T43 vs. T60

[blues008]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for either a T43 or T60 and prefer the XGA resolution of 1024x768.

Here's the specs of the two laptops:

T43: 1.86GHz Intel Pentium M Processor 750 w/Centrino Mobile, 64 MB ATI

T60: Core Duo T2600 (2.13GHz), Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950

Is there a significant different between the ATI X300 64 MB Mobility and the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 video cards?

I know the T60 comes with a Core Duo processor, but I'm wondering if it still performs as well as the T43 with an ATI mobility card.

I'm looking for good performance in business applications, and won't be gaming at all.

Thanks!

 

[Jassi]

The GMA 950 should be good for all business applications and the occasional solitaire game. Is price not a factor? I don't know what the exact benefits will be in the apps specific to your needs but dual core is always a bonus. Just remember, most applications may not be multi-threaded so you will not see a benefit unless you are multi-tasking. I don't know if Yonah has 64bit support (doubt it and dunno if you need it) so it might be worth waiting for Morem, which lands in August I believe.

 

[blues008]

Lenovo is offering a $200 rebate on select T60's (offer expires end of June) and that makes it an affordable option compared to the T43.

Is Morem worth the wait?

 

[f1sh3r]

well, depending upon whether lenovo will release a BIOS update, you could always throw a merom on the current core duo setup sometime time the road.

 

[6000SUX]

Originally posted by: Jassi
The GMA 950 should be good for all business applications and the occasional solitaire game. Is price not a factor? I don't know what the exact benefits will be in the apps specific to your needs but dual core is always a bonus. Just remember, most applications may not be multi-threaded so you will not see a benefit unless you are multi-tasking. I don't know if Yonah has 64bit support (doubt it and dunno if you need it) so it might be worth waiting for Morem, which lands in August I believe.

You're always multitasking. The OS runs background processes, and most users run things like antivirus as well. Hence all users will see SOME benefit from dual core processors.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: f1sh3r
well, depending upon whether lenovo will release a BIOS update, you could always throw a merom on the current core duo setup sometime time the road.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that honestly.

 

[ai42]

Just a word of caution. I HATE the T43. The fan will never shut up on that laptop. And I am not the only one. A few guys over at Thinkpads.com forum made a utility to control the fan. T60 the fan works as you would expect it gets loud and anoying when you are playing games etc.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Yeah I never saw any reason to get a T43 over a T42. The T43's have fan issues and cost more for little real world performance increase and less battery life.

I :heart: my T42

 

[blues008]

Do the T60's have fan issues? Are they louder than T42's?

 

[masteraleph]

Originally posted by: blues008
Do the T60's have fan issues? Are they louder than T42's?

To be honest, they're really pretty quiet and the fan rarely goes on. Not sure in compariosn to T42s, but they definitely run cooler and run the fan less often (and quieter!) than the T43.

 

[fbrdphreak]

The T60 runs a little warmer than a T42, no louder from what I recall. Get a T60 or a T42, IMO. And T60 prices are so low, why not?

 

[6000SUX]

My T60 might be slightly louder than my T41 was, but it's hard to remember. One thing that's true is that the fan is on most of the time when you use default settings, but at a low level. My T60 is very quiet; in an absolutely quiet room you can barely hear the fan when it's on. It makes my HP nc6000 sound like a jet engine by comparison.