Opinions needs - T400, Windows 7, and Switchable Graphics

That would be "Opinions needed", but editing doesn't include proofing your thread topic! ;-)

I need to rebuild my T400, which has the ATI and Intel combo graphics, and will be doing so with Windows 7.

I'm tempted to just either turn on the ATI or Intel in the BIOS, and just use one. My sense is that the drivers for the Intel are solid and no issues with Windows 7, while the ATI ones are a bit flakey and getting the kinks worked out. (Is that a correct perception?)

I know I can always switch later, but I wanted to see what people who have gone down this route have done/think.

Thanks.

 

The ATI drivers are still in beta for now but so far everyone who has posted in the sticky Win 7 thread has had a positive experience and OS switchable graphics is working properly. Currently there's no need to worry about picking one GPU over the other in the BIOS.

However, the main difference that people seem to be noticing between Win 7 and Vista/XP is the increased power draw even on integrated graphics in Win seven. We'll have to wait and see if this is fixed with the official release of win 7 or if it'll end up staying that way. It will lead to less battery life yes, but otherwise, it's working as it should.

 

Thanks! I'm not too concerned with battery life; I have a 9 cell, and it's always be 3-4 hours no matter what (not the 6-8 hours people claim), so I'm used to it. ;-)

 

Good luck!

Although 3-4 hours on a 9 cell is really surprising. I just got 5.5 hours off of my six cell today with my wifi ON.

Are you already using Win 7 on discrete graphics? Or is your battery significantly decayed? A 9 cell should definitely get you more than 3-4 hours.

 

The Ati beta drivers for switchable graphics aren't completely functional, as both graphics cards run when resuming from sleep, causing increased power draw. On integrated graphics, it still draws more power than vista; but with a 9 cell w/ vista/7 you should be getting at least 6 hours; 3-4 is messed up.

 

That would be Vista Business (x64); New battery; I replaced within warranty, as the capacity had diminished - the Power Manager is good for showing that info.

Mostly on the ATI graphics, but even Intel graphics only got me 20 minutes more, maybe.

The good news with Windows 7 is that resume/sleep works great, so with proper management, I can stretch the battery.

Try streaming a Divx or h.264 video over a wireless network. It sucks the battery down like a wino at the liquor store.

 

I use both Intel and ATI, but I make my changes in BIOS at boot-time. Both drivers are installed, and it works fine. I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I'm using Lenovo's Intel drivers and ATI's ATI drivers, without issues.

 

So are you saying at boot time, you change the bios to use Intel or ATI? Isn't that sort of cumbersome?

Glad to hear they both work.

I know the Intel graphics are out of the box with Win 7; which ATI did you use? The Vista ones on Lenovo's site?