Have the T43 noise and temperature problems been fixed?

[jessetig]

Numerous people have mentioned that their August T43 is mucher quieter and cooler than earlier T43 models. Has lenovo fixed these problems in their most recent models? or have these individuals been lucky to get a good machine? I am wondering this because I'm thinking about getting a education discounted T43 that is not the newest model. However, I will splurge on a system from lenovo directly if this means a quieter and cooler thinkpad.

[Jisi]

bumping this post, i wanna know too

[keku]

I've been trying to find out that. Yesterday I talked to a lady in IBM customer satisfaction, she said she will find out and will call me today. I've not heared back form her as of yet, will wait till tomorrow and then will call her. I'll post it here what she finds out.

difference between Aug model 2668 Q1U 2668Q3U and my July model Custom build 2687EJU

Actually I've been pushing them to return My T43p which crossed 30 day return limit and having Heating issue, fan noise, HDD noise and HDD compatibility issues with non - IBM HDD.

They have to be serious with me coz if they don't provide me better service or improve T43p series, I'll send all 48 thinkpads (2687 EJU) back to IBM acquired by my company this month and are still less than 20 days old. I hope they will listen then.

[Tarkus77777]

I have a 2668-Q2U on order ... so I'd like to know, too.

Any noticeable differences from the early models would be nice to know, both positive and negative.

[tom2517]

I have a 2668-Q2U on order ... so I'd like to know, too.

Any noticeable differences from the early models would be nice to know, both positive and negative.

I doubt there are any differences in design. Just manufacturing variances I think....

[rpad]

Is there a way to know which are the August models ?
I am also very interested about IBM's repsonse,
so far two of the 2686DFU have had fan noise and heat issues

[borez]

I have a T43 2669-A67 manufactured on 08-12, and I must say that it's not really dead silent per se, but there's just a silent hum coming from the notebook.

I tried this out with CHC at 800Mhz at 0.7v. Apologies for being able to try it out further, as my notebook is with the service centre for reimaging.

[ddutta]

I havea T42 and its [censored] quiet etc in Windows. In Linux, when I dont enable all the ACPI drivers etc, its hot as hell (and faster) and the fans are on all the time. Could the T43 issue be related to its higher performance? Just a thought!

[danny_isr]

it really depends on your room temp as well.
When i'm in a room with A/C on you wont hear a thing from it.
I bet that can be a difference too. and i doubt there are any "August models".
One thing i'm sure of , rumors in this forum running strong

[zane]

My t43 was made in July. It is hot and noise.

Even with CHC/800Mhz/0.7v, the CPU temperature is 50~51C and fan is very noise. The room temperature is 73F. Without CHC, the CPU temperature will be 53~54C. I noticed the fan is quiet if CPU temperature is below 46~47C. When CPU is 100% loading (prime95/torture test, glxgear), CPU temperature can easily reach to 90~92C.

However, nrj45 has reported a quiet t43(14in model, similar to my t43), http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=t43

With an ambiant temp of 22°C it idles at 42°

Now Prime95 is on for 15 minutes. I saw the temperature climbing from 42° to 62°C during the first 3 minutes. And from 62° to 65°C during the other 12 minutes. The graphic in mobmeter is almost horizontal now.

One thing is absolutely sure my CPU will never become hotter than 70°C in these conditions.

So I believe there are "quiet models" and my t43 is about 9~20C hotter than other t43. Hope IBM/Leveno will fix the heat/noise problem.

[krma-thkpds]

My t43p 2668g2g was made in July and it has no noise issues. Environmental temp. 20-23°C. Idling at 43°C with CHC at 800MHz Core at 0,7V. In this state the fan is mostly off. When playing games or performing torture tests with default voltage the temp. easily gets to 90°C. Everything seems normal to me.

[branng]

I've recently received my T43, 1871AB4 at the end of August and I have little clue why so many have complained about the fan issues with the laptop. The fan has been completely silent 99% of the time, even if Prime95 is run at ~30 degree ambient temperatures. At idle, the notebook temperatures drop to 38 degrees in a 24 degree room.

The fan is running as I type this, but I cannot hear it over my already very quiet AC system. Guess that means the issue has been fixed?

[keku]

Ok Guyz update from IBM sorry Lenovo ... ...

The lady I was working with told me that those new systems has different fan and all. but she can't don't know that it has been fixed. but for sure it's a new fan on those Aug Model- 2668 Q1U 2668 Q3U etc.

[ekoma]

After reading this post then iknow T43 got such a problem....hmm did IBM mention that the fan can be replaced with the new one...all along i thought i was a norm for IBM fan to be so loud...

