January 17, 2021 4:57 pm
System specs & Components
Lenovo ThinkCentre M720 Tiny Thinclient
Windows 10 Pro
i7 8700T, 6C/12T @ 3.8 boost 1.7 base
16GB DDR4 SODIMM
500GB WD NVMe SSD
MSI GTX 1650 Super 4GB DDR6
eGPU hardware
2x PCIe 16x to 16x extension - I recommend these over the regular gray ribbons, I had issues with those and had to replace one - Link
1x PCIe 4x to 16x extension adapter (external power, which is important) - Link
Lenovo 01AJ929 PCIe 4x adapter - Note: this was not in stock at this link and I waited two months to find that out. I ended up having to order from ebay UK and have it sent to shipping forwarder to get my part to the US - Encompass Link
265W 1U server power supply - Swapped two 40mm fans with Noctua Silent Series
*** I used links for the pictures to not clog up the thread with high res images.
Benchmarks & GPUZ & Other Screenshots
*** For reference, the two RivaTuner FPS screenshots during benchmarking were before and after I resolved the CPU power throttling issue. As you can see, performance was night and day.
Valley Benchmark Score: 4435
Min FPS: 37.1
Max FPS: 194.7
I was able to finally run some benchmarks and get this overclock a little more dialed in. I noticed FPS was not as it should be (I had seen 90 or so in game and it was dropping below 50) so I played with the overclocking settings on the GPU a bit and found a much nicer sweet spot. The memory overclock when I was having issues was only 100Mhz over, but I think it didn't like it and was throwing memory errors causing me to drop frames. After I got the GPU settings good, just for fun I went and ran the same benchmarks with the CPU fan on full blast via the bios setting. There is no way I would run my system like this, it sounded like a jet and I don't think the fan would last long that way either. It did get me 1.5 more FPS on average, which is negligible, and brought testing temps on the CPU down to 56C from 70C.
Novabench Overall: 2593
CPU: 1195
GPU: 868
RAM: 266
Disk: 264
I am getting varying scores on the CPU when running Novabench tests, and I noticed it is showing a different clock speed during each test run. I suspect this is either thermal or power related, I was originally thinking power, however digging on the Throttlestop forums I may be able to unlock a little more performance from there too. No time to play with that now but some tweaking will definitely be in order. The best overall Novabench screenshot is here and that test was done with the CPU fan on full blast to pull a little more out of my CPU score. The GPU scored a slightly higher 898 before I cranked the CPU fan. Info on pushing the CPU a bit more with ThrottleStop settings is at the link below.
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/constant-edp-other-under-ring-in-throttlestop.261204/
Installation Steps & Comments
This build took some time to plan and put together, but it is finally working and working well I am happy to report. I found that this machine has an internal PCIe 4x slot that is a proprietary Lenovo conenctor, but with an adapter (from Lenovo) you can get a regular 4x slot out of it. Adapter part number is above with link (check stock by calling first!). After having some issues with the grey ribbon style PCIe extenders, I bought some nicer looking black ones that had more rigid connections at the PCIe boards and so far so good with those. The whole thing is mounted on the back spine of my desk and besides the wires you cannot tell there is a whole computer attached to the back of it. I am using the GPU power supply to also power a USB hub and RGB lights also mounted to the desk, both on 12v. I am using a 5v opto-isolated mini relay to turn on the PSU by shorting the POWERON pin to GND. The relay is triggered by 5v coming from the USB port on the PC.
Once I finally got it running and playing games, I found performance was decent but not as good as I expected. I was getting 25-40FPS in game when I was expecting 60 or so (Ghost Recon Breakpoint, most settings high 1080p). First I went to HWInfo, and found that some throttling was going on. For a few moments at a time, my CPU was at 950 Mhz when it should have been 3.4-3.6. Initially I thought this was thermal throttling going on maybe due to limits set in the BIOS since this was such a tiny machine, but I was not seeing more than 50-55C on the GPU or CPU, and the CPU was only using 5-10W of its 35 TDP.
