Buying advice :ATI 9000(5TU) over ATI 9600(FVU)

[baraider]

thanks for reading.
i'll use epp acount to buy my first TP 42....

with epp, express items have less discount than those regular.

i'm looking at 2373 FVU and 23735TU

5TU: $1299 with 3 years warranty
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725 1.60GHz
14.1"
1024x768
64MB ATI Mobility RADEON 9000

FVU: 1401 with one year. upgrade to 3 years will get this one close to $1600+
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 735 1.70GHz
14.1"
1400x1050
64MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600

The only difference between those two are FVU got 1.7G, SVGA screen and 9600 card.

I will replace the 1.6 in the 5TU with a 1.8 or 2.0 CPU later if i buy that model.

There are several other models that have cheaper prices but only have the 32M 7000 cards. I'm also looking at this one

2373JTU for 1331
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 735 1.70GHz
14.1"
1024x768
32MB ATI Mobility RADEON 7500


Would i get more bangs for the bucks by getting the FVU now or get the cheaper versions and upgrade the cpu. the EPP does not have lots of TP that has the 9600 cards.

I dont' play games at all but i carry this laptop to school for the next 4 years or so and use it 6+ hours everyday.

[treker]

I like my FVU. I had originally purchased the 2378 R4U which is 1.6GHz 14.1 XGA 32Mb ATI 7500. It was a nice machine but I wanted SXGA as soon as I saw one. More viewable real estate. It only took a few minutes to tweak Firefox and other programs to enable larger text.

I don't think I have noticed any real difference in video cards - not much game playing, here. I have noticed an increase of about 7C cpu operating temp with newer T42, however. Both are REALLY quiet - even the newer one at higher temp.

[admsteiner]

I love my FVU. The difference isn't merely the card but the screen. SXGA has more pixels on the screen. I would recommend going to your local CompUSA/Circuit City and looking at an SXGA and XGA display (in the 14" form) to see if its too small for you and which you like better.

--Adam

[baraider]

thanks for advice. Most people will vouch for FVU all the time...

Because it's an express model so the discount with epp is minimal. I think i'll wait a while to see if the price going down.

[dfumento]

I'd get the FVU because:
1. It is not worth upgrading CPU
2. Windows Longhorn which is coming out in mid-2006 requires a graphics processing unit with 64MB video RAM (128-256 recommended!) and handles DirectX9 if you want to run with the "Aero Glass" grapihcs interface. The 9600 on the FVU will do that. Not the 9000 (which also only has 32MB RAM).

If SXGA of FVU is too small for you, you can always change the dots per inch in the display driver or change other effects. In fact, the standard IBM setting make the characters a bit larger.

Please check FVU info:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=7436

Good luck!

[ehd]

fyi: the fvu is $1401 on the EPP site... much worth the $100 upgrade

as for the guy who said the radeon 9000 is 32mb... uhh no it isnt.. at least on the model hes pointing at.

the big difference between the 2 is the SXGA and XGA... if u ever liked to use more than one program at a time... make it easier on dragging and dropping... looking at big photos online you'll want the sxga... even websites are starting to go past the 1024x768 resolution standard... just think of it as buying a flat screen tv vs a hi-definition flat screen tv... yea.. okay good luck with ur purchase.

[Roisin]

baraider, if you can buy through EPP, get the 2373M3U, its a way better deal then FVU, check the specs, its roughly the same price after the epp discount, and it has 7200rpm drive, 3years warranty, fingerprint+bluetooth

FVU is an express model (it only has a 15% epp discount)

M3U is a standard model = 35% epp discount

[baraider]

thing is there is no 2373 M3U model on epp.
There seems to be limited options on epp

[Roisin]

yes there is, you can even find it on the website, but its kind of complicated

but you can always order it by phone, try 1-800-IBM-EMPL

[baraider]

hum...i spent last week or so looking at all the models from epp....do you mind just post the price for m3u here so i can get an idea of what kind of price i'm looking at...if i can't order online, then i'll give them a call.

thanks

[lzy_tek]

I paid $1540 for a M3U 2 days ago and it's just shipped.

[baraider]

this included tax?

What is the price before tax?

[lzy_tek]

No tax for me.

[baraider]

No tax for me.

lucky bastar

tax in ny is 120 for me...