Thinkpads Forum

Apologies if this has been asked before.

I'm scoping out my next ultraportable (possibly to replace my X200), and am trying to determine whether a used X300 or X301 should be the next addition to my collection.

I'm having a tough time finding a good answer to this elsewhere, so I'm turning to you guys to help: is there any significant difference between the battery life of the X300 and X301? I know that on paper the X301 ought to be longer-lasting due to the ULV (vs LV) chip, but I'd like confirmation from actual owners, as the price difference is significant enough that I'll pass on the X301 if it doesn't provide significant improvements.

Thanks,
Rob

Even though I haven't used both I can't see them being all that much different in terms of battery life.

But I will say I suggest getting the X301 for the faster processor and better graphics (4500MHD vs x3100). The X301 also has a DisplayPort connector, which is nice since that seems to be the direction displays are going to start taking.

visionviper wrote: But I will say I suggest getting the X301 for the faster processor and better graphics (4500MHD vs x3100). The X301 also has a DisplayPort connector, which is nice since that seems to be the direction displays are going to start taking.

Both CPUs are plenty fast, and the intended workload doesn't even tax the X3100. I also lack any devices that support DisplayPort, so that's not an issue either.

Is the 4500HD any more power-efficient than the X3100?

ThinkRob wrote:Both CPUs are plenty fast, and the intended workload doesn't even tax the X3100. I also lack any devices that support DisplayPort, so that's not an issue either.

Is the 4500HD any more power-efficient than the X3100?

Well when I buy a computer it is because I plan to keep it for many years. I don't have a DisplayPort display either right now, but I can also tell you my next one will. I might as well be prepared.

I don't know that the 4500MHD is more power efficient, but it does have full support for hardware accelerated decoding (VC-1, H.264) while the X3100 does not.

Overall the X301 has a newer chipset, better integrated graphics and a faster processor. Unless you are only planning on having the laptop for a year I would say spend the extra and get the better of the two.

visionviper wrote: Overall the X301 has a newer chipset, better integrated graphics and a faster processor. Unless you are only planning on having the laptop for a year I would say spend the extra and get the better of the two.

Well I have a fairly high turnover rate for laptops -- my entire fleet tends to change over the course of a 2-3 year period -- so I never tend to bother "future-proofing" too much. Plus, the workload of my portable and ultra-portable machines tends to be very light in comparison; I could comfortably use an X2x or X3x for all my non-dev. tasks.

I don't watch movies on my non-workstation ThinkPads either, so the HW accel. of VC-1/H.264 (while nice) probably wouldn't matter for me.

Hmmm... this is turning out to be a rather tough decision. Especially since if I decide on the X300, I can actually get my hands on a prototype (the S70), thereby giving me a unique (albeit not overly exciting) addition to my fleet...

ThinkRob wrote:Well I have a fairly high turnover rate for laptops -- my entire fleet tends to change over the course of a 2-3 year period -- so I never tend to bother "future-proofing" too much. Plus, the workload of my portable and ultra-portable machines tends to be very light in comparison; I could comfortably use an X2x or X3x for all my non-dev. tasks.

I don't watch movies on my non-workstation ThinkPads either, so the HW accel. of VC-1/H.264 (while nice) probably wouldn't matter for me.

Hmmm... this is turning out to be a rather tough decision. Especially since if I decide on the X300, I can actually get my hands on a prototype (the S70), thereby giving me a unique (albeit not overly exciting) addition to my fleet...

I would say save the money and get a X300 and maybe put in a newer SSD for a little extra oomph.

Your question piqued my interest so I've looked at a couple of reviews sites on X300 and X301. CNET had battery usage time for 6-cell configuration for X300 and X301 using their DVD battery drain test which presumably spins the DVD drive until the notebook goes to sleep.

Result: X300 = 3hr 43 min, X301 = 3hr 14 min.

My guess is that MHD4500 in X301 dissipates more power than X3100 in X300.

Take the X300 if you want a longer battery life...

sanjuro wrote:Take the X300 if you want a longer battery life...

Sounds good.

sanjuro wrote:Your question piqued my interest so I've looked at a couple of reviews sites on X300 and X301. CNET had battery usage time for 6-cell configuration for X300 and X301 using their DVD battery drain test which presumably spins the DVD drive until the notebook goes to sleep.

