ThinkPad on a Budget: Core i-series ThinkPads

[@rolfypaulino8265]

At first I couldn't decide between HP, Dells or mackbook. Then I came across ThinkPads at my new job and they are fantastic. I like the keyboard, the simple design, the screen resolution. Overall this laptop is an excellent choice for people who likes to get things done.

[@HalfHotHalfCold]

Just found a t430 for 130$ and it will be my first Thinkpad I'm so stoked

[@picb]

Awesome! Where did you find it? Ebay?

[@leesahcage3297]

Great video, I'm using a T430s now and it's great even in 2021. Your video is really detailed and shows off why the thinkpad T430 is a great upgradeable machine.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Almost a decade after they came out and they’re still excellent laptops. Thanks for watching!

[@ih4t3u28]

I just bought a T430 for 85€ (~95$) in 2023 and lenovo still provides drivers for windows 11. It´s a great laptop to use in school for coding and webbrowsing. Even Minecraft Java runs with some performance mods.

[@nelphi223]

Thanks for your awesome recommendation - bought T430 with quad-core CPU upgrade, 12gb ram, and 1TB ssd for $300 and it works better than my old desktop. Hooked up to external monitor and it works butter smooth. Thanks again you saved me money and I had a lot of fun fixing up a laptop for the first time.

[@kevmorris3000]

I really like the idea of continuing to use old tech. I've got a 2011 vintage i7 Thinkpad X220. When my company replaced it they said I could keep the X220. After doing a Factory Restore on the thing, then updating to Windows 10 and updating the drivers, the thing works great and still does everything I need. That got me curious. I found several used T430s and T440s models for Full HD screens and SSD drives for between $250 and $300. Those would very likely be better than any sub $500 new laptop I could buy. Keep using that old tech!

[@bomcabedal]

@@tilenzupanc4796 I got a T430 for about 150$, threw in a 850EVO and a 9-cell battery. That's still a beast of a machine, and I like that I don't need to handle it like a piece of china.

[@emmanne08]

Indeed! I recently purchased a secondhand W530 for 20% of its release price and I'm blown away with how it performs for the price I paid

[@emmanne08]

Azər Hüseynli I did bought my secondhand W530 having in mind that it's the cheapest option for me to get a 32GB in a laptop. I came from a 1st gen i7 16GB RAM max and only SATA 2. W530's SATA3 and big jump in performance of its 3820qm compared to my 720qm is a big bonus for me, given the $430 I paid for it. EDIT: Now I managed to find 4x8GB ram for $120 almost half the price of 2x16GB RAM pricing in Amazon @ $200.

[@NathanChisholm041]

I have the same X220 with a 16Gb of ram, Intel Core i7 @ 2.80GHz plus a SSD 512Gb its still really fast!

[@purplecxcx5791]

Is 2011 considered vintage nowadays? ;-;

[@mev-k]

Thank you for focusing on Thinkpads. Love your videos

[@hinz1]

W530/K2000M/3820QM/32GB, laptop for the next 20years, spent last 15years with X61, still use them for mail/programming;-)

[@pixelPlex]

In a few years the ThinkPad T480 (a mid-range ThinkPad) will become a highly prized ThinkPad, which has many good characteristics. Some of those include the T480 (and T580) being the last T series models ( www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/audtsd/lenovo_thinkpad_t490s_t490_t590_announcement/ ; www.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/audtsd/lenovo_thinkpad_t490s_t490_t590_announcement/eh7kqia/ ) to have the Power Bridge system, swappable batteries, high capacity external battery option, and RAM that can be completely replaced ("ALL" SIMM slots). Other good characteristics include: - Long battery life (using the 72 Whr external battery) - Built-in drainage holes - Can drive up to four external 1080p monitors (via Thunderbolt port at 60 Hz) - Full sized HDMI port and Ethernet (1 Gbit) ports - Two USB-C ports (including one which is Thunderbolt), and a U SATA port? - Two full sized USB 3 (Type A) ports (including a always on one for charging a device) - Excellent Linux compatibility (including power management, WLAN, and Lenovo provide official firmware updates via LVFS - fwupd.org/lvfs/search?value=T480 ) - Matte 1080p IPS display (on some versions, some of the others have a 2K display) - Has a vent on the left side (unlike the T490/T490S where the vent is on the right) - Can be powered/charged using any USB-C charger (rated >= 45 W) - Quiet fan and good thermals (Intel graphics version) - Many components can be replaced (even the thermal system, and display) - Good keyboard/touchpad/trackpoint (by modern ThinkPad standards) - Supports up to 64 GB RAM (unofficially; the datasheet has yet to be updated - psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad%20T480/ThinkPad_T480_Platform_Specifications.pdf ) - NFC support (on some versions) - SD card reader - 2.5" SATA slot - M.2 NVMe slot One interesting thing to know about the T480 is that the keyboard is widely considered to be much better than the more premium T480S, and the keyboard quality is at a similar level to the flagship ThinkPad X1 Carbon (high end ThinkPad).

[@msbaloch7255]

5 years later, I have to say that you were absolutely right about the T480!

[@Ask4Green]

Sebi, thank you for your passionate and professional advice. If I were IBM, HP or Dell, I would hire you for CTO! Man, you' ve got a passion for Thinkpads and you have spread it to Romania, too. Take care of yourself!

[@eteeXRM]

Love the thought process you share on value and features in your video. I just picked up a t450s for to upgrade my aging and now possibly thermal throttling x61s. My justification to get the t450 series was the new 14nm cpu for better power savings and better graphics over t440. Also I’m happy to report I was able to upgrade and activate Windows 10 Pro out of the box. The bridge battery system is also neat but not a major factor to me.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I like the bridge power feature of the newer ThinkPads, and while the ThinkPads I use are older than that feature, I still think it's a nice thing to have. Unfortunately Lenovo seems to be moving away gradually from the user-removable battery (cough cough X280), but it's one of my few justifications for getting a ThinkPad newer than the xx30 series.

[@elektron2kim666]

In September, I found a T430 for $300 with i5 vPro & Windows 10 Pro and upgraded to 8 GB of ram. It can do things that I didn't know about.

[@patrickmediodia1952]

Do you think a t450 i5 5300u 8gb ram 240gb SSD refurbished worth it for 235$ today?

[@Darknamja]

LENOVO LAPTOP WINDOWS 10 PRO T430 DVD i... Item ID: 151806077230 Quantity: 1 Estimated delivery: Thu. May. 24 - Fri. Jun. 1 Paid: $189.00 with PayPal

[@HalfHotHalfCold]

@@patrickmediodia1952 yes

[@rotcataergeht]

Whats vpro chip for?

