New college laptop

[DyslexicHobo]

After listening to Banshee's advice about the video card, I did some research. Apparently there is a lot of conflict with SolidWorks and video cards. I decided to go with a workstation that would be guaranteed to work with the program. I'm now getting the Lenovo T60P.

Integrated WiFi wireless LAN: Integrated Wi-Fi Wireless a/b/g/n antenna
Processor: Intel® Core? 2 Duo processor T5600 (1.83GHz, 2MB L2, 667MHz FSB)
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating system language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium US English
Display type: 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
System graphics: ATI Mobility Fire GL V5250 256MB
Total memory: 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard drive: 80GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Optical device: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim
Ethernet: Integrated 1Gb Ethernet
Wireless cards: ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord: Country Pack North America
Modem cable (RJ-11): PSTN cable
Language pack: Language Pack US English


How does this setup sound? Anything I should change?

Thank you for all the advice! I'm really looking forward to actually putting the money out and getting my hands on this laptop! :-D

 

[Lord Banshee]

No problem and it isn't just solid works it is 90% of all CAD software that has these issues, or are they really not issues but a way for Nvidia and ATi to make more money.....

But anyway that laptop is nice... i want one. My t42 seems old sometimes. I do not know the life of the 6-cell on the new core2duo but sometimes i wish i had a 9-cel. my laptop lasts 2-3 hours and it was never more than than. My friend has a t43 with a 9-cel and it usally last around 5-6 hours but then again he has a less powerful video-card, slower HD, smaller monitor and a newer CPU so i am sure that helps too.. Just a thought so that you might want to look into.

Also i notice these thinkpads have intel and thinkpad wireless any reason to get one over the other. My t42 has an intel. I am pretty sure IBM did not make the chip for the other so i wonder who did.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Lord Banshee
Also i notice these thinkpads have intel and thinkpad wireless any reason to get one over the other. My t42 has an intel. I am pretty sure IBM did not make the chip for the other so i wonder who did.

Intel wireless cards allow for the Centrino branding sticker and may have additional power saving features over a normal wireless card (but I'm unsure on this fact). The "Thinkpad" card probably uses a different wireless controlling chipset and it is cheaper.

 

[adqttr]

hey,
Just a question out there, how much more in a percentage rating, performance will i get between a Pentium M and a Intel® Core? 2 Duo. as much explanation as possible would be appreciated. Thanks for your help.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: adqttr
hey,
Just a question out there, how much more in a percentage rating, performance will i get between a Pentium M and a Intel® Core? 2 Duo. as much explanation as possible would be appreciated. Thanks for your help.

Well, you'll get better multi-tasking because of the dual core. Then the Core Duo was known to be 10-20% faster than the previous generation (Pentium M) and the Core 2 Duo is 0-10% faster than a similarly clocked Core Duo. I'm sure my percentages are off, but if you multi-task or do CPU intensive activities, you'll see a nice improvement.

 

[instigata]

Processor: Intel® Core? 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating System Language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium - US English
Display type: 14.1 WXGA TFT, w/o Camera
System graphics: Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
Total memory: 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard drive: 80GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Optical device: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots: PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
Wireless card: ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord: Country Pack North America
Modem cable (RJ-11): PSTN cable
Language Pack: Language Pack US English


Would this machine be sufficient to run Windows Vista smoothly? I don't need to run any other graphic intense programs. Thanks!

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: instigata
Processor: Intel® Core? 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating System Language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium - US English
Display type: 14.1 WXGA TFT, w/o Camera
System graphics: Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
Total memory: 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard drive: 80GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Optical device: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots: PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
Wireless card: ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Battery: 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord: Country Pack North America
Modem cable (RJ-11): PSTN cable
Language Pack: Language Pack US English


Would this machine be sufficient to run Windows Vista smoothly? I don't need to run any other graphic intense programs. Thanks!

Yes. You should spend the extra $7-$10 to get the 1GB as 1 DIMM so it is easier to add another GB in the future. Vista runs a little smoother with 2GB, but you should add the extra 1GB stick after buying the laptop to save a lot of money. You could also drop it down to the lower C2D processor as you are not going to see a difference between the 1.83GHz and the 2.0GHz, but you will notice the slightly lighter wallet.

 

[adqttr]

I like what you got i am going to buy one myself at the end of the summer. I as well would go with the 2.0 GHz, not just because of the .2 Ghz extra but more importantly the 4 MBL2 cache. It is a 100 % increase over the 1.8Ghz. You will be able to notice the difference in that.

I would also suggest spending the 10 dollars to get one dimm instead of two. It isn't much money at all and you will be glad you did it later.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: adqttr
I like what you got i am going to buy one myself at the end of the summer. I as well would go with the 2.0 GHz, not just because of the .2 Ghz extra but more importantly the 4 MBL2 cache. It is a 100 % increase over the 1.8Ghz. You will be able to notice the difference in that.

I would also suggest spending the 10 dollars to get one dimm instead of two. It isn't much money at all and you will be glad you did it later.

You really won't notice the extra 2MB in Cache when it comes to the C2D when using everyday programs. If you are doing CAD work, it could help, but it isn't that big an issue. The Core processors are not like the Pentium 4, where a dramatic increase in cache sized greatly improved performance.