Buying my first thinkpad and I want it to be quiet

[JubJub]

Hello all,

Well, I am buying my first thinkpad laptop for college. I will be using this laptop for taking notes in class, for Internet access via wifi, and writing small C++/Java programs. I am trying to decide between the R60e and the X60s. I am siding a little bit towards the X60s because of its size and weight.

I am VERY easily disturbed by even the slightest fan noise coming from computers. Quiet is the most important feature that this laptop could provide for me.

Let me number the questions for you:

1) Which is more quiet, R60e or X60s?

2) Which operating system would be better, XP or Vista? (I plan on using this laptop for about two to three years)

3) If the R60e is less loud then the X60s, then which processor should I get? Dual Core 2 1.66 or Dual core 2 2.00? (I believe the Dual Core 2 1.66 would be better because it will probably run cooler and produce less noise).

4) How about RAM and hard drive? I am thinking 1.5 gig ram and the 60 gb 5400 RPM hard drive because it will be less loud.

5) How warm could I expect the X60s/R60e to get? I am fine with it being warm, just not very hot.

6) If the X60s is less loud, should I get the UltraBase or just buy a USB cd drive? If the USB cd drive will work and let me use CD's then there is no reason for me to get the UltraBase.

7) What is a better wifi choice, Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG or ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe? What is the difference between the two?

I have no idea what I am doing in the laptop world. Any help about anything regarding what laptop would suit me best and what hardware would best fit my needs would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time,
Joe

[dr_st]

I'll try to answer some of your questions.

First of all, it's strange that you're looking to choose between the two extremes in terms of size, and weight, with nothing in between.

1) Can't answer that for sure, but 15" R series do tend to be rather quiet, probably because they rarely run into heat issues. my 15" T42 is also very quiet most of the time.

2) At this point XP still. Vista is a bit raw, and if you plunge into it, you're risking a fair amount of compatibility problems. At this point it also offers very few real benefits over XP, plus it's heavier. Things are likely to change, but it will take some time.

3) I don't think it matters much, because when idle, both CPUs will clock down to the same frequency.

4) 2GB of RAM slowly becomes the sweet spot. Hard drive - just get the biggest 5400RPM you can.

5) Once again, if past R and T series are any indication, the R60e should never get more than a little warm. As for the X series, there have been a few posts in the X60 forum complaining about hot palm rests. Don't remember if it affected X60, or X60s, or both.

6) I'd get the Ultrabase. I hate big USB accessories and the cords that go with them. You can carry the laptop with the Ultrabase attached and it still feels like a laptop (and still lighter than the heavy 15" models). Carrying a CD drive just feels clunky. The Ultrabase also offers some more ports.

7) The Thinkpad wireless card, based on the Atheros chipset, is generally regarded to have better reception and less glitches than the Intel card.

[jdhurst]

dr_st gave you good answers. I would offer the following additions:

1. Try to see some ThinkPads in action. I have never had a TP where the fan turned OFF. The fan on my ThinkPads were / are always running. That said, I never had a noisy TP, except, obviously when CPU load hits 100 percent for more than a handful of seconds, the fan goes on High and it is noticeable (although never really objectionable in my view).

2. The choice of OS is difficult. I cannot yet run Vista because it does not yet support business-critical software. But I also have a solid T41 with XP that will go at least as long as necessary for Vista and the underlying software to be viable.

But you are buying a new machine. Based on your useage, I don't see why Vista wouldn't work. In three years, I expect Vista to be quite common.

Again, I would try to find someone with a Vista laptop and see what you think before plunging in.
... JD Hurst

[Manarius]

One thing you have to consider as well is that you can't have both cold and no fan. The fan aids in keeping the CPU cold enough to operate. If there wasn't any fan, the CPU would go up in smoke. So, sure, there are some pretty good designs that minimize fan usage, but there aren't any perfect ones. On my Z60m, the CD drive is a whole lot louder than the fan and if a little bit fan noise bothers you, a CD drive must drive you up the wall.

[JubJub]

Thank you all for your responses!

From what you are telling me, the X60s will run hotter and louder then the R60e? If there is a large difference between the two I will go with the R60e. I really like the X60s because of its small size and weight, but I guess I could lug the R60e around without to many problems...

I am almost at the point where I will flip a quarter, heads and I will buy a X60s, tails and I will buy a R60e.

Again, thank you all for your answers,
Joe

[Paranoid_TP_User]

a CD drive must drive you up the wall.

I'm not a huge fan of the cd noise, and currently use DVDs only for data storage, and I must say that these are way quieter than CDs in my drive due to the lower rpms, and even when writing are barely audible. On the rare occasion I drop a CD in the noise can be quite shocking, especially when reading at realy high speeds.

[tomh009]

The X60s has the ultra-low voltage CPUs, which will run with less power -- ie cooler and thus require less forced-air cooling than any other CPU.

Some people have indeed had issues with a hot palmrest on the X60/X60s, but most people have been OK in that regard.

Lenovo now has pretty good Vista support, but if you buy an XP-equipped ThinkPad before March 15, you will get a free Express Upgrade to Vista in any case, giving you the luxury of choice.

[tyanlion]

X60s owner

Hot palm rest thing is due to the intel wireless get the atheros its cooler and you can install osx on it and have wireless if u have atheros. anyway according to one member in the x60s thread he has found a way of reducing heat by lowering the transmitt power of the intel card.

I wouldn't get vista, its way not ready yet. some of the stuff like the battery management isn't working properly in vista. get xp and pay 33 so u can have your vista for free. once sp1 comes for vista then u can install it cause i think they would have ironed out all the bugs

The x60s is for those ppl who want a laptop with extreme lightweight and battery life. If u don't need those things buy the other laptop. Only thing noisy abt this is the hatachi disk that comes with it. Your best bet is to buy a seagate hd if you have problems with the disk clicking.........i might be planning to do that

Get as much ram as u can, nothing is too little.

Don't get the ultrabase unless u want to connect 2 monitors and put in more than 3 usb perherals that require a lot of power(so u can't use the usb extenders)

If u buy an x60s don't make the same mistake i did and not get the UL screen. UL screen is 25% less weight and 25% lighter than a normal screen. it only comes on some 1702 models so look carefully!

[JubJub]

I ordered my Thinkpad x60s! Specs are as follows:

1.67 Core Duo
12.1 in. UltraLight Monitor (Thanks to the above poster for advice on ultralight monitors)
2 Gigs of RAM (The "sweet spot")
Ultrabase with cd / dvd reader (I need to use cd's every once in a while and I thought it would be useful)
Thinkpad wireless card (thanks for your advice on this one)
Windows Vista Business (They didn't have the upgrade to Vista from xp deal)
8 cell battery

Now that my order has been placed, I would like to buy a backpack/sleeve for my new laptop. Any recommendations for a X60s with an 8 cell battery?

Thank you all very much for all of your advice and help. It was greatly appreciated.

Joe

[tomh009]

Congrats -- looks like it'll be a great system!

For sleeves, take a look at the Booq ones. They have some on closeout for $5, and others (nicer ones IMHO) at full price. Here is the thread on the closeout ones:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=38226