is T43 (or with P) that bad? compared to T42 (or with P)???

[motion51]

I have seen many opinions about T43, and many of them point out heat and noise problems..
and based on that, i was thinking to purchase T42p through EPP.. but they dont have any in stocks..
for school, i dont have much time to wait (they ask me to wait at least 14 days) ..
i just wonder how bad T43 is.. i noticed that some t43 users are quite satisfy with t43, and dont have problems with it.
any comments?

p.s is they really gonna send the units after 14 days? from my experience purchasing through online,
they always say it only takes 2 weeks then takes me like month...

[Army Chief]

Granted, I'm new here, but as longtime ThinkPad user who has done considerable research on late model T Series machines, I think you've drawn the wrong the conclusion.

The T42 was the highest evolution of the breed prior to the adoption of new processing technologies in the T43, so it is only logical that we would tend to see it as something of a benchmark. So, in comparing the T43 to the T42, one might notice somewhat elevated operating temperatures (to be expected) along with the associated fan activity. That does not mean that the T43 is somehow deficient; merely that the T42 is an extremely refined reference point.

If you want the newer technology and expansion capability, then you must also accept a slightly greater measure of power consumption and processor heating. Still, when you read what T43 users who have kept the machine longer than a week have had to say, the impressions are almost universally positive. More to the point, the dreaded heat and noise aren't even considered worthy of comment -- until you compare it to the older T42.

I'm preparing to upgrade a SXGA+ T41, and I plan to do it with a Flexview T43. Whatever their differences, I am sure that I will quickly adapt to the new machine, and will appreciate the greater capabilities it affords. I suspect that I'll adapt to the T43 in very short order, just as I've done with several generations of ThinkPads in the past. Once that happens, all of this T42 v. T43 dedate will seem utterly pointless.

Right now, there are some great deals being offered on the T43 models, and were I in your stead, I wouldn't hesitate to place my order for the one that looked most likely to meet my immediate needs.

Chief

[davidspalding]

I very nearly got a T42p, because I could get a bigger screen, blah blah blah ... a fancy T42p for about the price of a good T43. But.... A difficult sticking point for me was that I wanted a Bluetooth CDC in it, and getting an antenna-equipped model and finding a CDC from a third party seemed dicey. Also, some of the new T43s have a PCI-X Radeon video card and faster (PC-4200) DDR memory. So I got what I got.

After 2-3 weeks with it (and yes, it did take within the 2-4 weeks they specified, though the projected delivery date was going to be 8 weeks after I ordered probably due to demand, as I didn't order any mods or upgrades), I'm perfectly satisfied. Your mileage may vary, but I have NO noise or heat problems. Partly because - ahem - I use the included power control utility that lets you set performance and power consumption and - yes - fan volume, partly because it just may be a slightly better MTM than what other people got. My Dock II is the desktop leaf blower, so I don't mind the mild noise that the laptop's fan makes from time to time when plugged in and set for max performance.

I CAN tell you that if you are patient, and are convinced that a Thinkpad is what you want, I think you will get value. The software shipping on T4xs is exemplary, tons of security and backup and utility out of the box. If you get a CD or DVD writer, get discs, and make your Rescue and Recovery discs immediately. I did, and even used them after messing around with some settings. Right off, you do NOT have to get special backup software, CD/DVD burning software, multimedia widgets, etc., etc. It comes equipped, period. Warranty service was good (I had to have the LCD replaced; unusual but not unheard of).

It's just head and shoulders and torso above the Dells and Toshibas I see these days.

Noise ... you can try various power setting and make up your mind.

Heat ... it can get warm, but I use a Targus Coolpad (http://tinyurl.com/8wu9a, an Associates link to Amazon). For the price of a keyboard wrist rest, it will keep your T4x clean (off the dirty library/cafe table), cool, and canted at a more comfortable angle. Bottom-case heat worries solved for < $15.

