Getting ready to buy...T400 or T500?

[nykobing06]

Funny, I remember asking something very similar 3 years ago between the T42 and T43.

Anyways, I'm bummed that the T500 doesn't have backlighting (LED) which is really the only thing holding me back. I prefer 15.4" screens though I must say that I haven't toyed around with a 14.1" laptop yet. Maybe I should go to bestbuy or the likes to get a feel.

However, just random browsing shows more T400 problems than T500 - could be attributed to more T400s having been sold. In any case, what are your recommendations? I'm looking to buy within a week.

Does the T400 have too many kinks that need to be worked out? How does it compare to the T500?

Am I missing out on anything other than screen size by going with the T400 over the T500? From what I can tell, there is little difference.

Finally, as an opinion question...do you think the LED backlight is worth downgrading screen size?

Thanks in advance for the help! I will be sure to keep the boards updated on my purchase and reviews to help others.

[truk]

I haven't seen much at all on the 500, good or bad. The only differences I can find are screen and GPU. I LOVE the LED backlight, and would definitely sacrifice the screen size, but I prefer a smaller laptop anyway.

[nykobing06]

Thank you Truk.

With the T400, what do you think I could pass on and purchase aftermarket?

I made a pretty high end config a weeks ago and people said that there were some things i could thin out...GPU speed, etc.

I will be using EPP, so thats to be factor in as well. To offset the EPP, I'm thinking after-market ram and such would need to be pretty cheap to compete with Lenovos, no?

By after-market (probably the wrong term), I mean second party (newegg, etc.)

[dk]

Thank you Truk.

With the T400, what do you think I could pass on and purchase aftermarket?

I made a pretty high end config a weeks ago and people said that there were some things i could thin out...GPU speed, etc.

I will be using EPP, so thats to be factor in as well. To offset the EPP, I'm thinking after-market ram and such would need to be pretty cheap to compete with Lenovos, no?

By after-market (probably the wrong term), I mean second party (newegg, etc.)

IMO I would wait for Lenovo's 2-day "You pay what we pay" deals then max out the GPU and RAM (DDR3). Definitely go with the LCD backlit screen. Also, if you want a CD/DVD burner, get one from Lenovo as the earlier T series don't fit the T400/T500's.

Buy a carrying case and bigger hard drive aftermarket if required. HTH.

[Toshe]

T500:
+ bigger display
+ better discrete graphics
+ Displayport
- bigger power consumption
- 9-cell battery sticks out
- Size
- Weight

T400:
+ lightweight
+ useful for traveling
+ lower power consumption
- 6-cell battery sticks out (9-cell too)
- no Displayport
- low-middle class discrete graphics.

Comparing screen resolution by pixels/inch - almost identical.
The T400's default 4-cell battery (doesn't stick out) lasts almost as long as the T500's 6-cell battery (doesn't stick out too).
If you're going to use integrated graphics, go for the T400.
If size and weight don't matter to you and you want powerful graphics, go for T500. The T400's discrete graphics aren't a bad choice too since you can always switch integrated/discrete graphics.
Go to a store and 'feel' both models. In the end it comes more to a matter of taste.

[nykobing06]

Thank Toshe and dk, I appreciate it.

Well I have a new reason for my apprehension towards buying the T400 and you hit on it Toshe....the GPU.

Someone posted in these forums that the T400 they bought seems to do poorly with some games....i think its graphics rendering.

My T42 2373-N3U I believe has integrated which works ok. However, you did say that with the T400 I can always switch...what do you man by that?

To get it right, the T400 only comes with an integrated graphics card? I'll check on the purchasing site but this would be another reason to opt for the T500 for me.

Dang it, only if the T500 has LED backlighting!
Thanks for the help, as always.

Oh also, which stores have the T400 and T500 out on display? I live in CA.

EDIT: Ok another question...I just looked at the W500. Any reason why I shouldnt go for the W500 instead of the T500 (aside from price)? I'm liking the GPU boost...

[bill bolton]

My T42 2373-N3U I believe has integrated which works ok.

If that works OK for the games you play the T400 with the Radeon 3470 GPU will ace them, no problem at all!

However, you did say that with the T400 I can always switch...what do you man by that?

The T400 2764 base config has both Intel 4500 and ATI Radeon 3470 GPUs. Under Vista you switch between them on the fly. With XP you have to reboot to switch.

The reason for the two GPUs is that the Intel 4500HMD chews through less power than the ATI Radeon 3470, allowing longer operation on battery for those tasks that don't need huge amounts of graphics grunt. The Intel 4500 HMD is quite a capabale GPU in its own right.

To get it right, the T400 only comes with an integrated graphics card?

You can get a T400 with just the Intel 4500 HMD GPU or with both the Intel 4500 HMD plus ATI Radeon 3470 GP, depending on which base model you start your CTO with.

Ok another question...I just looked at the W500. Any reason why I shouldnt go for the W500 instead of the T500 (aside from price)? I'm liking the GPU boost...

The W series have the most powerful GPU offerings, but they are also the most power hungry and weigh more than a T series.

So the question you need to figure out is how GPU performance do you really need versus how much battery duration plus mobility do you really need.

For me the whole point of a notebook is mobility (as I can easily stack up a dekstop with more graphics grunt than the most capabale notebook for a fraction of the $$$), so a dual GPU T400 is the sweet spot in terms of graphics power and good mobility attributes.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[Pexster]

I, too, have been looking for ANY of these to view side-by-side. I have visited Best Buys and Office Depots up and down the West Coast, from Seattle to San Diego. No luck.

My main question is whether my vision can handle the WSXGA+ on the T500 or the WGXA+ on the T400.

[nykobing06]

Bill, thanks a bunch...that helped quite a bit.

I looked at the 3DMark scores for the T500 and W500 and the T500 slightly beat out the W500. Where the W500 excels is in the 3D rendering but as far as the gaming benchmarks go, the T500 did quite well.

So good thing...I'm back to deciding solely between the T400 and T500. Now I gotta figure out which one!

The T500:
- I like the 15.4" screen..my current T42 gives me no issues in terms of portability.
- I also like the fact that the T500 has a slightly better GPU than the T400.


The T400:
- Reviews for the LED backlighting have been pretty convincing....people claim that they would never switch this little perk out for a slightly better GPU.

My T42 screen is great...it suits my needs. Viewing in daylight is not possible which does bug me time to time but I rarely use it outdoors (though daylight settings can happen in the house and what not).

Like the above poster, I think I need to hold these hand and hand. The screen difference is the biggest thing holding me back from a T400. Yet, I too can't find any store that has these thinkpads.

Thanks people!

[dk]

The T400:
- Reviews for the LED backlighting have been pretty convincing....people claim that they would never switch this little perk out for a slightly better GPU.

My T42 screen is great...it suits my needs. Viewing in daylight is not possible which does bug me time to time but I rarely use it outdoors (though daylight settings can happen in the house and what not).

I wouldn't hesitate to get a T400 with the LED backlit WXGA+ TFT. You can use this thing in full sunshine with no problem which is quite amazing. I'm very satisfied with mine. I do usually run at ~70-75% brightness as 100% is *way* too bright in semi-dark environments. Not something you would say about most laptops.

Aside from the excellent display, the T400 is very similar in size to a T42. I moved from my T40's and T41's to the T400 and it was a worthwhile upgrade.

Derrick