Input on Lenovo T61 Thinkpad for College

[dfdave12]

Hi all,

Would just like some input on the laptop I will soon need to be ordering for college. I will doing alot of Word Processing, gaming, music and other things of the sort. Any tips or recommendations would be useful.

Here are the proposed specs:

ThinkPad T61 15 Widescreen
System Processor: Intel® Core? 2 Duo processor T9300 (2.5GHz 800MHz 6MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
15.4 WXGA TFT
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M (128MB)
3 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache: Intel Turbo Memory 1GB
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ
9 cell Li-Ion Battery
-----------------------------------

So just a few quick questions:

1) Should 3 GB of RAM be enough to handle Vista and multiple applications at once? (Itunes, etc)
2) Is the 1 GB of Turbo Memory even worth getting?
3) Should I only get 100 GB HD and spend the extra money on an external HD instead?
------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[corkyg]

Sounds like a very good system - similar to my T-60.

3 GB of RAM is very adequate for Vista - in fact, 2 GB will do it.

No comment on the Turbo Memory. What is it supposed to do for you?

I would get the 160 GB drive. I upgraded mine to a 200, and then used the original 160 as a media storage drive using the Ultrabay adapter. That adapter is worth getting. It swaps with the optical drive in the SATA Ultrabay.

 

[IlllI]

NVS 140M isnt meant for gaming, so dont expect much from it

 

[dfdave12]

Any word on if Turbo Memory has improved since it's implementation? The review done by AT made it sound like a complete waste of time.

Should I just get 4GB of RAM instead?

 

[mc866]

Originally posted by: dfdave12
Any word on if Turbo Memory has improved since it's implementation? The review done by AT made it sound like a complete waste of time.

Should I just get 4GB of RAM instead?

Isn't the Turbo Memory similar to Ready boost in Vista. Probably flash memory, sounds like a gimmick.

More info on Turbo Memory
http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3009&p=1

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: dfdave12
Should I just get 4GB of RAM instead?

4 GB will be seen by Vista x86 w/SP1, but only 3 will be used. To use 4 GB you would need 64 bit Vista.

Forget Turbo Memory - get the Ultrabay HDD adapter - about $45 as I recall. It is extremely useful.

 

[Lord Banshee]

The Quadro 140NVS will be as fast as GeForce 8400 GS in gaming which isn't fast at all... So if you really want to game with your notebook you might want to get the T61p with the Quadro FX 570M as that is about a 8600GT.

BTW i am about to order me a T61p Can't beat the deals they have right now, get a T61p with same or better hardware than a Macbook Pro for 1/2 the price.

Answers to Questions
1) 3Gb is plenty for 32bit vista, i use 2gb at home and it is works nice.
2) As far as i remember Turbo Memory = Ready Boost, which with >2GB of ram shows no performance difference, sometimes even hinders performance.
3) i would get the biggest HD you can afford. I fill my 60GB T42 HD all the time, this time around i am getting a 160GB.

 

[Adn4n]

See my signature for the specs I went for. It's a great machine, but here's a few things you need to consider.

The Nvidia QUADRO NVS 140m won't do much for you in terms of gaming.

The T61p line uses the Nvidia QUADRO FX 570m, HOWEVER, the 14.1" model that I have has a crippled bus even though Nvidia denies this. It has been discusses a million times on several reputable sites and the conclusion matches the benchmark scores. With a simple driver tweak(replacing one .inf file in the setup folder = EASY) you can get stable GeForce drivers for this card. The 15.4" version will get ~5K in 3dMark06 and the 14.1" version will get about ~2500. Results will be lower with QUADRO drivers. Since you're already getting a larger form factor with the 15.4" screen, do yourself the favor and get the T61P. It is worth the extra cash and I would have done it if I could put up with such a large notebook.

Good choices on the Atheros WLan and Fingerprint reader(I love that thing). But may I suggest including Bluetooth, it's great for cordless transfers and using peripherals.

Also, you won't get a restore disk in the box, you'll have to create your own. It takes approximately 9 CDs or 1-2 DVDs depending on the OS. I originally planned on getting the Combo Drive, but now I'm really glad I went for the Ultrabay Dual-Layer DVD burner.

Also, don't forget to use the CPP for the additional 15% discount.

 

[dfdave12]

Thanks for all your help gentlemen. I'm still learning all the fine details about computer parts and how everything works, so I apologize if these questions seem stupid.

Think I might go for the 4GB RAM w/ 64 bit Vista Ultimate. Can anyone recommend this setup to me?

