Thinkpad T400 vs. XPS M1530

Hey Guys,

I’ve been doing some research about getting a new laptop and I’ve come up with a shortlist of 2.

Dell XPS M1530 $1385

XPS M1530 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
System Color Tuxedo Black
Memory 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
LCD, Color and camera High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2.0 M
Video Card 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
Hard Drives Speed: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) with Free Fall Sensor
Software - Adobe Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0
Combo or DVD+RW Drive Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
Sound Card High Definition Audio 2.0
Wireless Networking Cards Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
Productivity No Microsoft Office
Software - Antivirus No Security
Primary Battery 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Warranty & Service 2Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
Accident and Theft Protection Add Accidental Damage and LoJack Theft Protection to 2Yr Warr.
Datasafe Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year
Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested
SECURITY Finger Print Reader XPS M1530
Bluetooth and Wireless USB Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
Doms Camera and Color High Res, Black glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LED LCD (1440x900) & 2MP Ca
Processor Branding Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor
Dell Printer Driver Windows Vista™ Premium

Pros
15 Inch Screen
7200 RPM Hard Drive

Cons
Defective Nvidia GPU
Laptop gets pretty warm compared to T400


Lenovo Thinkpad T400 $1466
2764CTO
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.40GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W1
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic12
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)8
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
320GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)10
Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
4 cell Li-Ion Battery60
41C9337 2 Year On Site Upgrade with 2 Year ThinkPad Protection

Pros
Newer Processor (Centrino 2)
Turbo memory
Switchable Graphics
Light (4.7 lbs)
Awesome cooling system (I own a T42 and it stays really cool on the palmrest)

Cons
Smaller Screen 14 inch
Slower HD (5400 rpm)
~$100 more expensive

I have to admit that the Dell seems like a better deal to me as it might be a better performing system with the 7200 RPM HD. I also like the fact that it is a 15 inch screen which I wouldn’t mind lugging around with the extra weight. The only thing stopping me from getting it is the defective Nvidia GPU issue. I just feel that it is dumb buying a system that is known to have problems down the line.

With that being said the T400 seems like an awesome deal with the 32.5% discount on right now. I’m currently using a T42 and I usually have good support from IBM for the duration of my 3 year warranty. I’ve changed the keyboard, HD, mobo and DVD drive without much problem. But it has been more than a year since the warranty expired. I had to change the fan 2 weeks ago and now the LCD screen is completely blank. I’ve diagnosed the problem and bought a new inverter and a CCFL tube. It has yet to arrive but hopefully that should fix the problem. In any case it’s time for an upgrade and switch to Vista.

I would appreciate any input from you guys.

Thanks.

 

if a 15 inch screen is a plus, why not consider the t500?

 

Well. I want something with dedicated graphics and unfortunately the T500 with dedicated graphics is not included in the Thinkpad Anniversary Sale with 33% off.

Details of the coupons are located here for those who are planning to get a Thinkpad:
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/landing_pages/sales/ecoupon?cid=us|semd|ggl|us_ecoupon1_en|t1112|s&&s_kwcid=thinkpad%20coupon|2466382051

 

Why don't you use CPP if you're in the U.S? Google is your friend... When it is all said and done, your savings should add up to about 39%.

 

Since they are both WXGA+ I think your gfx perf. should be comp depending on the hard drive speed.

 

Whats Cpp?

 

Isn't buying a 5400rpm 320gb hdd directly from lenovo more expensive than a 7200rpm one you can get from a nearby store?
I dunno, I'm just suggesting

 

Contractor Purchace Program. Something people on the boards tell you to google even though google only shows old useless links.

 

Hi

What I'd suggest is to consider your intended usage for the laptop. I think that ThinkPads are usually more 'business class' machines. While the Dell is probably a more 'general purpose' laptop.

So don't get confused. Buy and purchase based on your intended usage.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I do understand that both are systems built for different reasons. I might do some light gaming with a few games coming out next year (i.e. Diablo 3 & Starcraft 2).

Other than that I'll use it mainly to watch movies and surf the web. That's the only reason why I'm more interested in the 15.4 inch screen. How I wish the T500 with the dedicated card is included as part of the sale.

But you are right the XPS 1530 would suit what I want to do more.I would jump at the XPS 1530 deal right now with all the discounts they are giving but the GPU problem is not something I want to risk $1500 for.

 

Get A W500, with the student website + coupon you can get one for 1400 maxed out!!!

USX14MOREW500 is the code

Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)1
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic12
15.4" WUXGA TFT
ATI Mobility FireGL V5700 with 512MB VRAM
4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
No Bluetooth
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)10
Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband (3G)
6 cell Li-Ion Battery60
4058: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7

$1,436.29

 

That was a really good deal. However, I did not take a plunge as I feel the T400 would probably represent a better deal.

