Upgrade from T43 - need advice

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Czechnology · #1 Post by **Czechnology** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:36 am

First of all sorry for this kind of question, I know there must be a lot of those all the time but I simply have trouble deciding, since i don't follow the latest CPU, GPU etc and Lenovo news...

To the point: I have been using (pretty happily) my T43 for almost three years now but many problems came up in the last months and it's getting worse (understandable, I use it daily, every day it travels with me in my back pack, it just can't work forever).
So I started looking for a new machine.
I guess my choices are some of the T61(p) / T400 / T500 models. Are there some major differencies between these?
About my usage:
I do some programming, so there's Apache/Mysql running all the time, as well as some other tools.
Also, I study mathematics so often I need some demanding calculations and plotting, simulations,...
Apart from that the usual stuff - web browsing, IM, office work, movies and videos, photo editing,...
I don't play computer games much but wouldn't mind if the laptop configuration would let me, from time to time...

I hope someone will find time to give me some advice, it's hard to decide when one doesn't follow the latest news on the developement

#2 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:05 pm

Czechnology wrote:I guess my choices are some of the T61(p) / T400 / T500 models. Are there some major differencies between these?

There are differences..... whether they are major or not is really depends on your point of view.

From what you describe, I'd be looking at a T400... but you'll need to work through for yourself exactly which configuration of a T400 will suit you best.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Czechnology · #3 Post by **Czechnology** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:34 am

I'm trying...
But for a start - should i be rather looking for a TX00 than a T61?
Does the X mean just the size difference?

Czechnology · #4 Post by **Czechnology** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:31 am

As for the GPU, could anyone advice me about the performance difference between the sets?:

Intel GMA X3100
Intel GMA X4500MHD
nVidia Quadro NVS 140M
nVidia Quadro FX 570M
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650

Thanks a lot

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:24 pm

Intel means integrated graphics, which is not what you'd want, I assume.

Stay away from nVidia because of the reported failures...

Haven't tested any of new ATi-equipped machines but that would be my pick...

Hope this helps.

#6 Post by **erik** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:25 am

ajkula66 wrote:Stay away from nVidia because of the reported failures...

is there any definitive evidence of these failures being linked directly to a thinkpad? my FX 570M-equipped T61p never, ever had a GPU issue so i'm curious about this. everything i've read thus far has been speculation.

for professionals (especially in CAD and 3D modeling), nvidia is by far the better choice due to driver stability, certification, and support. as an industrial designer, i'll never buy an ATI/AMD-equipped thinkpad again.

it's unfortunate that nvidia didn't make the cut with switchable graphics + displayport support. that's the only reason why AMD was spec'd in the new T-series. bummer.

Czechnology · #7 Post by **Czechnology** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:12 am

I've also seen "AMD Hybrid/Switchable graphics up to 256 MB" graphics... but don't really know what it means.
Problem is, there are not many models offered in my country... So I'm a bit worried that if I'd like a good laptop for my needs, I'll have to order it from the States (good point is that it's a much better machine for the same price). Does anyone know, if I can get some repairs in Europe with US warranty?

One more question - are the LED-lighted displays already on market? Haven't seen that possibility in the Lenovo's configurator.

#8 Post by **erik** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:49 am

international warranty can be queried on this page: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... d=LOOK-IWS

ajkula66 · #9 Post by **ajkula66** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:02 pm

erik wrote:

is there any definitive evidence of these failures being linked directly to a thinkpad? my FX 570M-equipped T61p never, ever had a GPU issue so i'm curious about this. everything i've read thus far has been speculation.

If you read carefully through T series thread on Lenovo's forum, you'll notice that the GPU failures are starting to show up their ugly heads...and although my experience with a T61p has been similar to yours (apart from the fact that it was the hottest-running ThinkPad I've ever owned) I'd advise against machines with nVidia cards until the situation clears...

And yes, LED-backlit displays are available, Czechnology.

Czechnology · #10 Post by **Czechnology** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:20 pm

Ok, I've looked through more models and it seems that LED display is available just for T400 (not offered for T500).

#11 Post by **erik** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:07 pm

ajkula66 wrote:If you read carefully through T series thread on Lenovo's forum, you'll notice that the GPU failures are starting to show up their ugly heads...

bummer.

#12 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:46 pm

erik wrote:nvidia is by far the better choice due to driver stability, certification, and support.

Times have changed yet again (as they have an annoying habit of doing)... the latest generation of ATI GPUs are currently much more highly regarded in general across the market place than nVidia's!

Cheers,

Bill B.

