T440p first impressions

Just a heads up for those of you who want to do a clean install of windows 7:

My OEM copy of Win 7 SP1 did not have the drivers for the ethernet or the wifi. This could be problematic if you don't have access to another computer and a flash drive or blank CD.

 

I'm no expert but I suspect it depends on whether you use software that can actually use all four cores. For basic office stuff the dual-core will probably be faster, unless you do a lot of heavy multitasking. I went for the 4700MQ because I do photo/video editing using software that can use all four cores and in those scenarios a quad-core will always be faster overall than a dual-core CPU

I am still puzzled, however, why the 4600M is more expensive than the 4700MQ. Faster clock but fewer cores suggests it should at most be the same price. Maybe someone with more tech knowledge could explain

 

pipspeak,
Which photo editing software would that be?

According to the intel site, the dual core 4600M shows a clock speed of 2.9 Ghz and the 4700MQ is down at 2.4 Ghz but has 6 MB vs 4 MB cache.
The listed clock speeds of the quad cores doesn't exceed the 4600M, even at the 4900MQ. The MQs are all showing more cache than the 4600M.
So would the 4600M be a better solution for most?
Does the extra cache more than make up for clock speed?

 

Programs that use 2 cores will run faster on the dual core, programs that use 4 cores will run faster on the quad. The Quad will generate far more heat however.

 

Jobine,

Is there that much software using quad core?

 

Unless you are doing intense rendering and gaming, dual core is more than enough.

I've shut off 2 cores on my Quad because i realized myself i don't need that much power.

Put the money towards an SSD, get the i5-4200M.

 

Photoshop, Final Cut, Premiere and various video rendering applications, all of which (AFAIK) can use four cores. No idea about the effect of various cache sizes (apart from the obvious "more is better" understanding).

I agree with Jobine... SSD and more RAM is gonna have a far greater impact for most people than a slightly faster processor if all they're using is general office software.

 

Simple. The 4700MQ came out in June, the 4600M came out in October

 

So the 4600M dual core would not be a bad choice for all around use, including most games that we'd run on the smaller 14" display. Obviously the gaming full effect would be deferred to the 24" desktop.

 

Thats of course not the reason.

The i7-4600M is the top-of-the-line mobile dual-core CPU, and therefore the most expensive of the dual-cores. The i7-4700MQ is the slowest of the 47 W MQ CPUs and also the cheapest of them.

The i7-4600M may be a bit less powerfull than the i7-4700MQ, but it is more powerfull in relation, because with half the cores it is almost as powerfull as the i7-4700MQ. With 2 cores more it would blow away the i7-4700MQ. Not to mention that the TPD of the i7-4600M is much lower (37 W vs. 47 W), so it is also more efficient.

As a side note, on the T440p, the i7-4600M is the most powerfull CPU for models without the nVidia GT730M. So if someone just needs brutal CPU power and an efficient CPU at the same time, and has no need for the GT730M, the i7-4600M may be his best option.

 

It's a good idea to take the drivers from the website beforehand, good call. Now if only that darn website would cooperate...

I checked the HMM again for that M.2 stuff. Seems it indeed doesn't support the 80mm. Where did I read that it did...?! Anyway, another up and a pretty big downside. But on the upside, I can now order a 240GB M500 and that Ultrabay thing. I'm also going to order an external USB Blu-ray burner to add to my bag of tricks.

 

Thanks ibmthink.
I believe that the T440p with the 4600M cpu can be configured with the GeForce graphics card too.
I have noticed that checking off any quad core cpu configuration triggers the upgrade on the ac power cord/charger which I'll assume makes for a bigger bulge in the pocket.
What a decision.......

 

Yes, the i7-4600M is also available in combination with the nVidia GPU, but my point is: It is the most powerfull CPU you can get without being forced to buy the nVidia GPU also, because the MQ CPUs can´t be configured without the GT 730M.

 

Personally, the i5-4200M is a much better value

 

ibm, I missed that point of view.
Thanks for the explanation.

 

Exactly what I'm gonna do... a 240GB Intel 530 SSD (same price as the Crucial) in the main drive bay for the OS, a 7K1000 HDD in the caddy for data, and I might eventually buy a cheap SATA to USB cable if I ever need to use the burner externally (for now, however, I use a burner so infrequently that I'll just temporarily swap it back into the ultrabay if needed).

