Thinkpads Forum

Just how much difference is there between the two?

I'm looking at buying a lightweight number to carry around in my rucksack and ride to work on my bike everyday.

I'm seeing X200's for under 200 quid and X220's for almost 3 times that, is it really 3 times better too?

Well, that will heavily depend on your computer needs. For normal everyday use like internet browsing, emailing and office a X200 will have plenty of reserves in my opinion. If you need to use software that needs heavy CPU and GPU processing you may need to lean against the X220.

If you need lots of RAM the X220 will support up to 16GB, while the X200 stops by 8GB (although I've read some people claims that they could make 16GB work too)

IIRC X220 uses SATA-III. X200 supports only SATA-II. But only benchmarks will show a difference that you won't probably note in "normal life".

Then you have a difference on screen ratio:
- X200 uses 16:10 screens (1280x800 or 1440x900)
- X220 uses 16:9 screens (1366x768)

Last but not least budget is important. How much you really want to spend? I personally wouldn't pay 3x times more for the X220, but that's me only

Have fun deciding...

FWIW, I have the X200 with a Samsung 80g SSD that I use for travel; both as a GPS [bluetooth receiver with MS Streets & Trips], and internet when in lodging. It does everything well with the 8g RAM and the SSD. I can't imagine what unit would be three times better.

I can compare X200 with 8GB Ram and 160 GB SSD (plus AFFS screen) to a new HP 2570p (my work tool from the company) and both work for office use more or less the same. I see no need to buy 3x more expensive notebook if you don't need to utilize new CPU or GPU. Also 8GB or RAM is more than enough..

simonjs wrote:Just how much difference is there between the two?

That depends on the specific configurations you are comparing.

There was quite a wide range in the new prices between the low-end and high-end configurations within each model range.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Hi,
saw the thread and decided not to post a new one.
So, what about comparing x201 vs x220? As x201 goes for about 100 quid(pounds) cheaper than the x220.

So, those are the specs for both:

x220:
Intel Core i5-2520
12 GB DDR3 - 1333MHz Ram
ThinkPad Battery 29+ (6 cell) 9 hours ( really not sure how to check if battery is 6 cell or less)
HDD 320GB

x201:
Intel Core i5 520M Turbo Boost to 3.0GHZ
6GB DDR3 RAM
HDD 320GB
don't know about the battery pack

So, does the x220 worth the 100 quid on top...

I'd say the same as my post above. Do you really need more CPU power? Will the screen ratio be an important factor for you?

Another difference between the two is that the X220 also supports msata drives, you can use one for the OS and put a big SSD/HDD in the bay for extra storage.

Tasurinchi wrote:I'd say the same as my post above. Do you really need more CPU power? Will the screen ratio be an important factor for you?

Another difference between the two is that the X220 also supports msata drives, you can use one for the OS and put a big SSD/HDD in the bay for extra storage.

Yes, I do need more CPU power. But is there big difference between them two?

I can't comment on the performance increase from 1st->2nd gen i5, but for me personally the X220 is worth it if you can get one with the IPS display. After using a X220 for a little while its been tough going back to my X200s.

Yeah, core i5 CPU is much better than the normal core 2 duo. But still can't decide wich one to get as the 100 pounds for the x220 is something I can't afford right now, but buying one of them two we be one-time only. I don't like buying something and selling it after a month or two.

P.S. how to determine if the screen is IPS or not, if it's not stated anywhere.

petko8680 wrote:Yeah, core i5 CPU is much better than the normal core 2 duo. But still can't decide wich one to get as the 100 pounds for the x220 is something I can't afford right now, but buying one of them two we be one-time only. I don't like buying something and selling it after a month or two.

P.S. how to determine if the screen is IPS or not, if it's not stated anywhere.

I think you can sometimes look up the model number, but its best to ask the seller to make sure. The easiest way to tell is by going into device manager and under monitors it will say "flexview wide-viewing angle" (or something like that), while the non-IPS model will say simply "Thinkpad display". Also the viewing angles are a dead giveaway, if the display maintains its color when held at extreme angles then it's the IPS.

