Lenovo X1 Extreme Gen 4 Review - Workstation with a RTX 3080!!

[@speedzero7478]

I've always enjoyed the subdued look of these ThinkPads. Brilliant bit of hardware

[@ProvVFX]

I use the track point a lot for 3D/CAD as I'm on the go often and a mouse wouldn't be possible. Once you get used to it, you'll see how extremely useful it is. Great review!

[@salvatorepassarello808]

Love your channel and the way you interact with your viewers.

[@MashITTech]

Thank you mate, I really appreciate the kind words. I love being able to interact with everyone, it makes it feel like a big community :)

[@salvatorepassarello808]

I absolutely agree with you with the industrial design. We just have to look at the ridiculous logo of Asus‘ devices. Why do they have to put this ridiculous eye on every product they bring out. Asus assumes that every customer is 15 years old. The Asus products may be technically very good, but I would never buy a ROG product because it just looks childish and immature to me. Would be cool if they would have a more „mature“ design.

[@softhax]

Truer words were never said before ! 💯

[@richmond411]

This is really a review worthy the name! Not just holding in into the camera while listing specs (like this Scottish lady for example ;-)) I wrote a german review about this notebook and funnily I adressed many of your items too. I also see that, while you're not complaining about it, you're also having issues opening it with one hand, which is possible indeed, but clumsy. I also acknowledged that it has no chance against the MacBook 16 pro. But being a Windows guy, I don't think it gets any better than the X1 Extreme. Certainly not with the Dell XPSs. I also tested the Extreme Gen.5 meanwhile and it's only a tiny upgrade, sadly.

[@jamwright]

The single SSD slot is a deal killer for me. Shame the cooling can only handle 110W too. Would like more GPU memory but don't want throttling. Rendering video (Resolve, Vegas) and dealing with massive amounts of raw files (Lightroom/After Effects) are my primary uses.

[@eloquentblack]

I chose i7 version with 3070 and two m.2 slots

[@thomasmadden3080]

I’m planning on using my Gen 5 for similar uses. Have you considered that model?

[@GodRockCafe]

Just got the P1 gen 4 Twin of this with the 3080 for 1500 w/ the carbon weave lid and looking forward to its arrival.

[@teddym2808]

I was right into this till I saw the CPU speeds when gaming.. I can't believe it was averaging 800MHZ in the first game and never went above 1.5ghz.. That's way lower than base clock. As much as Razer annoy the heck out of me, I am now appreciating how much they squeeze out of their thin designs. 2 M2 slots as well as vapor chamber on the 15", and even though my 3070 is technically a max Q, the cpu can definitely stay at 3.5ghz under load when gaming and the graphics at 95 to 100 watts. (10k timespy so it's thrashing the 3080 here and I have a 3070)! I couldn't make a judgement on cpu only workloads, as (very) surprisingly, we didn't get clock speeds and extensive thermal tests when doing cpu work. Still, I think I am glad I chose the Razer over this, and the 7i as my beast mode laptop. I dunno.. it seems like a bitter sweet product

[@MashITTech]

The cpu seems to sit at 3.5ghz at cpu only loads which is also a bit disappointing. It does show you how impressive the razer blade is when you compare the two. I have been loving the blade and looking forward to reviewing it next week (got to finish the surface pro 8 review first)

[@madcatter972]

Excellent review as always! I would love to see a comparison review with this unit going head to head with the specced out Zbook studio g8, with the 4k Dreamcolour 600nit 120hz panel. It maxes out at 32gb ram but otherwise so similar to this as it also comes with the same i9 cpu, & can be configured with a GeForce rtx 3070 or 3080. I've seen reviews for the quadro version with a fhd panel, but nothing for the Dreamcolour panel & GeForce graphics.

[@MashITTech]

sorry mate, completely missed your message! That zbook sounds decent, I will go and check it out :)

[@madcatter972]

@@MashITTech no worries, and that would be great! I believe the Dreamcolour display 4k 600nit 120hz panel is mat and non-touch too. Personally I prefer glossy as is crisper & sharper & colours pop more.

[@jovalenzuela]

Hi! Great review. Do you know what dock station models are compatible with this Thinkpad X1 Extreme Gen 4?

[@kaizen5023]

Good question, it looks like same power and Thunderbolt ports setup as Gen 3 models so, older Thinkpad docks should work?

[@phoenyfeifei]

I really like Thinkpads low profile looking, almost all vendor’s high performance laptops do look so ridiculous Thinkpad x1 extreme and Thinkpad P1 are kinda your only choice

[@gooxleid7373]

Very nice review, keep going on man.

[@MashITTech]

Thank you mate 😀

[@CurtisHowell]

Thanks for the video!

[@onimisilovesonmusic4548]

Lenovo thinkpad is the best Windows machines......well crafted well designed beautiful aesthetics...