#13 Post by **erik** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:21 pm

bill bolton wrote:Times have changed yet again (as they have an annoying habit of doing)... the latest generation of ATI GPUs are currently much more highly regarded in general across the market place than nVidia's!

which marketplace? more highly regarded by who; users or vendors?

- dassault prefers nvidia (makers of CATIA & solidworks)
- PTC prefers nvidia (makers of pro/engineer, windchill, & mathcad)
- autodesk prefers nvidia (makers of autocad, inventor, & 3ds max)

- lenovo specs their thinkstations with nvidia quadro FX GPUs
- HP specs their XW workstations with nvidia quadro FX GPUs
- dell specs their precision workstations with nvidia quadro FX GPUs

before buying my FX 3700, i asked just about everyone i knew and the top three vendors in my industry which brand they used and/or preferred. "nvidia" was nearly unanimous from everyone i've dealt with recently in machine shops, print houses, industrial design, graphic design, etc. i almost bought an ATI FireGL V7700 until i started getting the push back toward nvidia.

so, i don't know to which marketplace you're referring but it certainly isn't mine.

warreng24 · #14 Post by **warreng24** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:43 pm

Have you considered just buying another T43? There's a ton of "IBM Refurbished" ones on eBay.

I am thinking of picking up another T42 (as a spare).

Czechnology · #15 Post by **Czechnology** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:09 pm

My current T43 makes me so much stress that there's not a single hour of "work" without me fighting the lust to throw it out of the window a enjoy it flying three stories down... It's turned to be more like doing magic than doing real work.

I especially love the starting of the system. Just imagine - you need to use the computer in one moment but you spend about half an hour just turning it on and off and on and off ........ before you at last come to bios. *If* you get there... Like it's needs to be heated up or what

The need to push the case "somewhere" (the place usually changes

) just for the computer to unfreeze (the GPU issue) makes it also easier. BSOD is a daily thing... And it gets worse daily.

I don't know but I've expected a bit more from the mighty IBM everyone's been praising for it's reliability and durability... In just about 2.5 years of usage.
I'm starting to hate this machine so much, I'm already starting to regret I've ordered another thinkpad. And I've always been such a proud supporter of it.......

***

I'm sorry but the need to work with this machine gets extremely depressive most of the time in the last few weeks/months...

So no, I don't think I'll be getting another T43. It would take me ages to gain confidence in it again.

#16 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:38 pm

Get an R52 with Intel integrated graphics.
It's a cheaper version of the T43, without any issues as long as you use an IBM-approved hard disk (Error 2010 otherwise).
It's perhaps not as rugged, with plastic casing instead of titanium-reinforced stuff. but otherwise a great machine!

Ryushin · #17 Post by **Ryushin** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:30 am

erik wrote:
ajkula66 wrote:Stay away from nVidia because of the reported failures...
is there any definitive evidence of these failures being linked directly to a thinkpad? my FX 570M-equipped T61p never, ever had a GPU issue so i'm curious about this. everything i've read thus far has been speculation.

for professionals (especially in CAD and 3D modeling), nvidia is by far the better choice due to driver stability, certification, and support. as an industrial designer, i'll never buy an ATI/AMD-equipped thinkpad again.

it's unfortunate that nvidia didn't make the cut with switchable graphics + displayport support. that's the only reason why AMD was spec'd in the new T-series. bummer.

I don't know, I found ATI/AMD better in this regard. And they've opened their specifications so that open source drivers can be made, something nVidia has not been willing to do. The FireGL drivers in the W series are certified for CAD and such.

Stargate199 · #18 Post by **Stargate199** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:58 pm

If you are not doing anything graphics intensive, I would not worry about a discrete graphics card. Those will just take life out of your battery. I would jump for the X4100HD Intel graphic if you do choose the integrated route. The newer versions of Intel's integrated graphic are much improved to prior versions, but still suck for games and any 3d applications (Google Earth will not be as smooth on integrated graphic compared to discrete).

As for CPU, get the fasted thing you can get since you are doing a lot of calculations. More RAM is better but if you are going to get 4gigs or more in the system, make sure to get 64bit Vista so it can take advantage of that RAM. 32bit apps will run fine on Vista 64. I would recommend going to see these machines you are looking at in the stores to figure out which one you really want.

nykobing06 · #19 Post by **nykobing06** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:50 pm

Doesn't the T500 allow switching between integrated and a dedicated GPU or did I read that wrong? Maybe the W500?

Upgrade from T43 - need advice

Upgrade from T43 - need advice

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