lenovo questions for owners...

[Penguinus]

Hi.
I'm thinking about getting my first laptop (currently I'm a university student) with the purpose mainly of doing word processing, web surfing, IM, occasional multimedia stuff (mainly watching DivX stuff), and I was wondering what features I should look for on a Lenovo T60. I plan on getting a Lenovo because I get a discount through a family member, and I was wondering how big a difference I would notice between an XGA and an SXGA monitor, and whether or not I needed a mobile Radeon as opposed to the standard Intel GMA 950. Of course, I realize the latter option is complete crap, but I'm not sure just how bad it is... These two options swing the price of the unit by like 300, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks folks.

 

[cheesehead]

Good choice on the lenovo. They're not cheap, but you get what you pay for. The support is excellent, but then again, there's a large chance you'll never need it.

The SXGA LCD is a nice step up in resolution for a 14.1" screen - it's very noticeable. I would reccomend visiting your local Circuit City or CompUSA and comparing XGA and SXGA resolution.

The intel GMA950 is more than adequate for watching movies, surfing the web, and word processing - I'm using something even worse (I'm not sure what) in my X40 for exactly the same thing. However, for anything past SimCity 2000, you're going to suffer from underwhelming performance, especially with the SXGA screen. If you want to play any games at all, go with the Radeon; if you have a desktop for gaming, get the GMA950.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Note on laptop gaming: Asus just announced an external graphics card designed at notebook users. You can drop in most any card you like, so unless you KNOW you need the 3D performance ON the laptop for on the go, stick with the GMA950.

Even baseline discrete graphics can kill your battery life
http://www.lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=40

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Note on laptop gaming: Asus just announced an external graphics card designed at notebook users. You can drop in most any card you like, so unless you KNOW you need the 3D performance ON the laptop for on the go, stick with the GMA950.

Even baseline discrete graphics can kill your battery life
http://www.lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=40

Woah - that's a steep drop-off.

I have craptastic integrated graphics in my X40, and it's more than adequate for basic tasks and Baldur's Gate.

Odds are, the GMA950 should be fine for SXGA resolution and normal desktop/work use.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Note on laptop gaming: Asus just announced an external graphics card designed at notebook users. You can drop in most any card you like, so unless you KNOW you need the 3D performance ON the laptop for on the go, stick with the GMA950.

Even baseline discrete graphics can kill your battery life
http://www.lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=40

Woah - that's a steep drop-off.

I have craptastic integrated graphics in my X40, and it's more than adequate for basic tasks and Baldur's Gate.

Odds are, the GMA950 should be fine for SXGA resolution and normal desktop/work use.

I got the GMA950 with my new T60. It's my first laptop and I dove into the thread on the holiday T60 sale and figured out what seemed right for me. Since I haven't even been gaming on my desktops I figure I surely won't on the laptop any time soon. The integrated graphics is said to really help on battery life and I believe it also makes for a cooler machine. It'll feel cooler, run quieter and last longer. As long as I won't miss the graphics power of discreet graphics, it's the wise choice. I'm typing on it right now, as I just today got my wireless network up and running and I'm connected wirelessly.

BTW, I found the graphics basically quite adequate when I set up the machine to do a slide show of 1.5 MB JPG's (refreshing every 5 seconds). Virtually everyone said SXGA+ is the way to go and that you get used to it quickly, and I've found that to be the case. I normally use a 19" 1280 x 1024 LCD, and the transition hasn't been a problem.

Here's a thread on choosing SGA vs. SXGA

 

[cheesehead]

I have a 12.1" LCD. 1024x768 is fine for me!

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Muse
BTW, I found the graphics basically quite adequate when I set up the machine to do a slide show of 1.5 MB JPG's (refreshing every 5 seconds).

Graphics chipset will have zero influence on the performance of this...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Muse
BTW, I found the graphics basically quite adequate when I set up the machine to do a slide show of 1.5 MB JPG's (refreshing every 5 seconds).

Graphics chipset will have zero influence on the performance of this...

I didn't know. I figured it might have to do with the graphics card. What would be improved by going with the ATI 1300 or 1400 discreet graphics solutions? Just gaming?

 

[gpgofast]

According to Lenovo's website, a discrete graphics solution is required to utilitze the DVI output on the Docking Stations. One main reason to go with an upgraded card on the T60.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: gpgofast
According to Lenovo's website, a discrete graphics solution is required to utilitze the DVI output on the Docking Stations. One main reason to go with an upgraded card on the T60.

Good to know. I was under the impression that a docking station would give me DVI output (someone's post). That was evidently erroneous. I went with the GMA950 for the extra battery life and cooler (and maybe quieter) running. It was just a seat of the pants decision, like most of the others I made. This is my first laptop.

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Muse
BTW, I found the graphics basically quite adequate when I set up the machine to do a slide show of 1.5 MB JPG's (refreshing every 5 seconds).

Graphics chipset will have zero influence on the performance of this...

I didn't know. I figured it might have to do with the graphics card. What would be improved by going with the ATI 1300 or 1400 discreet graphics solutions? Just gaming?

Vista would require it if you turn on some of it's advanced UI features. Linux with XGL would also need it. I'm not sure if programs such as Photoshop can take advantage of the discrete graphics capabilities or not.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Muse
BTW, I found the graphics basically quite adequate when I set up the machine to do a slide show of 1.5 MB JPG's (refreshing every 5 seconds).