 

[Lord Banshee]

just ordered my T61p

6459CT CONFIGURED SYSTEM $1,478.71
43Y3426 SBB INTEL CORE2DUO PROC.T9300
42V8173 VBB MS WIN VISTA BUSSINESS 64
42V8472 SBB MS WIN VISTA BUSS.64 US EN
42V8287 SBB 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
42X5976 SBB NVID QUA FX570M-256MB OPGL
41W2068 VBB 4GB PC2-5300 667MHZ 2DIMM
42V8195 SBB KEYBOARD US ENGLISH
42V8297 SBB UN(TRCKP TOUCHPAD)FINGERRE
42X5218 SBB 160GB HDD,7200RPM
42V8172 SBB DVD REC.8XMAXDUAL LAY UB-S
42X0805 VBB PC CARDSLOT EX CARDSLOT
42V8177 SBB INT.WIRE.WIFI/LINK4965AGN
62P6054 VBB INTEGR.BLUETOOTH PAN
39T6651 SBB 9 CELL LI-ION BATTERY
39T6442 SBB COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA
42X1524 SBB LP-US ENGLISH
41C9169 LENOVO THINKPLUS EXTENDED SERVICE AGREEMENT - 2 YEARS - PICK-UP AND RETURN

That price is with the current 25% off + the CPP 15% discount, i do not think you can find a better deal.

 

[996GT2]

dfdave, I was planning to buy a Thinkpad T61 for college when I found out about the 25% off + 15% CPP discounts a few weeks ago, but decided to wait until the summer Thinkpad refreshes before getting one for college. The reason is that the T series has pretty bad battery life even with the 9 cell, recording only about 3 hours of use with balanced settings or about 4 hours max with everything set to low. I've seen this both from responses on the Lenovo subforums at notebookreview.com and from a friend who has a T61 with integrated graphics...he says he can't get more than 3.5 hours out of his 7 cell battery no matter how low things are turned down.

The refresh that comes along with Montevina might bring slightly higher prices, but it'll also possibly bring about an LED lit screen, which would definitely help battery life.

Also, Lenovo is supposedly going to release several new Thinkpad models in the summer, including the 12" X200, a new W-Series (14", 15", 17"), along with refreshed T and R series notebooks. See the link below:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/vie...fd697edfd3e1c607f37230

If you want a laptop now, though, definitely hit up that Thinkpad T61 deal. It's an extremely loaded laptop for the price.

 

[dfdave12]

Thanks alot 996GT2! Ill keep all that in mind.

Do you think there will be another 25% off sale in the summer as well? I'd rather not pass up this good price as I don't want to hit the pockets too hard. The CPP discount makes it even better as well... you can't really beat 40% off for a good rig.

 

[dfdave12]

Just two more quick questions:

1) Is the dedicated graphics card even worth getting? I won't be doing that much hardcore gaming now that I think about it, so is the dedicated that much better than the integrated?

NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M (128MB) VS. Intel GMA X3100 GM965 - The NVS 140M is 60 dollars more expensive.

2) What is the main difference between the R-Series and T-Series Thinkpads? I've noticed that the R is a bit heavier and that it can't support as powerful of a processor as the T. Am I missing anything?

 

[Lord Banshee]

If you want to play any games i would get nvidia over intel any day. But then again the power of the 140M is no better than Nvidia IGP so you choices are just intel IGP vs Nvidia IGP. I would pick Nvidia. Also if $60 bothering you really should jump on this 40% off deal as it is very unlikely that they will have these kinds of deals on brand new models for at least 4+ months.

The other thinkpads are just different, the T series is best of the best for T-series and they cost more for that reason.
R ~ normal laptop nothing too special
X ~ small ultra portable notebook
T ~ best quality business notebook

 

[996GT2]

From posts at notebookreview.com forums, prices might go up a bit, but the general consensus is that it would be hard for Lenovo to significantly raise prices after keeping them at this level for so long. So it's your choice...if you buy now you get an excellent deal, or if you wait you might get better performance and battery life but have to pay a bit more for it. You have until early April to make up your mind, though, since Lenovo recently extended the CPP deadline to April 7. They might extend it a few more times, since the original deadline was early March and they've since extended it twice.

As far as the IGP goes...if you want to play older games like HL1 or Starcraft, the X3100 integrated graphics will be just fine and your battery life will be better as well. If you want to play newer games, then you should be looking at the T61P with Quadro FX570M. This GPU is equivalent to the 8600GT M and is equipped with 256mb of DDR3 (in the 14" model, the FX570M is a stripped down version of the one in the 15" model-it has a 64 bit bus and half the VRAM). The FX570M will deliver the same level of performance as an 8600GT when you install custom GeForce drivers, so you should be able to play most games without issues. Your battery life will take a MAJOR hit though, since people with this setup report not being able to get much over 3 hours of battery life even with the 9 cell extended battery.

 

[dfdave12]

Thanks for all your help everyone. Much appreciated.

Think im leaning towards thr 14.1" T61 w/ dedicated vid card now. Only problem is that the Wireless USB PAN is not available to put on there, but it is on the 15.1" I was looking at earlier. Not even sure if this function is worth it....

Also, the 14.1" has a 9 cell battery available. Defeating the purpose of portability if I get it?, or does the battery life increase greatly enough to make it useful?

