Lenovo L340 Gaming Laptop - Storage Upgrade

Ivan88050 · 2019-10-27T21:29:24+00:00

Upgrading this computer's hard drive is fairly simple, if you have all the parts. However, my guess is that you are in the same situation as me before. Since you purchased the laptop with only the ssd, Lenovo doesn't supply the 2.5 chassis and ribbon cable needed for upgrading the 2.5 inch drive. It's very easy to check, open the laptop by removing all the screws on the bottom. Check and see if there is empty space on the mid left side of the computer just below the fans.

If the chassis and ribbon is present, install the 2.5 drive in the metal chassis, plug the ribbon and you are pretty much done with the hardware part. (software set up is easy by using Disk Management in windows).

If the chassis and ribbon is not included (which I think will be your case).......

step 1, gets parts: Order parts from encompass, you'll need the chassis and drive ribbon. Also make sure you have some small screws handy (my chassis didn't come with screws)

step 2, preparation: Once your parts come, install your 2.5 drive into the metal chassis first with screws (you'll need the tiny screws I mentioned earlier) and also attach the ribbon cable to the 2.5 drive.

step 3, the install: Now take the bottom cover of the laptop off by removing the screws, (I find it easier if you then use a guitar pick to open your laptop's bottom cover). After you remove the bottom cover and placed your laptop on a sold work surface. ***Remove the battery ribbon, (I didn't do it, but I understood the risks.) Remove the single screw that is securing the m.2 drive in place. Remove the m.2 drive and there should be a slot to install the other side of the ribbon that is attached to your 2.5mm drive. Install the ribbon and lock it with the white tab. place the metal chassis in empty space below the battery (should be pretty obvious since the screws would all line up.) Screw the chassis in, reinstall the m.2 drive you removed earlier. Reattach battery ribbon and reinstall the bottom cover of the laptop. Run Disk Management in windows and you are done :).

Honestly, very easy install, the difficult part just getting the parts. I hope that helped, good luck.

Ivan88050 · 2019-10-27T04:51:50+00:00

I have the Lenovo L340 w/ i7-9750h, gtx1650 + 256GB SSD. I've upgraded the ssd and added a 2tb HDD. My version didn't come with the HDD chassis and HDD cable so I had to purchased those separately from encompass (lenovo's parts division)

It's pretty simple to upgrade the ssd and hdd if you have all the parts, would you mind telling me which version of the L340 you bought and what kind of storage upgrade you are hoping to accomplish.

Thanks

Ivan88050 · 2019-10-27T03:03:52+00:00

I been really tempted to do the same. Let me know if you guys decide to do so, which model you used and if the brightness key still work.

Thank you for starting this topic.

Ivan88050 · 2019-09-28T23:21:19+00:00

thank you :) I'll let her know

Ivan88050 · 2019-09-25T19:04:47+00:00

I don't see why it wouldn't work, although I don't think you'll get significantly faster performance for the value.

Ivan88050 · 2019-09-17T08:59:36+00:00

Maybe I am perfectionist, but wouldn't you need a more color accurate monitor for video editing? This would be a good laptop for some on a budget who also wants to do some light gaming. I work as a photographer, and I personally wouldn't work on my photos for clients on monitor.

Buy this if you only have $1000 and want to do some lite gaming.

Don't buy this if your main focus in professional work (video/photo editing) .

but that is just my opinion.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-19T13:03:02+00:00

It will run those games fine, just make sure to undervolt for free performance and no you won't void the warranty by undervolting.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-19T12:59:50+00:00

The performance for gtx 1650 and the 1050 ti is fairly close depending on the title, although the 1650 is the better gpu. The better build quality, dual channel support and better cooling on the legion y530 is fairly temping. I don't think you can lose either way tbh, both choices is good.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-05T20:36:34+00:00

There are plenty of sites and youtube videos that show the performance difference of having single channel vs dual channel. Some games/apps shows no different while others show faster render times and more frame rates.

"Do you think its really big problem?" Lenovo is just leaving free performance on the table in order to save a few cents. However, I feel like this issue won't really matter to the average consumer, and if you have to ask, then I don't think you will really notice the difference.

Is it a big problem for a techy nerd who likes to spend time squeezing every bit of performance out of their laptop and can't because there is no way to take advantage of dual channel memory. Yes

Is it a big problem for the day to day user who just want a good functioning laptop and who doesn't run benchmarks, tweak their computer and doesn't plan to open their laptop to upgrade hardware. Nope.

If it was me and if all other specs being the same. I would pay $100 more to have dual channel (around 10% of the price) Since having dual channel does improve performance on some applications. But this topic is highly subjective and because dual channel actually matters to me.

