While not as sexy as some of its other product introductions, Lenovo’s new desktop offerings include a pair of new all-in-ones and a full-fledged gaming PC from the Chinese manufacturer.
Both the IdeaCentre B540 and B340 all-in-ones come with an option for OneKey TV technology, which allows you to switch with just one button click between PC mode and using the display as a full-fledged TV. (It also gives you picture-in-picture mode to show both on the screen at the same time.) You even use the displays as TVs without powering the computer on, as the TV hardware is independent of the PC.
The lower-priced B340 includes a 21.5-inch touch screen, while the 540 offers a frame-less 23-inch screen with optional 3D viewing. It also gives you the option for discrete graphics cards like the 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 650M. Both all-in-ones include a built-in 720p webcam and either a DVD burner or Blu-ray player. They will be available in May starting at $699.
Lenovo isn’t known for its performance desktops, but the IdeaCentre K430 may change that. This tower (which is more stylized than usual, but not too much) has the ability to handle up to 32GB of RAM, a pair of hard drives or SSDs (or one of each), and two graphics cards in Nvidia SLI or AMD CrossFireX configuration. For storage on the go, it packs a portable 500GB drive with a front-side Universal Storage Module (USM) interface dock. While the base model will set you back $599 when it’s released in May, you can bet you’ll pay a bit more for a configuration with RAID 0-configured hard drives and CrossFire X graphics.
