WTB: T400/T510/W510

[myxomop]

**Updated from an earlier "WTB: T400s/T400/T500" post**

T400
[*]1440x900 LED WXGA+ LG-Phillips LP141WP2-TLB1
[*]P9500 (2.53GHz, 6MB L2, 1066MHz FSB, TDP 25W)
[*]256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD3470 Switchable Graphics
[*]4GB RAM (1x4GB) or 8GB RAM
[*]128 GB SSD
[*]500 GB (or better) Ultrabay HDD
[*]DVD±RW Multiburner
[*]OEM 9-Cell 33++ (43R2499) Battery, new or lightly used with 90% original capacity or better
[*]Advanced Mini Dock (250410U)*

T510/W510
[*]1920x1080 LED FHD AUO B156HW01 V.4
[*]Intel i7 620M (2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB L3) (or better**)
[*]NVIDIA Quadro NVS 3100M with 512MB (T510) - NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M with 1GB DDR3 (W510) - Integrated***
[*]4GB RAM (1x4GB) or 8GB RAM
[*]128 GB SSD
[*]500 GB (or better) Ultrabay HDD
[*]DVD±RW Multiburner
[*]OEM 25++ 9-Cell Battery (51J0500) new or lightly used with 90% original capacity or better
[*]OEM 28++ 9-Cell Slice Battery (0A36304) new or lightly used with 90% original capacity or better
[*]IN WARRANTY for (ideally) one year or longer

Non-essential goodies:
[*]GOBI 3000 WWAN Card (0A36185)
[*]Webcam
[*]Fingerprint Reader
[*]T6x keyboard
[*]Case
[*]Wireless Mouse
[*]Pony

Notes:

*: Whichever machine I purchase, it will be used in combination with a Dell UltraSharp U2410. If I go with a T400, I must make absolutely certain that the T400 can support that display's WUXGA resolution via the DVI-out port on the Advanced Mini Dock. So far, no one seems to be able to 100% confirm or deny this. **edit** problem solved. thanks dr_st.

**: The primary uses of this machine will be Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 4, many-tabbed browsing, HD video and audio playback and light gaming. I'm finding all kinds of conflicting information on the benefits/drawbacks of quad vs. dual core CPUs. Given my intended usage, perhaps someone else can weigh in on the best compromise between power consumption and performance in the T510/W510 processor lineup.

***: Again, given the intended use of the machine, my assumption is that the W510's FX 880m is overkill, but getting a W510 with an integrated GPU seems like buying a Cadillac with a polyester interior. Other than the discrete (and non-switchable) graphics options of the T510 and W510 seeming like too much for my purposes, the lower power consumption of an integrated GPU is a definite appeal. This will be part workstation and part mobile workstation. Battery life is a factor.

My budget is about $800. Feel free to reply here or PM with any questions/offers/suggestions. Many thanks in advance.

-myxomop

[TuuS]

I have a T420 posted in the marketplace that might interest you. It doesn't have the wxga+ but that would be an easy thing to install. It has an i5 processor, 2.5 to 3.20ghz, and is only 3 months into it's 3year warranty. Original list is about $2000, I'm asking $500 plus cost of battery, harddrive and ac adapter of your choice.

It has most of your optional goodies too, webcam, FPR, and I can provide a case and wireless mouse.... and I'd be glad to draw you a picture of a pony


This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but feel free to have a look if it interests you.

edit: a wxga++ (1600x900) screen is less then $50

[dr_st]

1920x1200 on DVI out will be supported by all of these Thinkpads.

Why are you mixing machines of different generations in your considerations?

[myxomop]

Because I'm undecided between the three. Each have good displays and (probably) all the performance I'll need to accomplish what I want, both now and (somewhat) into the future. The decision will likely come down to what's available at what price among those who have machines to sell. I'm leaning more toward the T510/W510 for the warranty, USB 3.0 + eSATA + DisplayPort support and better display.

TuuS: you don't stop plugging that T420... The only 16:9 screen I'm willing to settle for is the one listed above, which is 15.4".

[dr_st]

But why are you considering only these three? Why T400 but not T500? Why T510 but not T410? The T410 has an 8:5 screen, if 16:9 is what's bothering you.

[myxomop]

I've gone with LED backlit displays (unavailable on the T500/W500 except in 1280x800) for better daylight visibility, longevity, and lower power consumption. with no data on NITs or contrast ratios for T410 screens over at ThinkWiki, I have no basis for comparison. i suppose the LP141WP2-TLB1 could be installed on a T410, but it seems pretty rare that someone would be selling that exact configuration.

as a side note, did the T410 switchable vs. non-switchable debaucle ever get resolved? what T or W series models after the 400 have switchable graphics?

edit: does this:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-76476

mean there are T410s and W510 models out there with switchable graphics?

[TuuS]

does this:

mean there are T410s and W510 models out there with switchable graphics?

I can confirm that I have a W510 with switchable graphics.

[myxomop]

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/W-Series-Th ... d-p/202398

The W510 ships with Clarksfield-based quad core processors. These lack the integrated GPU found in the dual-core i3 & i5 processors. There's nothing to switch to.

There appears to have been an older version of Power Manager on many W510's which gave the impression that GPUs were switchable, while not actually changing anything. Apparently, updating Power Manager fixes this issue.