Ignoring the viewing angle stuff, I like the IPS because I personally find it to be much easier on the eyes. I feel like I'm straining when I go back to another laptop.

the IPS screens are not perfect. Search around and you'll find for yourself. Still if you can live with the issue then it's a OK screen nonetheless, however there are those that cant stand it thus end up returning the laptops.

Ghosting isn't so pronounced in the newer LG IPS LCD that Lenovo has put into the X230. But in terms of viewing angle and image quality of IPS versus TN.

I think i let these pictures do the talking (both of the LCD has been calibrated using a Spyder4 pro).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lead_org/8 ... hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lead_org/8 ... hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lead_org/8 ... hotostream

Powerful "talking" from those photos!

lead_org wrote:Ghosting isn't so pronounced in the newer LG IPS LCD that Lenovo has put into the X230. But in terms of viewing angle and image quality of IPS versus TN.

I think i let these pictures do the talking (both of the LCD has been calibrated using a Spyder4 pro).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lead_org/8 ... hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lead_org/8 ... hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lead_org/8 ... hotostream

I'm not so sure about that, people still complain about the issue. Even the laptops (x220 and x230) at notebookckeck used same FRU IPS screen, as they noted in the x230 review.

When somebody says IPS screen, the general understanding is that it will be much better than the TN. However this is not the case here. What you get is a display with oversaturated colors and better viewing angles that is prone to ghosting images, and many people know it already. That's why it costs only 50 bux on top of the regular TN display, which besides the viewing angles is still a pretty decent display for what it is. Of course one can also argue the somewhat better brightness of the IPS ..

this is the most cheap-ss IPS display lenovo could find, and it's even 6 bit compared to the somewhat standard 8 bit (or more) displays found in other brand similar laptops, which appear to not have the ghosting issues lenovo is experiencing. Most users will never notice though, as usual, what they see is bright colors and great viewing angles, the rest comes later, eventually.

and look at those pictures and tell me if the orange is not way too much ... Or better post the video from which they got into your flickr account, or should I do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8MO-XaCZ_8

nonetheless the x220/x230 is still a very good laptop, just that I wish lenovo used a "good" IPS rather than what they sell now. Heck I could buy one of those too, but at least I know what I'm getting thus can make my choice clearly, that's all.

miro_gt wrote:
Or better post the video from which they got into your flickr account, or should I do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8MO-XaCZ_8

Can you explain what are you talking about here? You want me to post someone's else video into my account?

Just going to throw this into this thread also just in case some members and readers (including me ) would like to know:

How is the battery life on the X220 compared to the X200?

Sandy Bridge, as a general proposition, offers better battery life than the Core 2 Duos. Using the same settings, my six-cell X220i went about 6.25 hours when the battery was new, while my nine-cell X200 went about 7.5 with a new battery.

^^^ Thanks Zaz!

I own an X200. The screen ratio of the X220 is bound to bug me however I cannot help but be drawn in by 3 features of the X220: power efficiency, more storage options (mSATA as boot and HDD as storage), and a native LED IPS screen.

Going to work on getting an X220 sometime this year

The mSATA + HDD is why I upgraded. I disliked carrying everything on the external. I wish they would have allowed for a 9.mm drive. When you consider most are sold with the six or nine-cell batteries, which raises the rear up a bit, there was room for it. Otherwise, I probably would have kept the X200 and prefer the touch padless palm rest aesthetic.

I forgot about the 7mm

I do hear that with some coaxing however a 9mm will fit

True, but you'll have no hard drive protection or probably a warranty after doing so.

emeraldgirl08 wrote:^^^ Thanks Zaz!

I own an X200. The screen ratio of the X220 is bound to bug me however I cannot help but be drawn in by 3 features of the X220: power efficiency, more storage options (mSATA as boot and HDD as storage), and a native LED IPS screen.

Going to work on getting an X220 sometime this year

I went from a WXGA X200s to a X220 and had the same concerns, but they've proven to be unfounded, helped to a great extent by the IPS display in the latter.

(Besides, when I work from home the laptop is docked and I use a WUXGA HP monitor so the point is somewhat moot.)