Performance of T43p vs. T42p

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cantona2k · #1 Post by **cantona2k** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:19 am

Hi!

At the moment i´m thinking about upgrading my 2 year old T40p to either a T42p or T43p with a 1600 display.

I was wondering if the T43p is worth the wait when it comes to the performance?!? Unfortunately, I couldn´t find any benchmarking results comparing the T43p and T42p (not on google, not on the boards here).

I know from a post that e.g. Mobileguru has access to both systems. Would it be possible to run some benchmarks comparing the performance (3dmark 2003 would be great for comparing the graphic cards too)?

Here´s the link to the post with T43p pics by Mobileguru
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... torder=asc

Thanks a lot for any answers or input!

s0larian · #2 Post by **s0larian** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:40 am

Don't expect to much performance gain from the upgrade to the T42/43. If it's because of the flexview display and more screen real estate: ok, that's a reason. But if you really want to "feel" a huge difference to the good old T40p it might be wise to wait for the next dual core processor generation, which should be out beginning next year. I decided for myself to skip the T43 model.

danny_isr · #3 Post by **danny_isr** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:56 am

from my experience with computers , it's never huge difference.
on the paper/specs sure it is. in real life it was always disappointing ....

yeah you can always wait and wait

they will be better all the time

Conmee · #4 Post by **Conmee** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:09 am

There's a modest performance boost with the T42p over my old T40p... mainly in video editing/rendering, and some Photoshop work. The faster CPU and memory give a little boost, but only slightly noticeable on certain calc-intensive tasks.

The biggest difference came in 3D design and modeling... Catia and UniGraphics render significantly faster (I worked with EDS to evaluate the T Series as a mobile workstation solution, and they use UG at General Motors)... the FireGL T2 128MB is a significant upgrade in terms of performance over the FireGL 9000 64MB. Having said that, unless you want better gaming performance or need the CAD performance improvement, I agree with the other folks who said to wait for the dual-core next generation Pentium M's.

Daniel.

thinhare · #5 Post by **thinhare** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:01 am

IMO, Upgrading the amount of memory would be the easiest way to improving the performance, Also a faster Hard Disk goes the same way.

emorphien · #6 Post by **emorphien** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:12 am

I'll probably get the T43p just because it's what is out now and I need a new laptop. I'm sure the dual cores will be faster but to keep battery consumption down I doubt they'll be hugely faster. I would expect to see more change in the multitasking performance though. Also knowing Intel they'll somehow manage to push it back a bit before 2006 comes.

Kenn · #7 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:16 pm

I agree that graphics/3D will see the biggest boost. I don't know what the technical differences are between the MR9600 core (used in the FireGL T2 on the T42p) and the X600, but the way pipelines and shaders tend to scale, you can expect a pretty large jump (sometimes 50-100% improvement) on pure, non-CPU-constrained 3D rendering in the latest games. Otherwise, the move to 533MHz bus will make for modest, but not staggering performance increases.

So if you really want a thinkpad but you want to play games or do realtime 3D work, the T43p is definitely the better choice. If you're not a gamer, then the T42p would be just fine, but this will ultimately depend on what the pricing differential happens to be.

NaT · #8 Post by **NaT** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:42 pm

emorphien wrote:I'll probably get the T43p just because it's what is out now and I need a new laptop.

Wait up. T43p is announced and (supposed to be out) but noone actually gets it in hand now. Ppl in this forum who ordered since the end of Feb haven't even received it by now. My machine is said to be shipped by mid June (hopefully will be better). If u want it quick, you might consider ordering T42p now.

NaT

#9 Post by **RonS** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:59 pm

The Sonoma is pretty much a dud. Nobody's waving benchmarks around that show the T43 outperforming the T42 (or the Sonoma outperforming the Dothan) because, in the real world, it doesn't.

Sonoma's biggest claim to fame is that it can handle PCIe graphics, SATA hard drive, Hi-def audio, and 533MHz FSB. But the PCIe graphics being offered with the T43 are mostly on par with the T42's. I don't know of any mainstream notebooks that use Sonoma's SATA or hi-def audio. And 533MHz FSB (and the corrosponding faster memory interface) give only a marginal boost in performance, hardly worth the increased power consumption.

I just bought another T42p. At 2.1GHz, it outperforms than any currently available (read "shipping") T43, and also a great deal right now. When IBM does a real re-design of the T series to include SATA, DVI, more USB ports and perhaps even firewire, I'll probably upgrade at that time.

asiafish · #10 Post by **asiafish** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 5:30 pm

I doubt the T43p will be a significantly better "gaming" machine than the T42p , unless it has 256MB or more of video memory, the speed differences on the two chips are just too minor.

Yes, it will be a bit better, maybe enough to actually notice, but certainly not enough better to render the T42p obsolete or make an upgrade worthwhile. Chances are, its not even enough faster to justify the wait or the price difference.

Doom3 runs beautifully on my T42p (one of hte slower ones) as does Half Life 2, KOTOR2 and Rome:Total War. It may not be marketed as a gaming laptop, but it does a terrific impersonation of one.

dukajoe · #11 Post by **dukajoe** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 9:41 pm

Kenn is right. The v3200 card on the 43p should be at least 25 percent faster at rendering than the firegl, based on the chipsets, memory speeds, and whatnot. The v3200 is based on the x600 chipset, and is a slightly beefed up version of it also. Out of the 4 graphics cards between the t42 and 43, the v3200 will be noticably the best performer.

CoolDragon · #12 Post by **CoolDragon** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:07 am

I think the main reason for T43p(15') over T42p(15') is the improvement in design and build thing, rather than performance.

fbrdphreak · #13 Post by **fbrdphreak** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:01 am

I will have a T43 (not 'p' sorry) in my hands this week for testing. IIRC, it will use the P-M 1.73GHz, Radeon X300, 60GB 7200RPM, 14" SXGA+, and 9-cell battery
You can check out the first impressions at the site in my sig when I get the laptop, but I will also post here so keep an eye out

emorphien · #14 Post by **emorphien** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:20 am

NaT wrote:
emorphien wrote:I'll probably get the T43p just because it's what is out now and I need a new laptop.
Wait up. T43p is announced and (supposed to be out) but noone actually gets it in hand now. Ppl in this forum who ordered since the end of Feb haven't even received it by now. My machine is said to be shipped by mid June (hopefully will be better). If u want it quick, you might consider ordering T42p now.

NaT

I don't need it quick (I'd like it) but I need something before the fall. I'm in no particular rush but I can't wait until 06 for the next chip to come out.

Performance of T43p vs. T42p

Performance of T43p vs. T42p

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