T43p Concerns: Heat Issues, Fan Noise, Undervolting, etc

[Rhino]

My new T43p (2.13GHz - 7200RPM HD - 2668H3U) does in fact get warm. The fan is also quite loud. If I could fix the heat and fan noise I could live with this laptop. I love the thinkpad line and would like to stick to one of these... Before I go and send this thing back to Lenovo, I want to talk a little with the other T43p owners. Maybe we can compare settings and figure things out. Also, maybe this thread can help future owners..

I have installed Centrino Hardware Control (CHC) and currently have the "Active Profile" set to Max Battery. Both for AC and battery.

I have "Enable Custom Dynamic Switching" checked.

My current voltage settings are as follows:
Multiplier -- Voltage
6 x 0.700V
8 x 0.748V
9 x 0.780V
10 x 0.828V
11 x 0.876V
12 x 0.908V
14 x 1.004V
16 x 1.116V

I am NOT using only multiplier and voltage #1. I am using all of the above.

The room temperature where the laptop is used is almost always 22C. The case temp of the laptop during average use (IE, PS, RD, IM) is 46C. The HD temp is 36C.

Has anyone found a way to drop things down any further? What else can I do to combat the heat and or fan noise?

I will do my best to follow up with this thread and keep quality responses going. Thanks )

[tom2517]

Is CHC any good?

[stevepre2005]

Follow this:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=13836

[Rhino]

I'm not sure what I am going to do. I guess I have to figure out what available thinkpad is the latest and greatest with the least fan noise. *sigh*

[Torque]

I'm not sure what I am going to do. I guess I have to figure out what available thinkpad is the latest and greatest with the least fan noise. *sigh*

T42P. Without a doubt.

[nrj45]

Hello,
My t43p has no heat problem but noise problem. I have quite the same settings as you in CHC and it doesn't get warm even when gaming with all settings set to max perf. I mean 66°C in these conditions is acceptable. 42°C when idling and the same room temp as you.

[GeorgeP]

I'm not sure what I am going to do. I guess I have to figure out what available thinkpad is the latest and greatest with the least fan noise. *sigh*

From reading through the various comments it seems to me if someone wants the quietest T43 they should:

- get one of the 1.86Ghz models
- get one with a 15-inch screen
- use the "ThinkPad default" power mode
- use CHC to undervolt
- underclock the GPU

OR

- get a T42p

I have a 2687DDU (T43: 1.86 / 15-inch). By using CHC to undervolt and underclock the GPU, the CPU averages 42° - 43°C in normal usage. It idles at 41°. Ambient temperature is 24°C. This keeps the machine pretty quiet. On my machine, as long as the average CPU temp stays below 44°C, the machine is pretty quiet.

Also, CPU temp seems fairly sensitive to ambient temperature. If the ambient temp is reduced to 22°, I don't need to undervolt and it is still very quiet.

Good luck in your decision. From what you say you are doing, I would also try underclocking the GPU and trying the "ThinkPad Default" power mode to see if that helps. But ultimately those pesky laws of thermodynamics will conspire to make the high-powered, smaller computers hotter and noisier.

G

[STS06]

These programs you are using to underclock and maintain comp. temperature...do they come pre-installed with the comp? I just bought a T42 am wondering if this is the norm for people to fiddle with volting and etc, (i have no clue how to do it). So I'm hoping to learn a little before my T42 comes in..thanks!

[Photios]

I was in the same situation as you. I purchased a T43p 2668-H2U. It was loud. I didn't think it was all too hot, but the fan noise was just obnoxious. The problem is that the fan sounded like a little jet engine, whining away. The whining part was the worst of the noise, as the noise would just fluctuate every couple of seconds or so.

I heeded the advice of others on this forum and purchased a T42p - 2373Q1U. It has basically the same specs as the H2U, except the video card, bus speed, etc. What's the same is the 15" UXGA and the 2.1ghz cpu, etc.

