T61 vs. T60P

[skitty4gzus]

Ok please dont flame all over this folks who are alot smarter and brighter than myself. A T61 with nvidia graphics card seems like a nice machine in comparison to a t60p. I like the t60p but a loaded t60p widescreen, WWAN, 100gb or larger is gonna set you back quite a bit, but it seems like a T61 with nvidia graphics and WWAN is a few hundred cheaper. And i know it sounds lil but that firewire port on the T61 is gonna be quite nice. Is there anything im leaving out or not thinking of? I like the specs of a t60p but it is a lil overkill for me, and it seems like i can get into a t61 at a better price point?

[agarza]

IMO the T61 is a much nicer machine than the T60p. T60p build quality I think is cheaper than the T61. You would get a cool and quiet Thinkpad if you go for the T61. You can use XP Pro on the T61 with all the drivers provided by Lenovo.

[Redmumba]

The T60P IS more expensive, too. Whether this is because they're trying to move to the new T61 and shut out the T60/P, I have no idea. However, I CAN say that the T61 is far cooler, and the roll cage (behind the screen) is a big improvement, one that definitely makes a noticeable difference between the two models.

[brentpresley]

I'll take the T60p HANDs DOWN over any T61.

Reasons:
FLEXVIEW LCD - This is reason enough in and of itself. Having a Flexview LCD is like dating a runway model. Once you've been there is practically impossible to go back to anything else and be "satisfied".

Build Quality - I've used both these machines and have to disagree with the above poster, IMHO the T60 series lineup in general is just much better built than the T61 (that "solid" feel to it). Not saying the T61 is BAD by any stretch. The comparison is like an 8 out of 10 vs a 9 out of 10.

Heat production - Not a difference here, they both get "hot" if you push them (CPU or OpenGL for the video). My T60p with a revision B fan can handle a T7600 at full load, as well as the FireGL V5250 pushed hard at the same time. It's just not a pleasant experience on your legs with any laptop when you do this.

Just my 0.02.

[Troels]

Also, if you compare the insides of the T61 and T60 series you will notice that they saved where they could on the mainboard roll cage on the T61.
The T60 series is expensive in comparison because of the Flexview LCD on select models, while the widescreen version is expensive because Lenovo had to do some instant design changes in the middle of production. Such design changes are time consuming and expensive.

In comparison, Intel is offering rebates with the Santa Rosa like never before. Also, Lenovo has cut costs mainly by firing people but generally just better marketing. They know that they must lower the price for people to buy laptops and to be competitive to Dell, HP etc.

Seen from the performance side;
The nvidia 140M is definitely not a nice card in comparison to the firegl. Well 3dmark would tell you they are equal. Ok, it is DX10, but i promise you will have problems with DX10 games, 128 mb memory and a low 64 bit wide mem interface.
The Santa Rosa platform sounds more and more like no real update, after Intel has given up on Robson. It's of course faster than previous generations, but it should have been so much more

[Pascal_TTH]

I agree brentpresley and Troels perhaps because I got a T60p... I don't think quality change a lot from T60 to T61. Some parts for exemple keybord are the same.

The roll cage of the T61 got some hole to make it lighter because the LCD cage bring more weight. So hand in hand, the laptop got the same weight.

The positive part of the T61 is the new fan announced to be quieter and also the bigger copper plate that cover CPU and GPU.

Also, T61 have leatest Centrino and Core 2 Duo tech within and DirectX 10 GPU (some models). But Quadro NVS 140m will never be enough powerfull to run any DirectX 10 game.

But since T40, IBM use [censored] too high thermal pad over GPU so all Thinkpad with dedicated graphic chips gets hot. If you replace the thermal pad with a copper plate (same heigt, seem my post in T60 temperature topic), you get up to 15°C less !!! Why don't they to that in factory ?


I think the best way to choose the right one is to right down what you want first : Flexview, 3D power, powerful CPU, form factor, screen resolution and so on. 14" SXGA+ was my top priority and in second it was a good 3D GPU. brentpresley wants a Flexview screen so he have to go for T60 15". Less you have selective point, larger is the choice !

[Pocket Aces]

Is everyone agreeing that the FireGL is better than the Quadro for games?

[Pascal_TTH]

Is everyone agreeing that the FireGL is better than the Quadro for games?

The only bench I found about those GPU are 3D Mark 2005 :

Quadro NVS 140m : 3200
FireGL V5200 : 3550

It can give an idea but from a game to an other one, one will perhaps beat the other. I think they are close on the average.

If some members can run other benchmark like Aquamark3, it can be an other clue to find is they stay close...

[Goran]

But since T40, IBM use [censored] too high thermal pad over GPU so all Thinkpad with dedicated graphic chips gets hot. If you replace the thermal pad with a copper plate (same heigt, seem my post in T60 temperature topic), you get up to 15°C less !!! Why don't they to that in factory ?

Is that the case with current T61's too?

[skitty4gzus]

I am torn........ I really like the flexview on my t42p but i also want wwan, widescreen. that combination either isnt available on the t60p or its super expensive. i just built a pretty nice looking t61 at lenovo for 1770.00 and that was with the 3 year warranty and protection upgrade. is there anything i should be aware of with a t61? any other discounts possibly? all help is appreciated.

[ThinkTay]

IMO the T61 is a much nicer machine than the T60p. T60p build quality I think is cheaper than the T61. You would get a cool and quiet Thinkpad if you go for the T61. You can use XP Pro on the T61 with all the drivers provided by Lenovo.

This comment made me laugh. No substance, all opinion. The T60 is one of the coolest/quietest machines on the market. Fact

[Pascal_TTH]

IMO the T61 is a much nicer machine than the T60p. T60p build quality I think is cheaper than the T61. You would get a cool and quiet Thinkpad if you go for the T61. You can use XP Pro on the T61 with all the drivers provided by Lenovo.

This comment made me laugh. No substance, all opinion. The T60 is one of the coolest/quietest machines on the market. Fact

Your comment make me laugh ! Perhaps you never use a A20p to said that a T60 is cool and quiet or you have a T60 with integrated graphic. Cool and quiet with the fan always running and with most Mobility Radeon/FireGL at more then 65°C in idle (except if you mod the HSF and/or use TPfancontrol) ?

Since T40, all T series with dedicated graphic use to run the fan on and on. So they are not cool and quiet but cool or quiet. There are just *correct* or a little better then other common laptops.

[tomh009]

Since T40, all T series with dedicated graphic use to run the fan on and on. So they are not cool and quiet but cool or quiet. There are just *correct* or a little better then other common laptops.

Relating back to xtr's original comment, the T61 has a revised cooling system that has been called very quiet (while the fan is on) by several posters. Our first T61s haven't arrived here yet, though, so I can't comment based on personal experience.

[Redmumba]

IMO the T61 is a much nicer machine than the T60p. T60p build quality I think is cheaper than the T61. You would get a cool and quiet Thinkpad if you go for the T61. You can use XP Pro on the T61 with all the drivers provided by Lenovo.

This comment made me laugh. No substance, all opinion. The T60 is one of the coolest/quietest machines on the market. Fact

Trust me when I say, you've got egg on your face. The T60 may have been significantly cooler than its predecessors, but I can tell you from personal experience, the T61 might as well have an A/C unit built into it. Not to mention the fans are virtually silent, even on full blast.

As I've mentioned before, I do feel that the T61 is a much sturdier machine, but that may be because I'm using the 14'1" T61, whereas my roommate has a 15.4" T60P. The screen certainly feels much more solid on the T61.