The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is Radeon X1400 worth it?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by corymcnutt, Oct 21, 2006.

  1. corymcnutt

    corymcnutt Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi, I am looking at getting a 60T (or Z61T, w/o since it isn't offered) with the T7200 Duo 2 (2.00 GHz) and 2 gig of ram. I MAY watch an occasional movie, but 70% will be word processing and 30% Photoshop CS2; I am just not a "gaming" person. Will I really see any benefit by getting the Video card upgrade? Thinkpads are expensive machines; and the Z61T doesn't even offer it and it is their multimedia machine (in the Thinkpad line). Thanks!

    Cory
     
    corymcnutt, Oct 21, 2006
    #1
  2. Qhs

    Qhs Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    40
    Messages:
    666
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Your position does not require a dedicated GPU. Photoshop is a RAM and CPU intensive program not GPU so that is out the window. And with 70% word processing a GMA950 is good enough. However if you are planning to upgrade to Vista, get the X1400. I was able to watch an HD movie on a GMA950 no problem. Be warned though, if you are planing to install one game just for the heck of it, it has to be at least pre-HL2 era or older to play properly on a GMA.
     
    Qhs, Oct 22, 2006
    #2
  3. 8rocks

    8rocks Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Isn't the GMA950 supposed to be fine for running Vista Areo? At least that's what my understanding is.
     
    8rocks, Oct 22, 2006
    #3
  4. 8rocks

    8rocks Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Though so:

    http://www.intel.com/business/bss/products/client/vistasolutions/mobile.htm[/URL]
     
    8rocks, Oct 22, 2006
    #4
  5. 8rocks

    8rocks Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    8rocks, Oct 22, 2006
    #5
  6. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,415
    Trophy Points:
    581
    The only issue I see is if you want to dock and use the DVI connector.
     
    ZaZ, Oct 22, 2006
    #6
  7. corymcnutt

    corymcnutt Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    "¹The Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 on both the Intel® 945G and Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipsets will support the Windows Vista Display Driver model (WDDM) drivers."

    I always worry when there is a "little number" beside a statement! Does this mean it will just run the plain vanilla VISTA or all the bells and whistles, including Aero?
     
    corymcnutt, Oct 22, 2006
    #7
  8. corymcnutt

    corymcnutt Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hey ZaZ...No I would not dock and use the DVI connector. Money is tight, especially when buying a T60, but I suppose for the extra $120 bucks I better get it just in case Vista Aero needs it and incase I happen to run across a game. Better now then regret later. Thanks.
     
    corymcnutt, Oct 22, 2006
    #8
  9. perry_78

    perry_78 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Just make sure to get the flexview if you work with photoshop, the non-Flexview screens can be pretty terrible, such as my TMD.

    Guess there is a price to pay for a NMB keyboard :)
     
    perry_78, Oct 22, 2006
    #9
  10. corymcnutt

    corymcnutt Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I would love to get that Flexview, but it is only offered on the 15" screen and I want the smaller, 14"...in fact, I wish they offered the 12" with the mousepad built-in; I'm not a fan of the "red ball", ha!
     
    corymcnutt, Oct 22, 2006
    #10
  11. 8rocks

    8rocks Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why do they not offer a 14 inch flexview screen?
     
    8rocks, Oct 22, 2006
    #11
  12. Qhs

    Qhs Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    40
    Messages:
    666
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    A 14 inch Flexview is supposed to be released around the end of this year. Only 15 inch has flexview.
     
    Qhs, Oct 22, 2006
    #12
  13. Fred from NYC

    Fred from NYC Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    64
    Messages:
    501
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    For the kind of work you do you don't need the X1400. With a GMA 950 your notebook is also likely to run cooler and you should have longer battery life.
     
    Fred from NYC, Oct 23, 2006
    #13
  14. corymcnutt

    corymcnutt Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks Fred from NY...I never thought of that, longer battery life would be nice. What about running Vista Aero, do you think it would be needed for that?
     
    corymcnutt, Oct 23, 2006
    #14
  15. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

    Reputations:
    2,699
    Messages:
    5,621
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    The dedicated video cards (even the low-end) have techologies for smooth movie playback and they are a bit more "future-proof", so they're just nice thing to have it. Otherwise, if you mean the new skin called "Aero" so the Gma 950 is the bare minimum for that.
     
    Dreamer, Oct 23, 2006
    #15
  16. burningrave101

    burningrave101 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    109
    Messages:
    756
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The integrated GMA 950 will not be able to run Aero as well as a dedicated graphics card.
     
    burningrave101, Oct 23, 2006
    #16
  17. sapibobo

    sapibobo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    53
    Messages:
    395
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Its really safe and comfortable to use Vista with GMA video chipsets? Any test available that shows Vista running smoothly with this chip?
     
    sapibobo, Oct 24, 2006
    #17
  18. Jmmmmm

    Jmmmmm Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    57
    Messages:
    290
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why not compromise and get the 64mb x1300?
     
    Jmmmmm, Oct 24, 2006
    #18
  19. Qhs

    Qhs Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    40
    Messages:
    666
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't think Thinkpads such as a T60 would come with such substandard parts :)
     
    Qhs, Oct 24, 2006
    #19
  20. Dreamer

    Dreamer The Bad Boy

    Reputations:
    2,699
    Messages:
    5,621
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    why not?

    when the x1300 is a "substandard part", what is the Gma 950 ? :)

    Edit:
    Joke aside, the X1300 won't hurt you and it's a nice option to have it, so I'm inclined to agree with Jmmmmm
     
    Dreamer, Oct 24, 2006
    #20