I then installed ThrottleStop, since I was familiar with that from the laptop world, to see if I could force it to do what I wanted it to do. When in game or in benchmarks I was getting constant BD PROCHOT alerts and I noticed it was throttling when throwing that. Okay, quick google search says that means SOME external signal or the CPU itself is telling the CPU to throttle. Again, I thought thermal issues, but looking in HWInfo again, it seemed like the only throttling the GPU was doing was due to power, not temp. I tried disabling BD PROCHOT in ThrottleStop, and that resulted in a few instant shutdowns (when already warm or at a high load) and random reboots when in game.
At this point I was using an UNPOWERED 4x to 16x adapter, so all the PCIe slot power was coming from the motherboard. Since I knew this was power related, my thought was either this PSU is on its way out and can't keep up with the load, OR it was pulling too much out of the motherboard slot. The power brick for this little machine is not more than 100w, so I was leaning that direction, however I was seeing 12.1v coming from the motherboard PCIe slot and 11.5 coming from the PSU for the 6 pin power, so this lead me to believe I had a voltage drop in the PSU. Swapped to the POWERED 4x to 16x adapter, hooked it up to the Molex connector from the PSU, and buttoned it up. This fixed all my issues. In ThrottleStop I turned off BD PROCHOT again, but this time I did not have any reboots or shutdowns, and I am now seeing my CPU pull the full 35w that is available to it and it is no longer throttling due to PD PROCHOT or temp.
My conclusion as to what was going on is that my GPU was hitting the power limit of the PCIe slot (by way of the motherboard and it negotiating wattage available there), so that caused it to throttle itself. When the GPU or other components throttle, they can send the BD PROCHOT signal to the CPU to tell it to throttle, essentially a "safe limp mode" like your car does with a check engine light. Disabling BD PROCHOT without the necessary current available at the slot resulted in those instant shutdowns. I had one that may have been thermal related, but I have a feeling the rest were caused by not enough wattage available for the whole system (I was pulling too much out of the slot) and it shutdown on a voltage drop. Once I got enough power to the GPU PCIe pins, it was still throwing BD PROCHOT since the wattage at the PCIe slot was still negotiated at the same current (25w I think) but of course there was much more wattage available since it was coming from a separate source. Trick it to not throw BD PROCHOT with ThrottleStop, and all is well now. Another observation I made is that voltage difference between PCIe slot and 6 pin power before swapped adapters. That could wreak havoc on all sorts of current readings and other reference values, so that could have been a problem in and of itself. Once I got the powered adapter hooked up, of course slot and 6 pin 12v line was pretty much equal, which is what it is supposed to be.
In game I am running around 70-75C on the CPU, the only thing I can do about that is look for software to adjust my fan curve. The next setting up in the BIOS for fan speed is "full speed" and the noise is unbearable. I can deal with 50-70% fan, not 100% all the time. With the location its in, I could technically just remove the cover and swap it for a proper tower cooler, but I would like to be able to keep it a little more "stock" looking if possible, besides the hole I cut in the lid for the PCIe extender of course...
Before I fixed the throttling issue, my benchmarks were about equal with what I was seeing in game, 30-40 FPS during 3D GPU tests. Once I got that taken care of, the same benchmark showed around 95 FPS, so I am certainly happy now.
FAQs
Is ThinkCentre a good PC? ›
The Lenovo ThinkCentre is a great desktop computer for home or office use. It can handle all of your everyday tasks such as surfing the web, sending emails, and organizing photos.
How much power does ThinkCentre M720q use? ›Power consumption on the Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny is low at 27watts idle and 68watts on max load.
Does Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q have Wi fi? ›Lenovo ThinkCentre M720q Tiny Desktop Computer, Intel i3-8100, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe, 4K Monitor Support DisplayPort, HDMI, AC Wi-Fi, Bluetooth - Windows 10 Pro (Renewed)
How much power does ThinkCentre m720s use? ›Idle power consumption on 120V power we saw 11-14W idle for the dual-core unit.
