Worth upgrading a X60s to an X61s?

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omaqsood · #1 Post by **omaqsood** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:24 am

Sorry if this question has been asked before but I couldn't find any references to it.

I currently own a X60s with 2GB RAM and a 7K200 200GB HDD. I'm contemplating upgrading to an X61s (Ultralight screen) also with 2GB RAM and exchanging the HDD to my 200GB.

As the cost of change will only be about $200, I'm seeking opinions on whether there is any point of upgrading? Will I see any performance benefit?

Cheers
Oz

sugo · #2 Post by **sugo** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:05 am

Unless you need 64 bit support, I suggest waiting for the 45nm mobile cpus.

pianowizard · #3 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:58 am

If your X60s already has UltraLight, then it's not worth it. However, if it doesn't, then it's not a bad idea. As far as performance, most people (perhaps including you) won't notice any difference.

EOMtp · #4 Post by **EOMtp** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:02 pm

If embedded EV-DO is functionality you want and its performance matters to you, then know that the X61/s permits the installation of an embedded mPCI-e Verizon Rev. A EV-DO card whereas the X60/s only allows the older and slower Rev. 0 card.

poky · #5 Post by **poky** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:06 pm

I was in the same boat with you before.
And my old X60s doesn't have UL screen, and no 3rd antenna.
After I moved 3gb ram+7k200, and throw in a Thinkpad ABGN wireless card, I'm very happy with it!

I did notice that, the keyboard on the X61s is better than X60s, it gives me more feedbacks when I typing.

I'd say go ahead!

Jackboot · #6 Post by **Jackboot** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 4:06 pm

I have an X60s with no ultralight.

I just bought an X61s with ultralight.

I am very happy with the upgrade! For some reason the palmrest on the X61s is very noticeably cooler and more comfortable to use for long periods. The screen on the X60s never looked bad to me, but the X61s ultralight looks much better in comparison. Also, the keyboard on my X61s is nicer but this could just be the luck of the keyboard draw that I've read about.

I also really like Vista!

I'm quite happy that I upgraded.

omaqsood · #7 Post by **omaqsood** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:13 pm

Thanks for the response, guys.

I was interested in the X61t because of the SXGA screen but can't really justify the extra cost involved. My sister has a X41t and it's a fair bit heavier and larger than my X60s.

Hmmm....food for thought.

gunston · #8 Post by **gunston** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:40 pm

sugo wrote:Unless you need 64 bit support, I suggest waiting for the 45nm mobile cpus.

what is the die size for current C2D?

spune · #9 Post by **spune** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:44 pm

gunston wrote:
sugo wrote:Unless you need 64 bit support, I suggest waiting for the 45nm mobile cpus.
what is the die size for current C2D?

65mm.

mfbernstein · #10 Post by **mfbernstein** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:13 am

spune wrote:
gunston wrote: what is the die size for current C2D?
65mm.

Uh... 65nm.

45nm chips due out in Q1 08, with new Montevina chipset to follow in Q2 08, according to current roadmap

#11 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:18 am

mfbernstein wrote:45nm chips due out in Q1 08, with new Montevina chipset to follow in Q2 08, according to current roadmap

Of course there is little public information at this point about what benefits we will get from Montevina or Penryn ... more or less than Santa Rosa?

phongdt · #12 Post by **phongdt** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:58 am

Sorry if my question is a duplicate, but what is the special about this UltraLight screen? Is it thinner and make the machine lighter?

mfbernstein · #13 Post by **mfbernstein** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:03 am

phongdt wrote:Sorry if my question is a duplicate, but what is the special about this UltraLight screen? Is it thinner and make the machine lighter?

Yes, it's lighter and somewhat brighter as well (180 nits vs. 150 nits).

mfbernstein · #14 Post by **mfbernstein** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:18 am

tomh009 wrote:Of course there is little public information at this point about what benefits we will get from Montevina or Penryn ... more or less than Santa Rosa?

Looks to be a bigger update than Santa Rosa vs. Napa (chipsets), and on par with Merom vs. Yonah (CPUs).

