help me pick between thinkpad R52 & R50e. thanks!

i'm looking to buy either an R52 or an R50e thinkpad, and i need you help/opinion.

R52: $1700 shipped
Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz
15" TFT active matrix XGA (1024 x 768)
512 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM
60 GB - 4200 rpm
CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo - plug-in module
ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 - 64 MB
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
4yr accidental protection

R50e: $1500 shipped
Pentium M 725 1.6 GHz
15" TFT active matrix XGA (1024 x 768)
512 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM
60 GB - 4200 rpm
DVD¦RW / DVD-RAM - integrated
Intel 855GM
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
4yr accidental protection

does the spec of the r52 justifies the extra $200 over the r50e? how much more performance is gain by pentium 740 & DDRII ram? how crappy is the intel 855GM (intel extreme 2) graphics card?

i'm using this laptop mainly for school, and occasionally, i burn/watch dvd. if i get the r52, i might get an external dvd burner.

all opinions are welcomed & appreciated. Thanks.

 

If you don't do anything that needs the dedicated graphics, then I'd just go with the cheaper one with the dvd burner.
Might i suggest trying to get one with a 5400rpm drive though? It really is worth it over the 4200rpm drive

 

Regrettably, IBM does not (to my knowledge) offer drives in speeds other than 4200RPM.

I'd go with the R52; the processor is quite a bit better, and the x300 is astronomically superioir to the IE2. The IE2 is a shared memory card, and a pitiful one at that; the x300, on the other hand, is dedicated, freeing up some system memory and providing many times the graphics performance.

The downside to the R52 is the lack of a DVD burner; however, if you get an external burner, it would be a lot faster anyways. Ultimately, it comes down to your needs; if you really have no need of the added graphics capabilities and processor speed of the R52, then just save some cash and get the R50e. However, if you intend to play even the simplest of 3D games, you'll need dedicated graphics power.

 

I forgot about the integrated graphics takes up ram deal...........ohwell, i still think its a little better for the value to go with the 2nd one.

 

i'm not a gamer at all. how would playing dvd be on the second one? smooth or choppy?

 

should be pretty smooth, it doesn't take a whole lot of power to play a dvd smoothly

 

it should run pretty smoothly...like X24 said...but if u want it 2 run VERY WELL...then i suggest getting a faster RPM if u can...u will c a big performance diff. b/w the 4200 RPM hard drive and a 5400 RPM hard drive

 

okay, thanks guys. i will probably get the r50e. another thing though, do thinkpad laptops heat up a lot? i noticed sony, toshiba & hp laptops heat up quite a bit around the touch pad area, which i find very annoying. thanks.

 

Of these two, I'd get the first one.

Reasons:

* Dedicated graphics versus integrated
* Faster CPU (also works on a higher bus speed, I think)

The only downside is the combo drive instead of the DVD drive. If you can upgrade that for no more than an extra $100, I'd get that too.

And, yes, I'd search for a faster hard drive. IBM does offer 5400 and 7200 hard drives for the T-series, dunno if they do it for the R-series, though.

 

ThinkPads don't generally heat up very much. I run distributed computing all the time (so cpu temps at 100% load reach 69C normal voltage and 60C slightly undervolted) and the touchpad and the right palm rest are only a bit lukewarm, but nothing annoying. I can place my hand right next to the air vent on the left and it doesn't get uncomfortably hot. This is a T42 too, and I'd imagine that the R series, being thicker, can dissipate heat even better, but that's just a guess.

 

as a matter of fact ibm offers drive up at 7200rpm for laptops (T-series notebooks)

 

I have a lot of Thinkpad experience personally, and yes, R series does dissipate heat better than T series machines

 

Thanks for the help guys. I actually ordered a T43 (2686DGU) for better technology and performance. it should be coming any time soon now. But i am a little concerned about it's weight though. i'm a dental student and need to lug my laptop around w/me everyday. the t43 may be a bit heavy along w/all the other stuff i'm carrying around.