[ddutta]

Keku,

Would it be possible to ask that lady if they will put the new fan in the CTO models if I ordered now. I am ordering a 2687E8U and I have no clue when this model was released.

[wiesl]

After reading this post then iknow T43 got such a problem....hmm did IBM mention that the fan can be replaced with the new one...all along i thought i was a norm for IBM fan to be so loud...

How can I know whether this is an "August Model" or not?

I got mine on 8.8.2005, it was manufactured according to the warranty page on 19.7.05 in Thailand.

And I don't think I have a fain issue.

Ciao,
Wiesl

[keku]

Since the CPU is 2.26 in these models they needed to upgrade the fan that's what she said.

when I asked her that if I just replace my 2687 EJU with new 2687EJU would it be ok, she said most likely no. However I asked her to ask IBM technicians about coldest T43, so she will call me with model number

Technically she was not much help, she had to goto some other technical guyz but she authorized return of my current t43p which is more than 40 days old.

Only thing that still bugs me is that she mentioned "IBM/Lenovo" engineers don't believe that there is a problem with T43 models otherwise they would have worked on this issue. So I think returning one or two laptops isn't gonna help as Bill said in one of the forums that if number of return is significant then they might think of something.


I'm gonna order 2668 Q2U and see if that one is quieter and less hot. if not then I've option to return that with in first 30 days.

[keku]

Keku,

Would it be possible to ask that lady if they will put the new fan in the CTO models if I ordered now. I am ordering a 2687E8U and I have no clue when this model was released.

2687 E8U was among the first ones released, I guess it was May 2005 model so does 2687 EJU. if I'm not wrong difference between E8U and EJU is FPR and Bluetooth.

How can I know whether this is an "August Model" or not?

I got mine on 8.8.2005, it was manufactured according to the warranty page on 19.7.05 in Thailand.

look into tabbook it lists models with month of release and date of availability. manufacture date doesn't mean it's august model you can get a T42p which is lst years model but manufactured in aug.

[ddutta]

Point noted Two things:

1. The TAbook doesnt seem to list the CTO models. Or I missed it.

2. I found some CTO models that are new (2Ghz) and appeared only today! Do you think (or can you ask) whether they will have the new fan?

Thanks a bunch!

[rpad]

I am disappointed, after talking to the returns dept & the sales rep they dont even acknowledge that there is a fan noise problem and they were not aware of it, too bad they just have to deal with the returns, what a circus & waste of time !!

[keku]

tell me those CTO models .. I'll check

[hoya]

My first two T43's (2687DDU) purchased in April and June of this year were both extremely noisy - the fan had an annoying pitch that I couldn't stand - so I would consider myself very familiar with the T43 fan noise problem.

I then purchased one of the August T43 models, 2686M7U, and I was extremely pleased to find that the fan was QUIET. This is not my imagination and this is not a rumor; I listened to the 2686M7U in a quiet room and the fan noise was only slightly (guessing 10%) louder than my T42 2379DXU. The annoying pitch of my two previous T43's was GONE.

I currently have three new 14" T43's on order, one of which is noted as "new" on thinkpad.com and one of which is a definite August 2005 model from the latest TABOOK.

2686DGU (I might be wrong but I believe this is NOT an August model)
2686M5U (new August model NOT listed in TABOOK)
2686J1U (new August model listed in TABOOK)

the 2686DGU should arrive on Wednesday of next week so I will post my impressions immediately. the other two machines are on order and should arrive within the next 2 weeks.

[lophiomys]

concerning: ...IBM/Lenovo would not acknowledge, that there is a problem at all ...

I made similar experiences with my Thinkpad.

My recommendation:
--> Measure the tempratures (e.g. screenshot of TaskManager + Mobile Meter + Ambient temprature)
--> Record annoying sounds (make a reference recording of ambient noise in quiet conditions; you need a good mircophone + a good soundcard + good speakers for that)

and
==> MAKE IT PUBLIC on a permanent web site ... together with serial No, Production date, pictures ...

This way there is no room for interpretation and missunderstanding,
and propably Marketing will motivate Support, in order to keep
customers happy and reputation intact.

[Kel Ghu]

The fan is on not because of the CPU but cause of the chipset and the memory. At least, it is the theory now. There's no temperature sensor on the chipset nor the memory so the temperature you guys looking at is not the temperature that makes the fan turn on.
There is no problem with the fan, because it is required to have it on to cool the chipset/RAM down, because the chipset/RAM runs at 533Mhz for T43 vs 400Mhz for T42. This difference makes the chipset/RAM generate more heat which lead to have the fan always on. It is NOT because of the CPU, because the CPU is the same Dothan as T42 have.

