ati gpu's in new thinkpad line from lenovo

has anyone heard about what gpu's the new thinkpad line will have? specifically in the T400/T500 and the new W series.

I kno that lenovo is goign with ati for this refresh, but are the gpu's goign to be the current ati's or newere ones that could compare with the 8600m gt?

because if the ati gpu's are less powerful than the nvidia ones, I may as well just a buy a t61p now instead of waiting for the thinkpad line refresh.

by the way, I'm using the gpu mostly for gaming. I don't use CAD or anything and dont think I will when i go to college this fall.

 

I think the new thinkpad's will use either the 256MB or the 512 MB version of the amd 3650. If they are using gddr2 video ram, they will be slightly slower than the 570m in the t61p but im not sure yet.

 

wut keeps manufactueres from just using gddr3?

y use gddr2? is gddr3 really that much more costly than gddr2?

 

I would be shocked if they used GDDR2. It's slower and hotter and GDDR3, and GDDR3 has been around for a few years now; it's old tech. It'd be like laptop manufacturers using DDR in a modern computer.

Hope you get your answer here, Derlin .

 

I really don't know whether they're using gddr2 or gddr3. I don't think that info's out yet. I was just speculating...

 

So the T400/500 AND the W series both use the 3650 card? So the successor to the T61p is going to use a card that doesn't offer a lot more performance than the 570m?

 

i hope not...cause that'd suck

and ive always like nvidia better...though no real justification for that. I think i just like nvidia's green glow compared with ati's evil red color scheme. lol

then the only thing that I really have to look forward to are Montevina and led screens on thinkpad. I may just go to a different lappie then...

 

ATI GPU's use less power right now and are only slightly slower. Seems like a good move to me.

 

There is no info out on the W series but the t400/500 will use the 3650 with either 256mb gddr ram or 512mb.

 

Yeah the only thing is when someone buys a new laptop they expect it to be faster not slower than the one it replaces.

 

Why would they use something slower than what's in their current product? And I assume we're talking about the full-power FX570M here, not the crippled 128MB version?

 

Just so there's no confusion. I got all my info from the following website:

http://gizmodo.com/378504/lenovos-entire-new-thinkpad-line-leaked-x300-gets-siblings

I don't think there's any other info out on the new thinkpads so one can only guess...

 

I'm thinking because the new T400/T500 are just regular Thinkpad T-series not the P model. The FX570M 256MB is only available on the T61p and it will probably take some time after the T400/T500 release for a T61p replacement to come out.

 

http://ati.amd.com/products/mobilityradeonhd3600/specs.html
you all raise a good point. apparently those 3650's can have 128-bit DDR2/GDDR3/GDDR4 memory interfaces. so i guess its up to Lenovo of what they want. but all three are offered. let's hope it's GDDR3, or 4 if its cost efficient.

 

Good point. It now makes more sense to offer both Txxx and Wxxx series.

 

so...are there any new graphics cards coming out, or more powerful ones, that could be put into a 15 inch Wxxx thinkpad?

 

...unless one is planning on running Linux. :/

 

No one knows yet what kind of GPUs the W series thinkpads are going to use. All we know is that the T400/500 series will use the 3650. I guess chances are that the W series thinkpads will use more powerful cards, possibly workstation gpus like the t61p does.

 

I am keeping my fingers crossed for the successor to the T61p.

 

Had u noticed that in Lenovo's US homepage (web), the Top Of the Class SAvings use to say: until June 16, at first (may 26 aprox.), now it says: Until june 2, ?

correct me if I'm wrong please, but i can swear, that it said "until june 16" in may. That could mean something...isn't it?

 

Maybe... the original due date for the new t400/500 series was supposed to be june 3rd but from what i've heard they've been postponed till july.

 

maybe they are going to release specs on june 3rd??!!

tha'd be so sweet.

 

im planning to purchase x61 really soon... should I place my order now and take advantage of the 25% discount? Will they offer something similar in the near time period again after this one?

 

Can't find the link but I had read that the new ThinkPad's will offer a powerful GPU unit in a motherboard that will have 2 16x PCI slots powered by ATI GPU. Also users will be able to turn off power hungry GPU units when not plugged into AC Power.

Sound to me like a dual "SLI" type of set up. If so this will be a very powerful machine, something that will be lusted for.

Sounds promising.

I may soon have to trade in my T61p, if the numbers are good enough with the new builds.

 

looks like Nvidia released their mobile plans. now if only lenovo would adopt the MXM format. we could all have our cake.

click for article

 

Now the Lenovo site shows the discounts through June 16.

 

Consider this http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/amd-jumps-into-the-netbook-game-challenges-opponents-to-a-duel/
One of these subnotebooks sports ATI chipset. It is I think a matter of time that other ATI's products will be Linux-friendly

 

Damned LEnovo!

That "25% discount only for a limited time" offer is on the web since january!

 

how on earth could that fit in a 15.4"?
isn't size the reason why the 570m is the best you can get in a 15.4"?

 

I'm not sure Cantiga even offers enough PCIe lanes to make that possible.

 

I doubt they will put sli graphics into a 15" notebook. That thing would be huge not to mention the battery life would probably be 30min or so. Who knows, maybe they'll put sli graphics into the flagship 17" w-series thinkpad?

 

I'm hoping we will see these external graphics card solutions materialize. It would be great to have integrated and a decent discrete graphics card in the laptop and then a powerful video card in an external box for at home/office use.

 

ExpressCard only supports a single (x1) PCIe lane. That would make for a rather poor experience.

I'm afraid standardized and non-proprietary external graphics won't appear any time soon.

 

ATI is already on this technology.

I'm looking forward to more information about the new GPU technology that for the new ThinkPads.

 

Can you elaborate or do you have a link?

 

as of today, you may not be waiting that long actually.

you may not have to wait to long

new expresscard speed

hopefully the next gen laptops are sporting these

 

Do you guys think the mobility 3870 or its workstation equivalents might end up in the T61p successor?

 

those are some big promises, specifically from nvidia.
is it truth, or are they building hype?

 

Thanks. Was unaware of this. Very cool.

 

i very well hope so...and i hope that they can ship my awesome t61p successor before i go to college!

or else im goign to end up getting a normal t61p...just missing out on the new awesome stuff.

 

don't feel too bad.
in 2009, nehalem/calpella will come... if i may quote ssnseawolf

from http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3444240&postcount=3

i remember posting that i believed that waiting for the next best thing is pointless unless you need certain features that are coming up, or if there's a large technological revolution/breakthrough/advance.

 

I would go so far as to call Nehalem a breakthrough. A processor that contains an IGP on-die is revolutionary.

Larabee, not so much.

I suppose it depends on one's needs, however.

 

absolutely. one of the main reasons why i don't feel horrible for getting a T61p, and (hope) i won't feel horrible when my college classmates are using their newer thinkpads.
i do agree about dependency on one's needs though.

 

its a losing situation. no matter what you buy, their will always be something better on the horizon. i recommend getting what you need when you need it. you can always wait, but then you wont have it until that time comes.

 

Very true.