Questions about T61 (batt, videocard, etc.)

[Redmumba]

I original posted on NBR, but I figured this would be a better place to ask.

I've configured a T61 with discrete graphics and what not; however, I have a few questions about the specifics.

1) What is the comparative weight between the 4-, 6-, and 7-cell batteries? I mean, is going from the 4- to the 6-cell going to add a significant amount of weight? On that same vein, does anybody know how much the UltraBay battery adds to the weight as well?

2) About the Advanced Dock; the feature I'm most interested in would be the PCI-E slot that (from what I can gather from the sparse amount of information on it) operates at 16X. However, does the dock actually transfer bandwidth at this speed, or is it limited by the dock's connection to the laptop? Also, if I do this, do I have to use the external monitor, or does the graphics card "take over" the laptop screen?

3) As far as the "ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II" goes, what's different between this and the regular one (Adapter I, I guess)? Also, is the upgrade to 802.11N something I should be preparing for? I live in the middle of downtown Brooklyn, and I have yet to have any experience with it, so I'm thinking no...

Thanks for any help you guys can provide... been a member for almost two years, but I don't even think I've posted, and I've always appreciated your responses!

[whizkid]

1) A single cell in those batteries is a standard AA-sized rechargeable cell. Get out a few and compare their weight. Add a little for the extra casing material. I have a T60 and an Ultrabay battery. It's not much heavier than the optical drive, and does not add much battery life in that its capacity diminishes VERY quickly. I got mine in December and it's now at 63% capacity. The main battery is still at 93%.

2) I've never known a video card in a dock to take over a main display, but you might want to call Lenovo and ask their sales folks.

3) The "standard" wireless adapters use Intel chipsets and ThinkPad adapters use Atheros. It really won't matter much unless you want to (someday) run Linux, where either has its own headaches right now, but Intel is trying harder at the moment.

802.11N is what's next. If you change soon, you'll be less likely to experience interference. It may help your resale value too.

[Redmumba]

Thanks for the response, Whiz.

So is this problem with the Ultrabay pretty much universal? Or could it just be a lemon? As of now, I have it configured with the Ultrabay, since I only ever use the optical drive from within the safety of my room, so I figured I might as well make use of the slot.

Other than that, thanks again for all the information.

[whizkid]

I think I read it's universal. Once it gets to 50% capacity or maybe sooner, I'll call Lenovo to ask about the warranty. When do they consider it to fail? Who knows?

[Redmumba]

Placed the order today; on your advice, I decided to hold off on the UltraBay battery... if I hear anything different further on down the line, its always something I can purchase at a later date anyway.

[wallybear]

Any video card installed in the PCI-E slot in the Advanced Dock "takes over" all video functions for the laptop while it is docked (provided the card is enabled in the BIOS, that is). An enabled card in the Dock handles all graphic tasks for the docked laptop in place of the GPU in or on the laptop's motherboard.

In other words, the built-into-the-T60 GPU (such as an X1300 or the GMA950) will be disabled when a video card installed in the Advanced Dock is enabled in the BIOS. Only one GPU can operate at a time in the T60 architecture.

The T60's LCD display is then "driven" by the card in the Dock as are any other display(s) that are connected to the port(s) on the card itself.

By the way, the Advanced Dock's PCI-E slot looks like (i.e., has the physical header) of a 16x slot but it is only wired as a 1x slot. So, no 16x card will operate at its full capacity when it is installed in the Dock. Also, power (<50 watts) and space (6.6 x 4.4x .75 inches) issues determine which cards can be installed in the Dock. There are several threads on this forum dealing with this complex issue of choosing the right card for use in the Dock, so search for them.

In summary, I thought the intent of the original question was: "Can I have two video cards running in my T60 (i.e., the internal GPU and one installed in the Dock) at the same time?" The answer is "No, but using a card in the Dock will not cause you to lose the use of the laptop's LCD."

Hope this helps. Questions? Write to me.

