Ethan Clarke
The Legion Y540 is a gaming laptop by Lenovo. It comes in a plastic chassis, as opposed to the aluminum build of the Legion Y740. The laptop has been praised for its stable black plastic base unit, powerful Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, and compact design. However, some users have reported issues with the laptop's charging port, camera placement, and Lenovo's technical support. Protective decals made of vinyl stickers or brushed aluminum skins are also available for the Legion Y540 to protect it from scratches and wear and tear.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Case material | Plastic |
| Build quality | Stable |
| Resistance to warping | High |
| Display flexibility | High |
| Webcam position | Below the display |
| Display stability | Firm |
| Weight | 2.3 kg |
| Wireless connections | Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi |
| Accessories | Carrying bags, mice, keyboards, external drives |
| Warranty | 24 months |
| Protective decal material | Adhesive vinyl stickers |
| Decal residue | None |
| Decal colour | Black, blue |
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What You'll Learn
The Legion Y540 is made of plastic
The plastic chassis of the Legion Y540 is a departure from the aluminum build of the Legion Y740. The Y540 is designed to be a powerful yet affordable gaming laptop, packing an Intel Core i7-9750H CPU and Nvidia's new GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics. It also features Lenovo's new industrial design, with most of the ports in the back for better cable management.
While the plastic build of the Legion Y540 may contribute to its lower price, it is important to consider the potential long-term effects of this material choice. Plastic may be more susceptible to warping due to heat, and it may not retain its form as well as aluminum over time. Heat-related issues have been reported with the Y540, particularly regarding the deck of the laptop. Additionally, plastic may be more prone to chipping and scratching, impacting the laptop's overall durability.
Despite these potential drawbacks, the Legion Y540's plastic construction can offer some advantages. Plastic is generally cheaper to manufacture, which can result in a more affordable retail price. This makes the Y540 a good option for those who are budget-conscious or do not require a laptop for constant gaming. Additionally, the weight of the plastic-built Y540 is competitive compared to other laptops in its class.
In summary, the Legion Y540 is constructed primarily of plastic, which has implications for both the performance and the price of the laptop. While plastic may not offer the same long-term durability as aluminum, it allows Lenovo to offer a powerful gaming laptop at a more accessible price point.
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The Y540's predecessor had an aluminium case
The Legion Y540 is an entry-level gaming laptop from Lenovo. It is the successor to the Y530 and features a plastic chassis, unlike its predecessor, which had an aluminium case. While the Y540 is a powerful machine, packing an Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, a 45W hexa-core chip with 12 threads, and Nvidia's new GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, it does have some issues with its plastic build.
The Y540's predecessor, the Y530, featured an aluminium case. Aluminium is known for its durability and ability to retain its form better than plastic. It is less likely to warp due to heat and is more resistant to scratches and dents. The Y530's aluminium case likely contributed to its long-term durability and helped protect it from the bumps and dings that can occur during transport.
On the other hand, the Y540's plastic chassis may have made it more affordable to manufacture, resulting in a lower retail price. However, the plastic build has been criticised for having more flex, particularly in the lid and keyboard areas. Heat issues and warping have also been reported, with some users noticing that the keyboard area can warp, causing the keys to push up.
The Y540's predecessor, with its aluminium case, likely offered a more premium feel and improved build quality. The aluminium construction may have contributed to a lighter weight for the laptop, making it more convenient for transport. While the Y540 is still a solid laptop, as evidenced by positive reviews, the choice of plastic over aluminium for the chassis may have been a step back in terms of long-term durability and resistance to wear and tear.
In summary, the Y540's predecessor, the Y530, featured an aluminium case, which offered advantages in terms of durability, form retention, and resistance to heat warping. The aluminium construction likely contributed to a premium feel and improved long-term survivability. While the Y540's plastic chassis may have reduced manufacturing costs, it has also introduced some issues with flexing, warping, and heat retention, which could become more prominent over time.
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Plastic is cheaper to manufacture
The Legion Y540 laptop by Lenovo is made of plastic. While the base unit is resistant to warping, the lid gives way slightly, causing the display to flex when opened with one hand. The Legion Y540-17IRH, which is a larger variant of the Y540, has an aluminium case.
