Ordering a new T61... I think.

First time post... thanks for any help.

I'm working on the configuration for a new T61 15.4 and have a few questions. Differences in price on the questions I have won't be a deciding factor.
For very good reason I will order Vista (either Premium or Ultimate), then work up a dual boot with XP Pro a little later. Will likely go with T8100 Penryn and 2GB memory... 7200 HD

1. Won't be doing any gaming, but wondering if there's any other advantage in choosing the NVidia 140 over the Intel X3100 (anything at all I would notice)? I know there's a little more more heat and a little less battery time, but not sure whether there's any reason other than gaming for the trade-off with integrated. Would the heat and batt. run time be anything noticeable or significant?

2. I'm also wondering about 6 & 9 cell battery time expectation (real life experience rather than specs) for low to medium resource use (office, internet, etc.)

I've used only Dell notebooks and have been seriously comparing the D8300 and the T61, both 15.4, and I'm beginning to favor the T61... although both have their good points. If anyone has anything to say as a comparison of the two... or anything else that I might need to know I would appreciate that also. As I get further into this I may have something else to ask.

I really appreciate the time of anyone who responds... Quinn

 

I'd recommend not ordering 2 gigs of RAM from Lenovo, get 1 gig from Lenovo and then buy another gig from a computer store and upgrade the RAM yourself, it's much much much cheaper!

You probably won't notice a difference between the x3100 and the 140m unless you're gaming or running CAD or other software that would benefit from a dedicated GPU. I hear that Aero works just fine with the x3100. If you're not gaming at all or not doing any design/CAD, I'd recommend you stick with the x3100.

Regarding the battery life, I'll leave it up to someone else to comment, since I've never used a T61 with a 6 cell before.

 

I'd recommend buying the base model hard drive and 1GB of RAM in a 1 DIMM config. It's usually cheaper to upgrade these on your own.

If you do 3D work (CAD, etc), then the Quadro would help. I see no real other advantages to having the Quadro chip, perhaps someone else could chime in.

Battery differences should amount anywhere from 30min-1hour, from what I've read.

For a 9-cell, anywhere from 3-4 hours. Depends on a lot of factors. Less for the 6-cell.

 

It's redundant to say that my t61p has discrete graphics and a 15 inch screen. I have a nine cell battery and it has a voracious appetite for current.

I may get 3 to 3-5 hours. I think a six cell battery with such a configuration would be pretty disappointing.

 

I appreciate the responses. From what everyone says, and what I've gathered up from some other threads since I posted, I'm beginning to come up with about a 1 hr diff between integrated and discrete and between the 6 and 9 cell. According to answers you've given I guess maybe at least 2 hr on 6 and 3 on 9 cell with discrete. Sounds like if you go from integrated to discrete you need to go to 9 cell just to stay even on batt run time (at a gain of about 5+ oz). Does the 9 cell definitely fit completely within the case on the 15.4?

Complicating everything at the moment (at least as I understand the 20% coupon special through 2-18), it seems you can get the NVS 140 and the 9 cell for noticeably less money than the integrated and 6 cell. Hmmm...

Any other info concerning my original post and anything anyone may have to say about my choice between the D830 and the T61, or anything else for a 1st time Lenovo consideration is definitely welcome.

Thanks... Quinn

 

The 6-cell sits completely flush with the chassis, the 9-cell juts out a bit.

The D830 and T61p target the same audience, so there's not too big of a difference between the two... I do know that the D830 has an older legacy port (serial port) and that it has a few ports situated along the back of the notebook, as opposed to the T61p, where everything is contained within the sides or front. The latter is more of a convenience thing than anything, though.

 

The 9-cell extends out 1 inch by 8 3/4 inches, 2 inches from back right corner.

Sorry, I've drained the battery several times but did not time.