new fan - periodic noise - way toooo annoying

Message

leowiz · #1 Post by **leowiz** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:33 am

Mood: So frustrated , I feel like smashing my thinkpad on IBM/Lenovo's engineers.

My thinkpad is about 1.5 years old. Since last two months, once in a while the fan would make an annoying noise (sort of vibrating noise). I am writing my phd thesis and one night it began and went on for the whole day. I JUST COULD NOT WRITE. Also, the fan is on all the time and its always hot (always above 53C - I checked with TPfancontrol).

I decided to call Lenovo and finally got a new fan (went to a local business partner).

Now I have a new fan and it is crazy annoying. The vibrating noise is gone but it makes a buzzing sound all the time and the sound peaks at regular intervals. I have to be in a noisy place to not notice it. One month left for my thesis deadline and I am frustrated as hell. Could someone please help me here.

Thanks a ton.

I am never buying a thinkpad again.

t43, 1.86. 1.5Gb RAM, 15" screen, ATI radeon 300X, ...

#2 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:21 am

I am assuming that you are already running in a low-power mode (max battery or similar) to reduce power consumption. If not, there is the first step.

Are you running NHC or RMClock to reduce the CPU voltage (and thus reduce the heat and the need for running the fan)? If you are not, you definitely should be.

leowiz · #3 Post by **leowiz** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:30 am

I am using RMclock / NHC / TPfancontrol ... I find RMclock a bit annoying since it does not let me change profiles that easily for some reason. NHC is GREAT but then TPfancontrol does not work ...

But even then, when i am running on 800MHz (8V), and it only takes 3 minutes for the temperature to go above 55 and the fan comes on (thats how i have set it).

How do I solve the issue of the periodic high pitch buzz ... Should I send the laptop for servicing. I have 3 years warranty on it. What hurts me most is my friends who bought a Dell at half the price and havent had a single problem yet

Someone help me - I want to graduate thi semester and I need the loptop to shut up and let me work.

FTC · #4 Post by **FTC** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:01 am

leowiz,

Definetly not normal. A dothan running at 800Mhz and basically idle (word processor or so) should not reach 55C. Not at all, and more over, being undervolted, unless your ambient temp is 45C or so... Besides, the fan noise should be almost unnoticeable, so you have two problems here.

For the temperature problem, I would dismount the heatsink/fan and reapply some thermal compound there.. and for the fan noise, this will most likely be fixed by oiling it a bit... see this thread :

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ght=oiling

leowiz · #5 Post by **leowiz** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:34 am

FTC wrote:leowiz,

Definetly not normal. A dothan running at 800Mhz and basically idle (word processor or so) should not reach 55C. Not at all, and more over, being undervolted, unless your ambient temp is 45C or so... Besides, the fan noise should be almost unnoticeable, so you have two problems here.

For the temperature problem, I would dismount the heatsink/fan and reapply some thermal compound there.. and for the fan noise, this will most likely be fixed by oiling it a bit... see this thread :

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ght=oiling

If you are telling me that a brand new fan (one week old) should require oiling, then I will have to say there is something wrong with IBM. My old fan did not have this humming sound problem and no pulsing sound problem. It was basically making a vibration noise which i guess may have been solved by oiling. But then again, the fan was always on and I guess it was overheating all the time.

But now, I have this annoying noise 100% of the time.

leowiz · #6 Post by **leowiz** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:38 am

CPU 51°C (0x78)
APS 50°C (0x79)
PCM 36°C (0x7a)
GPU 55°C (0x7b)
BAT 36°C (0x7c)
BAT 33°C (0x7e)
BUS 49°C (0xc0)
PCI 55°C (0xc1)
PWR 48°C (0xc2)

This is the current temperature. The fan has been on for quite some time now.

FTC · #7 Post by **FTC** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:06 am

Leowiz,

You are right. A new fan should not need oiling... if it is effectively new, so if it is humming then it is either because it is not effectively new, because it is running off-centered, or because it is defective in some other way. I can not guess from here which is the cause and why... but in any case this will only be fixed by oiling, remounting it properly or just changing the fan.

I see in your posted temps that the CPU is running at 51C. This is more reasonable. Only your GPU is running 55C and this is the temp that is driving the FAN on. So if you rather want to try to silent the fan by making it not run that much, You can always underclock the GPU through NHC or similar (look for 'Graphic' settings). and / or using fan control or NHC with the proper ACPI module, set it to start to 60C...

leowiz · #8 Post by **leowiz** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:05 am

While I am still going to rant about the pulsing fan, this is what I did:

Underclocked graphics to run at 50/50 MHz. The temperatures were low. But tpfancontrol would crash every then and now and the fan would not work and gradually the thing would heat up. I have to constantly check to see if fan control has crashed or not.

Is there a way to underclock graphics with RMclock since RMclock does not interfere with tpfancontrol.

Secondly, should I send the laptop to IBM for the pulsing fan problem ?