Plastic is generally cheaper to manufacture than aluminium. This is due to lower raw material costs and less energy-intensive production. Plastics like ABS, polyethylene, and polypropylene are widely available and relatively inexpensive. Although creating the moulds for plastic products can be expensive, the per-unit cost drops significantly as production volume rises. This makes plastic ideal for low-volume, disposable products.
On the other hand, aluminium has higher production costs and requires an energy-intensive process to extract it from bauxite ore. However, aluminium is much stronger and more durable than plastic. It resists wear and tear, holds up well under stress, and is generally more heat-resistant. This increased durability can result in a longer product lifespan, which might justify the higher initial cost of aluminium, especially for high-value, long-lasting items.
In terms of the Legion Y540 laptop, the choice of plastic may have been a cost-saving measure, allowing Lenovo to offer a more affordable product to consumers. However, some users have reported heat issues with the Y540 deck, which could be due to the plastic material. Aluminium laptops may retain their form better over time and be less susceptible to heat-related warping.
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Aluminium is more durable and retains form better
The Legion Y540 is made of plastic, but some users have purchased protective decals made of aluminium to cover their laptops. While plastic is a popular material for engineering projects, aluminium has its advantages.
Aluminium is more durable than plastic. Many expensive gadgets have aluminium in at least part of their chassis. On laptops, you'll find the material in the lid and, in fancier products such as MacBooks, in the deck, bottom and sides. The iPhone and iPad have aluminium all around. Besides looking and feeling more premium than plastic, aluminium is more durable and better at conducting heat, which is a mixed bag.
Aluminium will chip and scratch less easily and is more likely to survive a drop. It is also more lightweight than plastic. A special CNC machine carves the chassis from a giant block of aluminium, a process that creates a single piece of metal for the chassis, rather than having stamped pieces sitting on top of a plastic mould.
In the short term, there may be no difference between aluminium and plastic. There may be slightly more flex in the plastic than the aluminium but nothing significant. However, long term, aluminium will retain its form better than plastic. Heat can warp the keyboard areas and push the keys up on plastic models. A typical laptop should last 3-4 years before you need to upgrade, so issues with plastic may arise after the first year of use.
While aluminium is more durable and retains its form better, plastic has its advantages. It does not conduct electricity, providing a level of protection to the user. It is also typically less expensive and lighter than metal, which saves on transportation costs. Plastic is corrosion-resistant and doesn't need additional coating like steel or other types of metal.
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The Y540 has heat issues, which can be an issue for plastic laptops
The Lenovo Legion Y540 is a plastic laptop. While the base unit is resistant to warping, the lid gives way, causing the display to flex. This is a common issue with plastic laptops, which tend to have more flex than aluminum models.
The Y540 has been reported to have heat issues, with one user reporting that the laptop reached a maximum temperature of 100 degrees Celsius while gaming on performance mode. While this did not cause any fps drops or crashes, it is still a cause for concern. Another user reported that the Y540 deck has heat issues, which can be a problem for plastic laptops as heat can warp the keyboard areas and push up the keys.
Heat issues in plastic laptops can lead to not only performance issues but also potential safety hazards. Plastic is more susceptible to warping and melting at higher temperatures, which can cause damage to the internal components of the laptop. In addition, the warping can affect the ergonomics of the laptop, making it uncomfortable or difficult to use.
While the Y540's plastic construction may contribute to its heat issues, it is important to note that not all plastic laptops will necessarily have the same problems. Some plastic laptops may have better heat dissipation designs or use higher-quality plastics that can withstand higher temperatures. However, in general, aluminum laptops are better at heat dissipation and retention than plastic laptops.
To mitigate the heat issues of the Y540, users can try undervolting or applying a BIOS update to limit fan speeds. Additionally, using a cooling pad or ensuring adequate ventilation while gaming or performing other intensive tasks can help regulate the laptop's temperature. Regular cleaning of the laptop's vents and fans can also improve heat dissipation.
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Frequently asked questions
The Legion Y540 is made of plastic. It is an entry-level gaming laptop from Lenovo.
Aluminum retains its form better than plastic. It is also lighter and more durable.
The Legion Y540's plastic body has been criticized for being more susceptible to warping and heat issues. The keyboard area can be affected by heat, causing the keys to push up. Additionally, there are known issues with the charging port breaking easily.