[@h11kariii84]

@@rotcataergeht Its a type fo chip i think

[@meissnerflux]

Great review. Very logical and true. The t420 and t430 are superb values with phenomenal keyboards.

[@samisvideo]

Currently I'm rocking a T440P, upgraded to a quad core i7, 16GB ram, modern wifi, ssd drive, I even replaced the clunkpad. Maybe I'll upgrade the display too in the future :) Nice vid, thanks.

[@klwthe3rd]

This series was awesome! I'm a huge ThinkPad fan and I learned so much from your series on these videos. I even subscribed.

[@edalder2000]

Using an e530. I recently put an SSD in it because The HDD was failing. I also upped the RAM from 6 to 8 gigs. I put Linux Mint on the e530 and it files.

[@sergiol.3755]

I have a t420 and t430 both with 12 g ram and i7. Both work great no issues and fast

[@keelan6998]

I bought my T430s for ~220 with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, i5 processor with a docking station included. I think I would've rather bought a T430 in hindsight, as the 3rd-party-batteries you can buy for the slim version seem to all be larger which might mean more battery life but they tilt the laptop upward where the trackpad is, due to the odd placement of the battery on the slim models, which feels and looks weird. Also I didn't pay attention to the display resolution and ended up with only 1366 x 768 (which you can tell :/ ) All in all though I'm happy to be getting into using ThinkPads & testing things out. Decided to finally try out linux (ubuntu mate) and the performance is fantastic!

[@obfuscated3090]

Thinkpad HMMs (Hardware Maintenance Manuals) are outstanding. Every prospective buyer and owner should download one. Complete replacement screw kits are cheap and plentiful, worth knowing if you assemble Pads from donors or just want fresh screws.

[@seyeogunkolade5273]

Thanks for the great reviews! I bought a refurbished Thinkpad X230. Really loving it, your review helped me make a very good decision for my purchase. Keep up the good work!

[@cobra-chicken]

Definitely agree with your conclusion. I own a heavily modded T420 running Fedora on i7-2670QM CPU, modded heat sink, 16GB of RAM, and two SSDs. It outperforms most of my friends' MBPs by a huge margin, while only costs like 1/5th the price including all the mods and upgrades I have on this thing.

[@LLCoolPass]

is there a t420 or similar with seperate graphics or all them intel integrated? i forget

[@LLCoolPass]

isn't there a rare one with nvidia graphics in the t420 series?

[@cobra-chicken]

yup, there are ones with discrete graphics. From what I heard from other users it's not much better than the integrated intel graphics and it kills the battery faster

[@bensgarage8325]

You can disable the nvidia chip in the bios, the one in the t430 was somewhat better than the integrated.

[@AE86ofMtAkina]

I think you have the god of all T420 Thinkpads lol Just wondering how is the battery life on it?

[@MyAulos]

I wonder if Lenovo would ever release a modern version of the T420.

[@Дмитро-д7п]

Не возможно нарисовать два раза Мону Лизу.

[@AIM9XSW]

I might add that, in my experience one limitation of the Sandy Bridge-era Thinkpad (anything with the number 20 at the end) is that Windows 10 does not support Sandy Bridge's implementation of wireless display (Intel WiDi) technology. I learned this the hard way after upgrading my x220 Tablet's OS to Windows 10 from Windows 7. Windows 10 supports the Ivy Bridge CPU series' implementation of wireless display technology (since Ivy Bridge CPUs support Miracast), and I can confirm that a T430 can connect to a Miracast-enabled TV or adapter with no issues. If this is important to anyone, then an Ivy Bridge laptop (30-series) is the better option.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I generally recommend the 30 series anyway because of the slightly faster CPU/GPU performance, better battery life, and built-in USB 3.0. I guess the Windows 10 support of Ivy Bridge's wireless display technology is just another reason for it to be preferred.

[@guptaanmol184]

Thank you so much for this! I have heard great things about thinkpads, and am a computer tinker enthusiast. This has been the best introduction for me!!

[@SebisRandomTech]

I’m happy you enjoyed the videos!

[@TexpatOTG]

The big Thinkpads don't have good resale value in Saigon, and you can really get a good buy on them. About 2 years ago I bought the w520, 4 core i7, 16gb, 320ssd ... am still uses to edit my KZbin content. I upgraded the 320ssd to a 512gb but otherwise have done nothing to it except keep it clean. I paid 10mil VND ($425usd) for it. I later bought my wife the exact same model for 8mil ... Great machines and great value. Lots of ports ..and can run an extra monitor on for editing. Glad to see this review, they are great machines.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Nice deal! These are still fantastic machines!

[@pencilsketch3473]

Well I have T430s on my side btw. It come with i7 and SSD 128gigs. It cost me around $300.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I have a T420s. Fairly solid machine .

[@basedpalestinian6773]

@@SebisRandomTech Why did you not recommend the t410?

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@basedpalestinian6773 Just old enough with more limitations compared to even going one generation newer. Biggest things are 8 GB RAM limitation (while the T420 onwards can take up to 16), no support for mSATA drives, no quad-core processor upgrades,and no IPS display mod available. Additionally those 1st gen i5/i7's are very power hungry and run hot. It's not bad for basic use, but when you can get a T420 or T430 for almost the same price and sometimes for even less there's little reason to get a T410.

[@basedpalestinian6773]

@@SebisRandomTech Thanks you very helpful !

[@ari-athbadminton0301]

I wish Lenovo peoples stop following stupid trends and get back to their roots. 420 design and internal build logic is spot on, uncaping your productivity potential with well though keyboard, up-gradable internals and so on..

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

I'd say they might as well just stop the Thinkpad branding and let the community come up with an old-school powerful business laptop equivalent

[@ruslanbollaev3353]

I got my T430 for 200 CAD 3 days ago I Added an 120msata SSD and replaced a stock Hitachi 500gb HDD with WD 1TB SSD , 16gb of ddr3 1600 ram. Guys it feels like it was born again, after I replaced a thermal paste throttling has stopped, I have an I5 3320 2.6 one, now I have 50 degree max after few hours of moderate gaming. But when first got it had almost 70 on a turn on.

