FireGL T2 vs MR X300 + IBM's Useless Notebook Finder

[Xet]

I plan to buy a T42p or T43 and I want it to have a good graphic card (for gaming). Upto now, I considered FireGL T2 128MB to be the best available option for me as I dont think I can pay more than around $2900 for the notebook.

However, after doing some searchs I am not sure anymore that FireGL T2 is better than the X300 on T43. Some webpages show that the 64MB MR X300 has higher 3D Mark scores than FireGL T2 128MB and its clock speed and bus are apparently also faster than FireGL. Can anyone tell me which card is better for games such as WoW and Doom III?

I also have another problem. When I use the IBM's Notebook Finder and select almost all the best options, it comes up with some strange models that are not listed in the tabook and are way too cheap to be believable.

For example, it shows several T43p thinkpads with model number 2687NJU (which is neither listed in tabook nor tawbook) costing less than $3000 and having all the best features you can select in the notebook finder (e.g. 15" UXGA, Multi-burner, Fingerprint, Bluetooth, 60 or 80 HDD, FireGL V3200, etc.).

Does anyone know where these models come from and why you cant find anything about them in any other website or the tabook?

Finally, please forgive my poor english and bad writing style. This is one of my first posts on an online forum.

[STS06]

Poor english?...no my friend, you did quite well!

Anyways, I also had the exact same dilema...I ordered a T42p at roughly $2650 after EPP and even then it was too much. So I switched to the T42. I too wanted a good graphics card but remember that none of these machines are really "gaming" machines. Having said that, I was told that the T42's ATI 9600 is the best and I have also heard that the FireGl is best but I haven't heard or seen many say that the x300 is the best. Bench marks are one thing and in game performance are another so take those scores with a grain of salt. Some dude at least a few months back ordered a T42p, T43, and T43p and said the p-models performed the best in games (probably b/c of a combination of a faster processor, graphics card, and ram). I doubt my post helps, but some info is better than none. Good luck!

[pipspeak]

If there's a model way to cheap to be believeable, try ordering it and see if you get the price. In my experience, IBM has always had a few TP models that have specs far beyond their price point. Not sure why, but if you look you'll generally find them.

One recent one I almost bought is the 2686DGU, which for under $1800 has better specs (DVD-R, 7K60, FPR etc.) than many models costing over $2K, and is not in the tabook.

[tom2517]

I plan to buy a T42p or T43 and I want it to have a good graphic card (for gaming). Upto now, I considered FireGL T2 128MB to be the best available option for me as I dont think I can pay more than around $2900 for the notebook.

However, after doing some searchs I am not sure anymore that FireGL T2 is better than the X300 on T43. Some webpages show that the 64MB MR X300 has higher 3D Mark scores than FireGL T2 128MB and its clock speed and bus are apparently also faster than FireGL. Can anyone tell me which card is better for games such as WoW and Doom III?

I also have another problem. When I use the IBM's Notebook Finder and select almost all the best options, it comes up with some strange models that are not listed in the tabook and are way too cheap to be believable.

For example, it shows several T43p thinkpads with model number 2687NJU (which is neither listed in tabook nor tawbook) costing less than $3000 and having all the best features you can select in the notebook finder (e.g. 15" UXGA, Multi-burner, Fingerprint, Bluetooth, 60 or 80 HDD, FireGL V3200, etc.).

Does anyone know where these models come from and why you cant find anything about them in any other website or the tabook?

Finally, please forgive my poor english and bad writing style. This is one of my first posts on an online forum.

IBM are never meant to play games, if you want a mobile station that are good at games, go for HP nw8240 or Dell M70, both are great at games and cheaper. But if it has to be thinkpads, I think T2 should be better than X300...if I remember correctly, T2 is based on x300.

As for the prices, not just IBM/Lenovo website, on Euclid computer, the most expensive thinkpad right now is T42p??? Even the best spec T43p (now with 2.26Ghz and 100G/7200rpm) is cheaper than two of the T42ps...One wonders how they price those things.....

[nirvana0001]

watch my signature

[Doltan]

I got my 2668-H3A at ~USD2730, which is very cheap considering the prices for the other IBM/Lenovo models selling over here in Singapore

[benz]

I would advise that you go for a lower end video card, if you're looking to save money. Now that doesn't mean go for the Radeon 7500, get something current (DX 9.0 compat.)...but like others have said these are not gaming rigs, nor will they ever be. That said, my FireGL T2 is working out great, I can play games like AA, GTA:SA, BF:1942/Vietnam, etc. just fine, albeit at lower graphics settings. But if I ever wanted to really game (which I don't plan on doing unless I get paid for it) I'd build a sweet desktop for much less.