noise levels of W500 and T500 with different graphics cards

I am close to deciding on a W500 or T500, and still have a few concerns. I wish to run a quiet environment when I am word processing and web surfing. I wonder how different each is in the demands made on the fans/noise-making levels for the various different cpu's and gpu's (dedicated or integrated) available? I of course expect demanding graphical/cpu stuff to force the fans on at a higher speed and to cause more noise, but my interest is base level moderate use. Can anyone give me any reflections on their experience with the various options?

I have a 4 1/2 year old notebook that does everything well, but the the 75watt gpu creates a lot of heat forcing the fans to run incessantly and not quietly, constantly. I have heard that the latest Thinkpads are much quieter...? But there are so many options...

 

the t500 is very silent when you are at the lowest power setting. this settings enough for word processing and browsing. I use the tpfan control to set the fan speed to nothing at such times.

but gaming plus maximum fans will creates some noise, but i dont even hear it over the speakers

 

Pretty much the same case for the W series. I barely hear the thing unless I crank the fan up myself.

 

The T500 and w500 both have SWITCHABLE GRAPHICS.

I would recommend running exclusively in integrated mode for basic tasks (word processing, web browsing, even video playback) as it is plenty powerful, will use less energy, generate less heat, and consequently operate at a lower noise level.

The only time you really need the extra power of the Radeon 3650 or FireGL 5700 is during intensive graphical activities such as gaming, CAD, or OpenGL rendering.

You may also want to consider a P series processor (P8400, P8600, P8700, or P9500) rather than a T series processor (T9400, T9600, T9600). The P series processors have a 25w vs. 35w TDP, operate at a lower voltage, use less energy, generate less heat, and will consequently operate at a lower noise level as well. The difference in performance between a high end P (e.g. P8700) and low end T (e.g. T9400) is negligible. However, both the T500 and w500 are more than capable of cooling a high performance T (i.e. T9600) if you have a use for the extra CPU power.

One other thing. The GPUs in the T500 and w500 are effectively identical. The FireGL 5700 is simply a Radeon 3650 with extra VRAM and drivers tuned for CAD and OpenGL. Conversely, the Radeon 3650 is tuned for DirectX. If you need a GPU for productivity applications then the w500 is a better choice; however, if you only need a GPU for gaming, the T500 is just as effective and should be available at a lower price point.

 

My W500 is very quiet, even when pushing the GPU really hard. For basic tasks, it runs extremely cool and the fans are virtually undetectable (my 7200rpm Scorpio Black HD is the dominant sound).

After playing Mass Effect on maximum settings for an hour (talk about stress), the left underside gets almost too hot to touch and the fans are going full-on, but you can still barely hear the fans over most ambient or game sounds. My XPS m1330 is much, much louder when maxed out.

 

So, despite hardware differences, little actual difference in fan use / noise level for mundane computing for both T500 and W500, whether a P series cpu or a T series, the ATI dedicated gpu or the Intel integrated?

 

They are basically the same, so yes, there is little difference in noise.

 

That can't be good.

You should really use the TPFan control. The BIOS controller for the fan will allow temps to get above 75C and never actually pushes the fan to its full speed while with TPFan control you can game and keep your temps under 60C.

 

My T500 never runs that hot, even while playing Bioshock.

With integrated graphics, the T500 runs very very cool, and the hard drive is literally louder than the fan. With dedicated graphics, it is noticeably warmer, but still very cool. The fan does not really increase in speed, and the hard drive is still louder.

 

I've been thinking of getting the W500 for business but I like to game (Crysis, etc...) Can this GPU handle the higher end games since they are more geared for CADD, which I will be doing as well.
Thanks.
PS. Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread, just an additional question from the the OP questions. thanks.

 

the W500 can run these games but don't expect awesome performance.

What some W500 users have done to improve graphics performance is install the ATI 3650 drivers instead, however this completely does away with the switchable graphics option.

 

some interesting comments, thank you all!

it looks like the consensus is that for word processing etc, the 4500HD is the way to go, and makes a difference. for me the questions remaining are:
1) do i really want a dedicated gpu as well? i don't play games, but i know Ubuntu 9.04 runs much much faster with a dedicated gpu, and is handy to have for future-proofing (though i thought that 5 years ago when i got my present machine, and have used it little!).
2) in Australia the W500 only comes with a 6MB-cache T-series cpu, and I still wonder if that is inferior in mundane computing (heat level - 35W max versus 25W) to a 3MB P-series cpu, as is available here on the T500? reviews suggest the T9550 would be around 10% faster than the P8400, but perhaps that is not very important for mundane computing?
3) I am used to a WUXGA screen, and the T500 "only" offers a WSXGA+ screen. I worry that I will not be happy with WSXGA+ after 5 years of a WUXGA. On the other hand, before that time I used a 15" UXGA which had a ppi of 133, the same as a 17" WUXGA , and closer to that of a 15.4" SXGA+ with a ppi of 128. The 15.4" WUXGA has an amazing ppi of 147.

