ADVICE NEEDED Is it wise to sell my T40, and buy a T42?

[lowie]

I have found someone selling a T42, and I would like some advice. I am considering to sell my T40 and buy the T42. The total investment from my part would only be €50.

I can buy: ThinkPad T42 2376-G01
P M 1.5GHz, 1GB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 24x24x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, IBM 802.11a/b/g wireless(MPCI), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, 6 cell Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro
IN GUARANTEE until 04/23/2009

And sell my: ThinkPad T40 2374-75G
P M 1.5GHz, 1GB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), Cisco 802.11b Wireless(MPCI), Secure Chip(TCPA), UltraNav, 6 cell battery, WinXP Pro
Recently had the mobo replaced, under guarantee, due to typical video error
IN GUARANTEE until 12/23/2006

It seems that these two systems are very similar: CPU of same speed & architecture, equal RAM, similar HD, same graphics card, same screen size & resolution, same keyboard layout, slightly better optical drive, ...

I know, the extra guarantee and the 802.11abg instead of 802.11b card is worth more than the 50€ I will have to invest in this double deal, but what about additional benefits?

Looking at performance, features, reliability, ... on what points is the T42 better than the T40?

Any advice/personal experience/... is VERY welcome, since I'm a bit in the dark!

[cmarti]

The cpu is not similar the T40 has a banias and the T42 has a dothan.

T40 and T42 are very similar but i would go with the T42 because it won't be big sacrifice in money terms if you do the the upgrade.

[christopher_wolf]

The T42 also has the HDAPS as well. If you want to future-proof a little more, then the T42 would be a good bet over the T40; more so, if you require the performance increase in the near future. As Cmarti pointed out, it also isn't a huge difference in terms of how much each system costs either.

[daeojkim]

I would do it mainly because of 3 more years of warrnty on the T42.

If it is for 50 Euros, it is definitely worth it.

Go ahead!! Just Do it!

JK

[lowie]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've arranged the deal for tomorrow.

Faster RAM, better wireless card, 3 years extra warranty; I get it - definitely worth the small investment from my side.

The T42 also has the HDAPS as well. If you want to future-proof a little more, then the T42 would be a good bet over the T40...

What do you mean with "HDAPS", Christopher? I don't find that term anywhere in comparisons between the T40 and the T42... I suppose the T42 I'm buying is the base model, with a Banias 1.5 CPU, 32MB graphics and XGA screen. Maybe HDAPS is a feature only present on the high-end T42s?

[KristianJ]

T42s are Dothan based, not Banias based, as cmarti said. And the HDAPS stands for Hard Drive Active Protection System (which senses when your ThinkPad accelerates and parks the hard drive to reduce the risk of data loss)...first found in the T41, so your forthcoming T42 will most certainly have it

ETA: Wait on...just looked at the Thinkwiki for the T42 and saw the 1.5 is a Banias...

[lowie]

On the HDAPS, my mistake... Could have found that out if I bothered the thinkwiki lookup...

Any personal comments on differences between Banias and Dothan?

[christopher_wolf]

The HDAPS is the Hard Drive Active Protection System, but if you have read ThinkWiki you already know what I am talking about.

My friend recently got a T42 for himself and a T40 for his Mom, both very similar to the ones you are looking at. He does indeed like the T42 and has done most of his work on it after setting both of them up.

[Pascal_TTH]

Banias : 130nm technology, 77 millions transistors, 1 Mb L2 cache, 100 mm² die size, socket 479

Dothan : 90nm technology, 130 millions transistors, 2 Mb L2 cache, 80 mm² die size, socket 479

Voltage is a bit lower at full speed for Dothan but a bit lower for Banias at 600 MHz.

For exemple, Banias 1,7 GHz scores 180 at CPU Mark 99 while Dothan 1,7 GHz reachs 204 (+13%). In most applications, expect those mostly clock based, 2 Mb L2 cache bring nice improovement.

An other exemple :

I also benchmark my T41p before and after upgrade :

IBM Thinkpad T41p

Mobility Radeon FireGL T2 128 Mo
Pentium M 1,7 GHz (Banias)
Score 3D Mark 2003 : 2536
Score 3D Mark 2005 : 1000


IBM Thinkpad T41p upgrade Dothan 1,7 GHz

Mobility Radeon FireGL T2 128 Mo
Pentium M 735
Score 3D Mark 2003 : 2536 -> 2830 (+11,6%)
Score 3D Mark 2005 : 1000 -> 1247 (+24,7%)

Nice boost with a second hand Dothan (100 €) !

So, got for T42 !!! You will also get 802.11g an probably a newer battery. For 50€, it worth !

[lowie]

Got the T42!

Practically identical machine than the one I had before, but now w/ 802.11abg and 3years of extra guarantee! (After having experienced the typical Thinkpad VGA issue and my mobo replaced, I KNOW what that guarantee is worth!)

Thanks for the advice guys.

[cmarti]

Got the T42!

Practically identical machine than the one I had before, but now w/ 802.11abg and 3years of extra guarantee! (After having experienced the typical Thinkpad VGA issue and my mobo replaced, I KNOW what that guarantee is worth!)

Thanks for the advice guys.

Where did you buy it?

[lowie]

Very happy with my T40. Some nice extra features, and the same decent & sturdy design as my T40. I swapped the screens because the t42 had a tiny scratch at the back of the LCD bezel. I like the fact that IBM was so consistent in their models... Makes it easy for those who like to (dis)assemble ThinkPads...

Where did you buy it?

Found a seller on a second-hand offerings site (a Belgian one). As you're not even from Europe, I don't think buying from him is an option ...