[@wandererstraining]

I think that it's time that people test out laptop battery life based on nits instead of based on brightness levels, to make it easier to compare. Looks like a great little laptop tho. I'd also choose the 4K screen, it looks amazing. I currently have one on my laptop, but it's only 250 nits, so it's too dim a lot of the time. With all that said, it would be awesome if Lenovo still provided external bottom plate type batteries for its laptops. I'm blanking as to what they were called, but my W530 had one, and I like it a lot. It gave me the choice between better battery life and lighter weight.

[@MashITTech]

You make a great point. I will see if I can come up with something. maybe a battery test at 250nits?

[@wandererstraining]

@@MashITTech Yes, that would be great! I was thinking 200 nits, as some laptops will struggle to output 250 nits, lol.

[@blockbuster242]

Hope to see a comparison video between this and the xps 9710

[@wlcrutch]

I like that it is a 16 inch without the stupid numpad keys and offset keyboard

[@jgrant3353]

I have had two X1E Gen 4's and couldn't get the finger print reader to work consistently on either. It works great for about 2 days, then gradually starts failing (no match) - after about a week, it won't match at all. Recalibrate and repeat the process over and over - continues to fail. Have you tried using the FP reader long term? I have also had a Dell XPS17 and it work flawlessly.

[@kaizen5023]

P1 Carbon Gen 3 here and fingerprint reader died after 6 months, Windows won't recognize it properly anymore. Forums said it is some sort of bug, but I don't want to muck up / reinstall my Windows install trying to fix it.

[@xkeepersvk]

Could you try an egpu with a full size 3080 to compare the performance?

[@meal_team_six]

Great review!

[@MashITTech]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@MnemonicCarrier]

Apple came out and sucker-punched both Intel and AMD with their M1 chip. It's a real game changer - sips power while providing similar (or better) performance than Intel's Core i7 11800H range (and by "sips power", I mean around 5W compared to Intel's 70W). I'd buy an M1 MacBook Pro if it could run Linux natively. At the moment I have the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 for work, and my personal laptop is a Lenovo Legion 5 (with the AMD 4800H). I find the P1 a little lacklustre, but absolutely love my Legion 5. Both of my laptops are running Linux, I don't do any gaming. The only thing I don't like about the Legion 5 is the bizarre keyboard, especially the very tiny horizontal (UK) key. It's a small think though, as the keyboard itself is a pleasure to type on. I prefer the Legion 5 keyboard to the P1 keyboard in terms of typing experience, although I love the P1 keyboard layout. Anyway, good review.

[@MnemonicCarrier]

The X1 Extreme Gen 5 is out, and you can get it with a 165Hz display!

[@MashITTech]

It showing in uk yet! Looking forward to testing one of these

[@youp1tralala]

The inevitable Alder Lake update to this model will surely be glorious

[@MashITTech]

Yeah but I expect it will be the end of 22 before we see that :(

[@youp1tralala]

@@MashITTech Yup sure ! Though it might be available earlier in the US, and I expect absurdly crazy prices at the time of release in the EU, like it was the case initially for the Gen 4...

[@MashITTech]

Yeah the European prices are a joke in comparison to the USA! This model was nearly 4K on U.K. release then dropped to an expensive but more realistic 3k followed by a good price of 2.3k on Black Friday week! Surely they weren’t selling any at 4K so why not just list them initially with a sensible price!

[@mzamroni]

You'd better buy Thinkpad p1. P1 is actually x1 extreme but with better professional Nvidia Tesla or Quadro GPU

[@MashITTech]

I have had the P1 gen 2, great machines. There was just very little choice in the UK when I ordered

[@davidletterboyz]

Nowadays there is not much difference between them. You can also choose 3070/3080 with the P1.

[@DoubleOhSilver]

For me, the X1 came out cheaper. Unless I just didn't go through the config enough. And ngl, I really dislike the X1 logo, so there's another reason to go P1.

[@memoryfoam2285]

I get that a lot of people prefer the track pad but like cmon... it's a thinkpad... you gotta use the trackpoint

[@retro_gamer_uk]

Great review as always mate. Ive always had a conundrum when it comes to machines like this. As you may remember, I am keen on the T14. If we are buying for doing work with occasional games (light gaming, not AAA as with gaming laptops), then why spend 3k? I always thought the 1k I paid for my Ryzen 7 no gpu T14 is worth it.

[@MashITTech]

hello mate, yes I remember. That T14 was my first video here :) I agree for most people the T14 would be a better choice but some users (myself included) need more gpu power than the Vega can muster. I am a heavy video editor, developer and 3d modeller and therefore need something with plenty of coda cores. I am hoping the new Ryzen 6800u with RDNA2 on board may well allow me to utilise a smaller T series whilst still being able to render videos, and models! How are you getting on with yours?