[@cyrillechidiac6368]

Thanks for your videos, it helped me settle down on a t420s. I already have an X230 i bought when it was released, but now that i'm writing a novel, them tiny palm rests are getting on my nerves. I do not get much of the hate on the new keyboards, I like the one on my x230, but seems there is such a big fuss around it so I wanted to try the older style keyboard. I don't mind that the T420s has CPU cooling issues on huge loads, as I said I'm writing a novel and do not plan on putting it under heavy workloards, so ii do not need upgradable CPU nor super good cooling. I mostly wanted a digital typewriter, and that's what I'll get with the T420s. Total price : 167.50$ CAD (so about 120$ USD). I comes with an SSD, and old battery that is claimed to still hold the charge. All-in-all, I'm having a fully functional laptop, for the price of a keyboard.

[@SebisRandomTech]

The newer keyboards aren't *that* bad (however in recent years they appear to be getting worse) and they are still a major upgrade from most other laptop keyboards, however the biggest complaint isn't necessarily about the key travel or design of the keys, it's about the layout. The classic layout has everything laid out more or less like on a desktop, making it easier to adjust between the two. It also has a few extra useful function keys that have been entirely removed from the modern keyboard. I would love to see the classic keyboard return on some models, but if they at least brought back the classic *layout* I think many in the ThinkPad community would be happy with that.

[@123JAILBREAKME]

Great series really like it. You have taught me some stuff about my t420 I didn’t know

[@beickus]

Got a new T420 in 2016 - coolest laptop.

[@vincenicoll3689]

I have a T420 and a SL510. I got the T420 for free when I completed a Digital Skills course and have since swapped out the digital drive for a 2nd hdd and upgraded the memory to 8GB. The SL510 I am still working on.

[@larryfinch1529]

Thank you! The info was VERY helpful! I am picking up a T430 tomorrow w 8gb ram 500gb HDD ..for 70.00!!! I'm replacing an HP15 that broke on me..I think/ hope this will be an upgrade

[@MikeDancy]

The T430s had a great keyboard. I've had almost every T series since the T41. Plus I've always like the X series too. Currently typing this on a T450s as my x240 is sitting downstairs.. You can see them all on my channel

[@SebisRandomTech]

The newer ThinkPads still have great keyboards, in fact I'm typing this from my T440p. However to me the T430 keyboard and onwards feels like a downgrade from the T420/earlier, especially with many function keys being removed, the layout being changed, and volume keys no longer being dedicated buttons. The 25th Anniversary ThinkPad proves it's still possible to have a great keyboard in a modern thin-and-light laptop, so I seriously don't understand why Lenovo won't at least keep it as an option on some of their thicker models. Imaging a P53 or such with the classic keyboard....that would be a killer machine.

[@RCfromtheNYC]

Thank you for your videos! I'm looking to buy a used Thinkpad laptop for basic use, and your vids have helped me narrow down my choice.

[@divinityryder500]

I've been looking around for a used laptop that could still do the majority of things I'd need for it to do. Web Surfing, youtube, maybe some light video work, etc. And yes, for my budget ($200) I could get a brand new chromebook or something along those lines. Or I could get an older computer that, quite surprisingly, blows current budget offerings out of the water. I've heard for a long time that Think Pads are insanely reliable so I think it's about time I finally dive in.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Good choice. Like I said in this video, the T430 and T420 are probably the best value ThinkPads you can get in 2019. They take up to 16 GB of RAM, have 2.5" and mSATA drive bays, an optical drive bay, and decent battery life. Upgradeable processors and great keyboards help matters as well. If you want something smaller the X220/230 from the same generations are also excellent machines (typing this from my X230 now), and if you don't mind having a larger machine to have better power then the W520/530 are also great choices. The T440/440s/440p and W540 are starting to become a good value as well if you don't mind the modern redesign.

[@divinityryder500]

@@SebisRandomTech I'm looking at upgrades now and I have to say I'm really impressed. I didn't know they made laptops with this degree of upgradability. Normally it's just RAM or Hard Drives, but a processor? It blows my mind. I feel as though I've been missing out when it comes to thinkpads because this is totally up my alley.

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@divinityryder500 Sadly most newer machines don't have upgradeable processors unless they are using a desktop socket, but you can blame Intel for this by pushing hard for ultrabook processors and removing socketed laptop processors (while simultaneously killing the Core xxxxM line of mobile CPU's) after the Haswell generation. I'm sure if Intel still made laptop socketed machines some of the newer ThinkPads would still have upgradeable CPUs.

[@divinityryder500]

@@SebisRandomTech I didn't even know socketed laptop processors were a thing since desktops were more of my forte. Laptops I always viewed as machines that have limited upgrade options. Though it seems nowadays the trend is moving toward "More power, less upgradability"

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@divinityryder500 More like "More thin and shiny, less upgradeability" or "More copy Apple, less upgradeability".

[@Indraneel-Ahluwalia]

I bought w530 in 2019

[@1998diegox]

Great video!! You're completely right, T420/T430 are the right choice if you really want a very powerful and cheap machine. My thinkpad arrived yesterday to my mother's house and i will take it tomorrow. € 220 ($ 260) for a T430 with two year warranty, 8GB RAM and the fingerprint sensor. I hope the battery (original by the way) is in good condition. I'm going to upgrade it to a quad core i7, following your advice, but I'm not sure sure which model to choose, because of the thermal throttling and heat the heatsink can take. also, why dont you make a video about coreboot? One of my friends bought a T400 and corebooted it, and changed the WIFI card to a free (as freedom) card, and it works like a 1000$ new laptop. Loving your videos!! and you speak really well as it is difficult for me to understand english (i'm from Spain)

[@SebisRandomTech]

I have no experience with corebooting a ThinkPad, but I know there are plenty of guides explaining how to do that. Maybe if I get ahold of a T400 I will try coreboot on it and make a video about it. As for the quad-core i7, there are a few that are fairly good but the one that seems to work the best is the i7 3612QM. It's nice and speedy but doesn't seem to overheat the computer. If you replace the CPU, definitely make sure to get some good thermal compound on the computer, I personally use Arctic MX-4 but you may find a better compound.

[@cobra-chicken]

The i7-3632QM or 3612QM and get the Toshiba dGPU heatsink with some high grade thermal paste

[@TheShFil]

It worth note that coreboot allows you to use ivy in t420.

[@LLCoolPass]

Filip Gawin coreboot isnt even available for t420. Are you instead referring to something else or a different thinkpad?

[@1998diegox]

Johnny B a different one, a t400

[@thestoicwhinger]

I'm kicking myself for buying a new laptop 5 months ago, selling it and looking for one of these. I'll probably never buy new again

[@ariathyf144]

My mint T430 purchased around 70 usd in march is finally bios unlocked. Great machine but too heavy for my mobility needs.. It's twice the weight of my CF-S9!

