: Is the Lenovo ThinkPad suitable for video editing and rendering tasks? A: Due to its limitations, the Lenovo ThinkPad is not ideal for intensive video editing and rendering tasks. It may struggle to handle the demanding processes required for such tasks.

Resources:

• Lenovo ThinkPad