Anyway does anyone knows if the T400 uses SATA HD? I read an article from NBR that manufacturers usually specify SATA HD. Lenovo only specify SATA for their SSD.

I know for a fact that Dell specify SATA for all their HD. I would probably like to save some money by getting the smallest HD and 2 gig 1 dimm memory. I'll then get a 320GB 7200 RPM SATA HD from newegg and a 2gb DDR3. That's save me about $40 and I'll get a way better HD compared to the 320 GB 5400 RPM they are offering.

 

I can't verify beyond a shadow of a doubt for the T400, but my x200 definitely uses a 2.5" SATA hard drive. You can almost certainly get the base 80 GB drive, and add a large, fast, cheap 2.5" SATA hard drive to your T400.

 

Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 Will barely be playable, somewhat, on the T400 but not as well as the W500 with T9400.

 

Thanks jon

Yeah. I did keep a quote for that deal though. Although I won't be able to get my 3% from ebates.

Chk: Do you mean the GPU rather than the Processor? Because I am speching up the T400 with the T9400 as well.

 

The GPU is better than the T400 and XPS 1530
The CPU is WAY better than the T400 and XPS 1530, if you spec it up, refer to GPU above.

The XPS would be a waste of money, sorry to be so irrational, compared to the T400, and compared to the W500 it would be less bang for your buck.

 

Yeap I agree with you that the XPS would be a waste of money since it is last year's technology (ddr2 etc).

I am thinking it would be so weird to use a Thinkpad as a gaming machine. Who knows, weirder stuff has happened.

 

What are your needs for the laptop?

Gaming on the T400 isn't that good. Turbo memory and new processor don't affect things that much (TM is good in theory but doesn't perform in real life and the new processor doesn't really save much power since you aren't loading the CPU most of the time). Plus the weight of the T400 isn't < 5.0lbs, but being a 14" it will be lighter than 15". DDR3 memory makes no difference either in performance or battery life, so I wouldn't factor the above things in. Ideally for gaming T500/W500 (they are based on the same GPU) would be best, but if its just XPS and T400 then XPS is going to be better. Don't worry about the nVidia GPU either.

 

I don't game that much. No WOW, Crysis none of that stuff. The only games I would probably play in the near future are Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 as I use to play them years ago. I have no idea how graphically intense they are but I would probably like a system that could handle it not at max settings but at an enjoyable level. That's probably the benchmark as for the GPU as far as I am concerned.

Other than that I would use it for mundane stuff. Word processing, browse the internet. I guess I do watch a lot of movies on it as it is my only form of entertainment. That's the big plus of the 15" screen. Suffice to say it would be my desktop replacement but I don't want anything more than 6lbs. That's the cutoff point for me for any system.

Well I still have the quote. The W500 have most of what I am looking for except:
-the boring look (I can live with that)
-not too crazy about the vertical USB
-No LED screen (I know it's a WUXGA but my current laptop's CCFL just died)
-No HDMI (Displayport.. yeah..)

Minor stuff.. I know.

 

I would go for the W500 if you want the 15" screen. I personally never saw what was so special about the XPS line, seemed over priced to me. I am kind of partial to designs that are more durable/tougher built. If I was to do a higher end Dell, I would probably look at their Lattitude and Precision lines, which have been and are good machines.

Also you can kind of get rid of the harddrive in your comparison. I would go for the cheapest hardrive you can from the manufacturer and then upgrade yourself. You can get a really great drive for insane prices if you wait a little and shop wisely. For example ZipZoomFly had the 320GB 7200rpm Hitachi drive for $70 after rebate recently!

 

I can play games just fine on my T400.

 

Nice to hear. The ATI 3470 should be decent for most games I feel.

 

Well, FYI I've just took the plunge to get the T400. It should arrive by the end of the month.

Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2)1
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic12
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, w/ LED Backlight, Camera
ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)8
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm4
DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)10
4 cell Li-Ion Battery60
2764: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7
3 year depot 9x5 Next Business Day
$1,247.57

I don't think the price could get any better than that.

I would probably add a 2gb stick of RAM from Newegg for $60 and I'll upgrade the HD when the HD price for the 7200 rpm drops.

Thanks for everyone who helped out.

 

Looks sweet. I think you will love it.

 

The card can play crysis on low settings, and thats an unoptimized game. Obviously it will be able to handle titles come next year and anything before this year.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I ended up canceling the order. Think I would be more happier for the next 3-4 years if I have a T500 or W500. Just waiting for the LED screen to be introduced. Any day now lenovo...

 

Lenovo had posted the LED option last week at $9999 and I've gotten conflicting statements from Lenovo chat about LED availability. One said the price would be fixed the next day and the other said it would be offered next month. I keep bouncing between wanting a W500 (which for some odd reason is usually priced cheaper than the T500) or the T400.

 

Seconded.