T400 P8600 vs. T9400

I am about to order a T400 but can't decide on these two processors. T9400 is $100 more but is it worth it? Is P8600 the newer generation (Centrino 2)? What is T9400 then? Is it still a "centrino 2" platform or is it faster but an older generation than the P8600??

 

Take the P8600, the T9400 really isnt necessary for most tasks

Both of them are 45nm Penryn processors and same FSB and I believe both of them can be considered on the centrion 2 platform

 

Both of the processors are from the same generation and are both Centrino 2-capable (with Intel wireless, it's Centrino 2, basically).

I would say it's definitely not worth $100. Even if it were a $20 upgrade, the benefits are still debatable. The P8600 will get better battery life and will run cooler (although the differences aren't significant).

 

You are one of the only ones suggesting the P8600 over the T9400. It is interesting to hear this. Could you explain a little more why it's not necessary?

 

Get the P8600. This recommendation is pretty common from most of us. It isn't worth a $100 upgrade.

 

Only if you have a very specific need like coding video all day, should you take the T9400. Even in CPU intensive tasks, the T9400 will only be a little faster, not like twice as fast. While doing Office, Music, Internet, Video, etc., it's unlikely you will notice any difference. Plus the P8600 runs at a lower wattage giving it better battery life. If you ask me I'd take the P8400. Who's suggesting you take the T9400?

 

Both the T9400 and P8600 are of the same generation. They are both 45nm parts with a 1066MHz FSB. There is one key difference however.

T9400 - 2.53GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 35w TDP
P8600 - 2.4 GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 25w TDP

This means the T9400 will run slightly faster in heavily computational tasks (e.g. a video encode that maxes out your CPU for 20 minutes). However, the P8600 will generate less heat and provide slightly more battery life due to the lower TDP.

If the prices were equal, I would be hard pressed to choose between them. However, because the T9400 is substantially more expensive, I definitely recommend the P8600. If you really had heavy computational needs you would be better served shelling out substantial cash for a T9600 or a mobile quad-core; if you don't (and I doubt you do) just get the P8600.

 

Since everyone basically summed up the reasons Ill just reiterate

I would not get the T9400 because unless I constantly ran CPU taxing tasks, I would prefer the extra battery life and the $100. The performance gain is not noticeable in every day tasks.

 

T9400 - 2.53GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 35w TDP
P8600 - 2.4 GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 25w TDP

get the T9400 if you need performance.
get the P8600 if you need battery life.

the T9400 is normal-voltage processor.
the P8600 is lower-voltage processor.

 

i would largely be using my laptop for producing music using FL Studio and intend to move to stuff like cubase and reason in da future....in dis context is the t9400 recommended over the p8600?

 

Is it going for a $100 ? I got the upgrade for 30 bucks back in december... (Which I justified by not getting the mobile broadband -30bucks)

 

Why do you need to justify anything? If your a compurter jock-get it if you want. You'll have an edge.
-Renee

 

haha cuz I'm BROKE. That's why

 

Personally I would say that with stuff like Reason, etc., which I believe would be CPU-intensive, that the $100 for the 6MB L3 cache and the somewhat higher clock speed would be worth it.

 

Don't buy it then.

 

didn't see that one coming... Thanks a million.

 

If the trade off of cpu to battery life is worth it to you go for it.

 

I went with the P8600 for longer battery life, and less heat generation in the laptop.

 

how about comparing the P8600 to the P8400? Will I be able to tell the diff b/w the 2.26 and 2.4mhz? Thanks

 

Not much, but certainly if you feel it is cheap enough go for it.

 

Depends on your purposes. For most, probably not.

 

just word/excel, surfing the net, occasional WC or CS. i prob wont be able to tell the difference right?

 

No, you probably won't be able to tell. The differences between the P8400 and P8600 are minimal.

 

Some configs at Lenovo are cheaper with the P8600 vs. the base model with the P8400. I got my T400 with the P8600 because it was cheaper than building it from a P8400 base config.

I would get the P8600 over the T9400. If I needed elite number-crunching power, I would opt for a T9600.

 

I am in agreement on this point.

The P8600 (or P8400) is better for most people due to the lower TDP/voltage.

The people that would actually appreciate the speed increase from the T9400 would be better served to shell out a bit more money to go for the T9600.

 

Get a P9600.

 

if your going to be leaving the laptop plugged in most of the time. get the better processor... but if your like me and like to squeeze batter life... get the 8600.... or just get the 8400... dude you won't even notice the difference

 

Just go with the cheapest config you can get.

 

I wanted to disagree with sgogeta4. Get the most expensive computer you can. The current trend is cheapness and that's not why people are here buying notebooks.
-Renee

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cache-size-matter,1709.html

I think some of you guys might be underestimating the impact of doubling your L2 Cache.. especially on the intel core 2 duo processors. Theres some good results there..

 

Has anyone actually compared the batterylife between P8600 and T9400 thinkpads? I have a T9400 in my W500, and I get about 4h of battery life while writing/surfing the web.

TDP is a measure of how much power the processor uses when it is fully taxed, and at least in my case the CPU is idling at least 90% of the time.

I just doubt that there is a big difference in idle power between the two processors, so the battery life shouldnt be that different, unless you count battery life while playing video games.

Then again, I still think it is stupid that you can't buy a W500 with a P-class CPU...

 

My T400, 6 cell, P8600, Vista 64-bit, Energy saver graphics and Maximum Battery Life setting with 4 bars brightness gets almost 5 hours.

The W-series is more about workstation graphics with CAD, etc. The Intel Txxxx is more about power than the Intel Pxxxx. You should have gotten a T-series instead of the W-series.

 

That's just plain minsinformation.

T9400 is 1066FSB.

T9400 is faster than a P8600. Plain and simple, clock counts.

The P series prioritorise lower power consumption over performance.
The T series prioritorise performance over power consumption.

Think of P as a 'green' processor in much the same way as the new WD GPs are 'green' drives. Both use less power. That comes at a cost...unless you're into alchemy?

You want to save the planet and conserve laptop battery life? Buy P. You want performance for games buy T and faster clock.

 

There is no noticeable benefit in a faster processor, so why would you spend more money on it.

P8600 has same speed FSB. It might have slightly higher clock speed and cache, but for the OP's use, the cost of upgrading is not worth the negligible benefits of upgrading.

 

I never said the T were about power management. I said the T was more powerful than the P. Learn how to re-read my post.

 

"No noticable benefit" is not the same as no benefit. I'm not responsible for what a person notices. I am only responible that the person has the fastest machine possible.
-Renee