T4# comparison

[Meta03]

I am planing on purchasing a P4# Thinkpad. What is different in P4#P?
Any suggestions, recommendations?

[fasterbybike]

Information on T41/42/43 models at

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitu ... twbook.pdf

Info on T40/41 models at

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitu ... awbook.pdf


HTH

[Meta03]

Thanks. That is good info.
Would it be wiser to go with a T42P, or a T43?

[sjthinkpader]

Both are very nice. T43 benefited by cheap DDR2. T42 being cool running machines. I would stay away from T4xp machines unless you know that particular machine had not been abused. A good model would be a 15 inch SXGA+ T42.

[Meta03]

Why would you stay away from a T42P?

[dr_st]

My guess: thermal issues (due to more powerful GPUs) and therefore higher risk of the GPU failure.

Also, you pay a premium for a T4xp model, which even if it was worth it at the time, is hardly worth it now - neither the high-end CPUs, nor the GPUs will stand any chance in comparison even with today's lowest offerings anyway, so why pay that extra?

The 15" SXGA+ with Radeon 9600 is nice, because you get a gorgeous Flexview LCD, all the benefits of a T42 over T43 (cooler, quieter), can get them for reasonable prices, and they seem to have lower failure rates compared to 14" models, or T42p's.

[sjthinkpader]

dr_ st explained much better. I am actually using a T42p, it was an ex-government machine looked to received very little use judging from the almost new keyboard. But yes, many p models likely received lots of thermal cycles, which is bad for the GPU.