Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 1
Overview
This is my primary mobile workstation that I acquired in 2025. After extensive research and comparison with other workstation laptops, I chose the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 1 for its exceptional performance in AI research and machine learning workloads.
This laptop serves as my mobile command center for deep learning experiments, data analysis, and software development. It's particularly well-suited for my AI research work and handles demanding computational tasks with ease.
I bought this laptop for around SGD$688 (USD$533), as it was used. A price that allowed me to overlook some minor flaws, like the trackpoint not working, and the battery showing signs of wear. Other than that, it's been a fantastic machine for my needs, especially the GPU, with 16GB of VRAM, which is crucial for my deep learning projects.
With the dual storage configuration, I run both Windows and Linux (Ubuntu), allowing me to leverage the strengths of each operating system for different tasks.
Laptop Specifications
Processor & Memory
- CPU: Intel Xeon W-10855M (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 5.1 GHz)
- RAM: 64GB DDR4-2933 ECC SO-DIMM (2x 32GB)
- GPU: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 (16GB GDDR6)
- Display: 15.6" UHD (3840 x 2160) OLED Touch 100% DCI-P3 coverage
Storage & Connectivity
- Primary Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1TB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen3)
- Secondary Storage: Kioxia XG6 1TB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen3)
- Wi-Fi: Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1
Mods done:
- Repaste: Replacing the old thermal paste with new paste to ensure optimal heat transfer
- SSD Upgrade: Upgrading the primary storage to a Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1TB NVMe SSD for faster performance
- Copper Heatsinks: Adding copper heatsinks along the heatpipes for more thermal mass
- Back Cover Replacement: Replacing the back cover/panel as the rubber feet were disintegrating
ThinkPad P15 Gallery
ThinkPad P15 - Full View
ThinkPad P15 - Heatsink Modification
Ubuntu Fast Fetch