One day, if Intel ever actually makes the 42mm version of its 180GB M.2 SSD available, I will go that route for the OS drive. I suspect by then however, I'll either not miss the ultrabay DVD burner and forget it ever existed or have moved on to another computer altogether

 

Just managed to Install Windows 7+Firefox+MS Office+Adobe Fireworks on my 24GB M.2, with 3GB of room to spare

 

Wrapping up ideas on an order and not having Win 7 experience would it be better to order the T440p with XP mode preinstalled in anticipation of software needing it or installing it later?
It seems convenient to have Lenovo do it but didn't know if it's a hindrance if it turns out to not be needed.

 

Holy moley! After disabling hibernate i have 10 gigs of free space!!!!!!!

 

It's just that these super cheap Chinese 'blow-on-it-and-it-breaks-but-if-not-blown-pretty-darn-handy' USB gadgets (my bag is full of 'em, for example a USB OBD device) have little optical discs with drivers on them that I of course never can find in my Dropbox. And once you need these 'nowhere-to-be-found-online' drivers it's impossible to get them off the discs when on location... Anyway, it's always good to have an external optical drive at hand so I don't have to use cuss words on the job. I also needed a Blu-Ray burner, so this way "we is knobbin' two birds with one connie".

If Intel or Crucial ever sells a 42mm NGFF/M.2, it has to have more speed then the 2,5" alternative (I mean beyond SATA-600 or whatever the bottleneck of the 2,5" device is) for me to get on the wagon. Or if Lenovo has an internal Blu-Ray burner for the Ultrabay (without ripping people off...), to save bag-space... But I guess by then I also have forgotten all about my little differences with the laptop. It already is more expensive than a girlfriend on the side and it doesn't even suck literally...

Prices of the devices I paid (for reference):

Crucial M500 240GB, € 132,08
Samsung SE-506BB, € 78,00
Ultrabay IV SATA thingie (cheap Chinese-Ebay compatible), € 16,50

This is really the last Euro I'm spending for this not even shipped laptop. Closing the year with a financial crisis, at least making sure the economy keeps buzzing...

 

Since my ship date was bumped from the 18th to the 23rd I've been sitting around trying to plan out my aftermarket upgrades and looking into different SSDs. In one of the T440S threads there are reports of incompatibilities with the Samsung 840 Pro models when trying to move the stock Lenovo image onto them. I didn't see any reports of issues with the EVO drives. Owners of the 840 Pro claim they had to do a clean, non-Lenovo image install of Windows to get the drive working properly.

Does anyone have any more detailed info on the issues w/ the 840 Pro? I'm curious if this is specific to the T440S or if it is an issue with multiple Thinkpad models. I know the 840 Pro is generally considered to be one of the best models currently available otherwise and I'm unclear as to what it is about the Lenovo image that may be causing issues with the Pro but not the EVOs or other SSDs. I'm wondering if I should just play it safe and get an Intel SSD.

 

I have a 840 which was in my X220 for over a year, briefly in my T60 and on 2 separate desktops for ~6 months. I have never had to reinstall Windows as it has been adjusting itself. The speed of the drive is awesome. Unless there is some specific problem with T440, I would recommend the drive. The 830 (previous series) is also good, but those aren't around anymore I think.

 

Are these Intel drives compatible?
Intel® Solid-State Drive 530 Series M.2 Form Factor: Spec

And this an alternative to the Crucial main drive?
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/ssd-530-sata-specification.html

 

First one... no. Those are 80mm M.2 drives. The T440 requires 42mm M.2 drives.

The second one... yes. The 2.5" Intel 530 Series drives fit in the main drive bay (and the ultrabay adapter in the T440p). They're supposedly very good and reliable drives with a 5-year warranty. I plan to buy one!

 

For those interested in shipping dates and such. I just got off the phone with Digital River and they informed me the shipping date changed to 12th of December without informing me through email. When I asked them why I didn't receive an email about that change he said it could be because it changed over the weekend. The delays on the T440p were because of the Christmas run on the device and the Chinese are also working in the weekends to stay on schedule.

 

Got off the phone with DR a couple of minutes ago too. Strange thing I had to speak to an english speaking representative even though I had a german contact number. Shipping date for my device moved again to Dec 16th and even that date may slip again he said. Shipping to Europe takes approx another 2 weeks according to DR so no chance the thing arrives in time for x-mas. bummer!

EDIT: just got an email from DR informing me shipping date is now Dec 21th. What the f$'*?!!

 

Don't the PCs come with a folder installed with all the drivers needed? Not following what you wrote about needing another computer...

 

Where are you going to put your pagefile?