[@SebisRandomTech]

You could look into the T430s or X230 if you like the T430, and a few of the newer ThinkPads aren't too horrible while being more portable (X250, T450s, etc)

[@guptaanmol184]

Your ThinkPad videos will be like ThinkPads, for ages to come...

[@kyle6364]

Very informative! Thank you. I thought that the T430S was better until you said that only the T430 has a removable processor.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Yup. Battery life is also much better on the T430, especially with the 9-cell battery. While the T430s can use an UltraBay battery to improve battery life while the T430 can’t, even with the UltraBay battery the T430 will still last much longer. At one point I had a T420 with the 9-cell battery and a T420s with the dual-battery setup, and I could always get through the day with juice left on the T420. The T420s lasted only a few hours at best.

[@ankitsinha26]

can you share plz, the ThinkPad models which has Express card slot

[@test777ful]

Great Video! Great presentation, easy to watch and very informative. It helped me a lot. Well done and Thanx.

[@razakazmi9085]

Excellent presentation on the sturdy and highly reliable Thinkpad Laptops like 410. __ T-430 has some better options like usb 3.0 but T-420 remains the last model that comes with classic Thinkpad keyboard that's hard to beat and most liked by many fans of this great machine at a reasonable cost.

[@semco72057]

I purchased a Thinkpad model T400 from on Ebay but it isn't working as it should for me. It must be something which I did to keep it from booting and running like it should. The laptop has a 150GB HHD installed which is enough for what I plan on using it for which is running ArcaOS 5.3 on it. I am trying now to see if the computer is bad or I am doing something wrong.

[@LaboyMoto]

Hi I have a question is your fingerprint security is still working after updating to windows 10 1909? mine is not working anymore after the update.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Mine is still working as it should. Try checking Lenovo Vantage for driver updates, and also see if restarting the computer helps.

[@ExWEIMan]

Don't forget to to point out that the new keyboards have lost the embedded keypad with num lock! For those of us that liked to enter ASCII characters directly from the keyboard and had done so for years-this was a real loss. I hate entering em dash, en dash, degree symbols, etc. from the Character Map.

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

You can purchase a USB Numerical keypad for $12USD from Ebay. No biggie.

[@MortyFoodReviews]

Just bought a w540 with an i7 4800mq 16 gb ram 256gb and k1100m 2gb 1080p under 500 dollars cad.

[@dgribble556]

Just bought a t430 on eBay for 75 bucks! Do you have any experience with non Lenovo aftermarket batteries?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Nearly all of the older ThinkPads I've refurbished and sold use aftermarket batteries. I've personally never had issues with them and have never had complaints from the people I sold them to. I try to get genuine Lenovo when possible but especially with older models they can be hard to find still holding a charge or are prohibitively expensive.

[@circle4922]

Hye man, I've been watching your (and some rossman) videos on these older ThinkPads and they're really informative. Thanks for making them. I wanted to ask you a question, for further advice, if you have a few minutes. Im just trying to replace a crappy laptop (which is now dead, actually) for an elderly person, and had decided a t430 would be nice. But I'm wondering if a desktop might be a better option, being that eye sight is an important consideration, and they do t really *need* a laptop. If I got a laptop/ThinkPad, I'd be looking to use an external monitor with it anyways, and then it's somewhat awkward using the laptop essentially as a keyboard only. I feel confident I can "assmble" (DIY)oor put together a pc build on my own - with guidance on what parts to buy that'll be compatible. Maybe you could point me in the right direction -even if just a forum recommendation Thanks for your time.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Look for older desktops being retired from corporate/school environments. You can get a decently specced Dell or HP desktop (or any brand) that will be very cheap and still overkill for what most older people would be doing. The desktop I use to edit videos was acquired this way! I agree that for their needs a laptop may not be practical.

[@circle4922]

@@SebisRandomTech Second try at reply on phone, desktop site request. Thanks very much for the input. I came across these Lenovo thinkcenters and ideacenters and wondered if they'd be a good option for a desktop pc, or are they more so for a server and other projects. Ebay.ca I saw a thinkcenter mini. Amazon.ca appears to have them too. Lenovo.ca has ideacenter (I think) and they're showing its on promo sale for something like $1100 off. 8th Gen intel processor is all I remember. Mind telling if that's a good candidate for a desktop? Thanks again. Ps: any reason no me tion of the P series? Old P50 sounds intriguing.

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@circle4922 A smaller desktop like that probably wouldn't be bad for the uses you are describing. I didn't mention the P series because that would probably be overkill for what uses you are describing.

[@circle4922]

@@SebisRandomTech ok, cool. Thanks for your help. Re: p50, I meant in general, no vids about/recommend it. But I guess because it's not the same great value as the series/models you have recommended. Thanks again

[@zachgiacalone3445]

I got my T440p for $150. It has an i5, 16GB ram (upgraded from 4), & 256GB M.2 SSD (upgraded from 500GB HDD).

[@SebisRandomTech]

@Zach Giacalone Nice! Maybe you can look into upgrading the processor next!

[@viniciocoelho3538]

Do you consider the T440 a good purchase nowadays? Does it still have a strong performance? I work mostly with programming and virtual machines?. thanks.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I did not recommend it in this video or others for a reason. The T440p might be a worthwhile investment, but the standard T440 is throwing money away, especially for what you want to do.

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

@@SebisRandomTech I agree with you here. T440 has "U" based processors, and a max of 12gb/RAM. You can get the T440p with the MQ processor, and max 16gb/RAM, for the same price.

[@RobertDeloyd]

Okay you talked me into purchasing a T430 i5 4GB on ebay... found one for $85 without the battery and no Power Supply or hard drive but the caddy is Included... I have a few Lenovo power supplies lying about that may work. I'll toss in an SSD, slip in another 4GB of RAM and then I'll probably load a Linux distro on it. Later get a 9 cell battery. Wish me luck. Thanks for sharing your knowledge :)

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

You made a great choice! Can't beat that deal. I also purchase my laptops (Broken, or bare config.) from Ebay. My "DD" is a T440p/i7-4700mq/nVidia GT730m/500gb SamEVO/1tb7200rpmHDDin ODB/16gbRAM, backlit keyboard, and 1600x900 display. I paid $160 for the "bare" computer, with no HDD, and 8gb/RAM. I have a total of around $320 USD in this beast!

[@RobertDeloyd]

@@dragunovbushcraft152 Thank you! I came to the conclusion to get this stripped down T430 because I intend to put an SSD drive into it and upgrade the RAM to 8GB or maybe more (it has 4GB in one slot). Usually laptops from eBay come with old tired batteries. I may look around for a backlit keyboard once I get the unit up and running. I do have several older IBM/Lenovo laptops and I find the keyboards on them are the best for typing, which I do a lot of.

