The Lenovo ThinkStation P900 Workstation Review: Design 101
by Ian Cutress on May 6, 2015 7:00 AM ESTProfessional Performance: Windows
Due to the market positioning of the ThinkStation P900 as an high level workstation with a Quadro professional graphics card, it makes sense to compare the system with industry-standard benchmarks and the other entry level workstations we have previously tested where possible. Benchmarks in this instance come from SPECviewPerf 11, a well-known multi-software test, SYSMark from BAPCo that is used by several industries for comparison, and Linux-Bench for some more scientific and synthetic analysis.
SPECviewPerf 11
Despite having 20 cores and 40 threads in the mix, as well as the highest Quadro we've tested with SPECviewperf, the P900 has a few issues in these benchmarks. Not only does the software package have to be able to cope with a split memory configuration between the two CPUs (a non-unified memory architecture), but the single threaded performance of the system isn't winning any awards. That being said, the ensight section of the benchmark shows good numbers, as well as a few others. Lightwave does take a hit though.
SYSMark 2014
SYSmark focuses on several tests, with the office tests being more single threaded compared to the data and financial analysis. As a result the P900 falls behind on the office section, but steams ahead with multi-threaded tests. The overall score puts the top spot with the P900.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
61 Comments
View All Comments
Mikemk - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
"these are the high TDP 160W models with 12 cores"Really? 12 cores?
mapesdhs - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
Indeed, it should say 10, which is ironic as it's correctly described in the spec list that follows.My biggest complaint with systems like these is the lack of any backup drive of some kind for the C-drive; IMO this should be standard on all pro systems by now. I've helped with so many pro users over the years who've had normal rust spinners fail, at least with those there's usually a chance to rescue data before a drive completely dies, but with SSDs, normally no chance.
IBM could at least include a simple MX100 or something for C-drive backup.
Ian.
mapesdhs - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
Also, which C-ray test are you using, with what parameters and how many threads? This matters a lot for comparing systems.mapesdhs - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
Oops, stuck the above in the wrong place, sorry... still no post editing/deletion/etc. yet??dave_the_nerd - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
IBM?MrSpadge - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
IBM can't do anything about this system, it's Lenovo since many years by now.Samus - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
It just goes to show how people still associate IBM with Lenovo's crap :\Let's face facts with facts...quality has declined since IBM turned over their PC division. Most Thinkpads are built to 'Ideapad' quality and engineering now, and in the case of the Thinkpad E, it IS an Ideapad. There isn't anything specifically "wrong" with Ideapads, but they don't live up to the Thinkpad reputation. None of the new Thinkpads do. Lenovo is also notorious for not standing behind their products, EOL'ing products quickly after a successor is released.
The last great Thinkpad's were the T4x/X40 series. Lenovo quickly ruined the T60 series with inadequate cooling for the discrete GPU's, leaving it up to the once-devoted Thinkpad community to create the utility TPfancontrol to fix the fan ramp-up issues. Issues persisted from there, with poor quality lithium cells and poor quality plastic ports ever since. Just Google T400/T500 USB ports cracking.
Long story short, on paper, the new Thinkstation P900 looks great on paper and initial review, but I'm sure issues will creep up that will not be adequately fixed. At least HP and Dell stand behind their products, especially their corporate-class products.
lophiomys - Wednesday, May 13, 2015 - link
FULL ACK to Samus regarding the poor quality of Lenovo Thinkpads and general lack of service by Lenovo. Still typing on a wonderful IBM Thinkpads T43p ...I like the design concept of the P900, but would only consider buying one at a - 50% rebate.
vision33r - Sunday, May 17, 2015 - link
Years ago, when Thinkpad turned over to Lenovo. I said it's gonna suck to my manager and he said it's a "Thinkpad" and he went ahead and purchased about 200 T60 thinkpads. Almost 1/2 of them went back and needed systemboard swaps. The drivers they issued were crap and resulted in lots of blue screens. Today, I don't work on laptops anymore and some poor support person was walking around swapping Thinkpad X1 Carbons. He said they are pretty flakey, a lot of them just crap out and they are brand spanking new. Hardware is great but reliability just not very good.PitneFor - Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - link
wut , backups should be done with backup software to some sort of redundant hard drive array . or plug a usb drive in if your that amateur