Thinkpad T400...Live performance?

woodie · Post by **woodie** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:46 pm

am looking to pick up a Thinkpad T400 - 14.1" screen, 2.53Ghz, ATI 3470 discrete graphics + 4GB Memory, running Vista Business - and wondering if anyone has a T400 and could share their experience with Live v7.x.

Mainly I'm interested in the screen size and if it's enough "screen real-estate" - 14.1". I think the ATI 3470 is good enough for what I need - only very rarely may play RPG games.

I understand the Firewire on both the T400/T500 uses a Ricoh firewire chipset...which I've read some folks have problems with that chipset and others don't (am looking to use a Presonus Firebox with it). I have a Firewire PC Card that is indeed TI-based, but also read the native chipset is still "on" even if a separate firewire card is used and therefore doesn't solve the problem (if there is indeed a problem)...don't know if there's any truth to that, though.

Thanks for any feedback...

Macrostructure · Post by **Macrostructure** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:25 pm

woodie wrote:am looking to pick up a Thinkpad T400 - 14.1" screen, 2.53Ghz, ATI 3470 discrete graphics + 4GB Memory, running Vista Business - and wondering if anyone has a T400 and could share their experience with Live v7.x.

Mainly I'm interested in the screen size and if it's enough "screen real-estate" - 14.1". I think the ATI 3470 is good enough for what I need - only very rarely may play RPG games.

I understand the Firewire on both the T400/T500 uses a Ricoh firewire chipset...which I've read some folks have problems with that chipset and others don't (am looking to use a Presonus Firebox with it). I have a Firewire PC Card that is indeed TI-based, but also read the native chipset is still "on" even if a separate firewire card is used and therefore doesn't solve the problem (if there is indeed a problem)...don't know if there's any truth to that, though.

Thanks for any feedback...

Can't help you with the IBM, but what limitations is your current laptop putting on your work? (optimising the way you use Live can really make a difference I have found - I'm on a 1.6GHz/1Gb Sony and it's doing fine) and what do you think of your A7s?

woodie · Post by **woodie** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:45 pm

macro - right now am using a desktop (see specs in my sig), but a couple of main reasons why I'm going to replace it with a new lappie:

a) I need a backup laptop for business - in case my Thinkpad T42 craps out; I'm really worried since this one is getting old and if it craps out 2 days before I gotta leave on a trip.

b) my current desktop is old and it's acting up for months now and having troubleshooted family PC's forever now and esp. in 2007/2008....I'm just SICK of desktops and working on them. I'm spoiled by Lenovo/IBM's onsite service policy and therefore decided to not sink anymore money this desktop and time to upgrade (now)....I'm getting out of the desktop business.

I've built all my desktops, but when a problem occurs....it can end up easy to a ridiculous amount of time to trouble-shoot and I'm just not up for that anymore....I'm tired and want to take it easy - let someone else do the work, I'll just pay for the service policy. Not only that...I've used my Onsite service policy a number of times over the past years and my lappies have always been fixed within 2-4 days of me calling in - and running perfect afterwards. When you have a service guy that can come to your house and fix your laptop right in front of you in your house and while you sit back and take it easy....it's definitely worth the money I pay for the 3-4 onsite service policy.

on the Adam A7's - 2 words....LOVE THEM, not looking back...spent a year sussing out different makes....love the switch and volume knob on front....and fucking loud for my little home studio. LOL

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:02 pm

I think it is worth to take 15 instead , had T61 14 and was too small, other then that dont bother about Vista, it is not worth your time and your IBM dealer should install XP pro at no charge.
The best about IBM- cooling , definitely the best of all notebooks- low temp, low noise.and sceondary HD option. The worst -IBM displays are not as good as MBP or Vaio.
PCMCIA worked great even though it is Ricoh, also USB Audio Kontrol 1 performed excellent 1.5 ms, dont remember FW but it wasnt as good as AK 1.

woodie · Post by **woodie** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:16 pm

rikhyray - cool, thanks for the heads up about the USB Audio Kontrol - shit 1.5ms is really good and considering it's USB! yeah...this part of it has got me a "little" concerned as to figure out which one works the best = bad thing about lappies.

my Audiophile 2496 has been super solid, but never 1.5ms latency.