Thanks everyone.

eTools · #9 Post by **eTools** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:53 pm

My fan pulsates too, but I'd forgotten about it before I read this topic.

.

If the fan starts irritating me, I will turn it off with TPfancontrol. Sometimes I can go 30 minutes before the temperature rises above 50'C. Don't forget to turn it back on though! I started gaming with it turned off once and the GPU was over 80'C. :-S

If it starts getting to hot (customize the colors to tell you), then turn the fan on level 3. I find that it is harder to notice the pulsating at this level.

I really don't like the fan problems, but I have learned to deal with them.

pianowizard · #10 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:28 pm

leowiz wrote:Secondly, should I send the laptop to IBM for the pulsing fan problem ?

The T43 is notorious for having fan noise issues, which both IBM and Lenovo have denied to be a defect, so sending it back may not help at all. Also, you said you have only one month left to finish your thesis? I wrote a PhD thesis before and during the last month you really don't want to waste any time. Shipping the laptop to Lenovo and waiting for it to be returned to you would be a waste of time. Try a temporary solution instead, such as borrowing a friend's computer or put on some background music so you don't hear the fan.

leowiz · #11 Post by **leowiz** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:04 am

Well ofcourse I am not planning to send my laptop back in the next one month. But my maiin problem is, this pulsing problem was not there earlier. Which basically means the new fan that I have is defective. Even for once i decide to live with the fan being loud, but how can anywork work with the annoying high-pitched pulsing noise. Trust me, if I am sitting in my room and I walk 15 feet away from my laptop, I can still hear it.

The fan noise comes from the sides. But this pilsing noise comes straight out of the left side of the keyboard. I have tried but I can not not notice it. underclocking CPU has helped a little bit but since I can not use tpfancontrol with nhc, I am using RMclock. But then, I cam not able to underclock GPU which seems to be the main problem here. I tried ATItools and my computer kept crashing.

I am certainly going to talk to IBM/lenovo about my new fan. But for now, I need to somehow keep my cool and spend ths one month.

Thanks for the help guys.

Senser · #12 Post by **Senser** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:47 am

I'm also experiencing the same problems; irritating buzzing noise when fan is on, and fan makes alot of noise once the machine reaches a certain temperature.

I've contacted Lenovo and sent my T43 for repair. They've replaced the fan and systemboard. The fan noise is now a bit less, it turns on later and also makes less noise, sadly the irritating buzzing noise remains.

I'm already running RMClock, I'm considering applying thermal grease but I hope this won't void my warrenty.

I think I'll contact Lenovo again..

leowiz · #13 Post by **leowiz** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:53 am

Senser wrote:I'm also experiencing the same problems; irritating buzzing noise when fan is on, and fan makes alot of noise once the machine reaches a certain temperature.

I've contacted Lenovo and sent my T43 for repair. They've replaced the fan and systemboard. The fan noise is now a bit less, it turns on later and also makes less noise, sadly the irritating buzzing noise remains.

I'm already running RMClock, I'm considering applying thermal grease but I hope this won't void my warrenty.

I think I'll contact Lenovo again..

Could you please tell me how old your system was when you sent it for fan replacement. Also, how easy was it to convince them ?

Senser · #14 Post by **Senser** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:37 am

@leowiz,

My T43 is about 8 months old.

There was no need to convince them, Lenovo support said that fan noise was no known issue to them. So it was me that needed to be convinced sending in my T43 for a repair, because I could not believe they were able to resolve the issue completely (and it looks like I'm right, although it's a bit better now).

I'm going to try NHC together with applying thermal grease. Anyone who can tell applying thermal grease will void warrenty?

Btw, good luck writing your thesis in that really annoying noise, I know exactly what you mean, unfortunately.

FTC · #15 Post by **FTC** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:49 am

Hi,

There is an ACPI module for T43 for NHC, so that you can install it and play with the fan control / temps not needing then to use TPFANCONTROL. I played with it a bit a few weeks ago, but since my systems do not have a problem with the Fan, I am not using it now. Maybe this helps... Look into the NHC forums for it (pointer in the main NHC web page).

leowiz · #16 Post by **leowiz** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:01 pm

FTC wrote:Hi,

There is an ACPI module for T43 for NHC, so that you can install it and play with the fan control / temps not needing then to use TPFANCONTROL. I played with it a bit a few weeks ago, but since my systems do not have a problem with the Fan, I am not using it now. Maybe this helps... Look into the NHC forums for it (pointer in the main NHC web page).

It does not seem to work for me. I downloaded the files and copied them to the ACPI folder in nhc. Then I restart my nhc, but it says ACPi not configured for this system. I have already installed the core duo patch. I also tried to open the .cs file and tried changing the name of the class and all, but it still did not work.

Any ideas whats wrong here ?

#17 Post by **K. Eng** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:14 am

I tried for years to eliminate the pulsing noise from my old T40, and I was never able to do so. Between that and the yearly system board failures, I am loathe to recommend a T4x to anyone.

