Just recieved my brand new T41p, awesome!

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Lmax · #1 Post by **Lmax** » Fri May 21, 2004 11:44 am

Hi all, just wanted everyone to know I am just now the proud owner of a new ThinkPad T41p 2373GEU. I really like it and it has a perfect screen and silent hard drive. Access Connections already found my home network and I am typing this post on it right now.

What another fine peice of engineering.

Only one thing makes me wonder. Everytime I click and a noise sounds like in IE the little tic sound, I hear it but then following that about a second later I hear a very quiet brushing sortof noise. It happens after any sound plays, is there any solution to this, is it a power management thing?

Thanks,
Max

mark · #2 Post by **mark** » Fri May 21, 2004 11:53 am

L -

I had the same noise on 2 different t41s - it was so bothersome that I returned them. I spoke to IBM repair people who said that the noise was clearly not normal and advised returning them.

Lmax · #3 Post by **Lmax** » Fri May 21, 2004 11:56 am

Well, we may not be talking about the same thing. The noise is so faint I can barely hear it and sometimes it doesn't do it, just now. I don't think it warrents a return because it isn't all that bad. Besides I thought I had read somewhere on here that people had fixed it in power management or something. Anyone?

Max

mark · #4 Post by **mark** » Fri May 21, 2004 1:09 pm

I remember the noise coming from the left side near the hinge - I guess the speaker. I tried the USB root fix but that didn't do it. When I disabled the speakers or plugged in headphones the noise wasn't there - so I think it was some interference to do with the speakers.

In an office or room with ambient noise it wasn't that noticeable - but if I was using the t41 in a quiet room it was pretty clear. It only happened after, as you say, you click on something and then a second later this "brushing" noise came from the left side of the computer.

Glad you can live with it.

M

nikemen · #5 Post by **nikemen** » Fri May 21, 2004 1:38 pm

to simply disable the "allow the computer to manage or shutdown power" on tnis device, on ALL FOUR of the listed USB devices?

If so, won't this suck more power in all modes?

Lmax · #6 Post by **Lmax** » Fri May 21, 2004 3:25 pm

FWIW, I usually disable the audio on my laptops because I don't have anything to listen to and I work in places where sound would disturb those around me. So it doesn't matter all that much to me as long as I cannot hear it in the headphones. Nevertheless I did notice it but then again there is no way I would return this perfect machine just because of that.

Mark I guess we are just made different. I guess some are just more sensitive to these sort of things than I am.

I am a very happy man

Max

james32904 · #7 Post by **james32904** » Fri May 21, 2004 5:50 pm

I had the same sound noise problem with a T41 (non p). On ly when volume was set to max. If you back off volume two notches it goes away. It's some kind of circuit noise being picked up by the speaker amplifier at max volume. Doesn't appear on headphone output. I sent the laptop back for a refund, there was also another issue with weird sounding surging noise in fan. I thought both issues would have been resolved in the T41p. There was a long thread on this issue started by me several weeks ago but it seems to have disappeared from the forum. It was claimed that playing with power management or disabling the microphone input would make it go away, but this did not help in my case. I was thinking of getting a T41p with my refund as soon as it was posted, but since it seems to have the same problem I'm not sure now. My expectations of a $3K laptop are pretty high I guess.

JaimitoBond · #8 Post by **JaimitoBond** » Fri May 21, 2004 8:15 pm

Lmax wrote:FWIW, I usually disable the audio on my laptops because I don't have anything to listen to and I work in places where sound would disturb those around me. So it doesn't matter all that much to me as long as I cannot hear it in the headphones. Nevertheless I did notice it but then again there is no way I would return this perfect machine just because of that.

Mark I guess we are just made different. I guess some are just more sensitive to these sort of things than I am.

I am a very happy man

Max

Max, I don't usually hear the same stuff as you, on my T41p. As for the noise at max volume in the above post, you can elimnate it in the audio settings. Set the mic and line-in at one notch above 0, do NOT select mute. This will get rid of any feedback or "frying pan" noise when the volume is set to max.

Happy to hear that you got what you expected. I had mine since Dec, and have been extremely satisfied with it. I expect to keep it for many years to come.

Lmax · #9 Post by **Lmax** » Fri May 21, 2004 11:36 pm

james32904 wrote:I had the same sound noise problem with a T41 (non p). On ly when volume was set to max. If you back off volume two notches it goes away. It's some kind of circuit noise being picked up by the speaker amplifier at max volume. Doesn't appear on headphone output. I sent the laptop back for a refund, there was also another issue with weird sounding surging noise in fan. I thought both issues would have been resolved in the T41p. There was a long thread on this issue started by me several weeks ago but it seems to have disappeared from the forum. It was claimed that playing with power management or disabling the microphone input would make it go away, but this did not help in my case. I was thinking of getting a T41p with my refund as soon as it was posted, but since it seems to have the same problem I'm not sure now. My expectations of a $3K laptop are pretty high I guess.

james32904, do not get me wrong the T41p is perfect and in fact the noise has just gone away for the most part thanks to JaimitoBond, it is pretty much inperceptable, not a problem at all! The computer really is fantastic and I would be the first to reccommend you get one ASAP as they are on a great sale right now. There is no fan noise, there is no USB buzz, there is no humming/vibrating hard drive. The machine is quite simply silent at arms length. It also runs quite cool compared to older laptops, it is warm, but not by any means hot. You can run it on your lap for hours without discomfort and the whole thing is beautiful.

