questions about x61 and x61s

1. What is more significant the difference in battery life or the difference in performance? basically where do i gain more and lose less
A. x61
T7500 processor (2.20GHz) with 7,200 rpm HD
B. x61s
L7700 low voltage processor (1.80GHz) with 5,400 rpm HD

2. It says i can get up to 12.5 hours depending on battery configuration, reading the Lenovo forums i saw at least 4 different battery types however on the lenovo page they are only offering 4-cell and 8-cell....would you be able to clear this up ?

 

anyone can help ?

 

I went for the X61s, battery time is only slightly better depending on usage, but the worst part is the extra heat from the X61, gets very hot.

If you don't need a lot of power, go for the X61s.

The 12,5 hours-config includes a battery in the media-bay of the docking station.

 

you won't notice any difference if you are just doing basic work...
I initially ordered x61 but cancelled it before shipping because i wanted brighter screen of x61s. but after I got it, it wasn't a big deal (I turn my brightness down on my s)

lol 12.5 hrs...maybe if you turn down the brightness down significantly and disable alot of stuff like usb, wifi, sound etc... I have 4-cell battery and I get about 2.5 hrs with decent word, firefox work.

x61s is supposedly 30minutes longer and lighter, but I think (s) or not it's pretty much the same. the right palm rest is kinda hot too even if I have the Atheros(?) the ABGN one which was apparantly cooler than the other one...

just get the x61 not the s

 

correct me if i'm wrong

i can always under clock the cpu anyway and have it work on that lower voltage, right ?

 

yeah, but last time i followed the undervolting guide here, my x61s got BSOD after the very first lowering step...so, you can underclock it i guess

 

do i understand posts correctly: the x61s gets LESS hot under the palm rest than the x61 because it's a lower voltage processor? and if so, does the X61s 1.6 MHZ processor get less hot than the X61s 1.8 MHZ processor? Please hurry! i'm sure theyll discontinue them all in the next few days and I want to order one (I think...) (I"d be getting the intel wifi card since it think that one gets less hot- i can sacrafice some connectivity)

 

^the intel wifi card doesn't really make a difference in terms of heat. Perhaps a little. But some people here (and other websites) selected the intel card and the right arm rest is still too warm.

I hope you are right and they will discontinue them within the next few days. I need that X200 now...

 

grrr. I don't want the x200-doesn't really fit my needs. but I hate the thought of the right wrist pad getting hot on the 61s. (I had a 61s for afew days with the ultralight screen- hated it, hated the heat under the wrist too -just about burned my wrist -problems with it- sent it back). Thought maybe if i switched to the intel card...and maybe the 1.6 gh processor instead... i'd be ok. price now with coupons etc. for the X61s is a hair under a thousand dollars- (not including tax or extra warranty) seemed like a good deal - but not if I hate it... and don't want to spend the big bucks for the x300 which seems like it would be a good fit for all my needs including the LED screen...

 

p.s. any idea if the 1.6 GHZ processor would be cooler than the 1.8GHZ processor on the wrist rest? (for the x61s)

 

It doesn't get that hot. I'm not sure of the Windows equivalents, but in Linux if I use the conservative CPU governor (starts at 800Mhz, and steps up slowly as needed) it stays quite cool. If I use the on-demand governor (starts at 800mhz, goes to 1.6Ghz as soon as it's needed, and then steps down slowly) it gets quite warm, but not uncomfortable. If I leave the processor at 1.6Ghz all the time it really just stays as warm as the on-demand governor ever gets.

I have the Atheros wifi, by the way. I've always been under the impression that they get warmer than the Intel parts.

My only issue with the machine is the small backspace key, but I'm getting used to it. The screen is better than I expected (but still pretty bad, it's a trade off), and extremely bright. I use it at about 1/2 brightness with the option for extra brightness in the BIOS turned off.

I wouldn't want the X61, I see no point in that extra weight and heat for performance I really don't need in an ultraportable.