Why is my Lenovo ThinkCentre so slow? ›Having many apps, programs, web browsers, and so on open at once can slow down your PC. Having a lot of browser tabs open at once can also slow it down quite a bit. If this is happening, close any apps, browser tabs, etc., that you don't need and see if that helps speed up your PC.
How long do mini PCs last? ›A mini pc should last 2-3 years if you do the things you say your going to be doing, internet etc.... But with a desktop, after 2-3 years, you could simply upgrade the parts bit by bit instead of buying another PC.
How can I speed up my Lenovo ThinkCentre? ›- Disable startup apps.
- Disable background apps.
- Uninstall non-essential third-party apps.
- Clean up hard drive space.
- Run defragmentation tool.
- Enable ReadyBoost.
- Upgrade hardware.
- Run antivirus software.
The ThinkCentre M720q Tiny is a fine choice for any office short on space or in search of an unobtrusive PC to power digital displays or a public workstation.
Which RAM is used in Lenovo ThinkCentre? ›| SODIMM Memory for ThinkCentre M-Series | ||
|---|---|---|
| ThinkCentre M-Series | Memory Description | Maximum Memory |
| M70z All-In-One | PC3-10600 DDR3-1333 SODIMM | 8GB - 2 DIMM |
| M90z All-In-One | PC3-10600 DDR3-1333 SODIMM | 8GB - 2 DIMM |
| M72e, M92, M92p, M92z | PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 Low-Halogen SODIMM | 2GB, 4GB, 8GB |
ThinkCentre keeps data secure, employees on-task, and citizens connected. Harness ThinkCentre's secure and robust productivity to boost your bottom line. Choose specialized devices to power your individual kiosks, improve employee workflows and create a unique experience for customers in-store.
How old is Lenovo ThinkCentre? ›
The ThinkCentre line of desktop computers was introduced by IBM in 2003. The first three models in this line were the S50, the M50, and A50p.
Does Lenovo ThinkCentre have HDMI port? ›The Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One 24 23.8" IPS LED FHD Monitor, model number 10QYPAR1US, is Operating System independent and will work with any computer. The monitor has a DisplayPort connector for a computer. To connect an HDMI computer to this monitor, you will need a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter.
What is the price of ThinkCentre? ›₹13,179. 00 Fulfilled FREE Delivery.
What is the price of Lenovo ThinkCentre small CPU? ›Lenovo Thinkcentre M93P Tiny Desktop CPU, Memory Size: 8gb at Rs 18000 in Mumbai.
What is the price of Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop motherboard? ›Lenovo ThinkCentre M710 M710S SFF Desktop Motherboard 00XK134 at Rs 12500 | Computer Motherboard in Mumbai | ID: 24158077048.
How do I change the RAM speed on my Lenovo computer? ›From the System Utilities screen, select System Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > Memory Options > Maximum Memory Bus Frequency. Select a setting. Auto—Memory runs at the maximum speed supported by the system configuration.
What is the processor of Lenovo ThinkCentre? ›Lenovo ThinkCentre Premium High Performance M91P Desktop Computer, Intel Core i5 Quad-Core Processor 3.1GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home (Renewed)
What are the disadvantages of a mini computer? ›Disadvantages of Minicomputer
Few mini PCs do not have USB ports. They don't have a CD/DVD drive. The users find it hard to operate due to different operating systems. minicomputer have a small keyboard.
Advantages of Using a Mini PC
There are several advantages to using a mini PC over a traditional desktop computer. They're highly energy efficient due to their low power consumption, highly portable thanks to their small size, highly customizable, and affordable compared to traditional desktop computers.
Fan noise: Like laptops, mini PCs cram a lot of power into a small case. Although you don't need to worry about burning your legs with a mini PC, you do need to make sure the case regulates temperature so that the computer doesn't overheat.
How do I turbo boost my Lenovo CPU? ›
- From the System Utilities screen, select System Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > Performance Options > Intel (R) Turbo Boost Technology and press Enter.
- Select a setting and press Enter. ...
- Press F10.
UEFI Setting -> System Settings -> Processors -> Turbo Boost = Enabled, Cores in CPU Package =1, click Save and reset system for new settings to take effects and allow the system to boot to the Windows Server OS.
