T400 looking for Dock

[Kylan]

I just bought a T400:

Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9600
Genuine Windows Vista Business 64
14.1 WXGA TFT High Nit, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)8

I use a HDMI screen made by Hanns-G with it.

Would you please help me choose a dock?

Q1: Is there any chance my T40p's dock will work?

Q2: Which dock do you recommend and why?

Q3: Are there any bargains out there?

Thanks so much!

[ssd_thinkpad]

The T400 / T500 / W500 and the T6x series use the same Advanced (Mini) Docking stations. The cheaper Mini Docking station has fewer ports and no pci port. The Replicator does not have a dvi output connector. I'd get an Advanced Mini Docking which is pricey if you do not neet another graphic card. Your notebook alreay has a dedicated gpu. When my T60 is connected to the Advanced Mini dock has massive problems with usb keyboard and usb mouse. They are not usable when they are connected to the advanced mini dock, I need them to be installed to the thinkpad directly.

[ZaZ]

You'll need at least the Advanced Mini Dock, which has DVI. You might want to take a look in the Marketplace forum. You can probably get a used one in the $80-100 range if anyone's selling any. I've never had any trouble with USB desktop sets with my R60s in either Windows or Linux. I've used both Microsoft and Logitech sets. Perhaps there's something wrong with your dock.

[Zender]

(...) When my T60 is connected to the Advanced Mini dock has massive problems with usb keyboard and usb mouse. They are not usable when they are connected to the advanced mini dock, I need them to be installed to the thinkpad directly.

Are you using external display? If so, and have disabled ThinkPad's internal LCD, try enabling it (either clone or extended).

[Kylan]

Thank you for the help!

The cheaper Mini Docking station has fewer ports and no pci port.

I read on Wikipedia to try to understand the significance of the pci port but I'm not really understanding what the choice/implication means for me.

What are some examples of whether I need the pci port or not? Are you saying that if my computer didn't have a dedicated gpu (which it does) that the pci port would have allowed me to strengthen my graphic card?

I'm learning! Thanks!

[Kylan]

You'll need at least the Advanced Mini Dock, which has DVI.

I see one called the "ThinkPad Advanced Dock." Is that what your implying is an option above the Advanced Mini Dock? Are there others?

If I got it what would be some ways I could benefit? Extra hard drive in the dock, leave everything plugged in... what else?

And finally (on this post) if I use it for something like another hard drive does the dock already have everything I'll need (except the hard drive, of course) or do I have to but adapters, etc. to make things work?

Thank you! I appreciate your help!

[ZaZ]

Advanced Dock>Advanced Mini-Dock>Essential Port Replicator. You'll need at leas the Mini-Dock, which has DVI. You can convert DVI to HDMI with a cable, though you still won't have sound and will need to do that separately. The Port Replicator only has VGA. Yes you can have an extra drive in the Advanced Dock, though you can do that with your machine if you replace the optical drive. The Advanced Dock also has a PCI slot for a GPU. They use half-height cards. You can't use any card and have to watch the thickness as big heatsinks won't fit either. I think the Advanced Dock has a card reader too, which the Mini Dock lacks. Go on Lenovo's site and check them out. I hope this helps.

[Kylan]

Are the Advanced Dock or Advanced Mini Dock super loud? I read that on an Amazon review.

On that same page someone claimed that the fan's power supply can be cut w/o any problems. Any experience that can speak about that?

Thanks!

[Kylan]

Advanced Dock>The Advanced Dock also has a PCI slot for a GPU. They use half-height cards. You can't use any card and have to watch the thickness as big heatsinks won't fit either.

I've got so much to learn so thanks for your patience as I continue to learn:

I almost went w/ a W500 to have more VRAM (than the T400). If I do an Advanced Dock w/ a GPU in a PCI slot could that bump my VRAM (when docked)?