T410 or T420?

Hello everyone,

I'm considering getting the T410 because of the high resolution screen plus the optional dock as I travel all the time. The T410 is on sale for around $1000 (with tax included) for a Core i7-620M, 4GB Ram, 1440x900, NVS3100 512MB, 9-Cell for around 9 hours of use (I think that translate to around 6 hours of normal use).

Now that I saw the T420 about to be released, March 29. I wonder if I should wait. The spec is even more impressive: Sandy Bridge processor, 1600x900 HD+ Display, NVS4200 1GB, 9-Cell for around 15 hours of use (~9 hours real world use). I don't know how much more it would cost for all the new features.

What do you think I should go for? I will mainly use it for light gaming, movie conversions, and note taking. I would buy it from my savings as I'm currently a student, so if the T420 with that spec would cost $1600+, I will not be able to afford it.

Thanks,
Ben

 

If I were in your position, I'd wait for the T420. It's a nice enough upgrade, especially where integrated graphics performance are concerned, not to mention battery life.

 

Wait for the T420

 

Just wait for it. I would just get the integrate graphic of the t420. The performance of the integrate graphic is much better on the t420(compare to the current integrate but preforms worse than the nvdia). Better battery life and more powerful. Even after the introduction of the t420, Lenovo will continues to sell the t410 for a couple more month if you decides that you wanted the t410 instead. Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Tested: Quantum Leap or More of the Same?

 

Yeap, everything is upgraded here: cpu power, integrated graphics, battery life, resolution... and once the T420 is released, we'll see some big T410 sales. Just wait, and things will become very clear once you see the introductory T420 vs sales T410 prices.

 

Question is whether these new features worth 600 to 700 dollars more?

 

I doubt it will be that much more. A T410 can be had for around $700 now. I highly doubt a new T420 would be $1300 or $1400 at debut.

 

price difference and features

if T410 fits in requirement and budget great

 

That would depend on the spec.

 

Thank you for your suggestions. I am quite interested in the T420, but I wonder if it is worth a premium over the current model? Since I have no income and if the T420 is just $200-$300 more than the T410, I can justify the price, but if not. Will there be sales of the T410 when the T420 comes out if I decide then that the price is too high? Maybe I can pick up a used one too.

Cheers,
Ben

 

To me, the only pro of the T410 is the 16:10 display aspect ratio.

The T420 looks like it will have improved construction, probably the biggest selling point to me. Add the new specs, and a Sandy-Bridge Core i5 version looks like it will be a beautiful sweet spot. If you aren't doing any games (or just minor ones) the integrated graphics will serve for everything. Also, Sandy Bridge's new QuickSync video encoding looks to be amazing.

I'd wait either way. There is usually a little overlap when the new model comes out, where the old is still sold (and at a fair discount). I'd probably try and go T420 with a coupon, but if it doesn't end up being what you want, you can still get the T410.

 

The base T410i is on sale for $750, from the $1200 starting price, and the T410 with integrated graphics for $870 from $1300. Yes, it's going to start in that area, and take a month and a half or two months to see much of any sale at all. Look at what you get on their web special for $1000, and look at the regular price. That's a huge price cut, and they simply will not introduce the new model anywhere near that.

 

You won't really know until they launch and see the promotional discounts if any. The other obvious points in the thread come into play. I'd bet the cheapest T410 and the cheapest T420 have a gap of more than 300 bucks. The gap will obviously widen depending on the configuration of each so it's really up to you to decide.

 

Unless you wanted to wait for refurbished T420? I would buy a T410 as it will offer more value, early adopters = $$$$

 

I am following sale pattern on lenovo for sometime & from what I have seen they won't offer freebies with new model T420 e.g. 500GB hard drive or 4GB RAM or discrete graphics. Only discount you will get might be 10% or 5% off coupons (even that won't applicable for couple of months on new T420 models)

 

I'm wrestling with this question, too. However, I'm open to buying a T510 with an upgraded res monitor, which throws a few more wrenches into the equation.

Some of the 510 and 410 deals are pushing 40-50% off the current models; I don't know how they could get all that much cheaper when the 420's and 520's are offered up.

I've been sitting on the fence for nearly 3 months after a failed attempt to get a properly working HP ENVY 14, which has a 14.5" screen...

 

Yeah it also applies to W510 as well. I am pretty sure to get FHD screen on W520 will cost way more compare to what they have right now.

I mean if you are not in hurry then wait little longer for discount on T420. Otherwise getting T410 won't get a lot cheaper when new T420 series comes out.

 

I'm in exactly the same boat as the OP. Based on the current prices, I can get a really kick T410 system. I'm looking very seriously at the i7-620m (2.66Ghz base, 3.33Ghz Turbo, 4MB cache) and switchable graphics (Intel IGP with Nvidia 3100m Optimus). This laptop will not be for gaming but I do occasionally need some low to mid graphics horsepower for work. 90% of the time the Intel graphics will be used.

i7-620m
4GB DDR3
Nvidia 3100m 512MB
128MB SSD

Even though the T420 release is just a few weeks away, I figure there's no way I can get an equivalent T420 (with the dedicated graphics and 128MB SSD) for the current sale prices.

I'm leaning heavily toward the maxed out T410 but hesitate because of the T420. Can I really expect significantly better onboard graphics performance and much better battery life with Sandy Bridge?

