JaLooNz the Webbie

Lenovo Thinkpad T400 Review

Just gotten a new Lenovo Thinkpad T400 and it just works great... except for the preconfigured Intel 5100 (wish it comes with the 5300 instead).

• Intel Core2 Duo T9400 (2.53GHz, 45nm, 6MB L2 Cache, 35W TDP)
• 2x 2GB Samsung DDR3 SODIMM modules (7-7-7-20)
  

Switchable graphics between...

• ATI Mobility Radeon HD3470 256MB
• Intel X4500 (GM45 Express Chipset)
  

• Fujitsu 320GB HDD
• Panasonic DVD-RAM Drive

• Intel Wireless 5100AGN
• Fingerprint Sensor
  
• 6 Cell Battery

Hands-on Comments

The Thinkpad as usual feels solid, but there is some slight keyboard flex. In addition, the empty slot (I believe it is the expresscard slot) also flexes a little. Keyboard light is useful, as well as the Trackpoint UltraNav (the red "mouse" at the centre of the laptop).

Switchable graphics works fine but future driver updates might be problematic if the lack of documentation limits the ability to mod drivers to make it function. However, there is always the option of running either of the graphics solely by tuning the relevant option in the BIOS. Also, it apparently also only works on Vista, not XP or Linux.

The screen is off-centered but you probably won't notice it at all while working. You also only have the VGA-out, not DisplayPort, DVI or HDMI out which is sort of disappointing considering that the adapter from those technologies can easily be converted to VGA.

Heat wise things are great, with the keyboard surface maintaining a comfortable temperature and the exhaust fan pushing out warm air. System is virtually silent.

Battery life while operational is around 4hrs+ (when doing light surfing, bluetooth off, screen brightness down). Note that the battery extends out for 6cell, I believe the only battery that is flushed is the 4-cell.

Additional note: You might also want to read the review at NotebookReview.

Benchmarks
The benchmark is done on the same laptop with switchable graphics.

	1024x768	1280x800	1024x768	1280x800
	X4500		HD3470
Counterstrike Source (Stress Test)	17.01	15.83	102.73	88.45
	32.89	29.18	116.21	99.75
3Dmark03	2374		5774
3Dmark06	904		2532
--SM2	275		863
--SM3	355		980
--CPU	2304		2313
*For CSS Test, first is run with speed low, second run with speed adaptive
CPU Speed Lowest	266 x 6.0 = 1596			1.60GHz
CPU Speed Adaptive	266 x 9.5 = 2526			2.53GHz