I have found that the fan on my T42 does run most of the time, but the difference is that I cannot hear it. If I'm in a VERY quiet room, I can hear it, but it just whispers away, and it is not bothersome at all - nothing like the T43p I had. The great thing about the T42p is that it is very cool on the bottom. I can really use it in my lap. I'm very impressed about this.

I hope this helps. I didn't want to "downgrade" my technology to the T42p, wanting the "latest and greatest" but, I must say, I don't notice any speed decrease, and I'm much, much happier with the T42p.

[STS06]

Anyone know if the T42 has the same characteristics as those listed for the T42p in the above post? I ask because I reordereed a 42 in place of my original 42p order (the 42p was just too pricey and realized that I don't really need a comp that great!). Anyways, doesn't matter now....I'm getting a 42 whether I like it or not!

[Rose]

What bios versions do you ppl use?

I have my third T4x. Regarding fan-noise, they all behaved differently.

My first was a T40 1.6 radeon 7500 with short-fan. Running on batteries it was most often silent in idle. Running on Ac it was switching between lowest fanspeed WITH pulsation, and next to lowest fanspeed with pulsation. I don’t remember what bios.

Next was a T40 1.6 radeon 9000 with long-fan. This was one was more fan-intense and was running with fan on all the time. Also pulsating and louder than my older T40. Don’t remember what bios version.

My current T41p is by far the most silent of them all. It has NEVER pulsated EVER and fanspeed is not noticeable when running multiplier on x6 and GPU down clocked to 60mhz. Bios-version is 3.06f and Im not thinking of upgrading risking getting my fan starting to pulsate.

[GeorgeP]

These programs you are using to underclock and maintain comp. temperature...do they come pre-installed with the comp?

For undervolting the CPU and underclocking the GPU, I use Centrino Hardware Control http://www.pbus-167.com/chc.htm.

In addition, for underclocking the GPU, you can use ATI PowerPlay, comes with the T43.

G

[dukajoe]

I was worried about the heat fan problems before I got my thinkpad, I was worried about the fan/heat problem, but now I think people who complain about it are crazy lunatics. I have niether problem, but I also have 15.0, and in my own observation, people with 14.1 have more of a problem with fan noise. I dont use CHC. I use the ibm power manager program and a book (now a crumpler 'beerback' removable sleeve, cheers its awesome) to rest it on rather than my lap because your body actually generates heat. Anyways, when the ibm fan noise level meter says there wont be much fan noise, it doesnt lie, ever. I hear a whrr about once ever two days, maybe thats just all i notice.

[stevepre2005]

dukajoe,

you said "but now I think people who complain about it are crazy lunatics."....


Two of my friends' T43 are quiet, and I had a noisy T43, and now I own a quiet T42. So when some people says T43 is quiet and some people say T43 is noisy, I know both of them are true.

You are just lucky to get a quiet T43. But you can't call people lunatics just because they have different opinions from yours.

[Jmmmmm]

I just tried undervolting my processor, and it crashed during the initial testing... twice. Both times it made it through 6x at .748, but it froze when it got to 8x, at two different voltages, both in the high .7's. Has anyone else had this occur? I haven't seen anyone else complain about that, at even lower voltages.

I'd prefer not to screw my computer up, so I'm going to leave it alone for now, but I'd really like to get the extra battery life, so any ideas on why this is happening? Should I skip 8x and use 9x next time? I don't see why that would make a difference, but I don't know. Why would it make it past the lower voltage fine, only to freeze at a higher one?

[stevepre2005]

I can only think of 2 possibility:

1. You are unlucky to get a processor with lower margin.
or
2. your temp is already very high at the time when you set the voltage.

I have a T42, so no comments on the value you set. But for your info: x6 -> 0.70 and x8 -> 0x748

[Jmmmmm]

I can only think of 2 possibility:

1. You are unlucky to get a processor with lower margin.
or
2. your temp is already very high at the time when you set the voltage.

I have a T42, so no comments on the value you set. But for your info: x6 -> 0.70 and x8 -> 0x748

Do you think it matters that I'm running on battery at 800mhz right now? I didn't think it would, but I suppose that could be it. Think I should try it again when I can be on ac?