Other people's experiences aren't necessarily less valid or more so than mine ... it's all anecdotal. At the end of the day, read some reviews, Consumer Reports info, and make up your own mind. My two cents, I wouldn't make a laptop choice based on which got shipped first. I chose quality, and I think I got it.

[alins]

I've read all the postings on fan noise/heat issues in the T43P, and I've cross checked the machines people complain about, against their date of introduction (not date of manufacture or shipping).

I could be wrong, but it distinctly appears to me that almost all complaints are about T43P models introduced before August 2005, and not the Aug 2005/October 2005 models. Look in the tabook and see when your model was made available ...

[nirvana0001]

NHC could solve your problem.

[motion51]

thank you for replys, it is very helpfull, and just wonder what is NHC?

[christopher_wolf]

I have had my T43 for several months now, and I *could not* be happier! It has been the best laptop I have had, by far, and a literal Dream Machine. I have owned Thinkpads ever since I got my first one, a 701C Butterfly that I have and still boots to Windows 95 and connects to the Internet. As for heat? Hasn't been an issue for me, even when I use it on my Lap for hours on end, there is no significant heat buildup. I spent a long time trying to decide between this T43 and a T42...I got the T43 because I needed maximum performance in a Thinkpad, along with Bluetooth and a whole array of other options. Having a Fan that comes on slightly more often than a T42's isn't a big issue for me, especially when, at least from what I have seen, cools the System off a bit better than the T42. I do use my T43 *ALOT* for PyMol, MATLAB, and Visual Studio (C++ and FORTRAN) at the same time...Performance is a big issue as far as I am concerned; as an example, I gave a Lab presentation today and I was plugged into a projector for the entire time I was on battery *without* the fan coming on for the first 50 Minutes, then coming up on Level 1 for the last 10...this was while I was presenting and, near the end, compiling code in FORTRAN; yet it also does well at just browsing the Web or playing Games.

EDIT: NHC is Notebook Hardware Control; it lets you control many things (CPU Voltage, ATI Clock Speed, Dynamic Stepping, HDD SMART Tool, and let's you view the Temperature of various parts of the Thinkpad)

http://www.pbus-167.com/chc.htm

[nirvana0001]

thank you for replys, it is very helpfull, and just wonder what is NHC?

notebook hardware control.
there's a big different of temperature before using it and after.

[ddutta]

I was very scared before buying my T43, thanks to the numerous posts condemning the T43. But the T43 was $200-250 cheaper than a corresponding T42 so I ordered it.

Since my T43 was a CTO and Lenovo was having some supply problems at that time, it took a long time to ship (1.5months). Of course I complained about this and they struck of $50.

I am happy with my T43 so far. It has 'almost' the same noise levels as my trusty T42. Its faster than my T42 due to the 7200rpm drive and the 2G Dothan. Doesnt heat up more than my T43 though the palm rest is a little warmer due to the 7200rpm drive.

One reason why my T43 is silent could be that I bought a model introduced in September 2005. Its all speculation but I feel Lenovo tweaked the later models after a lot of complaints. I will never buy any 1st revision from now on. My T42 is a 1st revision with a fingerprint reader and its noisy while my brother's T42, which is later release, is quieter. It could be differences in manufacturing too.

[holr]

i had my thinkpad t43p about three or four weeks ago as a replacement for an old faulty t41p. Its a nice machine, it really is. But i do have issues with the fan noise, so i dont think, despite it being a "newer" revision, means too much.

The temperarure of the computer is fine, it idles at about 42 celcius which is quite comfortable on my lap. Its just that the fan is always on (quiet, but noticible) until the temp reaches 38 degrees and then it switches off (until ot gets up to 45 again and comes on). If only they could release a bios or embedded controller update that only switched the fan on once you got above 45 degrees, then off once you got back to 45 degrees I would be happy! Not to mention the battery power saved due to the fan being on less....

[monkey243]

I haved my T43 three months ago.It's quiet good.I never have haved the noise problem.And the heat is OK.
one thing i really want to notice that T43 is a total new platform to T42.T43 have PCIE graphics card and one PCIE PCMCIA slot.