how much would an upgrade help?

[albo]

Hi Folks,

I currently have a T410 with an i5 inside, 8GB ram. I run statistical models, necessarily keep lots of programs open at the same time, and am currently spilling over the top of my 8GB ram into lots of swap usage (and feeling horribly slow).

Would moving up to an i7-based T430 with 16GB be worth the move, do you think? (yes, lots of factors to consider, but still worthy of asking i think). I wish there was a quad-core thinkpad, but AFAIK, there isn't. # of cores aren't usually my bottleneck tho, since most of my processing isn't multi-threaded (yet). Still, would be nice to have for when my programs do go multi-thread.

Perhaps I need to think outside the thinkpad brand. Where would you look if it wasn't a T-series thinkpad?

[bill bolton]

I currently have a T410 with an i5 inside, 8GB ram. I run statistical models, necessarily keep lots of programs open at the same time, and am currently spilling over the top of my 8GB ram into lots of swap usage (and feeling horribly slow).

If you haven't installed an SSD in place of the normal HDD, then you should definitely try that first on your T410. It should make a dramatic difference in performance for the situation you have described

I wish there was a quad-core thinkpad, but AFAIK, there isn't.

My X220 has an i7 quad-core processor.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[albo]

thanks bill - i've been keeping an eye open for a samsung 830/840 256gb or crucial M4 256gb drive. I'll throw one in before I seriously considering upgrading, then. I was wondering if things had come far enough between the T410 and T430 to see much of a difference. But if I can put it off, I definitely will.

re: your quad-core, wow! I don't see any current T or X series models with quad-core processors. What's up with that? I guess you have to go up to the bulky W-series before you see the quad-cores now?

[swampmonster]

There are T520, T530 and E530 models available with a quad core i7. Doesn't seem like theres anything smaller then 15.6 inch at the moment though.

BTW: I currently have 2x 8 GB in my i5 (=dual core) T520 - memtest86+ stable for 48h. Also AFAIK the quad core i7 15.6 inch T and W series models should have 4 SODIMM slots - with those you should be able to use 4x 8 GB.
2x 4 seems to be the maximum for the T410 though.

And I second the recommendation to get an SSD. While swapping still gives you a very noticeable performance hit with an SSD, it's FAR FAR better then what you get with a spinning disk. It also speeds up much of everything else. My T520 (Samsung 840 Pro) boots to the Win8 login screen in under 12 seconds (including the time the BIOS needs before Windows starts booting!).

[albo]

good info. i'd love the headroom to be able to go up to 32gb. SSD sounds like a good idea. 256 isn't enough for all my stuff, but if i swap the cd for a 1tb hdd...

I hear apple has put together some cool hybrid solution where it intelligently puts oft-used files on the ssd, and leaves other stuff on the hdd. http://www.zdnet.com/apples-fusion-driv ... 000006248/ . Any rumblings that microsoft/seagate/someone will follow suit? Sounds like the future.

i don't want to go to a 15" ever, if I can help it. I hope they power up the 14" models in the next round.

[draco2527]

thanks bill - i've been keeping an eye open for a samsung 830/840 256gb or crucial M4 256gb drive. I'll throw one in before I seriously considering upgrading, then. I was wondering if things had come far enough between the T410 and T430 to see much of a difference. But if I can put it off, I definitely will.

re: your quad-core, wow! I don't see any current T or X series models with quad-core processors. What's up with that? I guess you have to go up to the bulky W-series before you see the quad-cores now?

For what you described on your first post, you will benefit more from the 840 PRO and not the standard 840 series Samsung. The right SSD will make a TON of difference for your application without having to spring for a new laptop.

[albo]

thanks draco. what is it about the pro that would be so much better?

[swampmonster]

It's faster
I'm not sure how big the real-world difference would be though, let's say compared to a 830. If I'd have to guess I'd say not much.

BTW: I wouldn't get the plain 840. 830 or 840 Pro. Sure the 840 has fancy a new controller, but it uses the new TLC NAND chips: not proven, less write endurance, ...
Also IIRC the 840 is slower then the 830. (The 840 Pro OTOH is a good deal faster - fastest consumer SSD in the market right now)

[Cigarguy]

If you're running out of RAM, I'd look at upgrading the RAM first. Then maybe consider changing/modifying usage pattern a little bit. No SSD will come close to touching RAM speed.

Having said that, the best upgrade for the overall computing experience is a SSD. Don't pay a lot of attention on "speed" between SATA III drives. You will only notice slight differences on benchmarks and will never know it in real world usage. For me the biggest determining factor is price and capacity with price being the primary consideration.

[albo]

already maxed out on RAM.

[Cigarguy]

Then I'd look for something in the W series that is able to take 32 GB. A T420 with 16 GB would be more cost effective but only you will know if this is enough RAM.

[albo]

avoiding 15" laptops like the plague.

[dr_st]

My X220 has an i7 quad-core processor.

No, it doesn't. It's a dual core with hyper-threading.

already maxed out on RAM.

Given all your preferences, I believe a more modern 14" T series that will take 16GB will be your best bet. You can also find similar models outside of Thinkpads, but I would avoid any 14" model with a quad-core anyways - it is bound to be hot or heavy or both.

[albo]

Thanks dr_st. I'll probably want an SSD in whatever new machine I pick up anyway. So, I wonder if I shouldn't try the SSD to see how much it helps with the swapping issue, and if it's still a pain, move on to a T430 thereafter.

I appreciate the comment about staying away from quad core 14". Is intel on a tick or tock for the next processors? If the next gen is a shrink, perhaps quad-cores will become viable in 14" machines?

[jayton4]

My X220 has an i7 quad-core processor.

What?!? I have only ever known the X220's to come with up to a i7-2620m, never heard of a quad core version. Did you mod it?

albo:
Quad cores are starting to show up more in 14" models. It used to be that the Alienware m14x was the only game in town. Now there is the Lenovo Y480 and the Sony Vaio E series.

[lead_org]

My X220 has an i7 quad-core processor.

Cheers,

Bill B.

How did you manage to get an X220 with quad core CPU?