Now, nrj45, fbrdphreak and I are working on changing the FSB speed, thus reducing the heat generated by the CPU, chipset and RAM. We want to reduce the internal clock to 100Mhz or lower, which means to the level of the T42. It will reduce the minimum CPU to 600 for the PM750, FSB and RAM to 400Mhz.

Well, we'll see...

[Greg Gebhardt]

My first two T43's (2687DDU) purchased in April and June of this year were both extremely noisy - the fan had an annoying pitch that I couldn't stand - so I would consider myself very familiar with the T43 fan noise problem.

I then purchased one of the August T43 models, 2686M7U, and I was extremely pleased to find that the fan was QUIET. This is not my imagination and this is not a rumor; I listened to the 2686M7U in a quiet room and the fan noise was only slightly (guessing 10%) louder than my T42 2379DXU. The annoying pitch of my two previous T43's was GONE.

I currently have three new 14" T43's on order, one of which is noted as "new" on thinkpad.com and one of which is a definite August 2005 model from the latest TABOOK.

2686DGU (I might be wrong but I believe this is NOT an August model)
2686M5U (new August model NOT listed in TABOOK)
2686J1U (new August model listed in TABOOK)

the 2686DGU should arrive on Wednesday of next week so I will post my impressions immediately. the other two machines are on order and should arrive within the next 2 weeks.

I just don't see how your fan could be that loud. I have to be in a quiet room to even hear mine. It is hard to believe that there is that much difference between our two models

[fefland]

I know it may be hard to believe how fan noise could be loud and different among models. I can say from experience that I have one fan louder than the other between two 2686-DGU T43's. One you have to listen for it, the other is easy to hear. In addition, the screens look slightly different, keyboard completely different. Even the shades of plastic are slightly different. There are definitely differences due to manufacturing runs using different parts. If I could have added Thinkpad Protection to the original T43 I got, I would have kept that one since the fan was quieter and it seemed to be better built. The second T43 I got had stickers crooked, more bad pixels, and poor (in my mind) keyboard. I can get everything fixed eventually via thinkpad protection so I guess I am covered. If heat is too bad, I will return and order a T42.

[hoya]

I just don't see how your fan could be that loud. I have to be in a quiet room to even hear mine. It is hard to believe that there is that much difference between our two models

I'm 28 years old with exceptional hearing, so that might have something to do with it, but considering how many other posts I've seen regarding the fan noise, it seems reasonable to assume that my sensitivity to noise is by no means extraordinary.

I attended a ThinkPad roadshow this summer and spoke with one of the engineers at length about this issue. He agreed and even commented that he could hear the fan on his machine while he was walking past his desk. His explanation was the obious - the faster FSB - but he also claimed that the spillproof keyboard design could also be a likely culprit since it cuts down on ventilation.

[keku]

Ok ... When I talked about returning 48 T43p to IBM post-sales got really uncomfortable and brought technical guyz into the picture.

They said ... if I want a colder machine goto T42 or T42p. The reason T43 are hot is power as no doubt T43 are faster than any other thinkpad in T series. and this is not just processor which alone can be cool down by fan, T43p uses Express Chipset, which runs faster and can produce more heat. so fan has to work hard.

He also mentioned that it's very doubtful that AUg models are quieter and colder than anyother months model, because there is no difference in Architecture. he accepted that Fan is different but that alone should not make any difference. there is no machanical fan Noise in any model, but when system is hot fan has to cool it down so you will hear wind blowing. which is normal. also there are no heat sensors for chipset, never been there, so it's very unusual that chipset will kick fan, but it could be overall inside heat as RAM and HDD also gets hot.

In all IBM models fan is always on, but in T43 fan runs on little faster speed as heat emission is higher in this model because of faster chipset.

Bottom line ... no major modifcation or no modification to address heating issue in any T43 model (except different fan in faster CPU Models aka Aug models) IBM/Lenovo knew that Thinkpads will be hot with this new chipset, and it's normal from there point of view. Power comes with heat. if you need quiter and colder machine go for less power.

That's all I've right now.

[GeorgeP]

... but he also claimed that the spillproof keyboard design could also be a likely culprit since it cuts down on ventilation.

I wonder if the older keyboards e.g., T42, T41 are "non-spillproof" and if one of those could be installed in a T43...

[HorizontalDropout]

(Since I'm a n00b, I'll try posting this here instead of starting a topic with Post #2)

Planning to buy a T4x, but the T42 selection seems to have seriously dwindled. Is anything still out there besides the 1.6ghz models, the 1.7ghz CTO, and a stray T42p here and there? I'd love to be able to buy a 1.8 or 2.0, 14" SXGA, ATI 9600 T42 if it were possible. I've got an IBM'er friend, so - given the EPP - I'm really only looking at buying direct.