The cost difference, with other features being equal, for a WUXGA W500 over a WSXGA+ T500 (only differences the gpu and a T9550 over a P8420) is 20%. Drop the dedicated gpu on the T500 and one saves another 25% - but one does not have ability to swap to a dedicated gpu if needed, and new operating systems seem to be sharing more and more operating functions with a separate gpu, if available.

 

If you don't need the power of a dedicated gpu, I would stick with the T500 with the 4500HD. The P procs will run cooler and longer, albeit only slightly. WSXGA+ will be fine; even if you hate it at first, you'll grow to love it, especially since the WUXGA panels Lenovo uses have had some questionable reviews. Plus the cost savings of the T500 running integrated over the W500 almost makes it a no brainer, for me at least, if you don't need the gpu power.

 

I would recommend the following:

T500
P8600 CPU (P8400, P8700 will also work)
3-4GB of RAM (likely cheaper to upgrade yourself)
Switchable Graphics (better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it)
15.4" WSXGA+
6 or 9 cell battery at your preference
OS of your choice (I recommend Vista Business 64)
Intel 5100 or 5300 WLAN
WWAN, Bluetooth, Webcam at your preference

 

thank you for this very helpful reply (as well as all the others, every one thoughtful and of assistance!
It has persuaded me to go for the 64 bit and 4B ram. I guess the 64bit handles the memory usage of the gpu's better, apart from other things...?
I am still undecided on the WUXGA or the WSXGA+. In the end I know the WUXGA, and don't know the WSXGA+, but am worried of poor reports of the Lenovo 15.4" WUXGA - my present Dell version is still brilliant after almost 5 years...

 

I find the WSXGA+ screen to only be bright enough in dim or dark rooms. During a really sunny day or especially outdoors the brightness isn't what I'd like it to be. (This might vary from person to person, or if you happen to have weak or strong eyes. I have normal vision however and often find the brightness somewhat lacking.)

Still, this single drawback wouldn't keep me from buying a Thinkpad.

 

Agreed, Lenovo needs better QC and selection of high quality panels.

 

I had a W500 with a T9600 processor and WUXGA - screen brightness was so poor and the screen wasn't that nice

I now have my T500 with T9600 WSXGA+ and the resolution/brightness are perfect, and on on-board graphics the machine runs extremely cool (temp cores only a few degrees C over ambient).

I would definitely recommended the T500 with WSXGA, P series or T - you'll still have very cool temps.

 

just the feedback i was looking for, thank you! though i continue to be amazed with the problems with the WUXGA screens - I would have thought the backlighting would be the same as for the WSXGA+; and if anything, the WUXGA would be higher quality...then again, the previous post suggest the WSXGA+ is dim too...perhaps I should wait a few months for possible new LED screens? I can wait if I have too...or stick with a Dell E5400 with WUXGA?

 

I'm planning on swapping my screen for a brighter one, which isn't hard to do at all. Hands down the Thinkpad itself is still the leader in business class laptops in my opinion so even though some find the screen to be sub par (myself included) I still bought it, and would definitely buy it again before I considered going with another brand.

Everyone ends up upgrading something in the long run anyway- be it ram, the hard drive, or even the display. Since those things can be swapped in any laptop, it's the rest of the features like integrated graphics, low temps, long battery life, exterior design and the great build quality which only Thinkpads have that keeps me from dwelling on the shortcomings of parts that are easily swappable, ie a slightly dim display or a slow 5400rpm hard drive.

If you end up going with a Dell just for the display, you'll sort of be sacrificing a lot to get it. Of course screens aren't cheap either, but who knows, you might get a W500 and think that the screen is already perfect.

 

Heres my thought on the LED screen idea, while I'm all down for the brightness of it, I have never owned one before, and I really don't feel like I'm missing out, the screen on my T500 WSXGA+ is plenty bright on max settings, not bright to use outdoors, but plenty bright to use inside. I should bring it with me to work to see how it does with these bright fluorescent lights in here. I would put the screen brightness up there with my DV5T that had a really nice display on it.

I have a co-worker that has a Dell E6500, and its just the basic model, no LED or anything but I would not even compare it to a W500 or T500, build quality/fit finish/materials/specs everything is not even close, it feels very cheap, nothing special, and fragile.

As mastah pointed out, you lose a lot going from a thinkpad to a dell E series, no questions asked. He also makes a good point that you could upgrade the screen in a year or so if lenovo comes out with a LED lit Wuxga or wsxga+ display.

If you ask me, if you're worried about display brightness, get the wsxga, it still offers big resolution in a 15.4", although slightly less than the wuxga, you won't be sacrificing brightness for it.