how to check battery type?

i just got a t400 in a few days ago, brand new. I ordered a 9-cell battery, but I don't think its a 9 cell. For example, right now its at 73% remaining and I only have 3 hours and 30 minutes remaining. That doesn't sound right.

Is there a setting where I can view if this is indeed a 9-cell?

 

If you are running on discrete graphics that sounds about right. 75% and still over 3 hours left is a lot. I'd say you got your 9-cell.

If you still want to check, the 9-cell batteries usually slope up from the back instead of just sticking out.

 

yeah, my battery slopes.

what is discrete graphics? is this an option I can turn off or will it cause a big difference if turned off?

 

Turn down your brightness, processor settings to power save,etc. Advertised battery run times are never realistic.

 

Discrete graphics is a GPU that is physically separate from the motherboard and includes dedicated memory. These offer better performance (mainly for games and 3D apps), but come at the cost of increased heat and energy consumption.

Your T400 probably has BOTH a discrete Radeon GPU and an INTEGRATED Intel GPU. The integrated solution will use much less power (likely 3-5 watts less [1-2 hours more battery life]) and is perfectly adequate for desktop level applications and video playback.

You should be able to switch them on the fly using the Power manager app. If you click on the battery gauge on the taskbar, you should see a video setting. There should be an "optimize performance" and "optimize for battery" or similar. Select the battery option and you will use the integrated graphics. NOTE - this is only possible in Vista/7.

If you don't need the discrete GPU at all (e.g. you don't play games). It is also possible to select Integrated graphics only in BIOS.

 

thanks jon. i want to change to integrated. but i am running w7 and when i click on the battery icon on the lower right it says:

"Select a power plan": balanced or power saver. I don't see anything about a video setting

 

?..................

 

Windows 7 drivers don't support the switchable feature yet. You can go into the bios and manually switch between integrated and discrete. Otherwise go back to Vista which can switch on the fly.

 

and how about the discrete graphic?

 

I don't really follow your question, but I'll try to answer anyway.

Discrete graphics is also perfectly adequate for desktop level work, and is a better choice for gaming/rendering.

However, a discrete GPU will generate more heat and use more power than an integrated GPU. The exact difference depends on the GPU in question. For example a Radeon 3450, will use far less power and generate less heat than a Geforce 9800GT (especially if you have a gaming notebook with SLI).

If you don't play games, I think integrated is probably a better choice if heat/battery life are important to you. Even if you do play games, I would recommend using the integrated GPU for most other activities (the T400/T500/w500 have BOTH).

 

can you show me exactly how to go into bios and switch to integrated? im a noob so I need specifics thanks

 

I recently updated the Power Manager software from the Lenovo website (version 1.51a). It now shows the details of the battery including the number of Watt hours. This should tell you more precisely which battery you have. Click on the battery logo in the Windows icon tray. When the software opens look for the "Switch to: Advanced" button in the upper right of the window and click it. There will be a screen with four tabs at the top. Click on battery and then scroll down for the details.

 

so this is weird, please tell me if im wrong

i charged my t400 to 99% and it said I have 4 hours and 45 minutes left!!??

im supposed to have a 9-cell, so isn't it supposed to be somewhere around 8-9 hours?

confused!

 

Again, are you running in integrated (Intel GMA 4500M HD) or discrete (ATI Mobility Radeon 3470) graphics?

In Vista, to switch graphics, you have to right-click on the Power Manager battery icon, then choose in the Switchable Graphics menu. Other OS's do not yet support on-the-fly GPU switching.

 

ive never changed the setting since i got my t400, so whatever setting its on when i got it is what its on now

but even if its on integraged, when im charged to 99% i shouldn't be seeing only 4hours and 45min, i should be seein around 8-9 hours because this is a 9 cell right?

 

When it is on integrated, you should be seeing 7-9 hours, yes. But factory default state is on discrete, which makes sense in giving you 4-5 hours. Set your graphics to integrated graphics, and you'll see the 7-9 hours you are expecting.

 

ok since i have a w7 and i cant switch to integrated on the fly. can someone explain to me how I can switch to integrated mode? someone here said it is through the BIOS but im not sure how exactly

 

can anyone show me how to change to integrated (via BIOS?) on Windows 7?

 

Are you sure you have the discrete option? Is it possibly to quickly list your specs so we can help you better?

I am sure you have the 9-cell.

A reason why you have such low battery life is possibly becasue you are checking on it right when it starts up. The time left should go up once the OS is done loading.

Also do you know how to turn the brightness down? or Turn of the wifi?

Generally they figure run times with a low brightness and without wifi.

To go into the bios restart your computer and push the blue thinkvantage button a few times. If you see a windows logo you need to try again.

I don't have my t400 anymore but you should be able to find the gpu setting in there. good luck

 

a few of the above posters said i had the discrete option

my specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8400 (2.26GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2) 25W1
Windows 7 (7057)
14.1 WXGA+ TFT, CCFL, Camera
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
2 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)8
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm4
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA)5
Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)10
9 cell Li-Ion Battery60
7417: 1 Year Depot Warranty - TopSeller7

yes i know how to turn down brightness, but i use wi-fi as my internet connection so i need it

i just need help on how to change to discrete graphics via BIOS

 

You DO NOT HAVE DISCRETE (switchable) GRAPHICS. This would explain why you are having trouble switching.

Please state the exact usage pattern you have when you are measuring your battery life. To get an accurate baseline, you should open up power manager, switch to advanced view, go to the battery tab. Check the WATTAGE here. Ideally you should run this with Wi-Fi off, screen at 0/15 brightness, and your web browsers closed. You should be under 10 watts with these settings and see 8+ hours with a 9 cell battery.

 

so if it said discrete like ati radeon something that's mean the laptop get dual vga (switchable graphics )?

 

If it said Radeon 3470 (possibly with "& Intel x4500" as a suffix), then yes you would have switchable graphics.

Similarly, for the T500 if it says Radeon 3650 (possibly with "& Intel x4500" as a suffix), you would have switchable graphics.