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Lenovo’s Legion gaming notebooks get the hardware updates they deserve

By Aaron Yip & Vijay Anand - on 28 May 2020, 7:15pm

Lenovo’s Legion gaming notebooks get the hardware updates it deserves

Packing all the right gear for the right job

We have always known that new Lenovo Legion gaming notebooks with 10th Gen Intel processors are coming, and today we have a lot more information about them.

The updated Legion range has several main highlights, which include the all-new Coldfront 2.0 cooling technology, the TrueStrike keyboard and Advanced Optimus technology that was co-developed with NVIDIA to improve battery life.

To start, let us look at the processors. Under the lids of these sleek gaming rigs, you get a choice of either the latest 10th-Gen Intel Core H-Series or AMD Ryzen 4000 H-Series mobile processors. In terms of graphics cards, we are presented with a selection of NVIDIA GPU choices from the GeForce GTX 1650 Ti or all the way up to the mighty RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q. If you're looking to play the latest AAA PC games, then the RTX 20-series Super cards are the way to go.

As the name suggests, Coldfront 2.0 is a synergised unity of hardware and software that aims to keep the device cool and quiet. It does this by promoting airflow to the essential areas inside the notebook to lower the device temperature. Coldfront 2.0 features Dual Burn capabilities as well, which allows gamers to work with more predictable frame rates by pushing the CPU and GPU to the limit. Lenovo's all too aware of possible thermal throttling when pushing the capabilities of a notebook system, and that's where the combination of a superior cooling system and Dual Burn features to make the best out of Coldfront 2.0.

 

A new keyboarding experience that will appeal to gamers and creatives alike

Lenovo's TrueStrike keyboard is a welcome addition to the Legion suite of features. It is crafted to deliver 100 per cent anti-ghosting, sub-millisecond response times, and has 'soft-landing' switches for hair-trigger accuracy. Additionally, all TrueStrike keyboards come with an anti-oil, abrasion-resistant coating for greater durability and a "second transition curve design" that promotes superior key travel and thus a more tactile performance.

Lenovo has also ditched the left-hand function key strip from older Legion gaming notebooks, packed in a number pad and utilised as much of the width of the notebook to make this all possible without cramping your style. One only needs to look at the previous generation keyboard layout to tell that the latest TrueStrike keyboard layout is a much-needed refresh. Also, the trackpad has been enlarged by over 30% and uses Microsoft Precision Trackpad drivers for the best trackpad experience when not using your system with external peripherals.

Best of all, TrueStrike keyboards are available on all of the new Legion gaming notebooks.


 

New brilliant displays and significant battery life optimisations

For displays, the updated Legion notebooks not only come with Dolby Vision certified HDR displays with optimised colour and contrast, but are also capable of refreshing up to a speedy 240Hz at under 1ms response times so that FPS gamers will have no excuses with their in-game performance. If you're a creator who also games, you'll be glad to know the panels support 100 per cent sRGB colour space to ensure excellent colour accuracy for your jobs.

There is also the aforementioned Advanced Optimus technology, which dynamically switches between the Intel integrated GPU and the beefier NVIDIA one, depending on whether the current situation calls for longer battery life or more graphical power respectively without the need for a reboot. Users can even turn off discrete graphics altogether for even longer battery life needs, ensuring your gaming machine can also double up as a reliable work companion. Supplementary power and performance tweaking options are also at one's disposal through Lenovo Q-Control 3.0, which allows gamers to customise their device's output to fit their preferences. Lastly, Lenovo's Rapid Charge Pro will ensure your notebook can charge up rapidly from 0 to 50% mark in 30 minutes, a definite plus point in our face-paced environment.


 

The new Lenovo gaming systems lineup

Here is a quick overview of the different notebook models announced, along with a couple of desktops added for good measures:

  • Lenovo Legion 7i (starts at S$3,999, from July 2020)

Style, substance, and performance, the Legion 7i represents the very best Lenovo has to offer for a premium 15-inch gaming laptop. It packs the most advance Coldfront 2.0 cooling system which uses a vapour chamber technology and also incorporates a wide thermal sensor array across the system to optimize cooling characteristics. VESA DisplayHDR 400 compliant screens, 500nits brightness, 240Hz refresh rates and optional NVIDIA G-Sync technology to go with NVIDIA's top-end GeForce RTX 2080 Super GPU, you really get the works.
 

  • Lenovo Legion 5Pi (starts at S$1,499, from July 2020)

An advanced 15-inch gaming laptop for gamers who desire a balance of minimalist style and performance. GPU configurations go up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, which is still plenty enough for most games.
 

  • Lenovo Legion 5i (starts at S$1,999, from mid-June 2020)

The mainstream Windows 10 gaming laptops from Lenovo, but they are very similar in capabilities to the Legion 5Pi save for some frills. For example, you don't get 240Hz screen options, but there are 144Hz options, which are still plenty good for most gamers. This is also the only series that offers 17-inch notebook sizes in addition to the 15-inch models.
 

  • Lenovo Legion 5 (starts at S$1,599, from July 2020)

Identical to the Legion 5i except that it runs on AMD's Ryzen 4000 H-series processors and is only available in a 15-inch form factor.
 

  • Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i (starts at S$1,699, available online now)

Not part of the Legion series, but it offers many essentials that most mainstream gamers would be satisfied with, and offers more value.

  • The refreshed Lenovo Y740Si (starts at S$2,499, from July 2020)

Billed as Lenovo's thinnest and lightest gaming laptop at just 1.7kg, this creator's workstation is meant to be paired with an external GPU box via the Lenovo Legion BoostStation for more graphics firepower when docked.
 

Desktops

  • Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (starts at S$2,299, from July 2020)
  • Lenovo IdeaCentre Gaming 5i (starts at S$1,399, from July 2020)

Now, you might be wondering why some of those models have an "i" at the back while some do not. Basically, the "i" simply means that those models run on an Intel CPU, while those without run on an AMD CPU instead. Pretty straight forward stuff, for the non-techies.

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