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

@@RobertDeloyd You're welcome. You can upgrade it to 16gb PC3 12800 (recommended), and save your PC3 1333 for a T420 :). If you want to get a 3rd party battery for that T430, you can see Sebi's video on that...... Good stuff.

[@leobitencourt4719]

How's the laptop going?

[@RobertDeloyd]

@@leobitencourt4719 I have the laptop running on Windows 10. I found an inexpensive "new" battery that surprisingly holds a charge for several hours. I haven't upgraded the RAM yet still running on 4GB. I love the laptop and I found a Lenovo ThinkPad Mini Dock Station. When I get a few bucks ahead I'll purchase some RAM. Thanks for asking :)

[@theSEGAtwistisover9k]

external graphics card?! TAKE MY MONEY!!!

[@reycaribe]

What about the T5s or the W series?

[@SebisRandomTech]

I plan on making a video covering them eventually, but I mostly recommend ones from the same generation as their 14” counterparts.

[@sloopycat1954]

Hi can you tell me how to remove the bios password on a Lenovo thinkpad yoga 260 please Great video thankyou

[@HalfHotHalfCold]

Thank you so much for this video series

[@rivciks5045]

I would say, that T420 is preferable to t430. T420 has superior keyboard. Furthermore you can use on t420 also an ivy bridge cpu if you flash it with coreboot first- an open source bios.

[@tubeMonger]

I have W520 and T430 - great laptops.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I may be getting ahold of a W520 soon. Maybe I’ll make a video about it and the T440p, some of the performance oriented ThinkPads.

[@tubeMonger]

W520 still had the classic keyboard which was why I bought it a while back :-) Looking forward to your future videos. Very interesting and entertaining for a Thinkpad fan like me.

[@ivermec-tin666]

@@SebisRandomTech I have a W520. The only consideration is the limited support for usb 3.0. It has 1 usb 3.0 port, and does not support 3.0 on the docking station; so a mini hub is needed to enjoy 3.0 speed on more than one device. Do you think it would be possible to put the W520 keyboard into a W530? (Sorry, I see that you answered that question already in the affirmative). I think I may be on the lookout for a W530... I got the W520 as a desktop replacement. I wanted a laptop that could run autocad, which this will do with the graphics daughter card it came with. Unfortunately, that card will not operate in Linux, so I have stayed in the Windows ghetto, even though I will want to move on when Win 7 is no longer supported. I tried Win 10 on this machine. It's not my cup of tea; besides I want my machine to do what I tell it to, not the other way around... So, maybe an external graphics card is the way to go in the long run. Any ideas on enclosures?

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@ivermec-tin666 I'm still working on getting an external graphics card for one of my laptops, I've always used the internal graphics or a desktop so I'm not the best person to ask about good enclosures.

[@mm_japanese4056]

Hi Sebi thanks for the great review. I have just bought a Lenovo ThinkPad T430 i5-3320M 2.6GHz 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD DVDRW 14.1 WXGA++ 1600x900 Webcam Windows 10 Pro 64 bit WiFi Grade A (Certified Refurbished) for just £310. I have yet to receive it and after watching this video I thought about boosting its i5 processor. I am not a techy person and I hope you could advise on the exact type of i7 quad processor you talked about in your video. What else would I need and how easy is it to replace this? Most grateful for your help with this. Thank you.

[@SebisRandomTech]

You’re in luck, as I just uploaded a video showing what processor is the best and how to install it in the T430.

[@mm_japanese4056]

Thank you Seb.

[@HalfHotHalfCold]

@@SebisRandomTech the man

[@marlenmarko77]

actually the t410 is the best laptop that i have ever owned until today as my next daily driver for web browsing and software development in 2024 i'm not joking ! 😉

[@jessragan6714]

I got a T430 from eBay's Green Citizen for $54! How'd I do? :D (Yes, I tested it. Screen works, the USB ports work, the SD card slot works, the sound works... I just need to install an SSD and test out the hard drive port.)

[@SebisRandomTech]

If the hard drive port works, you got a good deal!

[@jessragan6714]

@@SebisRandomTech And even if it doesn't, there are always other mass storage vectors. It'd be a shame to lose that DVD drive, though...

[@jessragan6714]

@@SebisRandomTech Still don't know. What I can tell you is that there's no room in the bay for a standard 9.5mm laptop drive, despite Google's suggestions to the contrary. It's like Godzilla trying to slip into a pair of petite pantyhose.

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@jessragan6714 The T430, T430s, X230, and X230t only support the thinner 7mm drives. Most SSDs are 7mm so this won't be an issue for some, but many older hard drivers are the thicker 9.5mm size.

[@smugmode]

If they discontinued the think-light and changed the charging port from round to rectangular after the T430, then how come my T530 has both?

[@SebisRandomTech]

The T530 is the same generation as the T430. In the traditional ThinkPad numbering system, the letter represents the product line, the first number represents the screen size (T430 has a 14" screen, T530 has a 15" screen), and the last two numbers represent each generation or revision. The T430 and T530 are both from the same generation, that being the last one to have the ThinkLight and round charging port. With the T4*4*0 and the T5*4*0 the drastic changes were made.

[@smugmode]

@@SebisRandomTech So can I upgrade the CPU in mine? I only bought it because I heard from several others that it was the last great ThinkPad. I love the keyboard and the ThinkLight still feels novel to me. My only complaints are with the screen resolution, speaker sound quality and lack of a numpad. I've looked into upgrading the screen but it looks like I'm out of luck in that department. I have yet to put the time into researching replacing the speakers, and I imagine a numpad would cramp things up, even it that were an option with this model. Still my favorite laptop ever. I've had 2 ThinkPads so far and abused the heck out of both of them, and they are nearly bulletproof. I say nearly, because, I've managed to destroy a screen and 2 keyboards, but they were so easy to find parts for and replace -- it's unbelievable. Anyway, sorry for the text log! And thank you for your informative response :-)

[@SebisRandomTech]

​@@smugmode Correct, you can upgrade the CPU in yours as long as it's one from the same generation. The newer ThinkPads, the T540p and the W540, which immediately succeeded the T530, have a numpad and higher resolution IPS screens. Many ThinkPad fans have complained about the numpad because it cramps things and offsets the keyboard and touchpad/TrackPoint. They also have upgradeable CPUs, being the last models to have that option thanks to Intel dropping socketed laptop CPU's after Haswell. There is an adapter board to put a 1080p IPS screen into a T430 or T420, but I don't know if such a solution is available for the T520/T530.