[@retro_gamer_uk]

@@MashITTech makes sense for special use cases like that. Mine is still the first gen, but im able to play all my games (not just old but things like Football Manager 22 and Civ VI) and do work perfectly so wont be upgrading yet. I guess the 32 gig ram helps future proof it a bit. Battery lasts hours (maybe 3) even when gaming as its not heavy gaming. Much longer when just working. I love that when power is not plugged in it can still use performance mode, but thats a Ryzen thing I guess. Screen helps battery, being low power. Not like I watch movies on it anyway so didnt need better. I bet il be speaking to you in another couple years and still have it 😂. Edit: good point about advancements in cpu. I bet even you wont need a gpu soon, with the advances in cpu built in graphics.

[@MashITTech]

Well you can guarantee as soon as Lenovo launch a t14 or x13 with the 6800u I will have one on order to test 😂 I keep checking the site even though I know it is still ages away

[@retro_gamer_uk]

@@MashITTech it would be my most anticipated video to date!

[@alexmartian3972]

having both 15+ and 14 inch thinkpads, I see for home use I like 15+ much more for size (*), for travel smaller might be better though. * it is older and have white spots and edge blerding, so I'm thinking about newer one.

[@JontesTechTips]

Great review as always! HDMI 2.0 with a 3000 series GPU, that saddens me. Especially on the 3070/80 models... Edit: nvidia gpu = hdmi 2.1. Intel gpu = hdmi 2.0

[@youp1tralala]

He made a mistake, it is actually HDMI 2.1

[@JontesTechTips]

@@youp1tralala is it? Im checking their website and it says 2.0 there aswell. But maybe thats the lower tier/intel version... Would love a complete specsheet. Update: found a specsheet after a while, and as you say. 2.0 is with integrated (intel graphics) and 2.1 with discrete (nvidia graphics). NICE!

[@MashITTech]

oops sorry let me double check

[@JonathanS89]

Using a 3080 on a laptop like this makes the most sense for content creators or graphics designers which is probably the target consumer, and not gamers although sure it can game decently enough. I love the look of Thinkpads and even love the novelty of their iconic red trackpoint. My first laptop ever was the IBM Thinkpad 390 or 380 back in 1998 lol.

[@JonathanS89]

great video btw!

[@MashITTech]

Thanks mate, and you hit the nail on the head. The 3080 with all its coda cores is amazing for rendering, 3d design and video editing etc. My only worry is people will see the 3080 and expect normal 3080 performance which you won't get out a chassis that can only put out 110w for cpu+gpu. I am a sucker for think pads too, love the industrial design

[@JonathanS89]

@@MashITTech sometimes people miss the point of a product, at least you explained the target audience clearly :) some youtubers dont and it's chaos in the comments section 🤣🤣

[@capresti3537]

I have this computer its powerful and smooth. Better quality build than my Dell. I prefer Lenovo overall but Dell may have a better screen that is all.

[@R4T_]

I think the card reader is irrelevant, what do you think ?

[@MashITTech]

For most people I agree, but if you do a lot of photo or video editing like I do it is really useful. I always look to buy a laptop with a reader but I realise I may be a minority

[@popeye82]

It should be a mini card reader. Way more useful

[@alexmartian3972]

Alder lake + OLED + discount to $1500 and I'm ready to buy.

[@MashITTech]

Haha that’s the dream! Maybe I should move to USA as the prices are just crazy in europe

[@alexmartian3972]

@@MashITTech I recall hearing UK have a law to allow you to return electronics like clothes when you just don't like it. That might be main reason for higher prices. Is it? BTW, do you return what you reviewed?

[@MashITTech]

@@alexmartian3972 possible and we also have high tax at 20% but for some reason Lenovo always have stupidly high prices here unlike other brands like HP/Dell/apple etc. And no, once I have finished with the laptops I put them on eBay as I would never be able to test and review in the UK's 14 day return policy (plus I would probably get banned with the amount of laptops I get through!)

[@adinchandra1797]

Beast Version of ThinkPad. More like a Gaming Laptop

[@MashITTech]

Yeah, but I wish they offered a high refresh option. The screen is stunning to look at but I find it hard to go back to 60hz :(

[@NoName-zf6nr]

Small arrow keys are unacceptable. Fan noise samples for the three speed modes would have been nice.

