Lenovo Legion T530, analysis of the gaming tower

Play, play and play. The Lenovo Legion T530 is a gaming tower for users looking for a computer with processing power and top-notch graphics . A somewhat humbler version than the Legion T730 but that maintains high performance thanks to its 8th generation Intel Core processors and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU (available in the most advanced configuration). In its guts we find a separate cooling channel for the CPU and graphics card. Thanks to this, heat is dissipated better and the fan makes less noise during our games.

All in an attractive design with a grid of red LED lights and the option to access all components without the need for a screwdriver. In addition, the upper part incorporates a handle to easily transport the PC to any corner of the house. The Lenovo Legion T530 is priced at 1,400 euros for the configuration with GTX 1060 . We tell you our impressions about this tower for gamers.

Lenovo Legion T530 data sheet

8th generation Intel processors

In the bowels of this gaming PC we find eighth generation Intel chips. Depending on the configuration chosen, we can vary between a more limited performance or have a cucumber for our Fortnite, Overwatch or PUBG games. In the basic configuration we have an Intel Core i3-8100 processor, with four cores and a clock speed of 3.6 GHz. The intermediate step is the Intel Core i5-8400. In this case we have already made the jump to six cores with a speed of 2.8 GHz. Thanks to the overclocking function, we can take this speed up to 4 GHz when we need a "push".

Finally, the most powerful configuration comes with an Intel Core i7-8700 processor, six cores at 3.2 GHz . In this case, the maximum speed is 4.6 GHz. In all cases we can combine the chip with a RAM of up to 64 GB of the DDR4 type .

Various graphic options and good sound

As in the processor section, the Lenovo Legion T530 also offers a good range of options when it comes to integrating a graphics. In case you want maximum performance, you will have to go for the configuration with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 card, with 6 GB of dedicated memory and Pascal architecture. This NVIDIA technology is designed above all to enhance performance in games based on virtual reality, one of the fields with the longest travel in a few years.

With this card, a very important leap is achieved with respect to the GTX 960 family (about double the performance in many titles). In addition, it has 1,280 CUDA cores , a technology that divides complex processes into very small threads that are carried out at the same time, resulting in greater fluidity and speed.

In case you don't go for the most powerful configuration, you also have other more affordable graphics such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB of memory, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 2 GB of memory or an AMD Radeon RX 570 card with 4GB.

In the sound section, the most interesting thing is its compatibility with the Dolby Atmos surround sound system that ensures a much more immersive gaming experience. Of course, you will have to get yourself some speakers or headphones at the height to enjoy this capacity.

Attractive design with handle

The Lenovo Legion T530 can be confusing at first glance. If you see it off, it could perfectly pass for an office desktop computer. Its lines are quite rectangular and the upper handle, which is one of its peculiarities, bases quite unnoticed. But that feeling changes as soon as you plug it in and its grille begins to glow with red LED lights . At this moment you can see its logo more clearly on the right side (you can see it in the photo above).

The effect is really attractive, although it must be said that it does not reach the level of its older brother Legion T730, which has RGB LED lights. It is not a decisive point in the design, but we will probably miss the inclusion of the transparent cover of the T730 more to be able to see the guts of the team . What we do have is a matte cover but it can be removed at any time without the need for a screwdriver. Instead, just turn the spinning wheels that serve as screws and then slide the cover sideways. That lateral slide is the key, since the cover is very well fixed and even without the screws it stays firmly in place. Lenovo has thought through this design very well.

By the way, I especially liked the invention of the handle on top of the computer . It is not very visually invasive, but it is really comfortable if you have to move this computer from one place to another. In addition, it must be taken into account that it is a PC that starts from 12 kilos of weight, an amount that varies according to the chosen configuration and the number of extensions that you put on it.

The full dimensions of the Lenovo Legion T530 are  18.4 x 40.8 x 36.3 centimeters. At the top of the tower we find the circular on / off button, hidden when we look at the equipment from the front (in addition to a series of easy-to-access ports that I will talk about later). By the way, we also have a rubber on the back that is designed so that we can pass all the cables underneath and not bother so much. It is an interesting idea although it is not a definitive solution for annoying cable messes.

Two channel cooling system and storage options

Another feature that Lenovo has wanted to highlight about this PC is its cooling system. The company has introduced a two-channel system to separately cool the processor and GPU. In this way, the heat of the two is not added and it is easier to keep the PC at an operating temperature. It's also a way for the fan to be quieter, even at the most graphically demanding moments.

Within the storage options of the Lenovo Legion T530 we have several options. The base is based on a PCIe-type SSD memory along with a hard disk . SSD-type memory can reach up to 512 GB along with a two-tera hard drive. The Asian company also offers another option through Intel Optane storage technology (with 16 GB) . These are memory modules that accelerate data stored in SSD and HDD memories. In addition, the most consulted programs and data are stored in this module for faster loading.

Connectors

Unsurprisingly, we have a good number of connectors on the Lenovo Legion T530. Starting at the top of the PC, which serves to house the on / off button and also various ports. These are two USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack and a microphone jack. An area with easy access to avoid having to look for the connectors on the back and very interesting if you have headphones or a microphone with little cable.

Of course, the bulk of ports are in the back. Thus, we have two second-generation USB 3.1 ports. These ports give us twice the speed (up to 10 GB / s of transfer) than a USB 3.0 port and support higher amperage from the connected devices. We also have two USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port to connect to the wired network, and an HDMI port.

The rest of the ports are provided by the graphics card itself. In our case we tested with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, which offers three DisplayPort-type ports and another HDMI.

Price and reviews

The Lenovo Legion T30 gaming computer is priced at 1,400 euros for its most powerful configuration. For now, it is available on Media Markt.

In short, we are facing a very interesting gamer team that knows what it plays well. Starting from its own design, it seeks a balance between attractiveness and functionality. In addition to its grid of red LED lights, it also stands out for the handle on the top to take it anywhere without difficulty. And because of the rubber at the bottom of the back, designed so that we can collect the cables underneath and they are not hanging out of order.

Within its performance, the power that this equipment gives you depends a lot on the configuration you choose. You can opt for a medium power to run most games without problems or opt for the advanced configuration that represents a significant leap in performance, thanks to its Intel Core i7 processor and especially the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card .