Is a dockII worth paying for?

[log111]

I have my T43 187116H 3 years and I just want to buy a dockII. I have learned form the Web that now the dockII costs 212 $ and can provid flesible ports including an amazing pci-express port. I just worry about if I buy a dockII, what can I do when my T43 gone bad 2 years later...Any way my T43 is out of date and mybe can not be used when it has worked for me for 5 years...

Anyway thanks for suggestion!

[DVormann]

A used Dock II is much cheaper than $200. It offers everything a Mini-Dock has plus 2*cardbus, 1*ultrabay 2000, one half-size PCI card slot and a noisy fan. There is no pci-express.

If you require one of those additional connectors it is a good buy. If not, steer clear.

Which type of use do you have in mind?

[ncalsurfer]

I have a dock II and love it. I paid about $100 for it used. The reason I love it is because the Intel 915 Graphics chip in my T43 doesn't suppose dual monitors (b**tards!), so I use it to run a half height PCI radeon with dvi. Now I have two 22" monitors connected!

The Radeon card is a fanless card with heatsink only. I disabled the integrated fan in the dock II (cause it's noisy as heck) and there is no dramatic difference in temperature.

Here's the bonus: if you have a T4x with ATI, I believe they all support dual monitor, so you can run both the VGA and DVI ports on back for separate monitors.

Cheers!

[awolfe63]

Mine has been in a closet 99% of the time since 2 days after I bought it. I find the fan too noisy.

I occasionally use it with a PCI graphics card to get 2 DVI outputs.

I use the minidock all the time. I got one for my son last year as well - $35 on ebay - works fine.

[log111]

A used Dock II is much cheaper than $200. It offers everything a Mini-Dock has plus 2*cardbus, 1*ultrabay 2000, one half-size PCI card slot and a noisy fan. There is no pci-express.

If you require one of those additional connectors it is a good buy. If not, steer clear.

Which type of use do you have in mind?

I just want to add a powerful Graphic Card to my T43 for playing new games and do some graphical programming. I want to used the PCI card slot to do this.

[log111]

The reason I love it is because the Intel 915 Graphics chip in my T43 doesn't suppose dual monitors (b**tards!)

What? Intel 915 cannot support dual monitors? Then why my T43 has an intel 915 card and a VGA port together! -_-|| Does it mean the VGA port is useless?

[DVormann]

I just want to add a powerful Graphic Card to my T43 for playing new games and do some graphical programming. I want to used the PCI card slot to do this.

In that case there is no way around a Dock II. However, the slot is PCI. Not PCI Express. Not even AGP. Is there a "powerful Graphic Card" for PCI? Guess that depends on how you define "powerful".

Intel 915 cannot support dual monitors? Then why my T43 has an intel 915 card and a VGA port together! -_-|| Does it mean the VGA port is useless?

Your T43 has the same 915 GM with GMA 900 as my X41. Dual head is possible: One picture on the internal screen and the other on external VGA.

Of course, you can have the same picture on both internal display and the external VGA port if you want to. Useful for presentations.

GMA 900 does not support the DVI port on Dock II.

[log111]

Is there a "powerful Graphic Card" for PCI? Guess that depends on how you define "powerful".

Well, Is there any pci graphic card better than intel 915GM? I just want to find a way to get my T43 to run vista 3D effect or to play starcraft in the future... Thx!

[ncalsurfer]

The Intel 915 chipset does NOT dual EXTERNAL monitors. It DOES support the LCD screen (built in to laptop) + external VGA only.

IT does NOT support passthrough DVI on the dock station.

So, you can run Laptop screen + external VGA or buy a Dock II and run passthrough VGA in dock + one add in card. Your add in card has great potential, like running dual DVI out.

[awolfe63]

Radeon X1300 and Radeon X1550 should both be available in PCI - probably the best you can do.

[Clovis Man]

I have my T43 187116H 3 years and I just want to buy a dockII. I have learned form the Web that now the dockII costs 212 $ and can provid flesible ports including an amazing pci-express port. I just worry about if I buy a dockII, what can I do when my T43 gone bad 2 years later...Any way my T43 is out of date and mybe can not be used when it has worked for me for 5 years...

Anyway thanks for suggestion!

I found one (new/open box) for my refurbed T41 through TechForLess for about $163 shipped (no guarantees on availability - they has 3 O/H when I ordered mine). If you're going to keep your T43 for a while, it's definitely worth a look. Yes, the PS fan is noisy, but not compared with a desktop tower.