Got a T43p - Yeah!

[Tasurinchi]

Hi Guys...
Sorry for the childish post, but I won an auction here in and I bought a 14" T43p for a relatively cheap price (for Swiss standards)!

I'm really excited as I never used a T4x series before. I was a years long T30 user but since I gave it to my brother in law I've been an "X3/X4" series user only.

Product: ThinkPad T43p 2668-WTB [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: Based on 2668-CTO: P M 750(1.86GHz), 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, 14.1in 1400x1050 LCD, 128MB ATI FireGL V3200, CDRW/DVDR, Intel 802.11bg wireless(MPCI), Bluetooth/Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), UltraNav, Secure Chip, Fingerprint Reader, 9c Li-Ion batt, WinXP Pro

The machine is OS-less so now I have to start thinking wheather a Linux distro or Windows 7 will be the chosen OS, opinion's are welcome!

I'm probably going to put a 320GB WD drive to experience the infamous 2010 error by first hand...

Cheers!

Tasurinchi

[killer]

My advice is to go for Linux and forget paying for Windoze. Mr Gates has enough to live on for the next million years.

[ajkula66]

Congrats on your new toy!

W7 will run great on that machine, if you like that OS to begin with, as will any flavour of Linux Mint.

Max the RAM out, it's cheap nowadays (even in Switzerland) and it makes a world of difference.

Installing TPFC would be another suggestion on my part, along with NHC since the V3200 GPU runs very hot, especially in a 14" frame, and you may want to do some undervolting there...

My $0.02...

Enjoy!

[jetmn]

You will really like the machine compared to you T30. It is lighter and much faster. I didn't notice much of a difference going over 1gb RAM. It isn't built quite as sturdy as the T30 though. My wifes T42 has been pretty reliable, just the normal fan issues that all thinkpads seem to have. She did just have something go out in her internal power supply though.

[Harryc]

Congrats, that's a great machine . I agree with George on recommending W7 for a T43P. It runs W7 very fast with the RAM maxed out.

[Tasurinchi]

Installing TPFC would be another suggestion on my part, along with NHC since the V3200 GPU runs very hot, especially in a 14" frame, and you may want to do some undervolting there..

Thanks Ajkula66! You mean undervolting of GPU only or CPU as well? I know in desktop machines OC/Undervolting is done through the BIOS, I would assume is the same for a T43p. Is this assumption right?

It runs W7 very fast with the RAM maxed out

If I can get another Win7 License it will be the first time I'll be able to run Aero. Even me being a minimalist, I'm also curious how Aero looks like

Thanks everybody for the congrats!

Cheers!

[Pawelek]

I did use NHC under Win 7100 and it didnt work correctly, and even (in my case) casued malfunctions (screen blinking, like my notebook tried to change power source) while running in cooperation with TpFanControl. Also NHC couldnt do anything about power schemes - none worked. Maybe RTM revision of Win 7 works better with NHC ?

[comptechexpert]

Congrats on the new machine it is a great one . If I were you I would go with Ubuntu because it is really fast, easy to use and best of all FREE!!!!

[ajkula66]

@Tasurinchi:

I was referring to undervolting the GPU (not done through BIOS on ThinkPads) since the CPU itself won't be that hot.

FWIW, NHC run well for me on several machines using W7 RC1.

[Tasurinchi]

The seller called today, he will ship the TP tomorrow so I expect to have it in around two days... Nice to have it for the weekend

[comptechexpert]

What OS are you going with or what are your thoughts so far?

[Tasurinchi]

What OS are you going with or what are your thoughts so far?

I didn't make up my mind yet. I'll probably install Linux first (Ubuntu Karmic or Fedora 13) as I don't have any extra Win7 license. The problem is that if I have to undervolt the GPU, I will probably have to stick to NHC/Windows...

Maybe I'll try installing Win7 using my license for a couple of days only, just to see how it works...

Does someone know how to undervolt the GPU using Linux?

Cheers...

[jetmn]

If you know of a student with a school email address you can get Windows 7 Pro for $30! I was going to do my wife's T42 first, but it just we goofy.

[comptechexpert]

If you know of a student with a school email address you can get Windows 7 Pro for $30! I was going to do my wife's T42 first, but it just we goofy.

How do you do this?