How do I defrag my Lenovo desktop? ›- Select the search bar on the taskbar and enter defrag.
- Select Defragment and Optimize Drives.
- Select the disk drive you want to optimize.
- Select the Optimize button.
Lenovo ThinkCentre M720s SFF Intel Core i7-8700 3.20GHz 8GB DDR4 Ram 256GB SSD Wifi Win10 in UK.
Can you use a ThinkCentre as a monitor? ›Your computer can work in two modes: computer mode or monitor mode. This section provides instructions on how to use your computer in monitor mode. on the front of your computer to switch your computer between computer mode and monitor mode.
Does Lenovo ThinkCentre have WIFI? ›Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Desktop Computer, Intel i5-6500T Upto 3.10GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD, 4K DisplayPort, Bluetooth, AC Wi-Fi, Windows 10 Pro (RENEWED) Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Can you put DDR3 RAM in a DDR4 slot? ›The DRAM modules have different shapes, and the pin-out will only fit on the mother board based on the recommend memory that the manufacturer. As DDR4 will only work in DDR4 compatible motherboards and DDR3 will only fit in DDR3 compatible motherboards.
How do I check my Lenovo RAM upgrade? ›- Type and select Task Manager in the search box.
- Select the Performance tab and find Memory. See the Slots used information. The following image displays information for a sample PC.
Use Task Manager to find more information about empty memory slots. Type and select Task Manager in the search box. Select the Performance tab and find Memory. See the Slots used information.
What are Lenovo good for? ›Lenovo makes a large number of laptops every year, so whether you're looking for something for school, work, gaming, or media consumption, you can find something that suits your needs and budget. Their laptops are often among the best value models, as they offer a good user experience while remaining affordable.
What is the difference between M720 and M920? ›
They both are very similar, but there are minor differences as shown in the Platform Specifications. The two things that I noticed are that the M720 uses the B360 Chipset, while the M920 uses a more capable Q370 chipset, which has 4 SATA ports, and Supports RAID 0/1...
What is the boot key for ThinkCentre? ›Press F12 or (Fn+F12) rapidly and repeatedly at the Lenovo logo during bootup to open Windows Boot Manager. Select boot device in the list. This is a one-time-option. If the boot device is disabled in the BIOS, then the boot device cannot be selected using this method.
What is the lifespan of a Lenovo computer? ›Most experts estimate a laptop's lifespan to be three to five years. It may survive longer than that, but its utility will be limited as the components become less capable of running advanced applications.
What is the difference between m920s and m720s? ›They both are very similar, but there are minor differences as shown in the Platform Specifications. The two things that I noticed are that the M720 uses the B360 Chipset, while the M920 uses a more capable Q370 chipset, which has 4 SATA ports, and Supports RAID 0/1...
Does Lenovo still exist? ›As of 2021, Lenovo is the world's largest personal computer vendor by unit sales. Lenovo was founded in Beijing on 1 November 1984 as Legend by a team of engineers led by Liu Chuanzhi and Danny Lui.
How to install Windows 10 from USB on Lenovo ThinkCentre? ›o Insert the Windows 10 install media (either through USB or CD/DVD). o Power on the system and press the F12 key whenever the following Lenovo splash screen appears. o Select the Windows bootable installation media “UEFI” option from the F12 boot menu.
How to install Windows from USB on Lenovo ThinkCentre? ›- Attach the USB device to the system via any available USB port.
- Press and hold the Power Button for few seconds to turn off the system completely. ...
- Power on the system. ...
- There should be a pop-up menu with a list of choices. ...
- The system should now boot from the USB drive.
The Lenovo USB-C to HDMI Adapter can be used to mirror your primary display or to extend your display to double your workspace requiring no extra drivers to be installed. Features: USB-C to HDMI conversion delivers high-quality video and audio through a single HDMI cable, from system to display.
What is the price of ThinkCentre M720? ›Lenovo Thinkcentre M720 Tiny Desktop at Rs 28850 | Lenovo Desktop in Mumbai | ID: 23106097348.