 

what a time to buy new laptop..ah..

60% off on W510?? will it go down don't think so. I will not buy T420 refurbish where I can get T410 loaded.

ONLY reason I am posting in T series thread because if W510 make loud fan noise inside 21 days I will return it and look into T410 or T510... let see

 

Screwtap, do you need Cuda? If not, integrated Sandy Bridge graphics will likely meet your needs. Still, that $999 web special is a nice deal, though you'll probably be able to get similarly awesome deals for a little bit yet. Eventually you might have to look for them in the new Outlet inventory, if you wait to that point.

 

Well, I do run 3D modeling from time to time (AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup) and foresee the need for more than just integrated graphics. I tend to keep laptops longer than most (3 years) and don't mind paying more up front for some longevity. Ironically, trying to plan longevity and future-proof laptop is like pushing a rope, LOL!

 

Does that include only 1 year standard warranty? I would opt out of SSD and upgrade the warranty on the unit unless it's already at 3 year.

 

The T420 will be released on Monday March 21 or 12 days from now. I guessed it is going to be a wait for me.

Regarding the i5-560m and the i7-620m processor of the current generation T410, I just read that the newer generation i5-560m is actually a little bit faster than the i7-620m. The i7-620m is a $200 upgrade.

Intel Core i5 560M Notebook Processor - Notebookcheck.net Tech

Cheers,
Ben

 

i7 one T series make little sense because you can get only 2 core, where as i7 on W series will give you 4 core. but do you need 4 core or 16/32GB memory??

 

Is there any reviews of the T420 or T420s out yet?
I'm wondering if the HD+ screen option (1600x900) is the same low contrast TN-panels that we've had to deal with for the past years or perhaps Lenovo starts offering something half decent for a change?

As the T400 / T400s and T410 / T410s where both 16:9 there will obviously be entirely new panels in the upcoming T420 and T420s so lets hope it has been improved!

 

I looked up some information from the latest tabook. First a summary of the information, and then the details below.

SUMMARY:
The HD+ panel on the T420 will have better brightness than the T410 (250 vs 220 nits previously).
The HD+ panel on the T420s will on the other hand be worse in brightness than the T410s (250 vs 300 nits previously).

How the change will be in reality, who knows. Best to wait for the reviews, but if you trust the tabook, things do not seem to be improving too much for the T4xx models.

BTW, according to the tabook the X220 IPS display has 300 nits.

And now the details from the tabook.

T410 panel options:

T410s panel option:

T420 panel options:

T420s panel option:

 

The contrast ratio on the t420 and t420s is kind of low, hopefully they use better screen than what they states on the tabook.

 

Thanks for the information regarding the screens, I don't really care that much about the nits but 300:1 contrast ratio indicates that things wont be much better than we've seen the past years.

ThinkPad X220 with IPS it is then.

 

300:1 contrast ratio is too low to todays standards.

 

maybe that's because of the matte screen, although i've read reviews of matte screens with ~650:1 contrast ratio.

 

I'm not sure if this will make any difference to those who are considering the T410, but the T420 does not seem to have an option for Windows 7 HP, only the professional edition. This will raise the price by $50, the cost of the upgrade to the professional edition for the T410.

 

It's not because of the matte screen, besides tossing a glossy filter over the screen doesn't really increase the contrast ratio rating on a screen does it? Apple for instance doesn't list higher contrast ratio on their Glossy screen compared to their Anti-Glare offerings and they both use the same panels.

I have no idea if this is the case for everyone though, but claiming higher contrast ratio on a panel just because of a glossy filter sounds fishy if you ask me as the contrast ratio of the panel itself doesn't magically raise because you applied a glossy filter on it. Colours tends to feel more VIVID but still.

 

The web special is over for the T410, and prices seem to have gone up, even with the 10% off coupon. I hope the current pricing scheme is similar to the ones for T420.

Cheers,
Ben

 

Wait for 9+ days when the new models are released (T420, T520 etc,), you'll see a good deal out of the older ones (T410, T510 etc,).

 

The Intel Graphic T420 are out; I'm just waiting for the one with the optimus video card. The pricing gets a little bit expensive as you add the HD+ display and higher capacity battery, camera, etc.

Cheers,
Ben

 

Just another update; on the Lenovo website, the max battery life with the battery slice is 24. I wondered what happened to the 30 advertised? The 30 hours may be idle and the 24 hours may be real world usage?

 

^^^ While those advertised battery hours tend to be unreliable, keep in mind that the battery slide (6-cell) may be used in conjunction with a 6-cell or a 9-cell battery.

Realistically, I suppose that a "6+slice" combo will give ~16 hours whereas a "9+slice" combo ~20 hours.

 

I think that the slice battery is the same old T410 9 cell 90+wh "slice" battery. At least Lenovo battery info page lists such info and its supposed to be compatible with all T/W 4x0/5x0 series laptops.

 

You're right. They are the same old batteries.

57Y4545: ThinkPad Battery 27++ (9 cell slice) for T410/T510, T420/T520
57Y4185: ThinkPad Battery 55+ (6 cell) for T410/T510, T420/T520
57Y4186: ThinkPad Battery 55++ (9 cell) for T410/T510, T420/T520

Lenovo Support - ThinkPad Battery 27++ (9 cell slice) - Overview

Lenovo Support - Batteries and Battery Charger - Reference Guide