Replacing my T41p : T60, T60p or wait for T61p ?

[Pascal_TTH]

Hi all,

I read a lot of topics within this forum to setup my mind. I decided to replace my T41p for some reasons :
- screen look very poor comparing with recent laptop (I see T60 form a friend)
- FireGL T2 128 Mo is now too old to handle recent game even if gaming is not priority (I got a very high end desktop) but from time to time while out of office for some days, I want to be able to play.
- with more and more datas, I want an internal DVD burner.
- better hard disk are now only with SATA interface

3D performances considerations make that all T4x will never give me enough extra power. Only T60 can bring it. What more, T60 have Dual Core cpu. So, I don't consider any T4x's... I also want 14 inch with SXGA+ other resolution or screen size doesen't suit me. T60p seems to be the best choise but I read some topics :
- high temperature for FireGL V5200
- gaming crash
- fan always run and loud

Thus, I read more and more ! T60 with Radon X1300 are out because 3D performances are too close of the Fire GL T2. T60 with X1400 are nicer. Performances are better but GPU temperature are high and in most case as high as FireGL V5200. If my laptop got to have a GPU at 65°C, I prefer it offer lot of power ! I don't really care about high temp, most IC support about 100°C.

Does some one know if T60 with X1400 128 Mo are quiter then T60p ? Does it worth to drop some 3D power to have a more silent system ? X1400 offers the minimum performances I can accept... Are T60p realy noisy ? The T60 of my friend is quiet silent while fan runs at less then 3000 rpm (I remember nearly no noise with fan at 2800 rpm with TPfancontrol). Does the screen of the T60p 14" SXGA+ have some ghost effect during gaming ?

About T61p, I know that news NVIDIA GPU have very high TDP. Some guy at a Toshiba presentation tell me they eat a least 1 our on battery life comparing with GPU like Intel X3100. I also don't believe that Lenovo will solve thermal issue. Since years, all T40's have a fan always spining. Also, I'an in Europe and aviability and price are a pitty.

I need to setup my mind soon because I see a very nice T60p offer online and I don't want miss it. But I need to be sure to make a smart choice.

Any advise is welcome ! Sorry for my poor english.

Thank you !

[skpsm]

I have a T60p and pretty much I have done a lot of benchmarkings and have been monitoring the temperature closely with TPFancontrol.
I havent noticed any higher GPU temperatures more than 75C.
The fan is also not that nosiy. I have not really felt if the fan noise is a hindrance. I got a score of 1675 consistently using 3dMark06 and even the GPU temperatures did not exceed 75C after running 3dmark06 3 times continuosly.

I feel T60 with X1400 128 Mo will be slower than ATI FireGL 256MB. Maybe someone with that config can post the score with 3dmark06.

I have been reading mixed reviews about the T61p getting released this July end. But I am not sure.

I cannot comment on T61p until the machine is out and do a benchmarking.

[Troels]

Firstly, are you sure that your friend also has a 14" SXGA+ like you do (just that his is a T60) ?
I think all the points you raise are very valid, so i wouldn't consider the T4x for your uses either.

I can attest to the higher temps of the V5200, but i still believe that this is completely Lenovo's fault, since they have used too thick thermal pads ontop of the CPU and GPU, as a remdey since they have no surface contact without. We're talking 2.5-3 mm pad.

- I have not seen any games crash on the V5200 yet, only some old obscure games, DX6 based i believe.

From what i've seen in the GPU temperatures thread on this forum, the X1400 in some cases run a little cooler, but still not much different from the FireGLs.
- Mine runs at ~3k RPMs when idling. I think the noise is noticeable - more than when my T42 with MR9600 was idling.

- 14" T60p screen could as well be by the same manufacturer as you have now. From two different manufacturers (Hydis and Samsung) i have seen no difference in ghosting. In fact it's quite low, but still noticeable.

About the T61p discrete graphics: That's what i said a month ago or so. nVidia is or was not known for their power efficiency, neither for laptops or desktops when it comes to their higher performance models.
You'll never see a 7900 or 7950GTX integrated in less than 17" and with three fans because it isn't do-able. You don't stuff it into a 14" thin thinkpad with one fan and one heatsink, not a 7600 either.

the NVS140M is a huge step forward when it comes to heat dissipation - it seems. The 570M dissipates much more heat than the Sonoma in the T43, and we know how that went.

So basically, i'd say:
- If you want the best ever laptop screen, a flexview, you have no other choice than T60/T60p
- If you want widescreen, in the smallest footprint: T61
- Highest performance in 14" 4:3: T60p

But currently they have big supply problems with the T61, so you'd wait for a long time. The T61p might soon be released, but wait for some reviews about the fan and heat first.

[Pascal_TTH]

Thank you skpsm ! This looks great. I noticed you got an 15,4 wide screen T60p and most posts about temperature issue seem to be about 14" 4/3. I hope I will have other answers/advise.

I'am ready for this one :
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/products.nsf/ ... p/_2623D8U

And this is (or was) my second choise :
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/products.nsf/ ... p/_2623KFU

[Pascal_TTH]

Done ! I ordered from Thinkpad World a fully loaded T60p :

Intel Centrino Core Duo T2500 2.0GHz Processor
2GB RAM
100GB 7200rpm HD
14.1in SXGA+ 1400x1050 LCD
256MB ATI FireGL V5200
CDRW/DVDRW Dual Layer DVD Burner
Intel 802.11abg wireless
Verizon WWAN
Bluetooth/Modem
1Gb Ethernet
UltraNav
Secure chip
Fingerprint reader
9c Li-Ion batt
WinXP Pro

I'am so happy !

[skpsm]

Hi Pascal_TTH,
Congrats on your purchase. Hope you will be getting it in a month.

[Pascal_TTH]

Hello skpsm,

Thanks, I hope it will arrive soon. It's the first time I buy a fully loaded Thinkpad even if it's not my first Thinkpad P serie. Unfortunatly, Verizon WWAN will be useless here... According to other guys who already buy from Thinkpad World, they receive it in Europe within 2 or 3 days with UPS. I just order a french keybord now.

Just have to wait spending time in reading reviews, topics and hardware maintenance manual, downloading lastest drivers, preparing data transfert from the T41p and so on.