Thinkpads Forum

I am not sure about others, but somehow I feel the graphics is a little bit slow on my W500 WUXGA with WinXP PRO (320GB HD 7200RPM, 4GB RAM).
I am saying this because I have a T42 UXGA (80GB HD 7200RPM, 2GB RAM)with me for 5 years, and it runs great. I installed everything on it (VS.NET, SQL 2000/2005/2008) ..., tons of software. I don't know why I bought W500. I just tought the T42 has been with me tor 5 years, maybe I should buy a new one, so I bought W500.

After I installed everything, unfortunately, this things run slower than my T42 from every aspect. The first thing to notice is the screen refresh speed. When I open a new window, the T42 just put the new window on the screen, very solid, and the W500, somehow it flick a little bit, refresh the screen from the top left to the bottom right. I have to say most people won't notice it, but for me, I am so get used to the high performance of T42, I notice it right away.

I downloaded all the drivers ..., BIOS settings, adjust for max performance ... etc, still the screen is slower than my T42.

It's still a great machine, I am just a little bit frustrated that the new machine is slower than old machine. I might go back to use my T42 instead. Man, I felt that I bought this W500 just for the heck of it.

Calvin

W500 is actually supposed to outperform your T42 by far and in every aspect, so this behavior is definitely not normal. Have you performed a clean install of XP or you are using the Lenovo preloaded image of XP? (asking about both machines)

I would also run a few passes of PC-Doctor/Lenovo System Toolbox to check out for hardware problems (especially with the gpu).


Marin

I had a clean install with my T42. You reminds me that maybe I need to do a clean install on W500 too. The OEM guys believe that everybody is an idiot, so they install all kinds of junks on the computer to make sure it works in a way, but ignore the performance.

I guess from now on, every laptop needs to be reinstalled.

I will report what happened.

Calvin (Posted with my T42).

Being said that, I am very disappointed with W500 compare to my T42. 1st, somehow they don't offer 1600X1200 monitor any more, which is my favorite. Now the 1920X1200 monitor is actually wider, but shorter than my 1600X1200 monitor. Which means they have the same 1200 vertical pixels, but w500 has a smaller pixel.

The keyboard is not as smooth as my T42, but that might because I got used to it.

All in all, the most disappointed part is the monitor, which is I care most. Again, having the T42 for 5 years, just thought I need to upgrade my laptop. But it still runs great! Don't know why they discontinued the 1600X1200 model!

Another funny thing, somehow they gave me a 9 cell battery, which I hate the additional space it occupied. Man, I really just need a 6 cell battery! I mean, a normal battery. I guess I am too old, I hate change. I just want another T42 with a faster CPU and 4GB memory! Talk about harddrive, W500 also has a 7200RPM SATA, pretty much the same as my 7200RPM IDE.

If somebody lives in Irvine, CA, we can exchange the battery if you like 9 cell battery!

Calvin

Maybe you want to take a look into the T60 series. They should be somewhat faster than the T4 series and still have the UXGA resolution. This vertical resolution is needed for my work. But if lenovo would offer a 4:3 T500 / W500 I'd buy it in a second. The W500 / T500 battery life with the integrated GPU is far better than the one of the T4 / T6 series.

I bought my T42p new 3 months after they were released. Used it everyday for work. My W500 is much faster, by a wide margin.
.
Here are the specs of each machine.
.
T42p | 2.1GHz | 2GB | 80GB@7200 |
128MB FIREGL T2 ATI | 15" UXGA IPS |
.
W500 | 2.8GHz | 4GB | 160GB@7200 |
512MB FireGL V5700 ATI | 15.4" WUXGA |
.
Both: clean install XP SP2 Optimized.
.
Cheers...
posted via BlackBerry Bold

cklein wrote:I had a clean install with my T42. You reminds me that maybe I need to do a clean install on W500 too. The OEM guys believe that everybody is an idiot, so they install all kinds of junks on the computer to make sure it works in a way, but ignore the performance.

That´s why I was asking

cklein wrote:Being said that, I am very disappointed with W500 compare to my T42. 1st, somehow they don't offer 1600X1200 monitor any more, which is my favorite. Now the 1920X1200 monitor is actually wider, but shorter than my 1600X1200 monitor.

I couldn´t agree more! (that said from someone with WUXGA display on his ThinkPad and who found out over time how great 4:3 is, I wish I had opted for a T60p with an UXGA IPS pannel )

Cheers,

Marin

Marin85 wrote:I couldn´t agree more! (that said from someone with WUXGA display on his ThinkPad and who found out over time how great 4:3 is, I wish I had opted for a T60p with an UXGA IPS panel )

I've been using a ThinkPad everyday for the last decade. And without question, of all the models I own, my T60p is the one I like the best. I've always preferred a 4:3, 15" UXGA Flexview/IPS for my work, and its the very reason I bought the W500....to prolong the life of my T60p. By having the W to alternate with, I hope to enjoy my T60p as long as possible. What a disappointing position to find ourselves in, having to put up with widescreen non-IPS ThinkPads. However it is, what it is and time marches on.
.
Cheers...

cklein wrote:

After I installed everything, unfortunately, this things run slower than my T42 from every aspect. The first thing to notice is the screen refresh speed. When I open a new window, the T42 just put the new window on the screen, very solid, and the W500, somehow it flick a little bit, refresh the screen from the top left to the bottom right. I have to say most people won't notice it, but for me, I am so get used to the high performance of T42, I notice it right away.

There's something very wrong with that picture. Some software hogging the performance...

W500 runs circles around my T60p in every aspect imaginable, while staying much cooler. Screen, however, does not compare well to a Hydis FlexView in any respect...

ajkula66 wrote:There's something very wrong with that picture. W500 runs circles around my T60p in every aspect imaginable, while staying much cooler....<snip>

Exactly, that has been my experience as well, the W500 I have is a rocket...

Cheers...

OK, finally I did a clean install on my w500. It's kindof tricky, as you all you guys know about the sata driver stuff. It runs really great until the end I installed the driver of AMT stuff (I don't know what it is, and I don't care, I just want the device manager screen clean).

I installed SQL, VS.NET, ..., etc, all kinds of heavy duty stuff. It took them like nothing. So on the system core side, I have to say W500 has what I need.

There's only 2 things frustrate me now that I can't get it solved.

1. The keyboard is kindof sticky. I hope I can get used to it soon.

2. The monitor. I don't know what is IPS or flex view, but I guess this 15.4" screen is much worse than the 15" 1600X1200 screen. Those say it's great just because they never used the 1600X1200 one, or they are not picky enogh. I noticed it right away. The screen redraw speed is slower!

Yes, the screen redraw is much slower than the 1600X1200 machine, and that make it appears slower. I have to say I am too picky. You only notice that when you compare them!

Now, the screen is the only pain on my [censored] now, but I think I will live with it. Life moves on. I guess I will leave my T42 at home, and W500 at work, so I can enjoy both.

Calvin