Product comparison · 2 laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad E550 vs MSI GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow

136specifications compared
59differ
77identical
81known for one product only

Key differences

Product colour
- ThinkPad E550:Black, Graphite
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:Black
Market positioning
- ThinkPad E550:Business
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:Gaming
Display diagonal
- ThinkPad E550:39.6 cm (15.6")
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:33.8 cm (13.3")
Display resolution
- ThinkPad E550:1366 x 768 pixels
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:1920 x 1080 pixels
Processor family
- ThinkPad E550:Intel® Core™ i3
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:Intel® Core™ i7
Processor generation
- ThinkPad E550:4th gen Intel® Core™ i3
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:4th gen Intel® Core™ i7
Processor model
- ThinkPad E550:i3-4005U
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:i7-4870HQ
Processor cores
- ThinkPad E550:2
- GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow:4

Side by side

Differences highlightedShow differences only

Comparison of ThinkPad E550, GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow
217 specifications	A Lenovo ThinkPad E550 View product	B MSI GS30-2MDC16SR5 Shadow View product
Design2 differ
Product colourDiffers	Black, Graphite	Black
Market positioningDiffers	Business	Gaming
Housing materialKnown for one	Plastic	Unknown — not stated by the source
Display2 differ
Display diagonalDiffers	39.6 cm (15.6")	33.8 cm (13.3")
Display resolutionDiffers	1366 x 768 pixels	1920 x 1080 pixels
HD typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Full HD
Display surfaceKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Matt
Dual-screenKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	No
Display brightnessKnown for one	200 cd/m²	Unknown — not stated by the source
Processor16 differ
Processor familyDiffers	Intel® Core™ i3	Intel® Core™ i7
Processor generationDiffers	4th gen Intel® Core™ i3	4th gen Intel® Core™ i7
Processor modelDiffers	i3-4005U	i7-4870HQ
Processor coresDiffers	2	4
Processor threadsDiffers	4	8
Processor boost frequencyKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	3.7 GHz
Processor frequencyDiffers	1.7 GHz	2.5 GHz
Processor cacheDiffers	3 MB	6 MB
Processor cache typeDiffers	Smart Cache	L3
Processor socketDiffers	BGA 1168	BGA 1364
Processor seriesDiffers	Intel® Core™ i3-4000 Mobile Series	Intel Core i7-4800 Mobile series
Processor codenameDiffers	Haswell	Crystal Well
Bus typeDiffers	DMI	DMI2
SteppingKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	C0
Thermal Design Power (TDP)Differs	15 W	47 W
Maximum number of PCI Express lanesDiffers	10	16
PCI Express configurationsDiffers	4x1, 1x4	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
PCI Express slots versionDiffers	2.0	3.0
Memory1 differ
Internal memoryDiffers	8 GB	16 GB
Memory layout (slots x size)Known for one	1 x 8 GB	Unknown — not stated by the source
Maximum internal memory (64-bit)Known for one	16 GB	Unknown — not stated by the source
Storage5 differ
Total storage capacityDiffers	500 GB	512 GB
Storage mediaDiffers	HDD	SSD
Number of HDDs installedDiffers	1	0
Number of SSDs installedKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	2
SSD capacityKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	256 GB
SSD interfaceKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	mSATA
Optical drive typeDiffers	DVD±RW	No
Compatible memory cardsDiffers	MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC	SD, SDHC, SDXC
HDD capacityKnown for one	500 GB	Unknown — not stated by the source
HDD interfaceKnown for one	SATA III	Unknown — not stated by the source
HDD speedKnown for one	7200 RPM	Unknown — not stated by the source
HDD sizeKnown for one	2.5"	Unknown — not stated by the source
Graphics5 differ
On-board graphics card familyDiffers	Intel® HD Graphics	Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics
On-board graphics card modelDiffers	Intel® HD Graphics 4400	Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics 5200
On-board graphics card dynamic frequency (max)Differs	950 MHz	1200 MHz
On-board graphics card DirectX versionDiffers	12	11.2/12
On-board graphics card OpenGL versionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	4.3
On-board graphics card IDDiffers	0xA16	0xD26
Maximum resolutionKnown for one	1920 x 1080 pixels	Unknown — not stated by the source
Graphics card Open GL supportKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Audio2 differ
Audio systemDiffers	Dolby Advanced Audio v4	Sound Blaster Cinema 2
Speaker powerDiffers	2 W	4 W
Speakers manufacturerKnown for one	JBL	Unknown — not stated by the source
Cameraidentical
Front camera resolutionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1280 x 720 pixels
Video capturing speedKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	30 fps
Optical driveidentical
LightScribeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	No
Networkidentical
Top Wi-Fi standardKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth versionKnown for one	4.0	Unknown — not stated by the source
Ports & interfaces2 differ
USB 2.0 ports quantityDiffers	1	0
HDMI versionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1.4b
VGA (D-Sub) ports quantityDiffers	1	0
Headphone outputsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1
Line-inKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	No
Microphone inKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Combo headphone/mic portKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Total number of SATA connectorsKnown for one	2	Unknown — not stated by the source
Number of SATA III connectorsKnown for one	2	Unknown — not stated by the source
