We recently tested the base model Lenovo IdeaPad, which is equipped with the 12th generation Intel Alder Lake-U processor in the form of the Core i5-1235U. Then we confirmed the very disappointing results of the IdeaPad 3-15, resulting from the use of at least a strange configuration of RAM. A few days ago we also published another laptop model – ASUS Vivobook S 16X, where we also confirmed the upcoming review of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i-15 model. This is a higher in the hierarchy model, which in many ways has been improved compared to the IdeaPad 3-15, but at the same time it still does not cost a fortune. The test configuration has (theoretically) a much more powerful Intel Core i7-1260P processor. The equipment had a few surprises for me during the test, some positive and others not so much.

Author: Damian Marusiak

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i-15 looks better than the IdeaPad 3-15 at first contact. Much of this is due to the better quality of the housing. The equipment also intrigued me with the fact that it has a built-in Full HD camera, which is almost unheard of in laptops for just over PLN 4,000. The processor is also noticeably more powerful – it’s a 12-core Intel Core i7-1260P combined with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM (this time immediately working in Dual Channel mode, so we won’t see the RAM anomaly in single-channel mode here). In several respects, the IdeaPad 5i-15 looks better than the IdeaPad 3-15, which, taking into account the differences in price, definitely speaks in favor of the IdeaPad 5i-15 presented today. However, there is one thing that disappointed me…

Another Lenovo IdeaPad laptop tested is the IdeaPad 5i-15 with an Intel Core i7-1260P processor and an aluminum casing.

You can buy a Lenovo IdeaPad 5i-15 laptop with Intel Core i7-1260P in the x-kom store

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i-15 notebook uses the brand new Intel Alder Lake-P processors, which are the second generation (after Intel Lakefield) to feature a hybrid x86 architecture. The 12th generation processors use two types of cores – Performance (Golden Cove architecture), where the core has been significantly rebuilt, introducing the biggest changes since the introduction of the x86 Skylake core (6th generation Intel Core). The Performance Cores are further aided by the more energy-efficient Efficient Cores – they offer IPC at the level of the x86 core from the 10th generation of Comet Lake, while drawing noticeably less power compared to large Performance cores. In the tested model we find a 12-core and 16-thread Intel Core i7-1260P processor with integrated graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics from 96 EU. The Processor Base Power factor in the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i-15 model is 28 W, while the Max Turbo Power is already 64 W.

The laptop also features integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Intel Gen.12), which is based on the new Xe architecture. Intel Iris Xe Graphics is a representative of the weakest Xe-LP (Low Power) line, which has a maximum of 96 EU units (execution units) built-in. The tested Intel Core i5-1235U processor has a slightly weaker variant with 80 EU. This translates into a total of 640 stream processors. The integrated Iris Xe Graphics chip still uses RAM – the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i-15 uses DDR4 3200 MHz. The new Intel Xe-LP is also characterized by lower power consumption and the use of this technological process, referred to as Intel 7 (10nm). Currently, Intel Iris Xe Graphics supports several image upscaling solutions: the first one is called Intel XeSS (with the help of the DP4a instruction) and additionally AMD FSR 1 and FSR 2. The use of these techniques in compatible games will ultimately result in slightly higher performance, although at the expense of lower image quality .