I've always read that Firewire is better than USB because of the consistent throughput as compared to USB. I'm only ever going to record 2 channels at 1 time - so is USB just fine for this?

I know....I really want the 15.4" (my wife has a 15.4" T61), but if I decide or have to use it on the road....it's a little too big + I have a 19" NEC monitor I can hook it up to if I need more screen hence why I'm leaning towards the 14.1" now - sort of "best of both worlds" thing I guess.

Not only that...I'm going to go for the LED screen and the 15" model (T500) only comes in WXGA for LED right now....not WXGA+ yet. I may change my mind and hold out, but I've just about had it with my desktop and wanting to get a laptop now since December is a slow month for business and good time to fart with setting it up.

And yes...Lenovo has the option of getting a WinXP SP2 recovery disk with Vista Business. So you bet....even now - all computers here are running WinXP - no Vista here.....yet.

dontask100 · Post by **dontask100** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:41 am

woodie wrote:am looking to pick up a Thinkpad T400 - 14.1" screen, 2.53Ghz, ATI 3470 discrete graphics + 4GB Memory, running Vista Business - and wondering if anyone has a T400 and could share their experience with Live v7.x.

Mainly I'm interested in the screen size and if it's enough "screen real-estate" - 14.1". I think the ATI 3470 is good enough for what I need - only very rarely may play RPG games.

I understand the Firewire on both the T400/T500 uses a Ricoh firewire chipset...which I've read some folks have problems with that chipset and others don't (am looking to use a Presonus Firebox with it). I have a Firewire PC Card that is indeed TI-based, but also read the native chipset is still "on" even if a separate firewire card is used and therefore doesn't solve the problem (if there is indeed a problem)...don't know if there's any truth to that, though.

Thanks for any feedback...

Thinking about Lenovo too and their RICOH firewire chipsets. I have a presonus firebox with my TI firewire chipset and works well. Take a look at the presonus discussions groups. It's always a topic

woodie · Post by **woodie** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:03 am

dontask100 wrote:Thinking about Lenovo too and their RICOH firewire chipsets. I have a presonus firebox with my TI firewire chipset and works well. Take a look at the presonus discussions groups. It's always a topic

hey dontask...I pulled the trigger tonight on a T400 (to also take advantage of the 15% extra discount) and so will take a chance with the Ricoh chipset. Will decide by tomorrow to go USB or Firewire, but I'm leaning towards a USB audio interface instead now since Firewire is too hit & miss and all the feedback is a mixed bag + I MAY go for an iMac around 2nd quarter of 2009 and really don't want to fart with troubleshooting this stuff.

Anyway...right now I'm leaning towards an EMU 0404 or M-Audio Fast Track Pro as I only need to record 2 channels at one time.

I think it's inevitable that these laptop makers will simply all go with the cheapest maker and no more Texas Instruments. I've never read a problem with the chipset of a USB2 maker....so looking to the future and the fact that Apple has dropped firewire on the MacBook and apparently USB3 is on the way.....I'm convincing myself that firewire = trouble and headaches.

dontask100 · Post by **dontask100** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:15 am

give an update about your configuration choice

leedsquietman · Post by **leedsquietman** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:00 am

USB3 might be on the way as a standard but it will take at least 2-3 years before it's a viable standard with functioning hardware and drivers that are stable.

Hell, many USB interfaces are still running at USB 1.1 even though USB 2 has been around for donkey's years. If you only need a couple of I/O the Audio Kontrol is one of the best USB options. FW allows more I/O and in a system that is well tuned with good components should run at least as well, if not better than USB 1.1 or USB 2. Like using a FF400 or 800 with their ultra low latency drivers on a good chipset on a well configured machine.

Ricoh is a fairly poor FW chipset, although it depends as well on the hardware you're using, drivers and computer configuration. Not all USB architecture is the same either, laptops cheap out on everything so they never perform as well as a well specified desktop.