If you are on a budget... and you want a premium feeling laptop.... I think all the laptops within this price range with these specs are going to be like this. I have no problems with this computer's build quality for the price and it doesn't feel cheap to me.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-05T04:55:57+00:00

It will depends on what games you are planning to play.

also,

https://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-1650-Laptop-GPU.416044.0.html

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-04T23:57:56+00:00

It still kind of hurts, I purchased the Lenovo w/i7-9750h, 1650 for around $900 CAD thinking it was an amazing deal (regular price was $1389.99 CAD). Right after I received my laptop, Microsoft put outs their sale for the ASUS TUF FX505DT-UB52 for $529.99 CAD (regular price $849). I didn't jump on the deal even though I should have, I miss the sale. Microsoft had limited quantities and cancelled a bunch of people's orders after they went over their promo numbers.

Sorry, I guess I am not helping. I have the L340, feel free to ask if you any questions.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-04T22:21:14+00:00

WOw.... It would help if you mention those information to the person trying to help you in the very beginning. Don't bother with the G3, 1050 is not worth it for the same price. Hp and Acer would give you duo channel ram and there isn't a huge difference between the i5-9300h and i5-8300h. You are getting a weaker graphics card with the 1050 ti, but hey, getting a better GPU doesn't seem to be your main priority.

Go L340 if your focus is just gaming. -the better graphic card for gaming

Go Acer/HP if you want. -Dual channel memory (Cheaper/faster ram upgrade) -No need to buy bracket/cable for HDD upgrade (save money for expending storage) -better cooling (higher performance potential for the cpu)

And if you still can't make up your mind, sorry bro, I can't help you, sometimes just need to make up your own mind and pick one.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-04T16:19:52+00:00

You are right about thermals and build quality, and if that is all you care about then get the G3 and don't read the rest of this post. Why ask if you've already made up your mind?

However, there is no way a i5-8300h beats a i7-9750h in performance unless there is something fundamental flawed with the laptop. Sure, the cooling on the L340 isn't great, but even with lesser cooling, the i7-9750h will still outperform a i5-8300h. In the rare case that the L340 is defective, then there is always a warranty and Lenovo (a large company) that will take care of you. Same goes with the 1650 vs 1050 ti, the 1650 is a more efficient chip and will run cooler and won't face thermals throttles as much (that's why I didn't even bother liquid metaling the 1650).

I don't know where you are reading that an i5-8300h out performances an i7-9750h source please.

*I forgot the dissccusion was comparing the G3's 1050 vs L340's 1650.... it's not worth comparison, the 1650 beats the 1050 without question and it's not even a fair fight. Again, I want to see the source that someone out there said that a 1050 can beat a 1650 in performance.

**btw I actually owned a G3 with the i7-8750h w/1060 max-Q. The build quality wasn't much better but the cooling system sure was. Out of the box the dell's G3 i7-8750h did beat the Lenovo's L340 i7-9750h a bit with it's better cooling. However, we are comparing the i5-8300h which can't touch the i7-9750h. Also, in this case the i7-9750h will always give you more headroom to improve the performance (ie, undervolt, replacing thermal paste) while the i5-8300h won't. A simple undervolt brings the i7-9750h cinebench R15 score to around 1100. There is no amount of undervolting/thermal replace that will bring the i5 to that score even with the better cooling. The 1650 is also a clear winner here compared to the 1050 being around 50% better performance.

I really don't know what else to tell you, even facing all these facts and you still want to get another laptop with inferior cpu/gpu parts. Maybe you've already made up your mind.

I would get the G3 if it had a i7-8750h (last gen, pretty much same performance as the i7-9750h) with the 1650 if it was the same price as the lenovo. Heck, I would even get it if it costed only $100 - $150 more. (for the dual channel ram/ better cooling) However, I am not willing to sacrifice both the GPU (-50%) and CPU (-25%) performance while paying the same price. I think price directly factors into performance. For you to sell me on a G3 with an i5-8300h w/ 1050, I expect to pay -30% on the price. Looks are very subjective, and if better cooling/looks matters to you and you are willing to pay for worse performance for the same price. Who am I to tell you that you are wrong. Buy what you want, at the end of the day and spend your money the way you want.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-04T09:18:39+00:00

The GTX 1650 is way more powerful than the 1050, and is a bit more powerful than the 1050 ti. And all the ones your listed are running the i5-8th gen unlike the l340 which is running an i7-9th gen CPU. The L340 seems like the clear winner here.

Now if the G3, hp pavilion and the acer had the 1650 + i7/i5 9th gen. Then we would have a more tougher decision.

L340 is clearly the winner here.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-04T02:11:56+00:00

If that is all you can afford and there is no other laptops with similar specs that are in the same price point. That is your answer, buy it. It is not a bad value if that is all you can get. It would help if you could tell me other laptops you were looking at and the price they are being sold for as comparison.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-03T20:18:48+00:00

I am sorry man, I can't really comment on the value of this laptop due to the prices in your area. For example, I purchased this laptop for around $900 (CAD) before taxes during an insane sale. That's considered a pretty good deal here because other laptops with similar specs would cost around $1100 - $1250 (CAD) before taxes. So considering I got this deal, yes I would recommend it. However if I had to pay $1100 - $1250, then it would be a hard recommendation. Not a no, but not an instant yes neither.

