Thinkpads Forum

I'm looking at the x61t page and plan go order one really soon, I'm not sure whether I need 4965AGN. My perception regarding the difference between the two is that 4965AGN is draft N capable and 3945ABG is not. Am I right?

Thanks

Yes, that's my impression also unless you've evidence contrary...

So there is really no point to get Draft N capability if my school doesn't use Draft N routers.

Future proofing.

Another question that occured to me is Turbo Memory. If I have a gig of turbo memory, would it act like regular ram? So with the 1 gig turbo memory I could just get 1gb ram for 1 slot for now with similiar performance as 2 gb of ram in 2 slots, right?

I saw a note in one of their pages (the x61 tablet introduction page I think, features tab...) that said that the 4965AGN was the one that enabled MIMO use somehow. Maybe I missunderstood the text, but it was associated only with that wifi module, maybe because of 'N'.

I spoke with a salesperson this morning about the turbo memory, and he told me that it was not supplied on the machines until about 1 month from now.....(not sure if that its availability was of concern for you).

gdavis wrote:I saw a note in one of their pages (the x61 tablet introduction page I think, features tab...) that said that the 4965AGN was the one that enabled MIMO use somehow. Maybe I missunderstood the text, but it was associated only with that wifi module, maybe because of 'N'.

MIMO is part of the 802.11n standard. I'm pretty sure the Atheros-based 802.11n parts (what's previously been available until now) do the same.

I did not see the Atheros N version available to order for the x61t at least not this morning...

As I understand it, the 802.11n devices use two antennas. So even if the draft n gets changed in the final version of the standard, you would be able to drop in an updated n minicard and use the two antennas. The second of the two antennas might not be installed if you buy the unit with the g minicard.

pudding wrote:Another question that occured to me is Turbo Memory. If I have a gig of turbo memory, would it act like regular ram? So with the 1 gig turbo memory I could just get 1gb ram for 1 slot for now with similiar performance as 2 gb of ram in 2 slots, right?

No, it will not work that way. You are better off performance-wise with 2 GB of regular RAM.

It is true that you need an N router to use the N part of the card.

However, the next time you need to update your home router, it is likely to already have an integrated N feature.

The big difference with N, other than speed of course, is the range. Though not a huge big deal in US houses that use wood and plasterboard, houses that are brick, steel, and or concrete have real range problems. You should be able to get double the range using the N. (At least, that's what I remember.)

My understanding is that the ABGN in the X61T (the 61 product line in general) is a 3 antenna design, which could give (ideally) up to 300Mbps... your mileage will vary, however.

Does anyone know what is up with the Canadian x61 configurations? All of the 4965AGN cards are marked "N disabled".
I know, I should ask Lenovo. I just wondered if someone else had already gone through the pain of talking to 3 different people, etc...

MeaninglessNick wrote:Does anyone know what is up with the Canadian x61 configurations? All of the 4965AGN cards are marked "N disabled".
I know, I should ask Lenovo. I just wondered if someone else had already gone through the pain of talking to 3 different people, etc...

I bet it's because of the Canadian government not having authorized the airwave use of N for some reason, maybe due to the fact that N isn't finalized? or that they haven't finished verifying that its use in one way or another.... (frequency conflicts for other uses in Canada, or.....)

Maybe at some point, it could be enabled if it's just a compliance issue or standardization issue down the road.

There's the same thing happened in US, most of the pre-configured model come with the n-disabled.
I guess because it costs less to make the third N-antenna built in or some thing like that.
Remember it's all about the costs nowadays...

poky wrote:... n-disabled.
I guess because it costs less to make the third N-antenna built in...

If the 3rd antenna is built in, then there are two things to do to enable MIMO N.

1 - Get the US driver, which I think I saw as already available. (Don't quote me on that, though!)
2 - Attach the 3rd antenna.

This article below talks about installing the MIMI card, and there are other similar articles, including flash videos. The more I dig into the IBM/Lenovo site, the better I feel about my purchase...

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67893

Now if the band is not allocated for use in your locale, you could face other consequences. I would like to know if that's the reason for it being disabled.