Lenovo announces new business workstations in the ThinkPad series, surfing the AI marketing wave. With the top model ThinkPad P1, Lenovo is also switching to a new type of RAM memory.
Lenovo announces four new workstations within the ThinkStation P1 series. As with every PC announcement, the marketing term ‘AI PC’ is eagerly waved around, no matter how little it may mean in reality. The ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2, P16s i Gen 3 and P14s i Gen 5 are ‘AI-ready’ according to the manufacturer, while the top model ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is labeled as a full-fledged AI PC. The announcement comes just days after the launch of new ThinkCentre desktops.
Lenovo supports that claim with the presence of an Intel Core Ultra processor with integrated NPU. It is mainly the NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada GPU that should make the difference. The NPU takes on light AI-based tasks, so that the GPU can focus on the heavier work. The ThinkPad P1 should therefore be able to effortlessly handle a variety of tasks, from 3D modeling to AI inference.
Memory scoop
All AI marketing aside, the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7’s most special feature may be in its memory. For the first time, Lenovo dares to abandon the familiar DDR5 standard and switches to CAMM2 memory. The working memory is no longer soldered to the motherboard, but is placed in a replaceable module.
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Compact RAM modules (CAMM2) are now the new standard for laptops
The advantage of CAMMM2 is that it takes up less space on the motherboard and consumes less power, up to sixty percent less according to Lenovo. One disadvantage is that current CAMMM2 modules are limited to 64 GB. The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 therefore offers less RAM memory than the other models in the series, which still rely on classic DDR5 memory (max. 96 GB). The workstation more than compensates for this in storage memory, up to 8 TB.
The ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 also features a liquid metal thermal design for better cooling performance. The 16-inch display has a 16:10 aspect ratio in various configurations, from FHD+ IPS (60 Hz, 400 nits) to QHD+ IPS (165 Hz, 500 nits) and a UHD+ OLED option (60 Hz, 400 nits). This is the only laptop that is WiFi 7 compatible.
ThinkPad P16v, P16s & P14s
The ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is flanked by the P16v i Gen 2, P16s i Gen 3 and P14s i Gen 5. Common features include the Intel Core Ultra processor, the Nvidia Ada GPU and Wifi 6E compatibility.
The P16v is one step higher on the ladder. This model also has a 16-inch screen, which is configurable up to UHD+ IIPS, 60 Hz and 800 nits. It differs from the P16s by a larger battery (90 Wh) and more storage (up to 4 TB). The P16s and P14s are almost identical under the hood, but the P16s has a 16-inch screen versus the 14 inches of the P14s.
Prices and availability
The four new models will be released in the United States this spring, at the following suggested retail prices for basic configurations:
- ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: $2,619,
- ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2: $2,279,
- ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3: $1,859,
- ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5: $1,829.
We inquired with Lenovo about prices and availability for the Benelux and Europe. We will update this article as soon as we receive a response.
