Is it worth to pay extra $59 for T7500 (2.2ghz)

instead of T7300. or it's better to use that money to get more memory. I have 1G.
I accidentally ordered the T7500 instead of T7300.
Also you guys know if Lenono will keep the same order# or they create a new one if I change my order? I need to keep the same order# so I can get FW discount.

 

RAMs usually cost more than $59 dollars. How much RAMs is there on the system you ordered?

 

You made the right choice, even if it was an accident. The cost/performance ratio for the T7500 is best at the moment. T7500 was the smart thing to do because it's even possible to find 2GB RAM stick for $40 aftermarket. Add that to your system then you have 3GB. Check out the RAM Deals here on NBR for more info.

 

More RAM would likely make a bigger performance difference than going from a T7300 to a T7500. If that amount of money is important, you should try to change the order, IMO, to extra RAM rather than the CPU upgrade.

Sorry, but have no idea about the order number.


Edit: after reading Arkit3kt's post, I think probably he's right. I haven't seen RAM so inexpensive!

 

RAM is ridiculously inexpensive now.

Here's a list of good deals:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2030260381&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS

I recommend this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208323

Make sure it's 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300/5400).

 

Another question - I select Intel GMA X3100 GM965
should I change NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M for another $90
My friend told me it won't slow me down since I don't play game
NVIDIA only makes different on 3D videam game.

 

Depends on your needs/wants. The 140M card will take away about an hour of battery life because it consumes more power since it is a more powerful card. The X3100 is integrated and consumes less power, but is no where as good at performance than the 140M. Personally, if you plan on keeping this laptop for awhile, the smart thing to do is to choose the 140M because the Video Card cannot be changed on a laptop. Once you go integrated, you're integrated forever and vice versa with the 140M.

This all depends on needs though. If you don't game, then the X3100 is an all around a decent card. But even with the 140M card with a 7-cell battery, you should get over 3 hours with wi-fi and low brightness. Probably over 4 hours with the X3100.

Remember, the GPU is unchangeable.

X3100 = less power consumption; weaker performance; longer battery life; costs less
140M = more power consumption; stronger performance; shorter battery life; costs more

 

Thanks, I'm going to see if I change the order to 140M.

 

The 140m will only offer better performance in gaming and other like applications. If you don't game I don't see why you'd want to get the 140m which has less battery life.

Unless you have a specific need there will be little effective performance difference the T7300 and T7500. If you want to change you order, you'll probably have to cancel and re-order which may delay your notebooks arrival.

 

If I have to cancel & re-order, I'm going to just keep the current order since $200 promotion ended yesterday.

 

Definitely go for the processor, it's much easier to upgrade the RAM later than to try to swap the processor out. As far as the sale, they seem to be almost continuous nowadays, so it's very likely that another sale will appear very soon. I had thought the current sale went through 1/2?

 

it definitely makes huge difference in your performance. $59 is a good deal if you have coupons to go with it.

 

IMO $59 is a good deal for a 7250 to 7500 upgrade.

 

Yesterday I got $100 from paying paypal & 10% cash back from fatwallet.com. Lenovo sale is until 1/8

 

Huge difference when going from a 2.0 to 2.2? Definitely not

You made a good decision as appose to a processor with a 2mb cache, thats where the main difference is.

 

It's just $60. I have 2.2ghz.

 

Don't know if this should be a separate thread, but would I see a big difference between 2 gigs of RAM and 3 gigs? I have 1 stick of 1 gig now. Soooo do I buy just one more or two more? I'm running XPP.

 

With 2GBs (2x1GB), you can run RAM in dual-channel which is approx. 3-5% better performance than single channel (1GB+2GB). 2GB or 3GB is plenty enough for any application really, so buy which ever is better for your budget.

 

The extra Gb will easily outweigh the dual-channel performance though.
I had 2x 1Gb sticks in mine and upped it to 3Gb (1Gb and 2Gb sticks) with a significant improvement in performance.

 

Does it really? That's interesting. I might have to upgrade then, I've been reading that Dual Channel mode is better. Where do you see performance increases?

 

You will only see a performance increase from 2GB to 3GB if you actually page out the 2GB's. If your max RAM usage is only, say 1.4GB, you wont see any difference between 2GB and 3GB's of RAM. In this instance, the 3-5% faster dual-channel 2GB RAM will be faster. Most users will be hard pressed to ever use more than 2GB of RAM. Open up most of the programs you use on a normal basis and check your RAM usage in task manager.

 

Ok, that's what I thought. I have never reached 100% CPU so I think I'm good. Thanks for clearing that up, copilot.

 

For me mainly in CAD applications which do really need the extra memory.

 

I can second that quote. Running my radiation analysis in ANSYS at work uses so much dang memory. Even tweaking the memory settings for the calculations to utilize the max amount of system ram still requires massive hard drive swapping... for FEA more ram is definitely more important

but now I've got a shiny new T61p to bring back.. bring it on

EDIT: forgot to respond to the original question
So yes, the $59 is worth it. I ordered a 2GB stick of ram from newegg w/free shipping.. after the mail in rebate it will end up being $35 shipped.. it was a corsair.. ram is very easy to upgrade..

Also, like someone else mentioned, the price to perfomance ratio is definitely good.. and with laptops, learning from my own past mistakes, get the biggest and baddest you can afford at the time because laptops aren't upgradeable like a desktop.. end even the parts that are upgradeable aren't as cheap to upgrade as a desktop.

For example, with a desktop, I maybe spend $300 every 2 years on midrange upgrades (usually vid card, then processor, then vid card... then processor, ram, mobo.. etc.. alternating which part to upgrade) and I'm still good, able to play the latest games, do all my work, etc.. with a laptop, buy a midrange system, 2 years later, you're pretty much stuck with that midrange system.. or you can buy a new one.. assuming midrange to be around $800

 

I also recommend upgrading to the t7500 for $60 extra.....it has the best performance to price ration......after that..all upgrades are not worth the cost

 

For the performance difference between 2GB (2x1GB) in dual mode and 3GB (1GB+2GB) in flex mode, please see the picture below (the link or the attached image).

http://www.tpuser.idv.tw/articleimages/santarosa-pic-81.gif

The picture was taken from TPUSER: http://www.tpuser.idv.tw/articles/santarosa-test-5.html (a website in Taiwan).

 

Wow, so 1GB + 1GB is best when excluding cap reaching. That's fantastic information, thank you so much cawang.

 

Yes, 1GB+1GB seem to give you the best performance. But Vista system might easily be reaching the 2GB cap...

Also, 1GB+2GB do not seem to be too bad. So you can always keep the original 1GB and just buy a 2GB stick and have the flex mode. You don't have to give up the 1GB stick to make it run in genuine dual mode.

 

that is how i have mine right now..works nice and quick!