My T500 config

Here's my configuration, but I have a few questions before I make my purchase.


1. Will there be much of a difference between the 2 gigs vs 3 gigs of RAM? I'm planning on putting a clean Vista Business on it. I'm also probably gonna do some light gaming every once in a while (source games).

2. How much longer would the 9-cell battery last compared to the 6-cell? How much more weight would it add?

3. The T500 is supposed to have switchable graphics, but when I was selecting my parts, only one gpu was shown:

 

1. Frankly, for me, Vista runs very very well on 2GB of RAM, even while playing quite intensive games (ie: Bioshock, CoD, etc). I would get 2GB of RAM, in one slot (1 SODIMM), so you have another slot open. When you need more RAM, or when prices fall even more, you can buy another stick of RAM and stick it in, without replacing any of your existing RAM.

2. Roughly 50% longer. I can get ~8 hours on integrated graphics, and around ~4 hours on discrete while not gaming. With the 6-cell, you could probably get ~5-6 hours with integrated graphics if you stretch.

3. They do not show the Intel 4500HD, but do not worry, it'll be there. All discrete graphics models of the T500 have switchable graphics.

You can read my review of my T500 for more information - link in my signature.

 

Hey, I read your review which was great btw. Really helped me to pull the trigger earlier.

Let me ask - what games and settings do you play on? More specifically, I'm wondering if this machine can handle any of the source games: Counter Strike, TF2 and L4D.

Any ideas?

 

Thanks for the help!

I guess it's settled then, I'm getting the T500. Also, I've read your review before I made an account; it was what made me consider the T500 over a MBP.