T400 configuration - advice needed please

I'm going to order a T400 with the 25% sale going on to replace my beloved T40 whose motherboard failed recently. I have decided on the following:

ThinkPad T400
T9400
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3640 with 256MB
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 or 2GB PC3-8500 DDR3 depending on OS
UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer
Integrated Bluetooth
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable

Does this seem okay?

I am unsure about the following:

1. 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm or 320GB, 5400rpm or 200GB, 7200rpm with FDE?

The disk is easy to change later on I know. I wonder if the 7200rpm will be significant? Is the 200GB, 7200rpm FDE AES 128 or 256 bit? I have searched the Lenovo site but cannot find a documents that describes this.

2. Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot. I have read that with the 4-in-1 reader you get a flimsy cover so I would rather use a USB or PC Card reader if necessary (faster I believe). The other option is Smart Card slot. What uses are there for a Smart Card slot?

3. 6 cell Li-Ion Battery. Does anyone know the overall depth of the T400 with a 9 cell? I want to use my current Brenthaven case. If the 6 cell gives 4 hours or so that seems fine for my use since I use AC most of the time.

4. Can the Integrated UWB WPAN (Wireless USB) be added later if the Turbo Memory card is not installed? Not available until later in 2008 I understand.

5. Operating system. This is the area which is the least obvious to me. 32 bit or 64 bit? Vista Business or Ultimate? Is the Ultimate from Lenovo 32 bit or 64 bit? My main uses are MS Office (32 bit only I understand), Firefox with various add ons, Thunderbird, Photoshop, Digital Camera, Pidgin, Foxit, 3ds Max and in the future other digital content creation apps, etc.

If a 32 bit OS how much memory? 2, 3 or 4GB for max performance?

Thank you for your advice.

 

1. I remember seeing that the 320gb 5400 rpm HD is just as good as a 160gb 7200 rpm since it has such a high data density that the difference in access speed is negligible. Someone else comment?

2. Smart cards are credit card sized security devices.
There's not really any use for them in daily life.

3. 6 cell sticks out 1" from the back. 9 cell sticks out 1.47" and slopes upward.
See here for pics and more information

4. Yes, both can be installed later if you choose to have none as there are 2 mini pcie slots on the T400, one of which will be occupied by the WiFi card. Personally, I feel that both are useless at the moment.

5. 32bit - effective maximum RAM is 3gb, while you can add more, it won't be recognized.

64bit OS if you want more RAM.

 

1. Data seek times for the 7200RPM are faster, write times are faster on the larger 5400RPM due to higher data density. The overall performance of the 5400RPM won't be as good as the 7200RPM; the difference in capacity size between the two HDDs is not large enough for that to be realistically true.

4. The Vista Ultimate that ships with Lenovos is 32-bit, you can see by the memory options.

 

Hi admlam,

1. Didn't think the Smart Card would be much use. Wonder why Lenovo even offer the SC slot.

2. Didn't know there are 2 mini PCIE slots. Great for the future.

3. My OS question is really whether the 64bit is worthwhile and how difficult the compatibility issues are at this time.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

Also realize that while the 7200rpm drive is a bit faster, it also uses more power.

 

Hi M3Coupe,

I may just get the 160 7200rpm and when I run out of space get a 320 7200rpm or maybe a 500GB 7200rpm by that time.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

It depends on the brand....some brand's 7200rpm are just as quite and cool as the 5400 rpm.....and some brand's 5400rpm performs almost as well as their 7200rpm

 

Hi Chen,

I see you are running Vista 64 bit. How have you found compatibility? Is this Business 64 bit?

Thanks.

 

Because some companies use smartcards for authentication, and the Thinkpads are business laptops.