Ordering T400 - configuration input needed

My T42 is working it's way into the grave, so I have decided to get a new machine. Based on what I have been reading, and what seems to be a good sale now, I have settled on the T400. This PC will be my home machine, and I plan to use it for general home use (no games), and for work as a backup machine. My biggest interest is around speed, and I hope to use it for at least 3 years. After reading a lot of advice here, I have landed on the following configuration, but have some questions, which I called out in blue.

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2) (is this worth it or should I get the P8600?)
• Genuine Windows Vista Business (again, is this worth it? Should I stick with the basic or be getting something more like ultimate?)
• 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
• 2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM) (seems to be a favorite here. Should I consider 3GB?)
  
• 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
• Interl turbo memory hard drive cache - none. (do I need this?)
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)
• Express Card Slot & 7-1 Media Card Reader
• Integrated Bluetooth PAN
• Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) [add $38.25]
• 4 cell Li-Ion Battery
• 3 year depot warrenty

I am interested in any advice or recommendations you have on any of the choices - I want to invest in the upgrades where it will make a difference.

 

It seems like this member is in the same shoes as you.

- T9400 -> Go for if you do a lot of heavy tasks like video editing/encoding, if not, the P8600 is more than enough for everyday office work.

- Vista -> I think the Business is a good deal since it gives you both Vista and XP licenses. Don't get the Basic, and the Ultimate is a bit too much for most users.

- RAM -> You should consider 3 GB.

- Intel Turbo Memory -> Is it necessary? No. There are mixed feelings about this product, some manufacturers like HP refuse to sell it. Real RAM is always better than ITM. The last version of ITM was a total failure, the new ITM has yet shown any real performance tests so far. ITM was designed for machines with less RAM and a slow HDD. With your current config of RAM and HDD, I don't think ITM will give you a noticeable performance increase.

 

stick with that processor it will only do you good and no harm!

in my opinion stick with vista business because ultimate doesnt really have anything more special to offer. but dont go below business.

its ddr3! i dont think you will need 3gb for a while.

dont get the turbo memory. i think in some instances it actually slows stuff down.

4 cell battery might not last too long so i suggest atleast a 6-cell. and if battery life isnt an issue then stick with the 4 cell just because its flush.

if you have little children that might get a hand of your laptop add the accidental warranty.

and enjoy it when it comes in.

 

Check this out:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/compare-editions/default.aspx

I got Home because I really don't use the business features like send/receive fax, but I do use the Home features like DVD playback and creation.

 

DDR3 just means it is more expensive and you might as well upgrade with Lenovo if you can't grab it for cheaper on say...newegg. Just because ram is faster in clock speed doesn't mean your system will not need the ram to cache (unless you want to pagefile a bunch ).

 

Any notebook you buy today is going to seem old in three years regardless of whether it's got the T9400 or the P8400. It's the nature of computers. To some degree it will depend on your needs. Most everyday tasks like Office and Internet are not very CPU intensive. The extra oomph won't help much.

 

Not necessarily true. As I stated in another thread, DDR3 at this time has higher latency than ddr2, however it has higher clock speeds which help to negate that. As time goes on, the latency and price of ddr3 will go down as manufacturing improves.
Given that the previous santa rosa platform only supported 667MHz FSB RAM, and montevina supports up to 1333MHz, it could improve performance.

 

Thanks all. Your comments and references to other threads to read were helpful. Below is my updated configuration - the main changes are that I dropped down to the 8600 processor (from the 9400), went up to the Vista Ultimate, upgraded the DVD, and added the accidental warrenty. Also, I selected the integrated, not discrete graphics.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate
Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate US English
Display type: 14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
System graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Total memory: 3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
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
Power cord: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 65W AC adapter
Language pack: Language Pack US English
Accessories and options:
3 Year Depot Upgrade with 3 Year ThinkPad Protection

Good? Should I swap back the processor to 9400? Anything else?

 

"Should I swap back the processor to 9400?"
No, don't worth the money.
"Total memory: 3 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)"
I'm not really sure that 3gb of ram worth your money (depend of your use, too). 2gb is enough for most people.
"Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate US English"
Have you considered home premium?

 

This looks good, but I would rather have the P8400 processor instead, and you could consider the cheap upgrade to 6-cell for longer battery life time

 

I'd upgrade to the T9400, get Ultimate with XP downgrade (doesn't cost any extra, no reason not to), get the discrete graphics card since it has hybrid graphics, and upgrade your battery to the 6 cell.

 

Ditto except, Ultimate isn't really necessary...I went with business

 

OK, I am ready to pull the trigger. I just have one last question from one of the comments above -

What is the difference of I get Ultimate vs Ultimate with XP downgrade? Does that mean it comes with the CDs to downgrade, or it comes with XP installed? From my searching here, I think it's the former....?

 

Comes with the CD to downgrade to XP (i.e. Vista installed + XP CDs)

once you downgrade to XP, you cannot revert to Vista.

 

Thanks so much keltix! So it sounds like you are right - why would I not get the downgrade if I am getting Ultimate?

That's what I will do. Thanks!

 

are you saying if i downgrade the system to xp, i won't be able to install vista regardless i do a clean reinstall or whatever?

 

Are you sure about that? I thought if you burned the Vista recovery media before installing XP you could use that to refresh the system to factory?

 

No way it would be once and one-way.

I think it's just something in the same idea of those saying: "Don't erase your recovery partition because you won't be able to do a fresh install if you do"


(I would be darned if I wanted the install that was on my T61 recovery partition (I erased it; thanks for extra GB's); the installation it came with was unstable, full of crap and so on. 25% of the time a BSOD on startup, followed with a BSOD every 5 minutes (average) when on battery.)