IdeaCentre K series

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IdeaCentre K series is a family of gaming-oriented desktops manufactured by Lenovo. [1] Typical features on the desktops include mid-range to high-end processors, discrete graphics cards, multiple hard disk drives, multiple RAM DIMMS, multiple USB ports, and multiple optical disk drives. [1] The K Series desktops also come with a physical switch on the CPU that allows users to shift between different levels of processing power. [1] For example, the K330 offered red for high performance, blue for moderate performance, and green for less processing- and resource-intensive tasks. [1]

Contents

The IdeaCentre K Series desktops were originally part of the Lenovo 3000 line of products. [2] This series consisted of budget-friendly computers – both laptops and desktops. [2] In 2008, the Lenovo 3000 series was moved by Lenovo into its ‘Idea’ line of products. [2] The Lenovo 3000 K100 desktop was replaced by the IdeaCentre K210. [2] The IdeaCentre line was described as having improved in term of design, while retaining the low price that was characteristic of the Lenovo 3000 line. [2]

2012

The IdeaCentre K Series desktop released in 2012 was the K430.

K430

The IdeaCentre K430 was introduced by Lenovo at CES 2012. [3] The desktop, available in tower form factor, was described as being targeted at gamers, or users who needed similar levels of power. [3] The desktop offered up to 32 GB of DDR3 RAM, with storage options of a 128 GB solid-state drive or up to 4 TB hard disk drives. [3] The desktop could also be optionally equipped with twin hard disks in a RAID configuration. [3]

A differentiator from Lenovo's other mainstream desktops was the choice of either NVIDIA or AMD discrete graphics. [3] The NVIDIA graphics on offer was the GeForce GTX660 with 2 GB of video RAM. [3] The AMD offering was the AMD Radeon HD 7750 with 2 GB of video RAM. [3]

2011

The IdeaCentre K Series desktops released in 2011 were the K320 and the K330.

K320

The IdeaCentre K320 was scheduled for launch early in 2010. [4] Top Ten Reviews indicated that the desktop was versatile and one of their favorite desktops for home use. [5] The basic version of the desktop was equipped with an Intel Core i3-530 2.93 GHz processor, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator integrated graphics, 4 GB RAM, and a 500 GB hard disk drive. [5] The processor could be upgraded to the Intel Core i5-750 2.66 GHz processor, or an Intel Core i7. [5] The graphics card could also be updated to NVIDIA or AMD discrete graphics – an NVIDIA GeForce G310 with 512 MB of video RAM, or the ATI Hemlock HD graphics card with support for DirectX11. [5] Hard drive capacity could be expanded to 640 GB or 1 TB. [5]

K330

The IdeaCentre K330 was also released in 2011. It offered Intel Core i3-2100 3.1 GHz processors, up to 4 GB RAM, up to 1 TB hard disk drive, Intel HD Graphics 2000 integrated graphics, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, and a dual layer DVD reader and writer. [6] The desktop did not score well on a benchmarking test for the game Crysis. [6] At medium detail, a resolution of 1280x720, and antialiasing turned off, the desktop was able to achieve 12fps. [6] At 1920x1080, with antialiasing set to 4x, the fps was 1. [6] However, despite this, PCMag said in its review that, “With lots of new technology with very few drawbacks, the Lenovo IdeaCentre K330-11691AU has all the right components and features to keep a family happy for the next 5 to 7 years.” [6]

2009

The IdeaCentre K Series desktops launched in 2009 were the K220 and the K230.

K220

The IdeaCentre K220 was released in 2009. The desktop was equipped with Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33 GHz processors, up to 4 GB RAM, a 640 GB hard disk drive, an NVIDIA GeForce 9300GE discrete graphics card, a dual layer DVD reader and writer, a 21.5” LCD widescreen, and Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium. [7]

In its review, PCMag listed the pros of the desktop as the quad core processors at a budget price, the one touch system recovery found in the K210, the antibacterial keyboard, and tool-less design. [7] With VeriFace facial recognition technology, users could log on to their PC using the web camera. [7] The cons were listed as the Trend Micro Internet Security software which was available only as a 90-day trial, the Microsoft Office installation also available as a trial only, and the fact that all memory slots were full, limiting expansion. [7]

K230

Also launched in 2009, the K230 was an upgraded version of the K220, [8] offering up to Intel Core 2 Quad processors with speeds of 2.5 GHz, the Intel G33 Express chipset, up to 8 GB RAM, a 500 GB 7200RPM SATA II hard disk drive, Microsoft Windows Vista Home, and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 integrated graphics. [9]

2008

The first IdeaCentre K Series desktop from Lenovo was the K210, released in 2008. [2]

K210

The IdeaCentre K210 was termed as Lenovo’s “global entry into the consumer desktop market outside of China”. [10] The desktop offered up to Intel Core 2 Quad processors, up to 3 GB of DDR2 RAM, Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics – or a 512 MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT – Gigabit Ethernet, a 16-in-1 multicard reader and an anti-microbial keyboard. [10] The desktop also included VeriFace facial recognition technology. [10] This allowed users to log into their computers by looking into the web camera. [10]

Additional features on the desktop included an anti-microbial keyboard and Bright Vision, which detects a user’s distance from the monitor and adjusts brightness accordingly. [11] The desktop was equipped with up to Intel Core 2 Quad Processors, Intel GMA 3100 integrated graphics, Blu-ray HD-DVD combo with support for home theater, and high definition 5.1 audio. [11]

PCMag praised the desktop for its one-touch system recovery feature, keyboard, and design which allowed access to internal component without the need for tools. [12] The cons of the desktop were listed as the lack of multiple expansion slots – only one standard PCI expansion slot was available. [12]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "IdeaCentre K Series" . Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Paul Miller (20 June 2008). "Lenovo kills off 3000 line, folds Y Series into IdeaPad family, K Series into IdeaCentre" . Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dana Wollman (8 January 2012). "Lenovo outs IdeaCentre B340 and B540 all-in-ones, H520s and IdeaCentre K430 towers" . Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  4. ↑ Rich Brown Follow (5 January 2010). "Lenovo announces two more IdeaCentre desktops" . Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lenovo IdeaCentre K320" . Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Joel Santo Domingo (12 April 2011). "Lenovo IdeaCentre K330-11691AU". PC Magazine. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Joel Santo Domingo (16 April 2009). "Lenovo IdeaCentre K220". PC Magazine. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "Lenovo IdeaCentre K220, K230 and H200 Desktop PCs". 18 January 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "Lenovo IdeaCentre K230 53592HU PC Desktop" . Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Darran Murph (30 June 2008). "Lenovo gets official with IdeaCentre K210 desktop" . Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  11. 1 2 Peter Ha (30 June 2008). "Lenovo announces its first desktop, IdeaCentre K210" . Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  12. 1 2 Brian Neal (21 August 2008). "Lenovo IdeaCentre K210". PC Magazine. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
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