BTW, I just upgraded my memory (had it only 8 hours now, hahaha) to 1024. It runs faster than my desktop which is a P4 HT 3 GHz! The FireGL T2 vid card is a wonder and performs like a jewl (this was a critical feature for me as I need accurate graphics to render my openGL apps). The T42 may be the new thing on the horizon but for most like me we don't really need any faster processor than a 1.7 GHz Banais. I mean the T41p's processor coupled with the FireGL T2 and the 1024 ram (512 just upgraded to 1024) make my system faster than a majority of the new T42s right out of the box. Plus it has bluetooth, a/b/g and a host of other things included, something not all T42s have and finding that exact configuration will be much more expensive on the new models which is one of the reasons I decided to setting on the T41p.

What a great ThinkPad, my favorite I have ever owned. I plan to use it rigorously for the next 5 years and I feel it will stand the test of time.

To all, does anyone know of a good travel size bluetooth wireless mouse that I can use with my T41p's on-board bluetooth without needing one of those annoying little USB wireless mouse antenna ones?

Max

JeffNT326 · #10 Post by **JeffNT326** » Sat May 22, 2004 12:02 am

Glad to hear that you enjoy your T41p...I can't wait to get one...

As for a portable bt mouse, the only one that I know of is the one made by Thermaltake. http://www.thermaltake.com/keyboardMous ... tmouse.htm

Another similar rebranded Thermaltake is the BlueTake mouse. http://www.bluetake.com/Products/BT500.htm

Have fun !

JaimitoBond · #11 Post by **JaimitoBond** » Sat May 22, 2004 2:41 am

Lmax wrote:
To all, does anyone know of a good travel size bluetooth wireless mouse that I can use with my T41p's on-board bluetooth without needing one of those annoying little USB wireless mouse antenna ones?

Max

I got a the Microsoft BT mouse and keyboard last week. The mouse worked fine with T41p. It's not a travel size, so I just leave it on the desk at work. When I turn on the TP, the mouse will work once you're at the log-in screen. To activate the link, you just have to click the mouse. I only use the KB with my desktop, so I can't comment about it with the TP.

akerman · #12 Post by **akerman** » Sat May 22, 2004 4:02 am

Can you really feel the 512->1024mb difference?

I don't have that IE noise. But I do have several other noises that come on sometimes. And then there is the harddrive humming noise + click click noise. Really annoying... it must be a defect - I had my computer download some stuff while I was sleeping last night - and I could easily hear the HD from 10 metres away. The microphone does not pick up the sound however, if I try to record it - weird!

Btw - I want a small BT mouse too

Problem is, I can't find the bluetake/thermaltake one in red/black, which would go perfectly with the black design of the thinkpad. I also know that there are some EPoX black bluetooth mice on ebay - but I think they are cheap copies from some weird country, as they are not featured on EPoX's site....

Lmax · #13 Post by **Lmax** » Sat May 22, 2004 12:58 pm

akerman wrote:Can you really feel the 512->1024mb difference?

I don't have that IE noise. But I do have several other noises that come on sometimes. And then there is the harddrive humming noise + click click noise. Really annoying... it must be a defect - I had my computer download some stuff while I was sleeping last night - and I could easily hear the HD from 10 metres away. The microphone does not pick up the sound however, if I try to record it - weird!

Btw - I want a small BT mouse too Problem is, I can't find the bluetake/thermaltake one in red/black, which would go perfectly with the black design of the thinkpad. I also know that there are some EPoX black bluetooth mice on ebay - but I think they are cheap copies from some weird country, as they are not featured on EPoX's site....

Exactly, I was looking for a black and red one to match. IBM needs to make one, come on guys. They give you all this great built in bluetooth yet they don't make any devices to use it.

Does the 1024 make a difference? I can see a difference because it isn't accessing the hard drive as much after I initially load my programs, of course. The whole machine runs smoother.

Akerman, one thing that disturbs me is your hard drive noise you hear. I am wondering what exactly it sounds like for you. I *think* mine is very quiet, it isn't silent but I don't hear a clicking noise. It just sounds like another little fan running all the time, kinda mute though. If yours vibrates at all something is wrong because mine is as steady as a rock even when it is working hard opening a big file. One thing that does bug me is the Active HD protection, it keeps comming on over and over, I think I will turn it off.

Max

Lmax · #14 Post by **Lmax** » Sat May 22, 2004 1:15 pm

Ok, just downloaded version 1.22 of Active Protection software driver. It let me set the protection to the middle sensitivity. Much, MUCH better, no more overly sensitive system, now I can type in my lap with confidence without it going off every few seconds. That was getting really annoying.