Graphics chipset will have zero influence on the performance of this...

I didn't know. I figured it might have to do with the graphics card. What would be improved by going with the ATI 1300 or 1400 discreet graphics solutions? Just gaming?

Vista would require it if you turn on some of it's advanced UI features. Linux with XGL would also need it. I'm not sure if programs such as Photoshop can take advantage of the discrete graphics capabilities or not.

The two advantages of a discrete card are video decoding/encoding/playback & 3D. Photoshop and 2D image manipulation do not currently utilize the graphics card, as there are no complex things to calculate using the specialized performance of the GPU. Video is a unique situation that doesn't get benefits across the board or in every situation; you have to have the right codecs or the right format that is designed to take advantage of hardware acceleration. Research ATI's AVIVO technology and NVIDIA's PureVideo

P.S. GMA 950 supports Vista's 3D features just fine. From what I'm told, there is no lag or detriment with integrated in that regard.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak


P.S. GMA 950 supports Vista's 3D features just fine. From what I'm told, there is no lag or detriment with integrated in that regard.

Yes, that's one thing I researched pretty carefully. The GMA950 is supposed to have full Vista support. However, the ATI 1300 evidently doesn't (or might not).

I must say I am quite pleased with my T60 in terms of its being very very quiet and so far I've had no issues with heat even when having it on my lap. Of course, it's winter and heat is less of an issue! Occasionally I hear and feel a fan kicking on, but so far not a lot.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Good choice on the lenovo. They're not cheap, but you get what you pay for. The support is excellent, but then again, there's a large chance you'll never need it.

The SXGA LCD is a nice step up in resolution for a 14.1" screen - it's very noticeable. I would reccomend visiting your local Circuit City or CompUSA and comparing XGA and SXGA resolution.

The intel GMA950 is more than adequate for watching movies, surfing the web, and word processing - I'm using something even worse (I'm not sure what) in my X40 for exactly the same thing. However, for anything past SimCity 2000, you're going to suffer from underwhelming performance, especially with the SXGA screen. If you want to play any games at all, go with the Radeon; if you have a desktop for gaming, get the GMA950.

For Sim City 200???? What are you on? A Pentium II with an extremely crappy emulated video card can handle that. I have played Counterstrike on a GMA950 and it worked just fine.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Good choice on the lenovo. They're not cheap, but you get what you pay for. The support is excellent, but then again, there's a large chance you'll never need it.

The SXGA LCD is a nice step up in resolution for a 14.1" screen - it's very noticeable. I would reccomend visiting your local Circuit City or CompUSA and comparing XGA and SXGA resolution.

The intel GMA950 is more than adequate for watching movies, surfing the web, and word processing - I'm using something even worse (I'm not sure what) in my X40 for exactly the same thing. However, for anything past SimCity 2000, you're going to suffer from underwhelming performance, especially with the SXGA screen. If you want to play any games at all, go with the Radeon; if you have a desktop for gaming, get the GMA950.

For Sim City 200???? What are you on? A Pentium II with an extremely crappy emulated video card can handle that. I have played Counterstrike on a GMA950 and it worked just fine.

yea i was skeptical at first but the GMA950 on my HP is actually better than expected. i downloaded the FEAR demo just to see how it was...i was expecting it to not even run it but with everything turned down, it had playable frame rates.

OP, i would go with the GMA950, SXGA screen and 1-1.5gigs of ram

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
Good choice on the lenovo. They're not cheap, but you get what you pay for. The support is excellent, but then again, there's a large chance you'll never need it.

The SXGA LCD is a nice step up in resolution for a 14.1" screen - it's very noticeable. I would reccomend visiting your local Circuit City or CompUSA and comparing XGA and SXGA resolution.

The intel GMA950 is more than adequate for watching movies, surfing the web, and word processing - I'm using something even worse (I'm not sure what) in my X40 for exactly the same thing. However, for anything past SimCity 2000, you're going to suffer from underwhelming performance, especially with the SXGA screen. If you want to play any games at all, go with the Radeon; if you have a desktop for gaming, get the GMA950.

For Sim City 200???? What are you on? A Pentium II with an extremely crappy emulated video card can handle that. I have played Counterstrike on a GMA950 and it worked just fine.

yea i was skeptical at first but the GMA950 on my HP is actually better than expected. i downloaded the FEAR demo just to see how it was...i was expecting it to not even run it but with everything turned down, it had playable frame rates.

OP, i would go with the GMA950, SXGA screen and 1-1.5gigs of ram

That is exactly what I have in my new T60 (with 1.5 GB RAM). Happy so far. I have a few games but am not yet into them on my desktop, much less the laptop. If I want to game, it will be on the desktop.

I wasn't a complete newbie but I was very much in the dark in knowing how to order my first laptop when I noticed this thread at Anandtech Hot Deals Forum mid November: Thinkpad T60 $894

Anandtechers in that thread (in addition to my researching) helped me make my decisions. That thread is worth a read.

 

[simms]

SXGA is mandatory. Radeon is recommended.

 

[PhlashFoto]

To the users of the T60 with the GMA950, does it use shared system ram or does it have its own?