T43p

[Quicklite]

Hay guys:

Just want to share that got a IBM thinkpad T43p, delivered this week for little over 300 pounds it has :

2130 MHZ (2.13 GHZ) P MOBILE / CENTRINO BASED CHIP
TYPE 2668-G7G
Built in Wireless (WIFI) A/B/G NETWORK
BLUETOOTH
DVD/CDRW - yappy
2 GB RAM (enough of DDR upgrade trouble)
40 GB HDD (shall get the samsung 160GB soon)
+V3200 FireGL (7500 really annoyed me with no drivers, I hope this(x600) will be better...
DVD/CDRW DRIVE
FINGERPRINT READER (BIOMETRIC SECURITY)

I'll sell off old T41 soon. hopefully, I won't have trouble with windows 7 driver this time...

[Quicklite]

Feeling so happy right now that SXGA screen will be awesome.

Are there anything I should watch out for?

[killer]

It looks a good spec, except the HDD is rather small. Your plan to upgrade to 160GB seems very sensible. Have fun with it.

[Quicklite]

Cheers. Was going to spend 1200 quid on a msi gt 725, but couldn't help getting something smaller. though for the price is it okay value?

[killer]

Quicklite, It sounds a reasonable price to me. It is sometimes worth remembering that if you are happy, then the price is right.

[killer]

1. I forgot to say, "Welcome to the forum."
2. If you've never had a T series before then you will love the T43p. It is compact, well-built, solid, and easy to use.
Have fun.

[Quicklite]

1. I forgot to say, "Welcome to the forum."
2. If you've never had a T series before then you will love the T43p. It is compact, well-built, solid, and easy to use.
Have fun.

1. Cheers mate, this is a very helpful forum.
2. err, I did say 'I'll sell off my old T41 soon'. Though I quite agree, the quality does give reassurances...

[killer]

Blimey, I am thick at times ... I completely forgot about the T41. Another senior moment!

[Quicklite]

NP at all...

On the second thought, the samsung doesn't seem good enough upgrade for me. I'll wait for a IDE version of Intel's X25 32GB SSD + 750GB caddy drive upgrade in Q2 this year...

[sjthinkpader]

Remember never set the CPU to "Performance" in your daily use power profiles, battery and AC. Use "Adaptive" instead.

Use NHC to monitor the CPU temperature. 45 deg C is the safest operating temperature. Some web page ads will kick the CPU to high performance. Then close the web page as soon as you are done with it.

Set the LCD and HDD off timers to 10-15 minutes of idling.

These settings will prolong life of your T43p.

[Quicklite]

Thanks. I have a T41 atm, is the screen on T43p brighter? Also I know V3200 works great for CAD apps, which is a big plus, but can I run counter strike 1.6 (only game I play) on it? It runs fine on my T41 with 7500 mobility, but I'm not certain how a aging fireGL can handles games.

[sjthinkpader]

I think FireGL should be fine. My son is using a R50p at the moment as his main gaming computer.

The better Flexview LCDs were installed only in 15 inch SXGA+ and UXGA versions (not on R52 SXGA+). T43p UXGA should be a Flexview LCD.

[Quicklite]

I'm sorry to bring up this topic again; my T43p delivery is delayed until the end of the week, however my current T41 is beginning to suffer from the GPU reflex problem.

Can anyone give me a clear clarification as for whether the GPU issue is solved in T43 series for ATI graphic cards? from what I've read, its resolved only by using integrated GPU, and that ATi V3200 fireGL still suffers from this?

[sjthinkpader]

If the computer/MB is used, there will be some risk even with a T43. This issue is related to thermal cycles. The higher performance the computer, i.e. the hotter the CPU and GPU, the more susceptible the unit will be. Once you get your computer, never set the CPU power setting to "Performance", always use "Adaptive".

[richk]

The problem is not fixed in T43. The integrated (intel) graphics does not work with the high-resolution screens in the "p" models, although one combination (sxga+ 15" does work with intel

[Quicklite]

Then I'll refurbish and resell both then. I'd rather not have the failure. T61p really is something I'd like.

[Quicklite]

Though did they not change the cooling in T43?

[Troels]

The issue is due to a bad placement of the GPU, where flex does occur if you pick the laptop up often by it's corner. The "Intel" integrated graphics does not have this problem, because there is no GPU there, it is integrated in the northbridge, which is not in the danger zone.
The cooling in the T43/p was changed to a bit more powerful fan. Some people also complain about noise, but i'm not sure how severe this is.
If you still want a 14.1" and discrete graphics, consider either T60/p or T61/p. The T61/p has a much more asymmetric positioned LCD, but most say it doesn't bother them the least.
Due to the roll-cage and more "north" position of the GPU in the T6x/R6x series, i'd expect that GPU problems are problems of the past. I don't think the T6x are quite as quiet as the T41/p was, though, but they are much more powerful.

It is still a nicely spec'ed T43p you got there, though. And i must say, i still know of a family relative using his T42 with no problems - it's from 2004. But of course, the problem is just waiting to occur i suppose.

[Quicklite]

I see what you mean, I just opened my current T41 system, the dark ATI chip is right in the middle, the chassis is not exactly strong there... I placed layers of thick paper on top of it for now, less cooling means I can't use 3D for the moment.

I'm wait until for my T43 to arrive, then probably play and upgrade the system a bit, see if there is anything that might cause concern; if there is, it will have to go.

Also one of the only design on T4x, I don't like is the lower mouse buttons; they make creaky noisy and look as bad as the one on my powerbook G3; though the one on a friend's T60p imo feels better, not to mention look better, with even better construction and up dated dual core support, hard to think a reason not to get T6x from my position. Where T400 seems slightly too mainstream and too new and not IBM like at all.

[Quicklite]

Would anyone inform me whether V3200 takes much more juice from the battery than the likes of Intel M 1.6+7500 mobility? I'm choosing between 6 or 9 cells battery off ebay; currently my T41 does just fine on 6 cells, but I take it, V3200 + Intel M 770 aren't going to be more power friendly.

[ajkula66]

Get the best battery that you can, because you're going to need it...V3200 is a hot and hungry little thing...

[Quicklite]

Finally got it yesterday evening. its so far nothing short of awesome performance wise, 2 gigs of ram and 770 still really shines in XP; V3200 is fast enough; so far no sign of GPU problem.

[Quicklite]

V3200 really is a hot thing. I currently have to use ATI tool to downclock it pretty heavily in 2D mode, from 400 mhz core 250 mhz mem, all the way down to 80 mhz core 120 mhz memory to keep the system cool.

[Quicklite]

During a comparison yesterday, I noticed the high res screen on T43p is much dimmer than the XGA screen on an older T41, not sure if thats normal.