Z Series Shared Video Memory

[somefun]

Hi,

Do all of the Z Series Thinkpads have shared video memory? Is this the "weak link" in the Z Series as far a performance goes?

Thanks,
Curt

[schen]

Hi,

Do all of the Z Series Thinkpads have shared video memory? Is this the "weak link" in the Z Series as far a performance goes?

Thanks,
Curt

No, there are basically 3 "levels" of the Z Series. The ones with the integrated GPU by Intel which share system memory, which are generally not as powerful (video-wise) as the other 2 types. The 2nd type is the "standard" ATI chipped version with dedicated VRAM and there is the 3rd, most powerful "p" version which were designed as "workstation" type machines which have the ATI FireGL V5200 GPU. In a general sense, the screen resolution that you are likely to find will go up along with the level of GPU (e.g. WXGA, WSXGA+, WUXGA).

As will any ThinkPad model, the variants are almost bewildering in number and these machines can not only be found in a wide variety of specifications, but can also be bought one way and reconfigured any way you like.

As an example, I recently picked up a very "plain Jane" Z61m Type 9452-E7U which is a "low-end" model with a Celeron processor, integrated Intel GPU, 80Gb HDD, 512Mb RAM, and CDRW/DVD Combo drive. This is a machine I wanted to replace my wife's R52 and she rarely if ever moves it or does anything very video intensive. The machine was picked up off of eBay for $132. So, another $100 later which included, a T5600 C2D processor, A/G/N wireless card, DVD Multi Burner, and 320Gb/7200rpm Hitachi drive, its a very creditable machine with plenty enough power for anything she's likely to do in the next 2 or 3 years. Plus, I'll have less then $250 invested in it total and it'll run pretty cool and I don't have to worry about GPU failure any time soon.

Granted I had an advantage that I already had the hard drive, 2Gb of RAM in the correct spec, plus W7 Home 3pk that I got for a steal. But as you can see, a person can do just about anything they want with this machine.

[billp117]

I used a Z6t for years and it is still running strong for my sister. It has the Intel shared video and plays everything just fine running Windows 7. It was a great laptop and had zero problems.

[somefun]

Thanks for your replies! I really like the 14" widescreen Z61, but I'm thinking that one is only available with the shared video memory. What I would really like is something that would be noticably faster than my t41p... and I hate to go backwards video-wise, because I have sxga and 128mb of vram right now. I don't know if the increased performance with the faster duo core processors in the z61s would offset the weaker video performance. The place where I see my T41p suffer the most is editing videos, where the processor goes to 100% and pretty much stays there (according to window system monitor). It also has trouble with higher res. webcam.

[ajkula66]

Honestly, it might be just your CPU - especially if it's the original Banias - that is choking the performance of that T41p.

If you need dedicated graphics (sounds like it, at least to me) you'd be better off with a 14" version of T60/p, or jump across another generation and get a T400 with switchable graphics...

There were some pretty powerful (for their day and age) Z machines, but all in 15.4" format...

[billp117]

I agree...move up to the T60p series. You will have no regets.

[somefun]

That's what I was thinking... Thanks for clearing things up!!