On to my next thinkpad...help me decide

[false_lip]

I'm on my forth thinkpad and after just about maxing out my T61 with a SSD, USB 3.0, Wireless card, and RAM I need to upgrade. I use the computer to DJ and I want to start doing video while DJing. The T61's gpu doesn't do it spec wise.

Here's what I need (in the graphics department for serato scratch live video to work):

Nvidia 8400 or better
Intel 945 or better
ATI 1650 or better

I would prefer a thinkpad with (on board) USB 3.0 and a newer processor. I would prefer to spend around $400 and I don't mind a used model and I might consider selling my T61 if I have to.

Any ideas of models to stay away from or steer towards?

Thank you!

[thePCxp]

Nice to see someone else who's DJing with a ThinkPad!

If you want to get a ThinkPad with on board USB 3.0, you will have to get one of the newer models (T530, L530, W530, T440/s, etc.), since that when ThinkPads started to have USB 3.0 ports.

I think a T, W, or L series, or R500/400 would serve you well. (If you don't already know) You can always get a used ThinkPad here on the forum for a good price. You can also try the Lenovo Outlet - where you can get one of the newer ThinkPads new, refurbished, or slightly used (for a lowered price).

The W series would be #1 on my list (personally, if I had the money I would get one of these). It is the top-of-the-line ThinkPad (its a mobile workstation) with powerful GPUs and CPUs (up to Intel i7 extreme processors). The W510 can support up to 16GB of RAM, while the W520 and newer models can support up to 32GB, and the W500 (which is the first W series model) can only support up to 8GB. (They also come at a premium.)

Next would be the T500 and newer models (T510, T530, etc.), then the R500/400, and lastly the L series. (I'm actually planning on getting a T500 - or even a W500, if I can afford one - soon, which I will be using for DJing.)

You'll be able to get a W500 starting from $300, a T500 starting from $200, an R500 starting from around $100, a W510 starting from around $400 or $500, and a T510 starting from $400. W520's and T520's start from $500 or $600, while used L series ThinkPads start from probably $400 (maybe even $300 - not completely sure, I rarely see them in the forum's marketplace). Newer ThinkPads that are used, like the T530, seem to start from $700 or $800 and go up from there. These prices are just an estimation from what I've seen around the marketplace lately (so I could be wrong).

[thePCxp]

Also, I took the time to compile a list for you of all the ThinkPads that I recommended and their GPUs. Since I don't work with video (or any kind of visuals - yet...I'm still just starting out) or use Serato (I use Traktor), I thought I would compile this list for you to to see which ThinkPad(s) would best meet your needs in the graphics department (and overall, just to make your search easier):

T500/W500:
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD - integrated graphics chipset
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 w/ 256 MB - discrete graphics chipset
ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 w/ 512 MB - discrete graphics chipset (W500 only)

T510/W510:
Intel HD Graphics
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS3100M
1GB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX880M (W510 only)

T520/W520:
Intel HD Graphics 3000
NVIDIA® Quadro® 4200M (T520 only)
NVIDIA® Quadro® 1000M (If I remember correctly, only W520's come with this)
NVIDIA® Quadro® 2000M (W520 only)

T530/W530:
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1GB NVIDIA NVS™ 5400M (T530 only)
2GB NVIDIA® Quadro® K1000 (I think only W530's come with this)
2GB NVIDIA® Quadro® K2000 (W530 only)

R500:
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (GMA 4500MHD)
128MB ATI Radeon HD 3470

L412/L512:
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500M
Intel HD Graphics

L420/L520:
Intel HD Graphics 3000

L430/L530:
Intel HD Graphics 4000

R400/T400:
Intel Integrated Graphics 4500MHD
AMD M82XT 256MB

T410:
Intel HD Graphics
256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS3100M

T410s:
Intel HD Graphics
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 5700MHD (GMA 5700MHD
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro NVS 3100M

T420:
Intel HD Graphics 3000
nVidia N12P-NS1 (20w)

T420s:
Intel HD Graphics 3000

T430:
Intel HD Graphics 3000 (integrated)
Intel HD Graphics 4000 (integrated)
1GB NVIDIA NVS™ 5400M
2GB NVIDIA NVS™ 5400M

T430s:
Intel HD Graphics 4000

T431s:
Intel HD Graphics 4000