So far, Penryn is purported to offer:
-larger more flexible cache (6MB vs. 4MB, 24-way set associative instead of 16)
-lower power dissipation (29W instead of 35W max)
-added SSE4 instructions, improvements in other instructions (ie the multiplier), optimization to avoid pipeline stalls

Montevina brings:
-DDR3 800 support
-1066MHZ FSB
-better integrated graphics (higher clock, more pixel shaders...)
-inclusion of WiMax

#15 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:23 am

Well ... none of those are highly impressive in terms of improving the overall computing experience IMHO. The only ones that would make a significant difference in an X series notebook, I think, would be a reduction in power consumption (through CPU improvement and DDR3) and WiMAX.

The others ... well, yeah, sure, they look nice but they really won't make much difference. Certainly not enough for me to wait a year for a Montevina-based X series.

mfbernstein · #16 Post by **mfbernstein** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:31 pm

tomh009 wrote:Well ... none of those are highly impressive in terms of improving the overall computing experience IMHO.

I'd agree. Then again, the only big advantage of the X61 over the X60 is Santa Rosa, IMO a very minor change unless one has a 64-bit OS (to take advantage of more memory and the Core 2 Duo on the X61s).

omaqsood · #17 Post by **omaqsood** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 2:26 pm

Hi guys,

Finally bit the bullet and bought a x61s from a fellow member. It's great! The ultrabright screen is amazing.

I have one question:

Can I swap the RAM over from by x60s to the x61s? I've tried putting in the 2 x 1 GB sticks and Vista on registers one of them.

Cheers
Oz

bin.dong · #18 Post by **bin.dong** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:18 am

The new X61/s still have the heat issue on right hand palm rest area or not? I do have a X60, just sold it 2 weeks ago. I am thinking to buy a new X61 or X61s if they don't have such issues

#19 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:27 am

omaqsood wrote: Can I swap the RAM over from by x60s to the x61s? I've tried putting in the 2 x 1 GB sticks and Vista on registers one of them.

The X60s uses PC2-5300 DDR2 memory, does it not? That should work fine in an X61s.

#20 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:29 am

bin.dong wrote:The new X61/s still have the heat issue on right hand palm rest area or not? I do have a X60, just sold it 2 weeks ago. I am thinking to buy a new X61 or X61s if they don't have such issues

The X61/X61s appear to run cooler; they have some additional ventilation, and optionally a second fan (with WWAN configurations). My X61 is a little bit warm on the palmrest but is definitely not "hot". However, I have the Intel 4965AGN wireless card, which has been measured to run significantly cooler than the Atheros cards.

Jackboot · #21 Post by **Jackboot** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:20 pm

bin.dong wrote:The new X61/s still have the heat issue on right hand palm rest area or not? I do have a X60, just sold it 2 weeks ago. I am thinking to buy a new X61 or X61s if they don't have such issues

In my experience there is a night/day difference with the X60s/X61s palmrest heat. The X61s barely gets warm whereas my X60s is often uncomfortable to work with.

Both machines I am comparing have the Intel 3945 card. I assume the new Intel 4965 card would be even better since it has been documented to run considerably cooler.

jamess · #22 Post by **jamess** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:44 pm

I haven't tested X61/61s but I have had the opportunity to setup both machines today, the X60s which was just sold and X61T. I don't know if it's relevant, but it's a comparison still.

Both were aproximately the same distance from the Access Point. X60s had intel abg and x61 T has intel AG. X61 Tablet runs much much cooler and at least until now - no hot right palm area..

bin.dong · #23 Post by **bin.dong** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:48 pm

Before I order the X61s, I have another question about the X61s screen. I didn't see any ultralight screen option on IBM website. It's out of order? no longer available on X61s? or it's becoming standard on all X61s?

#24 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:01 pm

At the time I placed my X61 order (June?) none of the X61s models available from Lenovo Canada had the UltraLight LCD panel. Alas, that appears to still be the case. (This, combined with the price difference, was why I decided to get an X61 rather than an X61s -- there just wasn't enough of a difference to pay the extra cost of the X61s).

spune · #25 Post by **spune** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:21 pm

The UL display is available on the US site. I'm not sure why it's not available on the Canadian site though.

Jackboot · #26 Post by **Jackboot** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:54 pm

spune wrote:The UL display is available on the US site. I'm not sure why it's not available on the Canadian site though.

Canadians don't get the ultralight panel option since it is dark here ~9 months a year. It would scorch our retinas.

#27 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:59 pm

And on a more serious note, only the US site has the CTO option -- all other countries offer only predefined configurations. (And none of the Canadian configs have/had UltraLight LCDs.)

Worth upgrading a X60s to an X61s?

Worth upgrading a X60s to an X61s?

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