 

[996GT2]

The 9 cell sticks out about an inch, which isn't too bad. DEFINITELY get the 9 cell if you want respectable battery life; with the dedicated video card (even the NVS 140M), your T61 will be struggling to hit 4 hours with everything turned to low even if you have a 9 cell battery. Plenty of people complain about their T61's battery life on notebookreview.com's forums, so definitely get the biggest battery possible.

 

[dfdave12]

Cheers. Definitely getting the 9 cell battery.

There's so many different possibilites now I'm looking at. Not sure if I want the 15.4" w/ the FX570 256mb, or the 14.1" w/FX570 128 mb, or could save even more money by just getting the Quadro NVS 140M (128MB) in a 14 or 15" rig.

Seeing as how you're a student as well 996, which system would you get? And would you also bother getting the Wireless USB PAN on the 15.4'?

 

[996GT2]

If you go to Lenovo's web page and look at some spec sheets for various T series laptops, you'll see that the weight of a 15.4" T61P with 9 cell is 6.3 lbs. The weight of the 14.1" model with 9 cell battery is 5.6 lbs. Personally, I'd take the 14.1" model, since I want something that's easier to carry around and fit into a backpack along with books. The 14" model has a 1400x1050 screen option, which is plenty for everyday use. The 1900x1200 option on the 15.4" model isn't really necessary unless you're going to be doing some serious Photoshop work or often do side by side spreadsheets, etc. The FX570M on the 14.1" model is stripped down (smaller form factor cannot handle the heat of a full blown FX570M) compared to the one on the 15" model, but it is still faster than the NVS140M and should be better at playing more modern games. If you're going to get a discrete GPU, you might as well get the more powerful FX570M since your battery life will be affected about the same as with the NVS 140M. If you value battery life, go for integrated graphics and get the T61 14.1" instead.

If I was to buy a Thinkpad now, I'd go for the 14.1" T61P with T9300, 1400x1050 screen, FX570M 128MB, 1 GB 1 DIMM DDR2 (buy another 2 GB stick cheap from newegg.com), 160GB 7200RPM HDD, ABGN wireless, and 9 cell battery. I find that it's a very good combination of power and portability for a very good price with the current discounts. You might save $50-100 by skimping on important options such as HDD and GPU, but why do that if this laptop is going to last you the better part of the next 4 years in college?

That said, I wouldn't pay $50 extra for less useful options such as wireless USB...you probably wouldn't use it very often even if you had it. Even Bluetooth might not be a very necessary option unless you like to talk over VOIP a lot and use wireless headsets.

 

[Lord Banshee]

Also i would think it depends on your major?

If you do any 3D graphics (mechanical engineering, computer animations, game development, and possible some others) i would consider getting the more powerful T61p. But if you do not plan on using 3D application for your classes and don't mind being limited to 5+ year old games the intel IGP will give you the very best battery performance w/9cell battery.

Just for some insights, i am on my 5th year at college and i've used my T42 for the past 3 years and the first 2 years i needed battery life as i never seem to be places where i had access to outlets, but this last year i've never really had to use the battery. So you might want to examine you environment to determine what you need too.

 

[dfdave12]

Just out of curiosity, would adding more RAM to my laptop if I did get 1GB void the warranty in any way? I'd rather not let that happen if I can help it.

Here's my new proposed system:

ThinkPad T61p 14.1"
Intel® Core? 2 Duo processor T9300 (2.5GHz 800MHz 6MBL2)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
14.1 SXGA+ TFT
3 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) with Fingerprint Reader
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ
9 cell Li-Ion Battery
3 Year Depot Upgrade with 3 Year ThinkPad Protection


= $1,360.48 before tax and S&H.

 

[996GT2]

Adding RAM or swapping the HDD will not affect your warranty...you only void your warranty if you do something major like take it apart and swap out the CPU.

 

[Lord Banshee]

but if you get 3GB that is 1GB dimm + 2GB dimm you will have to buy another 2GB dimm not 1GB dimm as these laptops (and all others i think) only have two slots. I am not sure if you knew this so i thought i would through that in

 

[996GT2]

If he already gets 3 GB of RAM from Lenovo, there's no need to make it 4 GB. 3 GB is more than enough for Vista, and you need to have 64 bit Vista to have it detect more than 3 GB of usable RAM.

To save some money, I'd advice you to buy 1 GB (1 DIMM) for $0.00 from Lenovo and add a second 2 GB stick from newegg.com. You end up saving about $30-40 compared to buying the 3 GB upgrade from Lenovo.

This 2 GB stick of A-Data DDR2-667 is only $27 after $6 rebates...A-Data has a pretty good reputation in the RAM business and the price is definitely good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820211187

 

[Lord Banshee]

I agree, corsair memory is 29.99 after rebate. I've never used A-Data. Choices Choices

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145172