Temp is 48C, which is about avg for me, if even a bit cooler than usual due to the weather today.

[stevepre2005]

I don't think it matters if you run it on battery or on AC. Usually the on-board regulator does a good job in stablizing the voltage.

48*C is low.

Now I think you got a processor with low margin.

[Rhino]

I think I might send this T43p back and exchange for T42p.

Maybe more T42p owners chime in and share their experience with fan noise and heat?

Thanks )

[Greg Gebhardt]

I was worried about the heat fan problems before I got my thinkpad, I was worried about the fan/heat problem, but now I think people who complain about it are crazy lunatics. I have niether problem, but I also have 15.0, and in my own observation, people with 14.1 have more of a problem with fan noise. I dont use CHC. I use the ibm power manager program and a book (now a crumpler 'beerback' removable sleeve, cheers its awesome) to rest it on rather than my lap because your body actually generates heat. Anyways, when the ibm fan noise level meter says there wont be much fan noise, it doesnt lie, ever. I hear a whrr about once ever two days, maybe thats just all i notice.

I have to agree with you. It is so funny listening to these people complain about how they can hear their fan on their laptop. My T43p fan is not that loud. It is WAY more quite than my HP workstation. It does get warm, all of my laptops get warm, the T43p gets less warm that others I have owned.

To me it seems some people here are just looking for something to complain about, struggling to find something wrong with their TP so they can return it. I have used other brands and the TP43p is about the best I have ever had.

[mg]

My T43p fan is not that loud.

Maybe yours is not. Compared with the A21p I used before, the T43p sounds like a jet engine, and the sound quality and quantity also sucks. Now bear in mind that people used to air conditioning systems possibly are not able to notice a difference, but that's not the whole world...

[STS06]

Well greg..thats great for you. But others expect more for the amount of money they spent...and the fact is that there are quieter laptops available (T42 for instance). Its a matter of opinion but it sounds like you take offense to their negative opinions....b/c you own the same general model.

Anyways, for those of you with T42 and T43 experience, is the T42 quieter, less hot? Thanks.

[stevepre2005]

T42 is quiet. With the help of CHC, the fan is level0 and level1. (Temp is between 39 to 45)

my 14-inch T43 was way noisy. The fan goes on with level 3 when the temp is 43*C, and blowing out cold air.

My friends's two 15-inch T43 are quiet. The fan is in the same sound level as T42 (I call it level 1) when temp is about 43*C. Since my friend does not run CHC, so the temp goes up higher, making the fan noise to 2nd level (I believe it's about 59*C), but it's very effective to cool things down. So after a while, the fan goes back to level 1.

Level 0: fan is off
Level 1: fan is very very quiet. It's about the same sound level as 7k hard drive. You will have to put your ear around 3 inches above the keyboard to hear it.
Level 2: still quiet.
Level 3: wow .... whoever calls this quiet is deaf.
Level 4: when booting up T42, you will hear this sound for 2 seconds.
Level 5: when booting up T43, you will hear this sound for 2 seconds.


If you don't run CHC, T42 is most of the time in level 1. It won't get up to level 2 as easily as T43. That's the comparison between a quiet T42 and quiet T43.

For a noisy T43, well....ineffective fan is on level 3 all the time, but even though it's blowing that hard, it won't lower the temp to 39-40*C (with CHC) so it won't shut up the fan. Some people does some trick: when the temp is about 41-42, apply the IBM power template, and it shuts up the fan sometimes.

[ifuleu2001]

I'm telling you.
There are people who got quieter T43s. These folks are lucky.
There are people like me who prefer a quiet working environment and are sensitive to noise. The fan on my T43 is just too loud and it is on most of the time.

Of course, there are still other people. They've got wives shouting at them non-stop. I'd be surprised they hear the fan noise at all...

Just kidding.

1. Let's don't argue about something subjective.

2. If there are three thousand people reported the fan noise issue and the Lenovo Tech Support are well aware of this problem (the guy who talked to me acknowledged that unlike previous T4* models, T43’s fan noise is pretty bad and he got complaints all the time), then it is probably not really subjective.

HTH.