Performance

When you are looking to buy the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon, you will see there are 3 possible options when it comes to selecting a CPU. All of these models are sprung from Intel’s very own Ivy Bridge. For the test results found below the CPU with the middle specification was used: 1.8GHz Core i5-3427U with 3MB of L3 cache and a 1,333MHz FSB. The total amount of RAM used is 4GB and the video card is the basic model you will find in the X1 Carbon, the Intel HD Graphics 4000.

As the machine is not really intended to be used for gaming of any sort, it is funny the test did include the running of Call of Duty 4. The game even seemed to be playable, but just with 1024×768 on the default setting it managed to get 25 frames per second. This is just about all manageable, when breaking through the benchmarks, the laptop will produce a lot more heat. A definite plus is the laptop does stay almost perfectly silent!

When looking more to the real intent of the laptop (like running applications like PowerPoint) it does perform pretty well. The new processor by Intel gave a huge speed advantage over the old ThinkPad X1 model, as you will see in the PCMark results below. The total score of the new X1 Carbon is about 50% higher! When looking at the other systems equipped with a similar CPU, the X1 Carbon is in the right place where it should be.
The intended usage of the laptop points to another important test. The I/O speed of the 128 GB SSD is definitely good and even almost reaches the I/O of the latest MacBook Air. The X1 Carbon reads at 510MB/s, where the Air reaches 551MB/s. With this speed you will have your very own PPT presentation running up in no time! The fast reading speed also results in a 21 second boot, instead of the about 50 seconds for the older X1 models. The writing speed of the SSD results in a total of 339MB/s.

Thinkpad X1 Carbon Testresults

source: engadget.com (2012-08-14)

Battery Life

Below you see the testresults when it comes to battery life of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Below the table you will find explanations about the test and results.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Battery Life

source: engadget.com (2012-08-14)

As usual the battery test is done by looping a video, having WiFi enabled on the laptop. It took a total time of 5:07, before the X1 Carbon gave up and took his last breath. When comparing this to the boatload of ultrabooks equipped with an Ivy Bridge out there this is really above average! Most of them just last for 1 or 2 hours on this test… Lenovo has promised a battery life of somewhere around 6:30, which could probably be reached when the wireless switch is set in silent mode. Unlike with the previous X1 model, the new X1 Carbon does not seem to get an additional battery slice.

Just as the previous X1 model, the Carbon makes use of the RapidCharge technology. When looking at the technology from the predecessor, Lenovo backed their words. This will probably also is the matter when it comes to the new Carbon model. The promise Lenovo makes is 5 hours of battery life can be charged within the time of 30 minutes. This can be extremely handy when giving the ultrabook a final charge before a long trip.