PCMCIA or Cardbus is a good standard but not too many interfaces around for this unfortunately. If you don't need pres or multiple I/O, the Echo Indigo or DJ are excellent cards.

woodie · Post by **woodie** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:12 am

dontask100 wrote:give an update about your configuration choice

here's a basic overview of what I configured:

Core2Duo 2.53Ghz T9400
Windows Vista Business + free WinXP Sp2 downgrade disc
14.1" WXGA+ LED w/camera
4GB Memory (also to get ready for Windows 7)
250GB 5400 RPM

since the T-Series can swap the DVD drive with a HDD tray...am ordering a 2nd SATA drive (320GB or 500GB 5400 RPM) to put in the tray, so will have 2 drives going at 1 time internally (I have this going now on my T-42...love it!). Actually...what I'll end up doing is swapping the 2 drives and use the bigger one for the system, programs, sample libraries, etc....and keep all the data, projects, etc. on the 2nd drive (the original 250GB).

This is one of my biggest reasons for not going Macbook - no way to add a 2nd internal drive and I'm simply spoiled now with having the capability to do so with the Thinkpad T-Series.

woodie · Post by **woodie** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:23 am

leedsquietman wrote:USB3 might be on the way as a standard but it will take at least 2-3 years before it's a viable standard with functioning hardware and drivers that are stable.

Hell, many USB interfaces are still running at USB 1.1 even though USB 2 has been around for donkey's years. If you only need a couple of I/O the Audio Kontrol is one of the best USB options. FW allows more I/O and in a system that is well tuned with good components should run at least as well, if not better than USB 1.1 or USB 2. Like using a FF400 or 800 with their ultra low latency drivers on a good chipset on a well configured machine.

Ricoh is a fairly poor FW chipset, although it depends as well on the hardware you're using, drivers and computer configuration. Not all USB architecture is the same either, laptops cheap out on everything so they never perform as well as a well specified desktop.

PCMCIA or Cardbus is a good standard but not too many interfaces around for this unfortunately. If you don't need pres or multiple I/O, the Echo Indigo or DJ are excellent cards.

I hear ya leads....in fact just doing a little research today on USB/Firewire devices...was the first time I heard of USB3 (I don't keep on top of this kind technology much).

For the Firewire vs USB - yeah....I MAY try the Presonus Firebox since I do have a IBM Firewire PCMCIA Card I bought a long time ago...and it's a Texas Instruments chipset. The problem is...I haven't seen much information on how it works with the iMacs as probably by 2nd Quarter or summer-time next year....I'll be seriously considering an iMac for the main audio station and want to use whatever I get now....on the iMac. But the catch is....this damn Ricoh chipset in this unit. I just feel after all the research I've done and have read over the past year or 2....it's always a Firewire chipset thing and I'm really not up for the challenge, so....being that I only need 2 channels at one time....USB should be OK.

I've definitely considered the Audio Kontrol 1 - only problem is - 1 mic input and I really want 2 mic inputs for recording acoustic (12-string) - neck and bridge. I currently use a Mackie 1202-VLZ PRO mixer, but I want to downsize and get rid of it if I can and just use the interface. I may change my mind since the mixer DOES give me the inputs...and then it's a matter of "A/D conversion quality". But again....not really interested in that debate as I'm just your average home musician, so I may indeed go with the AK1 since they have a great deal going now and I've only read good things about it.

Do you have any good ideas on how to overcome the 1 mic input of the AK1....without using my mixer...?

dontask100 · Post by **dontask100** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:50 am

months later...I went with the basic macbook because of the firewire port that works very well with the presonus firebox. The Presonus firebox runs fine without it's power supply (power supplied by firewire from macbook)

Zygi · Post by **Zygi** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:39 am

IBM's kick ass when it comes to reliability... t42 is indeed a lil bit too old.

In modern computers, it's not about performance, but about stability of the system and reliability of the hardware. Considering these two, I'd go for OSX installed on thinkpad laptop... that's what i'm about to do.