Result: X300 = 3hr 43 min, X301 = 3hr 14 min.

My guess is that MHD4500 in X301 dissipates more power than X3100 in X300.

Take the X300 if you want a longer battery life...

NotebookReview pegs the X301 battery life with the 6-cell being longer than the X300 with the 6 cell. My experience with the 6+3 configuration on the X301 is quite close to what they had for battery life, so I would say their test is a decent benchmark.

4hr 50min vs 3hr 32min.

visionviper wrote: NotebookReview pegs the X301 battery life with the 6-cell being longer than the X300 with the 6 cell. My experience with the 6+3 configuration on the X301 is quite close to what they had for battery life, so I would say their test is a decent benchmark.

4hr 50min vs 3hr 32min.

They didn't do equivalent comparisons though. The X301's 6-cell config. was tested in a very different manner than the X300's.

it's been ages since i had an X300 but i used to get close to 4 hours out of the 3-cell main battery.   adding the 3-cell bay battery got me a little over 6.

my X301 gets around 3.5 out of the 3-cell main battery with an SU9600 and 128GB samsung MLC SSD.

the difference could be the hardware but could also be that i'm using quite a bit newer and more taxing software.   there are too many variables to definitively say which is better.

in my view, if you don't need the added horsepower then the X300 is a great way to go.   the fan runs less and it has a UPEK fingerprint reader (versus authentec) which i personally prefer.   the X301 does have better processing and graphics and can be fitted with a synaptics multi-touch trackpad if you use the pad over the trackpoint.   displayport on the 301 is unfortunately limited to 1920x1200 on a 16:10 display or 2048x1536 on analog, so it's not all that big of a selling point.

if you can find a good price on an X300, go for it.

ThinkRob wrote:They didn't do equivalent comparisons though. The X301's 6-cell config. was tested in a very different manner than the X300's.

I guess your right. I didn't notice they only let the X301 sit at idle.

Thanks for the help, erik. It looks like the X300 might be a bit better in terms of battery life, and since I don't need the extra horsepower and features of the X301, it's probably not worth the extra dough.

I guess now the only question is whether I should go for a run-of-the-mill used X300 or whether I should go for an S70 (X300 prototype) in better condition but sans warranty. Decisions, decisions...

ThinkRob wrote: I guess now the only question is whether I should go for a run-of-the-mill used X300 or whether I should go for an S70 (X300 prototype) in better condition but sans warranty. Decisions, decisions...

What's up with S70? How is it different from a regular production X300?

Is there any way to get hands on something like an i7 prototype for X301 replacement?

sanjuro wrote: Is there any way to get hands on something like an i7 prototype for X301 replacement?

simple: now way. the change they made such a prototype is zero, because Lenovo never planned to make a newer revision of the X301. so off course they didn't spend loads of money developing an i7 X301. I'm afraid you'll have to choose between an x201 or a T410s.

besides the S70 nameplate and rectangular thinkpad badges, there's no difference between the S70 and X300.

get something with a warranty.   there's a user here who bricked his S70 planar performing a BIOS update.   prototypes aren't all that great unless you want something to brag about sitting on your shelf.   i wouldn't use one everyday.

erik wrote:besides the S70 nameplate and rectangular thinkpad badges, there's no difference between the S70 and X300.

get something with a warranty.   there's a user here who bricked his S70 planar performing a BIOS update.   prototypes aren't all that great unless you want something to brag about sitting on your shelf.   i wouldn't use one everyday.

I know... but I've got a soft spot for prototype hardware. Collecting interesting or otherwise appealing hardware's been a hobby of mine for a while -- I've spent more than I should just tracking down some old Apple gear with those lovely red logic boards (red PCBs were often the mark of pre-release hardware).

That said, the real reason I was considering the S70 was that it appears to be in excellent cosmetic condition, while the warrantied machines in the same price range have quite a few marks/scuffs.

I'm not really in any rush for this, as I still have the X200 to use as my day-to-day ultra-portable, so I suppose I'll just watch eBay and Craigslist until a suitable machine in my price range appears...

understood.   i can't argue with that.

just don't update the BIOS and brick it.

erik wrote:understood.   i can't argue with that.

just don't update the BIOS and brick it.

'course not. It's not like I've engaged in reckless reflashing of other devices such that they require some JTAG trickery to recover...