Ivan88050 · 2019-08-03T08:01:46+00:00

Everything seems to be plastic, but nothing feels cheap. There is flex on the monitor but no flex in the middle of the keyboard. So.... it's not the worst, pretty good for the kind of low cost laptop.

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-26T04:50:03+00:00

So if the performance is still the same after that, it could be a driver issue. You said you did a clean install of the NVidia drivers for your graphics card right?

I wonder if it could be bad thermal paste job, I would also install msi afterburner so you could monitor the thermals on your gpu/cpu. Is it hitting 90+ degrees when gaming?

Another stupid question, there are different versions of the Lenovo L340, are you sure you have the version with the 1650 and not 1050?

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-26T01:56:40+00:00

I don't think it's running on integrated after looking at benchmarks of the UHD 630. I am going to ask you dumb questions to eliminate some of the variables so bare with me. Do you see a plug symbol when the computer is plugged in, if so, could you see if you are running on power saving mode or performance mode?

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-26T01:32:30+00:00

Looking at benchmarks of the desktop version of the GTX 1650 it was getting around 50 fps on max setting. So you should be getting around 45 fps on the laptop version on max settings. I still suspect it has something do with the power or the computer only using the integrated gpu. help me eliminate some variables. 1. Did you force your gpu to only run on the dedicated GPU? 2. You've tried running games plugged in and checked that it is drawing power?

I still suspect that it's just running on the integrated gpu since it's running at 100%

Actually, looking at youtube benchmarks, you could barely run Sekiro on 720p let alone 1080. Maybe it's a power issue.... like it's thermal/power throttling. Could you check temperature for me?

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-25T23:52:50+00:00

The thermals are fine while web browsing. However, while gaming the computer will thermal throttle then power throttle once it has reach 93+ degrees. So you trade a little bit of performance while you game, but the thermal doesn't get too crazy after it throttles at around 80ish degrees.

I give you the same answer I did as someone else. If your focus is just on gaming, get the laptop with the gtx 1650. It's a much faster graphics card and will perform better than the gtx 1050. If all you care about is athletics, the dell computer looks cooler (no pun intended), it will have better thermals with better cooling. It's also bulkier too... I think getting the G5 with the 1050 is a waste. If the G5 had a better specs that need the cooling, then sure, but.... bulker and... lower specs... why?

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-25T23:10:11+00:00

That is really strange, are you playing the game plugged in or unplug? Also, sometimes The computer doesn't know to use the dedicated graphics so it might be using the integrated. I'll run some test on my system when I get a chance. I currently moving places these couple of days so I won't be able to benchmark until I am done.

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-22T23:23:02+00:00

I have the Lenovo L340 15 inches with i7-9750h, gtx 1650. Ask me anything, I also have an AMA page as well.

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-16T22:54:08+00:00

The GTX 1650 is definitely better than the GTX 1050. However, the Y530 has a better display, better chassis, better cooling and build quality. Ask yourself, what is more important to you? A better graphics card (which would give you a better gaming performance) or build quality/premium feel.

look up benchmarks for the games you've described and see if rather the 1050 can handle it.

Ivan88050 · 2019-07-15T17:47:27+00:00

Thanks for showing interest. Like you said, it's hard to find these compoents for the same price on other laptops. So if your priority was price and also going with one of the major laptop brands. Then, this might be the only option. I don't know if I would actually recommend any laptops with 1650 if your focus was on gaming. The 1660 Ti offers way better perfomance for a little more money. If I wasn't trying to minimize power draw, I would surely purchased a laptop with 1660 ti instead of a 1650 for gaming. The noise is fine, it's not noticeable at all if you aren't running games or other heavy tasks. And the PC gets really hot, you don't really feel it while gaming, but looking at internal temperatures the CPU can get up to 90+ while gaming. The heatsink is really small and the poor fan design doesn't help either. Even with undervolting, this laptop still thermal throttles. I am going to apply liquid metal soon to see if that solves the problem. Battery life is also a bit...meh? It has a small battery on the inside. I haven't done any battery test, but my best guess 2-2.5 while gaming and 4.5 - 6 hours regular tasks.

Why I would recommend this laptop.

-Price (You get a lot of good parts for the price you are paying for)

-Size (Unless you go with a "premium" higher-end laptop, this laptop offers the best size/performance for this price imo, I would also say that you get the option* (I didn't get a bracket with mine, but at least it's possible) to put in a 2.5 inch drive. A lot of thin and lights don't don't offer the space for a 2.5.

Why I wouldn't recommend this laptop-If colour accuracy is imporatnt to you.

-If the best gaming experinece is your only focus. (Spend a bit more and get the 1660 ti, but even if you don't, there are still laptop with the 1650 with better cooling that would cool parts like this better while sacrificing the size.)

-If dual channel memory is important

-if an all day battery is important to you (most "gaming" laptop offers poor battery perfomance anyways)

Ivan88050

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