My advice is to put the T4x away, and use another computer to finish your work. It's not worth spending the time agonizing over the problem.

leowiz · #18 Post by **leowiz** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:44 pm

Thanks everyone for all the help. I mm somehow going to let this month pass and then decide to maybe get a another fan. I shouldnt have gone for the new fan at the first place, but, o well.

I am not going to recommend ibm laptops to anyone either.

pianowizard · #19 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:31 pm

leowiz wrote:I am not going to recommend ibm laptops to anyone either.

I wouldn't generalize in this manner. Every brand has made some good and some bad models, and the T43 happens to be one of IBM's least successful creations.

When shopping for a laptop, I think it's better to look up reviews for specific models rather than comparing brands. For example, despite Dell's not-so-good reputation, they have made some fantastic models, like the Inspiron 700m, which I used for two years (unusually long for me) and preferred to most of the 22 Thinkpads I've owned.

#20 Post by **tomh009** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:44 pm

K. Eng wrote:I tried for years to eliminate the pulsing noise from my old T40, and I was never able to do so. Between that and the yearly system board failures, I am loathe to recommend a T4x to anyone.

But not all T40s suffer from the fan noise, either -- do they? With T60s, the noise levels seem to correlate to some extent with the graphics option. Does the same hold true for the T4 series?

troubadix · #21 Post by **troubadix** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:28 pm

leowiz wrote: NHC is GREAT but then TPfancontrol does not work ....

nhc has no probs with tpfancontrol running as service (s. signature) & v.v.

leowiz · #22 Post by **leowiz** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:21 pm

troubadix wrote:
leowiz wrote: NHC is GREAT but then TPfancontrol does not work ....
nhc has no probs with tpfancontrol running as service (s. signature) & v.v.

This is amazing. "troubadix", you are a saviour. My NHC works with tpfancontrol now. This means I can control the GPU while I run tpfancontrol.

My PCI shows the highest temp now. The GPU is still at 51 after 10 mins. This is amazing.

Thanks a ton.

leowiz · #23 Post by **leowiz** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:48 pm

This is amazing. The fan has been off for about 30 mins now. I have firefox, MS word and powerpoint and Acrobat reader open. Everything is still under 55 and I am totally delighted.

CPU 49°C (0x78)
APS 50°C (0x79)
PCM 40°C (0x7a)
GPU 53°C (0x7b)
BAT 36°C (0x7c)
BAT 28°C (0x7e)
BUS 48°C (0xc0)
PCI 50°C (0xc1)
PWR 52°C (0xc2)

Thanks a lot !!! (You have no idea how relieved I feel)

pianowizard · #24 Post by **pianowizard** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:51 pm

Thanks for the good news! What settings did you change?

leowiz · #25 Post by **leowiz** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:57 pm

pianowizard wrote:Thanks for the good news! What settings did you change?

I set it to dynamic switching.
Battery optimized
CPU - 6x and 0.812v (I have no idea what these numbers mean)
GPU - powerplay (it howers at 120MHz/120MHz)
I did not try underclocking the GPU (my PC crashes if I do so)
Fan control: 50-0, 55-1, .....65-5, 70-BIOS

My fan just came on for 5 mins at speed 01. The buzzing and pulsing noise is still there but less noticeable at 01 speed (I am sure it will be annoying at night when its silent).

But for now, I am a happy camper

thinkpad4ever · #26 Post by **thinkpad4ever** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:18 pm

I am not going to recommend ibm laptops to anyone either.[/quote]
you still don't want to recommend ibm laptops to anyone?

leowiz · #27 Post by **leowiz** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:07 pm

thinkpad4ever wrote:I am not going to recommend ibm laptops to anyone either.

you still don't want to recommend ibm laptops to anyone?

[/quote]

Unfortunately, this is still my stand. I am not going to recommend Thinkpads to anyone. Although I have my fan off for half the time now, but then I am sacrificing speed and also the constant need for changing the settings. And the fan noise is still UNBEARABLE.

gunston · #28 Post by **gunston** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:54 pm

agreed

Senser · #29 Post by **Senser** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:44 pm

leowiz wrote:
thinkpad4ever wrote:I am not going to recommend ibm laptops to anyone either.
you still don't want to recommend ibm laptops to anyone?

Unfortunately, this is still my stand. I am not going to recommend Thinkpads to anyone. Although I have my fan off for half the time now, but then I am sacrificing speed and also the constant need for changing the settings. And the fan noise is still UNBEARABLE.

[/quote]

Could not agree more, not recommending the T43 series to anyone (cannot jugde other types though).

I'm disappointed in the T43. I've sent my T43 back the second time. The first time they replaced the motherboard + fan, this time they claim the fainnoise is normal behaviour. Fan noise wasn't that different the first time I sent in my laptop.

kid8 · #30 Post by **kid8** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:00 pm

That sucks to hear man. On a side note, in tpfancontrol, what does aps measure? thanks

new fan - periodic noise - way toooo annoying

new fan - periodic noise - way toooo annoying

THANK YOU troubadix

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