[@Thefatveganchef]

I have seen a few T series on ebay with a P on the end of those? What differentiates those models? I want to get one and put Ubuntu and/or Kali on it and really dig down and learn Linux.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Most of them are simply the standard T-series with more powerful processor/GPU options. Older ones even shared the same chassis and parts as the regular T series. For example, the T60p was the performance/mobile workstation equivalent of the T60. Over the years they have disappeared and reappeared from the ThinkPad line. Since 2008 workstation ThinkPads have had their own product line, with the Wxxx series until 2014 and the Pxx series since. As for the T-series, after the T61p in 2007 the next T-series ThinkPads to have the -p suffix were the T440p and T540p in 2013. The standard T440 and T540 were basically ultrabooks, while the T440p/T540p were workstation-oriented machines. There was also a T460p and T470p, however Lenovo has not released a T480p or T580p, since with the P52, P1, and X1 Extreme, there’s really no need to make a performance variant of the T series.

[@Thefatveganchef]

Thank you!

[@elis9344]

Thanks very much. You have been most helpful. 😘

[@boostuse]

I'm wondering, I have a Thinkpad t440p,running Windows 10,12gb ram and 500gb ssd I'm using Reaper DAw Komplete Audio 6 Akai 249 mpk midi controller Akai mpd 24 midi controller I'm wondering if it can manage all these things, the outboard usb devices Interface and the midi controllers I'm considering a ASUS ROG Strix

[@SebisRandomTech]

If it's all working now, then I would imagine it can.

[@aramiris]

you said you can swap the T420 keyboard into the T430, can one do the same with the W520 keyboard into an W530?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Yes. Pretty much every xx30 ThinkPad can take the xx20 series keyboard, except the T431s, T430u, and X230s.

[@aramiris]

thanks, this gave me an idea for a home project, as I told you on another video my main workhorse iss a w530, so if I can get an old 520 keyboard and either a 3820 qm cpu or an extreme i7 , that would be great.

[@rotcataergeht]

Wheres video of w530 keyboard swap?

I bought a T430 but my vendor sent me the T430s (More expensive one) instead. Should I return it? as I don't plan on upgrading the cpu. (its very rare where I live) I don't plan on getting a new battery because I'm going to use this about 1-2 years. Next I will be getting a HP Probook. Already upgraded up to 8GB RAM and 500GB SSD. It includes Windows 7 Pro as well.

[@SebisRandomTech]

You're better off keeping it. If you don't plan on making many upgrades, then especially with that 500 GB SSD the T430s will perform nicely.

[@CoreMan]

is X220 capable of video editing?? if not what upgrades should be made & t430 how that performs?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Both are very capable of editing video. The stock processor in the T430 will be faster, and it can be upgraded. In the X220 the CPU is soldered in, but on both RAM and storage are upgradeable.

[@Charlie-nq5qi]

I had to buy another Lenovo I found in a shop going cheap “ now I know why”,basically having already on A 430s running so well was hit by a Trojan . To then BSOD only to find 3 bad / corrupt files that will not allow a simple USB - Install ( lenovo do not allow a Thinkpad & a USB Install for some reason) as now I have to get a SSD @65 in my nearest tech-shop 130Gig I was quoted & tried a “ Keep My Files -Restart on the w/station” now I need to do it again as when the Files - bookmarks Ect all go back-on it is just the same 1tbyte w/station on the cheap @120 as I was always led to believe Lenovo was always a good reliable & 2 computers in 4 year’s I don’t know if to build from new or repair the 430s or create a fresh Partition on the station …. HELP….HELP….please Lenovo 😡

[@bobie1433]

thinking about buying a thinkpad would you recommend the t430 over the x230?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Depends on your needs. If portability is more important to you, the X230 is a better option hands-down. If power and upgradeability matter more to you (and having a DVD drive), then the T430 will be a better choice.

[@bobie1433]

@@SebisRandomTech Is the screen of the T430 realy that bad as some people make it out to be in your opinion?

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@bobie1433 I wouldn't say it's unbearable but it really is an inferior panel. Even the TN panels of the MacBooks of the time and the X1 Carbon's TN panel were better quality than the screens in the T430. Thankfully there is an upgrade kit available allowing you to use 1080p IPS displays in the T420/T430.

[@MilanCHE78]

Is it worth looking for newer of 15.6" thinkpad model with either full hd or IPS display? T530, T440P...

[@SebisRandomTech]

The T530 and W530 are available with 1080p displays, they are not IPS but having used one myself they are much better quality than the lower resolution panels. Better color gamut, colors, contrast, and viewing angles. The T440p, as well as the T540p and W540, support 1080p IPS displays, and the latter two options also had 3K displays available. The T430 and T420 can be modified to support a 1080p IPS display with the use of an adapter board.

[@MilanCHE78]

Hi, I almost decided to go with T440P, when found out it has issues with Windows 10, what would be next in line with M, not U CPU and supported for Windows 10?

[@SebisRandomTech]

T440p was the latest ThinkPad with M-series CPUs. Everything after were either U-series processors or high-end mobile workstation chips.

[@宋健-d2t]

The ThinkPad T430 is really awesome! I am looking for buying one in 2020, can you tell me where I can bought it? I am really like it and can not make sure where can buy one .thank you.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Your best bet would be eBay.

[@宋健-d2t]

Sebi's Random Tech Thank you!

[@ericyip947]

Nice video! I’m a Thinkpad noob. How do you say about W530? Is it even more powerful and premium than t430, given its much higher price when first released? If I don’t care about graphics, do I better off go with t430? The local price of used w530 is almost double or t430 so I wanna hear how it justify the difference. Have a nice day!

[@SebisRandomTech]

The W530 definitely has better graphics and can take twice as much RAM (up to 32 GB). It also usually has nicer displays than what the T430 came with. However, if you're on a tighter budget and don't care about graphics performance as much the T430 is definitely a better option overall.

[@ericyip947]

@@SebisRandomTech thanks for the quick reply. Will now look for the T430 instead. Rather spend money on buying new battery.😎

[@ericyip947]

@@SebisRandomTech I just found a deal T430s with i7, 12 gb ram and nvidia graphics with 512gb ssd. The seller said there is an extra “bay” battery included. That comes a price tag US185. Is it a steal? I also saw a P51 with i7 7700 for US520. Which one should I buy as my first Thinkpad? Thanks

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@ericyip947 Both of them are pretty good deals. The P51 will obviously be faster and more future-proof, so it will ultimately depend on if you value that or the classic T430s design more.

