Thinkpads Forum

Pardon my laziness but there's so much contradictory or inconclusive evidence on this topic that researching it is a chore...

So what's the consensus now that people have had these machines for some time?
Do any models have switchable graphics that actually works (meaning that the non-Intel graphics can be configure not to draw a meaningful amount power)? If so, which ones?

Thanks!

I have a T400 with switchable graphics. When Windows 7 came out, it took nearly a year for drivers to come out that could gracefully switch between the two modes. Now, it works very well. On linux, vgaswitcheroo should be stable but I always found it difficult to make reliable.

I do find that my Intel chipset gives me an extra hour or two of battery life, ~5 vs 3 against my Radeon. So if the driver situation is good (don't run Win8 for a while) I'd say go for it.

Windows 8 is fine with it. I have it running on two T400's. Read all the way through this thread:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=107390