Max

akerman · #15 Post by **akerman** » Sat May 22, 2004 2:41 pm

Lmax wrote:Ok, just downloaded version 1.22 of Active Protection software driver. It let me set the protection to the middle sensitivity. Much, MUCH better, no more overly sensitive system, now I can type in my lap with confidence without it going off every few seconds. That was getting really annoying.

Max

Congratulations

The harddisk does sound a little like a miniscule fan - albeit a fan that runs very quick, because it's kind of a highpitched, even sound. I'ts not like the computer is shaking visibly, but I can feel it in my hand ,when I'm typing. Also I had it on the (wooden) floor of my bathroom the other day (don't ask me why!) and the vibration somehow made the whole room give out a very audible brurururuurur!

I will send it in for maintenance soon though, I hope they take care of the harddrive - does anybody know, if I should backup the entire harddrive first - or will IBM give me a chance to do that, if they are going to replace it? Because backing up would take quite a while for me, and I'd have to part with some data (running out of space on my desktop!).

JHEM · #16 Post by **JHEM** » Sat May 22, 2004 2:51 pm

akerman wrote:does anybody know, if I should backup the entire harddrive first - or will IBM give me a chance to do that, if they are going to replace it?

Your "chance" is the period BEFORE you send the HD or Thinkpad in for service.

Back up all of your personal files. If IBM changes the HD they'll recover the OS from CDs, but you'll be responsible for reinstalling all of your personal apps.

Regards,

James

Lmax · #17 Post by **Lmax** » Sat May 22, 2004 3:10 pm

Well, if you can feel it even just a little in your hand then something is certainly not correct. I feel absolutely nothing, no difference between the right palm rest and the solid table it is sitting on (or the left palm rest for that matter). Also when I am on batt power I really can't even hear the HD making a fan like noise. This is overall the quietest laptop I have ever used. The only audiable noise I heard last night while testing my batteries was when the fan would surge like once and hour or so when it was first comming on for a few minutes, but once it was on for those few minutes it was silent too.

FYI, I also fixed the brushing noise heard after each played sound by setting every volume control up one notch and leaving the main volume just below max. Speakers sound just fine.

The hard drive is very fast and makes the computer notably faster than my friends T41. I would send yours in and have it checked out. You should copy an image of your hard disk before you send it in as well because I wouldn't take a chance even with IBM. If you care for the data that is on your disk (which most people do) I would certainly take every measure to back it up before giving it over to somone else especially through shipping it to a remote location. IBM may say they will give you the chance to do this but they may not actually do that when it comes time for them to.

Also, there was another thread on this forum shown here...
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=244
They begin to discuss 60GB 7200rpm hard drives that vibrate and make noises and what you should do about it. I think you should take it up with Hitachi not IBM, as it is their defective drives.

Max

JHEM · #18 Post by **JHEM** » Sat May 22, 2004 3:26 pm

Lmax wrote:I think you should take it up with Hitachi not IBM, as it is their defective drives.

Don't bother contacting Hitachi about the HD unless it was a retail purchase.

If it came with your machine, contact IBM about it and let them take care of it. These are OEM HDs and don't normally carry a separate warranty from Hitachi.

Regards,

James

pennster · #19 Post by **pennster** » Sun May 23, 2004 2:31 pm

This is still about HD. After using light-weight application for over one hour, I could feel the right palm rest becomes warm. Not sure that someone is still feeling cold at least save level as left palm rest. But after testing the HD with PCdoctor HD burnin tool (about one hour), it became very hot (about 93"F degree). Is it normal for this kind of HD intense test?

akerman · #20 Post by **akerman** » Sun May 23, 2004 3:10 pm

pennster wrote:This is still about HD. After using light-weight application for over one hour, I could feel the right palm rest becomes warm. Not sure that someone is still feeling cold at least save level as left palm rest. But after testing the HD with PCdoctor HD burnin tool (about one hour), it became very hot (about 93"F degree). Is it normal for this kind of HD intense test?

How much is 93 fahrenheit in celsius? If it's below 50 degrees I wouldn't worry.
Try this util:
http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValle ... mm0310.zip
And see how warm it gets.. it should be between 32 and 40 degrees celsius (or -241.15 to -233.15 degrees Kelvin

for everyday use.

pennster · #21 Post by **pennster** » Sun May 23, 2004 3:51 pm

akerman. thanks for your tool. I ran the pc doctor hard drive test again. The HD temprature reached as high as 48'c degree during the test. I think I will return this pc to IBM. Has anyone done this test in this forum? Thanks for your input.

JaimitoBond · #22 Post by **JaimitoBond** » Sun May 23, 2004 10:08 pm

pennster wrote:akerman. thanks for your tool. I ran the pc doctor hard drive test again. The HD temprature reached as high as 48'c degree during the test. I think I will return this pc to IBM. Has anyone done this test in this forum? Thanks for your input.

http://www.aichi.to/~thinkpad/tpt41/

this site shows the temp on the palm rest, as well as the fan exhausts.

Just recieved my brand new T41p, awesome!

Just recieved my brand new T41p, awesome!

same noise, returned machine

coming from left side

Is the USB root fix

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