[Vempele]

If you know of a student with a school email address you can get Windows 7 Pro for $30! I was going to do my wife's T42 first, but it just we goofy.

And you can get Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard for free from DreamSpark. It's basically Windows 7 64-bit + server features - some apps that refuse to run (some ThinkVantage stuff, most (all?) free antivirus programs, Nokia Ovi Player - I've used Windows Server (2008 and R2) for about a year, and those are the only problems).

[emeraldgirl08]

If you know of a student with a school email address you can get Windows 7 Pro for $30! I was going to do my wife's T42 first, but it just we goofy.

$30 sounds real nice

I did qualify for the Ultimate Steal but they asked me to pay $64.95 instead of the $30. I think you have to download the OS also which sort of takes me aback. I was hoping they would send a disc if I put forth my hard earned Jacksons and a couple of nickles and dimes

I'm definitely going to shoot for the offer if I can't find a cheaper solution as the RC I'm weaning myself off of is almost expired.

[Tasurinchi]

It's here!!

I'm typing this on my new T43p! The HD was OSless so I'm running Ubuntu Karmic from the CD. It's in very good condition! Screen looks perfect and I'm amazed by the 1400x1050 resolution in the 14" screen. I still have to get used to the "huge" format and screen after being almost a Xseries rat only.

I will shortly install Ubuntu in the HD and try later Win7 as well... Photos will follow!!

Cheers...

[Tasurinchi]

Ubuntu is being installed now and I though I just put my X40 side by side

Enjoy...

[pianowizard]

I still have to get used to the "huge" format and screen after being almost a Xseries rat only.

After using the T43p's 1400x1050 for a while, it will probably be equally difficult to readjust to the X series, which only has 1024x760. Like you, I owned a bunch of X-series Thinkpads at one point but after migrating to high-resolution laptops (including a 1400x1050 T43), I have never returned to the X series. Besides the higher res, another nice thing about the T43p is its touchpad. Once you've learned how to use it properly, you may prefer it over the trackpoint. But for the touchpad to work well, I recommend you to go to "Mouse properties" and increase the mouse pointer's speed to the maximum.

BTW, you can make your T43p a little smaller and a lot lighter by replacing the optical drive with a travel bezel, and the 9-cell battery with a 6-cell.

[Tasurinchi]

BTW, you can make your T43p a little smaller and a lot lighter by replacing the optical drive with a travel bezel, and the 9-cell battery with a 6-cell.

Thanks Pianowizzard for the tip. I did not know there are travel bezels. I barely need a DVD/CD drive, everything I need I have it in my USB Sticks.

Battery is almost dead, so when I need to replace it I will see what I can get here!

Cheers...

[zak3000]

I saw few guys referring to TP fan control. I am using it on my USED T43p (2668-H1U). I got it for a bargain price on ebay......

Anyway, I am running it now indoors with NOTHING running except browser and downloader. I am using wireless.
Here are the readings:
1 cpu 58°C
2 aps 51°C
3 crd 40°C
4 gpu 63°C
5 no5 33°C
7 bat 24°C
9 bus 49°C
10 pci 52°C
11 pwr 50°C
It has been always true that GPU has the highest temperature, when running idle.
Comments?

Also, I live in Canada and now temperature out there is -13C...........So, I ran a little experiment and placed my laptop on the balcony ALONE IN THE COLD, and waited for 30 minutes or so. I monitored the temperature and here is what the readings were at -13C:
1 cpu 20°C
2 aps 16°C
3 crd 7°C
4 gpu 24°C
5 no5 10°C
7 bat 9°C
9 bus 13°C
10 pci 18°C
11 pwr 17°
Again, the GPU is always the hottest Chip, then PCI where the wireless is living....

More comments?

[ajkula66]

Your readings are somewhat on the high side. Not horrible, but now where they should be in my experience...

T43p in my signature with a PM 780 CPU idles at 48C with 10 Firefox windows open, wireless (2200BG) on, and the GPU is at 54 C. Room temperature is 21C or thereabouts.

Cleaning the fan, renewing the thermal compound, replacing the fan if needed are the solutions that come to mind...

Taking the machine out to -13 C wasn't the best of ideas IMO, but what's done is done...

You may also want to undervolt the CPU and GPU...

Hope this helps.