Thinkpads Forum

Hey guys,

I think I finally decided to go for the W701 versus Dell M6500.
I was wondering if you can help with couple of decisions. I will be using this mainly for Visual Studio, SQL and couple VPCs run at a time. Ocasional games (might go back to WoW when the next big release is out ).

1) Processor: 820QM versus 920 XM. 820QM is cheaper but with 920 would be a bit of future proofing plus I do not really feel like replacing the processor by myself down the line. 920 is more heat so I guess may cut into laptop lifetime. Plus I read there may be even better ones coming out. Cost is kind of secondary considering the entire price of the laptop and the fact that I plan to put 16GB of RAM in it. So I would love to have the top of the line today (920XM + 3800M) but I am worried it would be a lot of heat for stuff I do not necessarily need. I am definitely hoping this will last me at least as much as my current trusty T60P.
2) Graphis Card: Is it really worth it the extra $470 for 3800M if I am not doing any AutoCAD work?
3) From the other posts, I guess I should get the Color Sensor and WACOM digitizer (though no idea what I will use them for )
4) Harddrives: I was planning to get 1 500GB 7200 RPM drive and then get an SSD and make that the primary. With the Dell I read that you need to order 2 drives to get all the components to install them. Does anyone know how it is with W701?
5) Expansion Slot: What combo do you think will be more useful? I was thinking of CF + EC to have one of each but I have never used a memory stick from a camera (all cameras had some USB connection) so maybe I should go with 2 ECs.


Oh does anyone know of anymore coupons? The one from this site for 15% expired as far as I can tell.

peon01 wrote:Hey guys,

I think I finally decided to go for the W701 versus Dell M6500.
I was wondering if you can help with couple of decisions. I will be using this mainly for Visual Studio, SQL and couple VPCs run at a time. Ocasional games (might go back to WoW when the next big release is out ).

1) Processor: 820QM versus 920 XM. 820QM is cheaper but with 920 would be a bit of future proofing plus I do not really feel like replacing the processor by myself down the line. 920 is more heat so I guess may cut into laptop lifetime. Plus I read there may be even better ones coming out. Cost is kind of secondary considering the entire price of the laptop and the fact that I plan to put 16GB of RAM in it. So I would love to have the top of the line today (920XM + 3800M) but I am worried it would be a lot of heat for stuff I do not necessarily need. I am definitely hoping this will last me at least as much as my current trusty T60P.
2) Graphis Card: Is it really worth it the extra $470 for 3800M if I am not doing any AutoCAD work?
3) From the other posts, I guess I should get the Color Sensor and WACOM digitizer (though no idea what I will use them for )
4) Harddrives: I was planning to get 1 500GB 7200 RPM drive and then get an SSD and make that the primary. With the Dell I read that you need to order 2 drives to get all the components to install them. Does anyone know how it is with W701?
5) Expansion Slot: What combo do you think will be more useful? I was thinking of CF + EC to have one of each but I have never used a memory stick from a camera (all cameras had some USB connection) so maybe I should go with 2 ECs.


Oh does anyone know of anymore coupons? The one from this site for 15% expired as far as I can tell.

1) If one waits long enough, there is always something better. But it is true that a new refresh of Intel i7 cpus for mobile is coming ahead, so my guess is there will be slight refresh of W701 by the end of the year including the top-of-the-line i7-940XM (@ 3.33 GHz).

2) As for the 3800M gpu, it seems that it provides almost the double performance of that of 2800M, so you tell me if it is worth the 470 bucks In fact, it seems to be still the most powerful single mobile gpu (it may be beating the HD 5870, we will see that when more info is available). So, it is definitely much more future-proof (actually granted anyways for such an already expensive laptop), in particular for gaming.

3)The Color Calibrator is needed to keep the not-so-bad screen of W701 in the right shape, so I think it is worth it. As for the WACOM, well, it is just cool being Besides, you never know when you may find it handy to draw a picture or write down some note... especially since it is not like it is not an available option...

4)Regarding the HDs, you can get with the W701 whatever you want and then configure it the way you want, you are not bound to purchasing more than 1 HD. However, if you intend on adding a second or even a third HD, you will probably need additional drive caddies, but these can be easily had for a few bucks, for instance see the big banner above

Cheers,

Marin

Definitely get the WACOM digitizer and the XRITE color calibrator. It doesn't matter if you won't ever need it and it's only a $150 add-on. This will secure the resale value by a LOT more than a $150. It's all perception. Just in case you need to convert it into cash at some point, you'll want to have that.

You're right on the money getting the 820QM over the 720QM, but the 920XM I am not so sure about. That was especially true before they dropped the upgrade price to $750 over the 720QM, but it may still be an unnecessary option. Speaking of potentially unnecessary options, I'd think twice about getting the FX3800M graphics card option for the same reason, but if you have a need for it, or if you think you might have a need during the time that you anticipate owning the W701, then obviously, get it, since you say that price is not a primary consideration.

Getting the 500GB 7200rpm drive is exactly what I'll be doing as well considering the bang you get for that upgrade buck. I also happen to agree with your overall decision to get the W701 over the M6500. I looked at that model as well, but frankly, it seems overpriced for what it is, and, perhaps more important, what it is not and does not have.

Definitely don't get your RAM or an SSD from Lenovo. Unless you have money to burn, that's just plain well...unnecessary. Especially since you are getting the full 16GB of RAM.

Someone else will have to tell you as to whether or not you ought to go for the FX 3800M for $470 (+tax), and the i7-920XM for $750 (+tax), and the (+tax) part will be another $119 if you live in L.A., for example. It's bound to be less most anywhere else in the U.S., but just tack on another $100 to the cost of both of just those two upgrades! Again, the WACOM digitizer and the color calibrator are two tangible upgrades that you can see, feel, and touch, and in the case of the calibrator, it'll even make some cutsie funny noises. $150 (and a lot lower +tax part) for both of those is a noooo-brainer. And I don't mean to suggest that the graphics card and the i7-920XM aren't tangible, too, but to see it, you have to open the thing up, so it doesn't have the same effect.

Excuse my partially cynical stance, but I've been running my own company for a long time and I've witnessed some very odd decision-making processes on the part of some of my customer, including even business accounts.

I'm in the same boat as you. I had a W700 and sold it a little too early, because I thought the W701 would be out a lot earlier than it did. Now I'm back on my own trust T60p. With Lenovo, you never really know these days. I've also decided against the M6500 as well as the MacBook Pro, which I briefly considered. I've waited this long, so I'll wait a few more weeks to see if HP's new workstation, the 8740w, will indeed come out with the promised DC2 (DreamColor 2) display, which will also feature the RGB LED backlight, but will allegedly also have over 1 billion colors, with a 100% color gamut, as well as IPS display technology. There are a few people on here who have doubts, but too many other other things that I predicted did turn out to be right on the money. One thing is true, however, which is that HP is wayyy late with its release of this breakthrough DC2 display. It was supposed to happen "sometime in May", and when I called their procurement team on it late last month, they gave me a new date of "mid-June". Well, I've waited this long, I can wait another 2-3 weeks. If they don't come through then, I will likely pull the trigger on a W701 as well.

Now you need someone else to share their knowledge and opinion(s) as to whether or not you'll want the i7-920XM and the FX3800M. If you wait a while, you'll be able to get the i7-940XM. However, you can always wait a while for new technology to come out, and you'll end up never getting anything if you go that route.

Good luck to you.