[Redmumba]

Sorry for the delay (my current laptop has been on the fritz... >.<).

You actually answered what I was really interested in; i.e., whether or not I would need to use an external monitor with the Advanced Dock if I wanted to use the dock's PCI-E slot. This is probably my biggest issue with using the dock, because I simply don't have the room for another monitor.

As far as the card goes, I don't want the latest and greatest, just something to handle occasional game playing... a few of the cards I've looked at have already been confirmed to work, so I'll be fine as far as that's concerned.

Thank you again!

[RonS]

Any video card installed in the PCI-E slot in the Advanced Dock "takes over" all video functions for the laptop while it is docked (provided the card is enabled in the BIOS, that is). An enabled card in the Dock handles all graphic tasks for the docked laptop in place of the GPU in or on the laptop's motherboard.

In other words, the built-into-the-T60 GPU (such as an X1300 or the GMA950) will be disabled when a video card installed in the Advanced Dock is enabled in the BIOS. Only one GPU can operate at a time in the T60 architecture.

The T60's LCD display is then "driven" by the card in the Dock as are any other display(s) that are connected to the port(s) on the card itself.

By the way, the Advanced Dock's PCI-E slot looks like (i.e., has the physical header) of a 16x slot but it is only wired as a 1x slot. So, no 16x card will operate at its full capacity when it is installed in the Dock. Also, power (<50 watts) and space (6.6 x 4.4x .75 inches) issues determine which cards can be installed in the Dock. There are several threads on this forum dealing with this complex issue of choosing the right card for use in the Dock, so search for them.

In summary, I thought the intent of the original question was: "Can I have two video cards running in my T60 (i.e., the internal GPU and one installed in the Dock) at the same time?" The answer is "No, but using a card in the Dock will not cause you to lose the use of the laptop's LCD."

Hope this helps. Questions? Write to me.

Sorry, but Wallybear's answer is just wrong. I have no doubt that it was well-meaning, but regarding wether the dock's video "takes over" the internal video, it is technically 100% wrong.

A video card installed in the dock operates in tandem with the Thinkpad's internal video display chip. This is a widely known and used Thinkpad feature. For example, I'm running a T60p with the Advanced Dock. I have a 24" screen running off the Dock's DVI, two more 24" screens running off a 7600GS card installed in the Advanced Dock, and the Thinkpad's build-in display, for a total of four independent displays. There is a BIOS setting that selects whether a video card in the Advanced Dock is primary or secondary.

Under Vista, all video cards must use the exact same driver in order to use Aero (WDDM drivers). My T60p has a v5200 video chip, so I can put a v5200 card in the Advanced Dock and extend my desktop to that card's display while using Aero (neotus has done this, my v5200 card is on the way). If you have integrated graphics, you will probably have a problem doing this; I don't know of any PCI-Express video card that uses Intel GMA graphics. If you put the above-mentioned 7600GS card in the dock under Vista, you'll have to pick one adapter or the other (selectable in the BIOS), but not both. One work-around to this Vista problem is to force XPDM drivers instead of WDDM. You'll loose Aero but gain support for heterogenus display adapters.
Please search this forum. There are many discussions on various video cards in the advanced dock, and other ways to extend the video capabilities of the T6x.

[wallybear]

Thanks for the clarification, Ron.
Looks like you should answer all these questions.

[aquarapid]

1) What is the comparative weight between the 4-, 6-, and 7-cell batteries? I mean, is going from the 4- to the 6-cell going to add a significant amount of weight?

Can't speak for the 4-cell, but the 6 and 7 cell are made in the same housing (so they're identical in size), with the 7 cell being only slightly heavier (2 oz, according to IBM's specs). I'd say if you are going to get a 6 cell, you might just as well go for the 7 cell.

I didn't know they were the same size before I ordered, and I regret getting the 6-cell for one of my (company's) machines.

Oh, and according to the IBM specs, there is about a 3.5 oz difference between the 4 and 6 cell...