Thinkpads Forum

Can't figure out which one to go for, please advise...

Option 1
ThinkPad 450s
Specification:
Processor: Intel Core i7-5600U Processor (4MB Cache, up to 3.20GHz)
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64 preinstalled through downgrade rights in Windows 8.1 Pro 64
Operating System Language: Windows 7 Professional 64 preinstalled through downgrade rights in Windows 8.1 WE MUI
Recovery Media: Recovery Media Coupon WorldWide
Display: 14.0" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS with WWAN
Camera: 720p HD Camera
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 940M 1GB without Docking Connector
Security Chip: Security Chip Enabled
Memory: 12GB DDR3L-1600 4G Base+8G (1 SoDIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard Backlit - US English Euro
Pointing Device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader no Dock
Fingerprint Reader Software: Software for Softex Fingerprint Reader
Hard Drive: SSHD 500GB5400 8GB Cache
Front Battery: ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Ion (23.2Whr) Front
Rear Battery: ThinkPad Battery 6 cell Li-Ion (72Wh) Cyl HC Rear
Power Cord: Country Pack 65W Slim AC adapter United Kingdom
Wireless: Intel 7265 AC/B/G/N Dual Band Wireless + Bluetooth Version 4.0
Integrated Mobile Broadband: LTE Sierra EM7345
Language Pack: Publication - WE (FR/GE/IT/DU/EN)
Warranty: 3 Year On-site

OR

Option 2
ThinkPad 540p
Specification:
Processor: Intel Core i7-4910MQ Processor (8MB Cache,up to 3.90GHz)
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64 preinstalled through downgrade rights in Windows 8.1 Pro 64
Operating System Language: Windows 7 Professional 64 preinstalled through downgrade rights in Windows 8.1 WE MUI
Recovery Media: Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Recovery Media EMEA WE (EN FR GR IT NL) MUI
Display: 15.5" 3K (2880x1620) IPS With WWAN
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M 1GB
Memory: 16GB PC3-12800 DDR3L (2 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard with Number Pad - UK English
Pointing Device: ThinkPad TrackPad with Fingerprint Reader
Camera: 720p HD Camera
Hard Drive: 500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm, 2.5"
Micro Hard Drive: 16GB M.2 Solid State Drive Double
Optical Device: DVD Recordable
System Expansion Slots: Smart Card Reader
Battery: 9 Cell Li-Ion Cylindrical Battery 99.9Wh
Power Cord: Country Pack United Kingdom with Line cord & 135W AC adapter
Wireless: Intel Dual Band Wireless 7260AC with Bluetooth 4.0
Language Pack: Publication - WE (FR/GE/IT/DU/EN)
Warranty: 3 Year On-site
Power accessories: ThinkPad USB Charging Adapter

I really like 450p CPU, Additional Drive, and Smart Card reader, but don't like numpad and power consumption...

Will GPU be significantly worse and will CPU be significantly better?

And 450p is 400gbp more expensive... but CPU is replaceable...

Performance wise, the t540p's quad core is significantly better

Both GPUs are close, but the 940m is slightly better supposedly, both are low end GPUs.

the t450s have better trackpoint with buttons

By the way, what's the deal with W series... I've never thought of them as ThinkPad built quality level, are they much worse in built quality than T series and are those GPUs in W series worth switching from T to W series?

Are those GPU only Graphic specific or they will perform better than 940 and 730 in these ones in all fields significantly?

For example - would optioning for W instead of T and getting mid range CPU with W series but better GPU be smarter move?

Chassis wise, W-Series is almost exactly the same as T-series - so no fear there, build quality is on the same high level.

The W-series is meant to be the successor of the T series, focused on high peformance including GPUs certified for CAD. So called "ultimate mobile workstations".

Current W series in photos looks like they have the bad trackpad, not the latest version but the one before whis is the same one as for T45p - is this correct or they have the new upgraded one - the next gen after the failed one?

To be honest W series looks suspiciously similar to T540p (edited) visually and via spec sheet just CPU and GPU sections have more options

Neil wrote:The W-series is meant to be the successor of the T series, focused on high peformance including GPUs certified for CAD. So called "ultimate mobile workstations".

What? Thats just wrong...W-Series was never meant to be the successor of the T-Series. W series always was the T series with more powerful GPUs. Both always co-existed.

T series has no successor, and it doesn´t need one, since T series still exists.

On the other hand, W series is to be discontinued soon.

Kliklak wrote:Current W series in photos looks like they have the bad trackpad, not the latest version but the one before whis is the same one as for T45p - is this correct or they have the new upgraded one - the next gen after the failed one?

To be honest W series looks suspiciously similar to T450p visually and via spec sheet just CPU and GPU sections have more options

Current W series models (W550s & W541) have the same TouchPad as all of the other Broadwell models, with dedicated TrackPoint buttons.

T450p does not exist.

Ibthink wrote:

Neil wrote:The W-series is meant to be the successor of the T series, focused on high peformance including GPUs certified for CAD. So called "ultimate mobile workstations".

What? Thats just wrong...W-Series was never meant to be the successor of the T-Series. W series always was the T series with more powerful GPUs. Both always co-existed.

T series has no successor, and it doesn´t need one, since T series still exists.

On the other hand, W series is to be discontinued soon.

Kliklak wrote:Current W series in photos looks like they have the bad trackpad, not the latest version but the one before whis is the same one as for T45p - is this correct or they have the new upgraded one - the next gen after the failed one?

To be honest W series looks suspiciously similar to T450p visually and via spec sheet just CPU and GPU sections have more options

Current W series models (W550s & W541) have the same TouchPad as all of the other Broadwell models, with dedicated TrackPoint buttons.

T450p does not exist.

mistyped numbers T540p

as per GPU according to google - No, the same chip just W tuned for calculations CAD etc instead of games - the same hardware apparently just with some features some topics come up even with self made transfers from one to other by some string change or smth ...

That was only the case with W500. Newer W series have had much more powerful GPUs than the normal 15" T series.

W530 for example, was available with a Quadro K2000M, while the T530 was only available with a nvidia NVS 5400M, which is a much weaker GPU.

the w541 comes with 2 different gpu options, the k1100m and the k2100m, both are supposed to be better than the gpu in the t540p