USB Sleep-and-ChargeKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
USB Sleep-and-Charge portsKnown for one	1	Unknown — not stated by the source
Performanceidentical
Motherboard chipsetKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Intel® HM87
Keyboard2 differ
Pointing deviceDiffers	ThinkPad UltraNav	Touchpad
Keyboard backlitKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Numeric keypadDiffers	Yes	No
Island-style keyboardKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Spill-resistant keyboardKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Software1 differ
Operating system installedDiffers	Windows 7 Professional	Windows 8.1
Processor special features12 differ
Intel FDI TechnologyDiffers	No	Yes
Intel Rapid Storage TechnologyDiffers	Yes	No
Intel TSX-NIDiffers	No	Yes
Intel TSX-NI versionDiffers	0.00	1.00
Intel Trusted Execution TechnologyDiffers	No	Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)Differs	No	Yes
Intel® Anti-Theft Technology (Intel® AT)Differs	Yes	No
Intel® Turbo Boost TechnologyDiffers	No	2.0
Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT)Differs	VT-x	VT-d, VT-x
Processor ARK IDDiffers	75105	83504
Processor codeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	SR1ZX
Processor package sizeDiffers	40 x 24 x 1.5 mm	37.5 x 32 x 1.65 mm
Conflict-Free processorDiffers	Yes	No
Intel ME Firmware VersionKnown for one	9.5	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel Small Business Advantage (SBA) versionKnown for one	0.00	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel Smart Connect TechnologyKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel Smart Connect Technology versionKnown for one	1.00	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel Smart Response Technology versionKnown for one	0.00	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio)Known for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel® Matrix Storage Technology (Intel® MST)Known for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel® Rapid Start TechnologyKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel® Small Business Advantage (Intel® SBA)Known for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Intel® Smart Response TechnologyKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
UARTKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Battery3 differ
Battery technologyDiffers	Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)	Lithium Polymer (LiPo)
Number of battery cellsDiffers	6	4
Battery capacityDiffers	48 Wh	47.36 Wh
Battery life (max)Known for one	9 h	Unknown — not stated by the source
Power1 differ
AC adapter powerDiffers	45 W	65 W
AC adapter frequencyKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	50 - 60 Hz
Security1 differ
Cable lock slotDiffers	Yes	No
Fingerprint readerKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Trusted Platform Module (TPM)Known for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Password protectionKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Password protection typeKnown for one	HDD, Power on, Supervisor	Unknown — not stated by the source
Docking stationidentical
Docking station connecting interfaceKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	PCI Express x16 (Gen 3)
Docking station graphics card modelKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 970
Docking station graphics card memoryKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	4 TB
Docking station graphics card memory typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	GDDR5
Docking station built-in speakersKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Docking station audio output channelsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	2.1
Docking station speakers RMS powerKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	10 W
Docking station subwoofer RMS powerKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	5 W
Docking station Ethernet LANKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Docking station USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) ports quantityKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	4
Docking station mini DisplayPortKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	No
Docking station headphone outKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Docking station microphone inKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Docking station power connectorKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	24-pin
Docking station power supplyKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	450 W
Docking station LAN controllerKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Killer Gb LAN
Docking station supported HDD sizeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	3.5"
Weight & dimensions4 differ
WeightDiffers	2.35 kg	1.2 kg
WidthDiffers	377 mm	320 mm
DepthDiffers	256 mm	227 mm
HeightDiffers	27 mm	19.8 mm
Packaging contentidentical
Docking station includedKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Cables includedKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	AC
ManualKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Power cord includedKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Other featuresidentical
3DKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	No
Intel segment taggingKnown for one	Home office, Small Business	Unknown — not stated by the source
Certificatesidentical
Compliance certificatesKnown for one	RoHS	Unknown — not stated by the source
Sustainabilityidentical
Sustainability certificatesKnown for one	EPEAT Gold, ENERGY STAR	Unknown — not stated by the source

A dash means the value is not stated by the source. Unknown values are never counted for or against a product, and there is no overall score.

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