[@ericyip947]

@@SebisRandomTech wanna follow up that I finally bought a W520 - i7 2630qm 8gb 500HDD with 1080p screen for slight over 100 USD at a local repair shop. The screen is gorgeous, but has one or two white spot. It comes with 9 cell battery with only 12% wear. The only thing I dislike is the worn and dirty keyboard and trackpad. I love *20 series keyboard and I know it’s a 10 years old laptop but it looks disgusting. How you deal with used laptop keyboard? Where you bought the parts for replacement? Or you simply cleaned it?

[@mrwattsclass107]

I own a bunch of T420i ThinkPads. Do you know the difference between mine and the The 420?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Probably has a Core i3 processor instead of the i5 or i7. In these models it is socketed so it could be upgraded.

[@mrwattsclass107]

@@SebisRandomTech yes that's right, they are i3s. Thanks for the reply.

[@dudemanguy6092]

Where can I buy a brand new T430? Do brand new T430's exist? Or are all of them either manufacturer refurbished or pre-owned?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Unless you can find a new old stock (NOS) machine which would probably be astronomically expensive. Any one you find will probably be used for refurbished.

[@mugaguest1]

For me am conflicted because I have 4 thinkpads and like them all for different reasons. And I have another on the way. For me, I kinda like the t430 more but hate where the USB 3.0 ports are but love the design apart from that. I still love the t410 because it's still capable and fast with the SSD also. This little x201i tablet that I'm typing with is lovely for its size and tends to wanna take it on the road over the rest but the t430u that I got recently is giving it some competition because of its ultra-slim and light profile. The t430s coming is going to be the unusual one of the bunch because unlike the rest that has either win10 or dual boot with different Linux versions it's going to get something different. Just fell in love with older Thinkpads and can't see myself with anything else right now.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I still use my T430 for the most part. Occasionally mess with newer or older models, but these early i-series ThinkPads are pretty much the best all-around right now for me.

[@princemiro7241]

Still recommend this 2019?

[@tilensmrdel9570]

Yes, i bought a thinkpad t430 refurbished for 170€ and i'm loving it!! Buy one, you won't regret it.

[@globalparadise6979]

Seb why do i get the awesome feeling you are Sheldon's younger sibling? Great informative videos too i need a thinkpad for music storage and dj'ing can you recomend a model and spec?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Something durable, most of the models I featured would all be good options, as long as you have a lot of storage.

[@jeffreyrapkin6177]

Great video, very thorough and helped with my purchasing decision. Thanks!!!!

[@deanbarnbrook1774]

Great video I was put off the t430 because of graphics. What pci adaptor do I need to purchase to upgrade? Also would this thinkpad run accounting software. Kind regards Dean

[@SebisRandomTech]

Any laptop can run accounting software. To upgrade and use an external graphics card you need a ExpressCard to PCI-Express adapter (around $45-50 on eBay), and a desktop power supply to power the GPU.

[@deanbarnbrook1774]

Cheers for the reply, I should have asked would this laptop comfortably run accounting software, because most reviews suggest gaming laptops for accounting students. Kind regards Dean

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@deanbarnbrook1774 I'm not sure what the big hype is around gaming laptops, yes they sometimes pack a lot of performance but many of them are ugly and sometimes even chunkier than old ThinkPads. If you're buying a laptop exclusively to game or do hardcore graphics work, a gaming laptop or other high-end mobile workstation is definitely a good investment. But a gaming laptop is beyond overkill for most basic office productivity, including accounting.

[@deanbarnbrook1774]

Thank you

[@yeeeechong1999]

Thanks for creating all these vids. I would like yr thoughts, I found a fully modded t420(US$225 -i7 quad core, ips display) for US$75 more than a base refurbed t430(US$150) here in Singapore. Would u suggest to go for the t420? I can't see much of a difference in performance of 420 vs 430 other than slightly poorer graphics.

[@SebisRandomTech]

If it has the quad core and IPS display, go for the T420.

[@yeeeechong1999]

@@SebisRandomTech thanks for the advice.. ;)

[@pixelPlex]

The recent Intel U series CPUs (Kaby Lake onwards - ark.intel.com/products/124967/Intel-Core-i5-8250U-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_40-GHz ) are reasonably powerful now, have the major advantage of running at much lower temperatures, and are much more power efficient (much longer battery life). For instance a ThinkPad T480 equipped with a quad core i5 (with Hyper Threading), and a 72 Whr external battery will last around 8-9 hours with mixed use (eg some software development, text editing, and web browsing with the WiFi always on) on Linux Mint 19.1. Compiling programs (for software development) takes about a third of the time in contrast to a desktop PC equipped with a second gen Intel i7 (one from the M series).

[@S161064]

HI very informative video. i have just started collecting a few thinkpads i have just bought a x61s and a t420 on your recommendation but i want to put ssd drives in both. IS there any chance of you doing a video on cloning the hardrives to ssd on any of these machines. With Clonzilla or Macrion reflect software. I have subbed to your channel keep the vides coming. thanks steve.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Some day I may feature the process of cloning drives in a video, I just have never felt the need to do so since 99% of the time when I'm putting a SSD in a system it's a clean install of Windows.

[@S161064]

ok thank you anyway. its just i have watched videos of people having problems on the x61s booting from usb. steve.

[@S161064]

ok thank you anyway. its just i have watched videos of people having problems on the x61s booting from usb. steve.

[@nicholastoo858]

Great series, thanks!

[@JakeJoris]

its really sad that all laptop now days are thin, i more prefer those thick laptops.

[@emmanne08]

I share the same sentiment. I can tolerate Thinkpads as thick as W530 as long as vital components are not soldered, batteries still removable, and highly serviceable.

[@robertnelson9621]

One of my first laptops was a Thinkpad T40. Thinkpads have poor screens with low resolutions. But for that I like them.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Actually back in the days of the T40 you could configure them with very high resolution IPS screens, up to 1600x1200 on some models and even 2048x1536 on one model, of course these were *very* expensive upgrades. Nowadays most ThinkPads can be configured with IPS 1080p, 1440p, or 4K displays, with OLED even available on some models. Additionally the models I showed in this video can be modified easily to support 1080p or 1440p IPS displays. The days of crappy, low resolution ThinkPad screens are well in the past! :)

[@cesar.e.venegas]

Where is the best place to buy a used thinkpad online? Any opinions?

[@SebisRandomTech]

eBay. Alternatively you can find good deals on Craigslist (or any other site for local listings).