[@MashITTech]

Damn, yes I should have done that! Next time I will try and subjectively record the noise

[@wutzzz138]

Also do note the right side fan-while is bigger-expels much more air and sounds louder than the left side fan. The design is super but the Quality Control in the factory has been a lottery with all the X1 Extreme generations. For example: the IR camera being blocked by foam, massive finger-like bleed spots in the panel near the camera section and the coating of the screen plastic bumper-which touches the palm rest area-somehow delaminates/unglue itself and then eats the coating in the actual palm rest area. Moreover, the majority of the panels provided by sharp or AOC when in a close position rest with a gap either in the left side or the right side. This meaning that, some panels do have a small mm of rebound in the right or left side. Now for a computer that's fine, but, all of the above for a 3K+ laptop does leave a sour experience. You don't pay for a lap-dance and expect it to be sh*t, short-lived and overpriced. Do you? #3k+spentworthoflapdances

[@Nangman66]

Does it have a loud fan sound?

[@NOSFERATU_ONE]

I really hope Gen5 comes with a higher refresh rate screen

[@MashITTech]

Me too, that’s my biggest gripe having used so many high refresh screens

[@JoeMaranophotography]

Oh wow that timespy score is pretty shocking! With a "benchmark only" OC my "old" 10th gen I7 with 80w RTX 2070 Max-Q got over 7400! Of course different strokes for different folks but I could never understand productivity laptop buyers sacrificing so much performance just for those build and screen benefits. I'm sure I have made similar comments before lol

[@MashITTech]

yes and I agree with you. The problem is the fact they are making these laptop as thin as possible leaving the machine with a combined cpu+gpu load of 110w. Would much rather a laptop a little thicker with more pleasant fans and better performance but clearly I must be the minority 😃

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@MashITTech I remember when laptops were huge! I would happily see a return to these days! But then I'm a minority case use where my laptop is a desktop replacement (u use external monitor, mouse and keyboard) with the advantage of being mobile.

[@MashITTech]

You and me both! I still use my area 51m r2 just because I love how quiet that thing runs!

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@MashITTech Nice! Well I run mine at 92% fans so not exactly quiet. But headphones on and who cares lol

[@MashITTech]

Haha I agree but my wife begs to differ 😂😂 every time I am testing a noisy laptop in the house I get told off and sent to the office 🤣

[@praveenvarma5682]

hello! will you do a video on asus rog flow z13?

[@MashITTech]

I did contemplate it but will see if there is a 2022 version rather than get the 2021 version.

[@danielhirst3151]

@@MashITTech There is a spec bump to the flow x13 this year, but the hype will be on the flow z13.

[@MashITTech]

Ah thanks I think I am getting the models confused! So is the z13 the surface clone?

[@danielhirst3151]

@@MashITTech yes, the x13 is the 2in1 and the z13 is the surface type device. Both can be used with the xg mobile egpu. The x13 will get a new Ryzen processor upgrade. The z13 is using up to an i9-12900 and both go up to 3050ti. Read somewhere that the xg mobile may also be getting an AMD variant. Think that may be bs though.

[@MashITTech]

well I am certainly hoping to get the Z13 in, it was one of the most interesting products at CES! might have to swap my surface for it 😁

[@striker7469]

Powerful.

[@noeldillabough]

Here's hoping they reverted the keyboard on Gen5

[@MashITTech]

No such luck 😢

[@davidletterboyz]

Too bad the Alder Lake update will be late for this series.

[@MashITTech]

yeah as this has not been long released I expect it will be the end of 22 :(

[@openbabel]

As the global economey goes into recession its just a management failure to not offer this with a AMD 5 or i5 12 th Generation CPU.Clearly the i9 is restricted by the form factor. Wake up Lenovo where is the business unix or linux fedora options ?

[@Achabab]

Thank you for the video, BUT this extreme gen 4 very expensive plus battery life very bag 3-4hours at normal use. I decided to buy ASUS G15, very very fast, you save 30%$$$$..... battery can last for 9-11hours normal use. Asus can use for gaming working.....i like it Take me 1 month to decided,hhhhhhhhh

[@MashITTech]

Choosing a laptop is always a hard decision! The g15 is a great choice though 👍

[@Achabab]

@@MashITTech thank you 🥰

[@TommySchwartz]

Disaster!! Can't get any support! Email support but never gets an answer anywhere! Have so many awful problems with my P1 Gen4 so it's embarrassing! I now hate my brand new computer due to all the problems! Obvious quality problems, color missing on keyboard buttons, fans jerking, white spot on the screen, battery life max 4h, longer battery life on macbook 15 "from 2011, bios updates that kill usb-c / TB4 ports, bluetooth problems, fan problems, sleep mode don't work properly (hot even though led is fading), usb-chime sounds al the time. Fresh windows 10 install with all drivers updated. Catastrophically Embarrassing!

[@imakesushinotsushit]

Imagine this had 120hz 4k

[@MashITTech]

Yeah, that would be amazing!

[@liadnouri7518]

right now its 1700$

[@MashITTech]

Wow that’s a good price!

[@imakesushinotsushit]

Vao