 

Don't need one. I am not a heavy multitasker and nothing i've ever done on this laptop has pushed 6GB.

But if i would ever need a pagefile, i'd go buy more RAM. Most intensive thing i do is edit 720p video. I rarely go over 4GB.

Also after deleting hiberfile.sys, i now have 7GB of free space!

 

Windows will always page, and it's not multitasking-dependent.

 

Put my pagefile on my 1TB HDD if that makes you happy.

 

I just got my shipping confirmation, should be with me in 3 to 6 days. Ordered mine the 12th nov. (sorry, not trying to rub salt in the wound)

 

3 to 6 days for shipping AND delivery? Whats the destination country?
Ordered mine on Nov12 as well. Btw: the DR Rep told me that some customized T440p's would take longer because assembly is currently short on Intel series 7000 wifi cards and FHD IPS Panels. So the bottleneck seems to be somewhere else. Well see....

 

Yep - have my tracking number and all. 3 to 6 is the shipping estimate from lenovo, let's see what the courier says when they actually get the package on it way to me. (currently showing status as shipping details received)
For the record I ordered a FH ips screen and intel wireless card. Maybe I got lucky?
Oh and I'm in Ireland.

 

sounds encouraging :thumbsup:. Did you get your shipping information by email or on the DR order detail page? Last doesn't say anything regarding shipping or delivery date on my order. Only a german text saying that it's currently in progress...

 

Both - rang them this morning as my ship date was given as the 9th, they said it was shipped on friday but their system hadn't updated. Got a mail a couple hours later and my order page now reads 'complete' and an email with a link to track the order.
Credit card has been debited as well so its looking good that I'll get it this week can't wait...

 

Running short on critical components a month after launch? Not anticipating higher Xmas sales? I'm amazed that Lenovo manages to make a profit, let alone grow market share.

 

Aren't they like the #2 PC manufacturer or something?

 

Compare the T440p price to a comparable Dell E6440.
Sure they're making money.

With the backup and shortages I'm happy to wait for the boil to calm down before ordering.
It's never good to put a worker under extra pressure.

 

Never been a big fan of Latitudes, they always (to me) were much inferior in build quality and overall design. Feel free to disagree.

 

there are reports going around about problems with the IPS panels. maybe they have to switch the vendor or something. anyway I agree. They announced the T440 series several months ago. One can expect them to deliver decent amounts of bugfree devices by now!

 

I ordered a new, base-level L-540 for someone about a week ago, and she got an email last Friday saying it was delayed by up to an additional 30 days. My CTO T440p is still showing a 12/27 delivery. For nowwwww.

 

I ordered mine I think it was December 3rd or 4th. The shipping date on it is 12/16/2013. Hope it does in fact get out on or before that date. For anyone who already has their T440p, how does its build quality compare with something like a T60p?

 

What configuration did you order? I ordered a quad-core, FHD, 7260AC machine on Nov. 26 and have the same shipping estimate as you (Dec. 16). The shipping date when I ordered, however, was Dec. 7 but that date vanished, never to be seen again, the moment the order was confirmed.

Still, our shipping woes pale compared to some of those ordering the new Dell M3800, who are seeing delays of a month or more, even for non-customized configurations. Why on earth do WinPC makers find it so hard these days to manage their supply chain? I'm in awe of Apple, which can ship virtually any machine in 24 hours, and its configuration options are about on par with Dell's M3800. My better half just ordered a top of the line Macbook Air and she'll pick it up at the store in two days.

 

I ordered mine with the FHD IPS screen, the nVidia graphics card, the Intel Core i5-4200M and the Intel 7260 BT BGN wireless card. Other than that nothing has been added.

 

Anyone have a picture of a t440p next to another laptop? Its hard for me to get a frame of reference on how thick this thing is.

 

Jobine,
Just commenting about profit, not implying a substitute.
The T440p can be configured to pretty much match the Latitude so pricing can be compared and it seems that Lenovo may have some money to spare.

 

Latitude has 900p display, and the Latitudes come default with the 3 year NBD warranty, so you forgot that extra cost. With the extended warranty, it's pretty neck and neck, the dell having a better GPU and the Lenovo having a better screen.

 

What about keyboard? Are the comparable? I haven't seen or used any late Latitudes so cannot comment on that...

 

I have used Latitude 5530. The keyboard is superb. Especially the quietness, thinkpads are really loud compared to Latitude keyboards. The best keyboard I have ever tried I think, although I don't like how the keyboard looks, but that's a matter of taste.