[@Jutsch80HD]

Watching this on a Thinkpad T530 with an x20 keyboad and I love it. I upgraded the CPU a while ago, I´m not sure if the CPU is actually maxed out but the i7-3632QM is at least the strongest 35W CPU available for this socket. Would it be possible to run the T530 with a 45W CPU or would that cause issues on thermal output and power consumption? Edit: Minutes after writing this I realized that your latest video answers exactly that question

[@meissnerflux]

Jutsch80HD I put a 3740qm 45w i7 un my t530 with integrated video. Seems to run cool

[@lincolnkyle3350]

Just curious what kind of IT veers/degrees are you working on?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Actually nothing in computers or IT. It's just something I do for fun.

[@ebinom8112]

Great video! Please, I'm thinking of buying my first Lenovo ThinkPad. Do I go for Lenovo ThinkPad E490 or E590 or the "newer" Lenovo ThinkPad E14 or E15? What do you suggest? I will appreciate your kind suggestion. Thanks :)

[@SebisRandomTech]

I'm generally not a fan of the E series, but of the choices given the E490 will be a more upgradeable machine. The E14 gets rid of one of the RAM slots and also doesn't have any sort of memory card reader, while the E490 has a MicroSD card slot.

[@ebinom8112]

@@SebisRandomTech Thank you very much. I really appreciate your suggestion :)

[@barthonhoff5547]

I prefer an T530 or T520 as laptop. A bit bigger, but better speakers on the front. And more usable for daily use at home. For travelling I prefer an X230 with an IPS screen. We own both and both are runnig with Samsung EVO SSD’s inside and 16Gb of ram.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I like some aspects of the 15” laptops, but for me they’re just a little too bulky for on the go use, which is why I lean more towards the 14” or 12” laptops more. Especially with the T540 and newer having the offset keyboard to make room for the dedicated numpad.

[@graybeard2113]

@@SebisRandomTech I have a T530, which I upgraded to gskill 16gb.. major difference. BUT, my major issue is it doesn't want to take the major Win10 updates. The last time it took hours and hours troubleshooting, tweaking etc before it took. So long in fact I can't remember the process, or path I took to victory. 😀 I have an AMD quad core I built about 8 yrs ago, that works awesome, and takes every update. Both of these were upgrades from Win7pro. Any ideas for this T530? It's already reinstalled itself about 6 or so times. I disabled quick boot. It doesn't show an error or %, it reboots itself a few times, normal, but eventually goes to a black screen and frozen.

[@SebisRandomTech]

I’ve never had issues with Windows 10 on my T430. My best recommendation would be to reinstall Windows or try a new drive.

[@graybeard2113]

@@SebisRandomTech Thanks.. Two major updates ago, I was forced to load from scratch. The update hosed everything.. another hours and hours scenario. My guess.. there's some registry tweak needed, but I have limited knowledge of that, other than someone who knows telling me what to change. I can get to the target (s), and make updates, but that's about where it ends. I had thought about changing the drive to SSD, primarily for durability sake. The drive doesn't appear to have any issues, other than this Win10 PIB.. thanks again..

[@memoryfoam2285]

Spent £294.99 on a T430 with an i5-3320m at 2.6GHz, 16GB of DDR3 at 1333MHz, a 240GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics and the basic screen. Since then, I have spent £30 on a mouse and 500GB HDD for the ultrabay. It handles everything I throw at it, wirh only mild fps lags in cs:go. It has the original 9-cell from 2013, which holds about 2 hours of medium brightness gaming. I can't decide whether my next upgrade should be a docking station, an external expresscard GPU, a new battery, a slice battery, or a higher res screen. My budget for the rest of the year is about £100. Any tips?

[@SebisRandomTech]

It depends on what will be the most useful for you. If battery life is most important, get the slice battery. If better graphics performance is most important, get the GPU adapter. Etc, etc.

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

16gb PC3-12800 is a worthwhile upgrade, as would be the better screen. If you want better gaming, The T440p, with nVidia graphics will only be a little more. I have several T440p's with nVidia graphics. About 25% better than the HD4600 OBG, which means, 25% more games can be played at Hi-Res.

[@eunlawon5290]

Hello brother !!! Thank you so much for the very enlightening video on ThinkPad series. I really like and prefer to have ThinkPad t420 and t430. How can I purchase these thinkpads? Please kindly suggest . The price has been suggested in the video.thanks for that though.

[@SebisRandomTech]

eBay is your best bet. You can also find good deals on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, etc.

[@eunlawon5290]

@@SebisRandomTech well, thank you so much Sebi. I appreciate your response. Hope that helps out. Your videos are so helpful. Keep up the altruism.

[@ilijaandreevski4772]

I found an x230 and t430 for 150$ and I've been agonizing the last couple of days over which to get. They both have the same specs but i am not sure how much of a gain is the 14" screen over the 12" one, given that the resolution is the same. Help pls :D

[@SebisRandomTech]

The 14” can be upgraded to a higher resolution, and along with having an optical drive it has upgradeable processors. All X-series ThinkPads have soldered-in (non-upgradeable) processors.

[@ilijaandreevski4772]

@@SebisRandomTech thanks for the reply

[@NefVEVO]

which i7 processor did you mention in the video? for t430 thx

[@SebisRandomTech]

See my reply to 1998diegox’s comment.

[@NefVEVO]

yea thanks so its either 3632QM or 3612QM. hopefully i am getting my first tHINKpad t430 soon :)

[@NefVEVO]

i got t430. the killer on this laptop is lcd display :( have you heard that you can replace it with LG LP140WD2-TLG1? seems like the best thing to do...

[@SebisRandomTech]

Yeah, even a better quality TN panel would be better than the stock display. Someone in China makes converter boards allowing 1080p and even 1440p IPS displays to work on these ThinkPads, but the boards are usually made in very small batches and are hard to get ahold of unless you happen to be on eBay or such at a time when the boards are available.

[@ajhabdkaiak8173]

Do you ever take on so many projects that you just end up with a huge mess in your room/work area and you get overwhelmed and decide to not do anything?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Not really.

[@ajhabdkaiak8173]

@@SebisRandomTech lucky, it happens to me alot. Thanks for replying by the way made my day!!

[@PankajKumar-rh7pc]

Should I buy t430 or t440? Pls help I want a sweet spot between durability and performance and have a tight budget.

[@SebisRandomTech]

T430 will perform much better and has more upgradeability. The T440p is similar to the T430 from a performance standpoint, but the non-p T440 sacrifices performance and upgradeability for thinness and better battery life.

[@polocatfan]

love my t430. I've got UWUntu (Ubuntu budgie) and Windows XP on it. I can play all the You Don't Know Jack titles and all the Jackbox Party Packs on it.