On fence with T400 options

Hi,

I was previously interested in HP Dv4T but with price drop now going for T400. I have following doubts

1) Intel Turbo Memory

Is it worth it? Whether 2 GB RAM will suffice or shall I go for 3 GB (Additional 50$)

2) Integrated or Discrete

I do not play games, at the most I will watch DVD's.

3) ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless or WiFi 5300

I read that n network is still a draft and can I upgrade thinkpad card later?

I have a budget of max 1000$ thats why trying to cut down things which I can upgrade later may be like Bluetooth.

Thanks for your suggestions

 

im in the same boat as the OP, but one other question, if I go intel wireless, advantages of 5300 over 5100 for 15 bucks?

 

1) The consensus is that Turbo Memory is a waste of money, it was designed when ram was expensive to be a substitute, but with 2gb+ of ram it does not make any noticeable difference. I've never used it, that's just what people here say. There was also problems with BSOD's when the T61's came out due to the Turbo Memory.

2) With discrete you really get both, but if you aren't going to use it and only need to watch movies and are on a budget, go with the integrated. The X4500 was designed to play at 1080p, and can output through HDMI (but you will need a dock to do this with the T400)

The 5300 has three antennas, vs. the 5100 that has only one. The benefit being that the 5300 will get better and stronger signals. Also, someone mentioned that with the 5300 it would be possible to upgrade to WiMax when it is released later in the year.

 

Thanks, one more question - When I select Vista Business Lenovo gives a option - Microsoft Windows XP Professional US English RDVD

Is this XP installation? Can I use a ultrabay in future and install XP on second HDD using this dvd.

 

T400 with X4500 does not have HDMI port? I have seen it in gallery images but may be all of the images are of discrete graphics.

Seems a bummer

 

T400 has VGA. T500 has Displayport.

 

anyone.. if XP cd is worth 20$ then I will go for it otherwise stick with XP Premium.

 

i'll go with vista home basic and use the moeny to upgrade memory to 3gb .

 

Turbo Memory and more system memory is the way to go. Turbo memory improves battery life and has other advantages. As far as BSOD errors, the Centrino 2's should not have this issue anymore.

The question I have is one of Wimax. I want wimax but they arent out yet and they offer multiple card options for WIFI. Which one is upgradable to Wimax?

 

I think thats pretty debatable from what I've read, do you have any links?

 

Take the lenovo.com advise> if you have 4 gb ram, and 200 gb @ 7200 rpm, you DON't need turbomemory. I preffer this two options.

 

quick question - I was reading overclockersclub and it was mentioned that ATI HD 3470 has both VGA and DVI outputs, as well as an S-Video output, but I don't see them in T400 specs or images. So so thinkpad have custom cards in which they have removed s-video and dvi ports

 

The T400, and other notebooks, use the mobile version of the card. The desktop version is bigger and can offer more features.

The card in the overclockersclub article is the desktop version.


http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/ati_hd_3470/
This ATI HD 3470 has both VGA and DVI outputs, as well as an S-Video output. This is convenient because some users do not have the VGA to DVI converters.

 

1) You don't need Intel Turbo Memory unless you have lower than 2GB of RAM and low speed HDD
2) Discrete because you get the integrated with the discrete too (hybrid), and also if you are going to do anything that's related to graphics
3) WiFi 5300 for wireless draft N compatible
4) To cut price down, get minimum RAM and HDD and upgrade later, my specification for today's price with CPP discount is 1,105 before tax

 

Ordered

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Business 64
Display type: 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
System graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 3640 with 256MB
Total memory: 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard drive: 100 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 1
Optical device: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
System expansion slots: Express Card Slot & 7-1 Media Card Reader
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Wireless card: Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)
Wireless WAN: Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
Battery: 4 cell Li-Ion Battery

came to 1104$ with tax.

 

That's not a very good deal dude, you didn't need the discrete graphics, I doubt you need the 7200 rpm hard drive, and if you're in the US, you didn't use the CPP site (where you can get the same config for under $1,000).

 

I used the cpp site.

Regarding discrete graphics, I debated quite a while and in the end it was a difference of 60$ and 7200 rpm is same cost as 160 GB 5400 rpm.

True if I use integrated graphics with thinkpad wireless I will save 100$, but I have used my last laptop for more than 4 yrs and this also I will be using for atleast 3+ years so picked nearly latest configurations.

 

Double check DDR3 ram pricing before you do this. When I config'd my system is was cheaper to buy the memory from Lenovo. Don't know how long the situation will last, but for now don't assume DDR3 is cheaper elsewhere.

 

I did the same thing, I only got 1GB of DDR3 ram thinking it was cheaper else where but it was only a $30 upgrade from lenovo and like $100+ elsewhere

 

Did you buy an extended warranty or something? I priced out a similar laptop on the CPP site and it was < $1,000 after tax.

That reasoning doesn't make much sense though because 3+ years from now the differences between the currently available options will be largely insignificant.

 

No, I didnt buy any extended warranty, I configured it again today and its coming at 1041$ + 6% tax in CT. Attached is the screenshot