What model is my ThinkCentre? ›In the Start menu type "System Information" and select that option from the results. 2. A window will appear, showing your computer's information. The computer model number as the 7th item from the top.
How do I connect my Lenovo Thinkcentre to a monitor? ›
Connect one end of the DisplayPort cable to the DisplayPort connector on the monitor and the other end to a DisplayPort connector on the computer. To locate the DisplayPort connector on the monitor, see “Locating connectors and controls on your monitor” on page 2. 2. Use a type B-to-type A USB cable as shown.
What is the price of small Lenovo? ›| Latest Lenovo Laptops | Lenovo Laptops Price |
|---|---|
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 (82FG01BAIN) | Rs. 66,988 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad E15 (Gen 2) | Rs. 50,409 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i 11.6-inch Chromebook | Rs. 30,990 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 14-inch Chromebook | Rs. 25,990 |
Lenovo M93 Tiny PC Intel Core i5 4th Generation at Rs 12000 | Navrangpura | Ahmedabad | ID: 22260665330.
How much does it cost to replace a Lenovo motherboard? ›Lenovo laptop motherboard repair cost is not too expensive. The average price for a Lenovo motherboard replacement is around Rs 5950. Some people might charge more depending on the complexity of the repair and the availability of parts.
What is the BIOS key for Lenovo? ›To enter BIOS via function key
Immediately press the F1 key 5-10 times after the power on button is pressed or restart the system and press F1 when the Lenovo logo is displayed.
- Open Lenovo support website (support.lenovo.com).
- Enter the system machine type or product name.
- On the product page, click Drivers & Software.
- Filter by BIOS/UEFI, and choose the corresponding OS information.
- Download and install the BIOS following the readme file.
2003. In 2003, IBM redesigned and re-launched their ThinkCentre product line. The first desktop released was an M-series desktop – the M50.
Which brand of PC is good? ›Dell is known for its high-quality, customizable desktops and laptops. Other brands, like Microsoft, are renowned for boosting productivity with built-in software like Excel and Word and its Surface laptops and tablets. Razer increasingly has options not just for gamers but for productivity as well.
Does Lenovo ThinkCentre M720s have Wi-Fi? ›Lenovo ThinkCentre M720s SFF Intel Core i7-8700 3.20GHz 8GB DDR4 Ram 256GB SSD Wifi Win10 in UK.
Are Lenovo computers any good? ›Lenovo makes a large number of laptops every year, so whether you're looking for something for school, work, gaming, or media consumption, you can find something that suits your needs and budget. Their laptops are often among the best value models, as they offer a good user experience while remaining affordable.
What is the RAM of Lenovo ThinkCentre? ›
| UDIMM Desktop Memory for ThinkCentre A-Series | ||
|---|---|---|
| ThinkCentre A-Series | Memory Description | Maximum Memory - DIMM Slots |
| A58e Tower | PC2-6400 DDR2-800 UDIMM | 4GB (*) - 2 DIMM |
| A60 Desktop, Tower | PC2-5300 DDR2-667 UDIMM | 4GB (*) |
| A61 Desktop, Tower | PC2-5300 DDR2-667 or PC2-6400 DDR2-800 UDIMM | 8GB (*) |
How much RAM do you need? Generally, we recommend 8GB of RAM for casual computer usage and internet browsing, 16GB for spreadsheets and other office programs, and at least 32GB for gamers and multimedia creators. How you use your computer influences how much RAM you need, so use this as a guideline.
What is a good cheap PC to buy? ›- HP Omen 40L. Best cheap gaming PC overall. View now.
- HP Pavilion gaming desktop. Best cheap AMD gaming PC. View now.
- MSI Aegis R. Best cheap Intel gaming PC. View now.
- Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 7. Best gaming PC under $1500. ...
- HP Victus desktop. Best ultra-budget gaming PC.
What makes a computer runfaster? A fast computer usually has a high processor speed and large amount of RAM. The higher these two factors are, the faster your computer will be.