What generates the HEAT in a T43 on the front bottom?

Message

nikemen · #1 Post by **nikemen** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:31 pm

So, I've been trying out a T43 for a few days now, upgrading from a T41, (and just bought ANOTHER one) and I have the FAN under control, use TPFancontrol, but even though it SAYS that the PCI is the heat producer running at 47-51 C, under the TRACKPAD there is a TREMENDOUS amount of heat.

In all the thinkpads that I have used before, I don't recall the HEAT under the TRACKPAD being the issue? Usually, it is the back LEFT corner

Any thoughts, is this the WIFI card, or some ATI Graphics card? This is a model with just the 64MB ATI card installed,

Bluetooth, OFF
WIFI Intel ABG

Nothing really else. 7200 rpm drive, but on the RIGHT side where the drive is there isn't really a lot of heat

Brad · #2 Post by **Brad** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:37 pm

On any T43p that I have used there is no extra heat there. The wifi card is under the palm rest. Also the GPU is just behind it under the keyboard. Check if you have the long fan. Remove the keyboard screws and see if the heat sink is covering the GPU.

Brad

Phazer · #3 Post by **Phazer** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:24 am

I know this is a different series, but I just bought an R40. I hooked it up here at home and couldn't get the battery past 4-5% charged. Could never get it past that and always had steady orange indicator. I didn't think too much about it at the time, just thought it was a bad battery. Had some issues with other items on it and got looking around here and found alot of comments on CD drives not working, (mine would spit out a CRC error with a recorded CD, but worked on a factory CD), and batteries not charging. All my adapters here at home are for T2x series, (56 watt). I took it to work and plugged in the adapter that I have there and soon noticed that the touchpad, and the area around the track-point were warm. Not hot, but enough to make me go, "hhhmmmmm". I pulled the keyboard, and the GPU was the source of heat around the TP and the battery, (terminal end), was the source around the touchpad. I left it charging for about 30 minutes then unplugged it because it was time to go home, (didn't want a fire). Next morning plugged it back in and same thing. But I left it plugged in. Came back later and noticed the battery indicator was now "flashing" green, thought, "woo hoo". A short time later, I happened to feel the keyboard and touchpad and it was cool to the touch. I checked that power adapter it was the only 72w that I own. Where I'm heading with all this is, I wonder if the lower wattage adapters where part of the original problem with the charging and CD problems and the correct charger was pumping out full wattage to charge the battery and just made some things warmer until it got up to the proper charge capacity. Are you using the proper wattage adapter? Just a thought.....

zern · #4 Post by **zern** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:51 am

You are right, HUGE amounts of heat off the front bottom under the trackpad of my T43.

It runs fine for days on end, no issues. Just this incredible amount of heat.

Weird.

DarkMark · #5 Post by **DarkMark** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:12 am

My T43p also suffers from that heat, I only noticed it when I got my cpu and gpu under control.

I blame the wificard, because it is way cooler when wifi is of or only very low traffic. When downloading large files it can be a difference of arount 5 degrees.

I was thinking of a custom cooler for my wifi card already.

The next time I have the notebook open I'll check to see if there ary any other chips nearby.

nikemen · #6 Post by **nikemen** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:02 pm

Could I maybe swap out the WIFI card?

zern · #7 Post by **zern** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:31 pm

Or not worry about it too much if all is working well?

I try and make sure there is airflow under the case - ie not sitting it on the sofa, carpet or bed.

I have a fan on my desk and I make sure some of the airflow goes across the TP when it is in use.

nikemen · #8 Post by **nikemen** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:25 pm

I could do that, but I gotta tell you I put the thing in my lap sometimes. Ouch!

SHoTTa35 · #9 Post by **SHoTTa35** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:53 pm

i'm guessing you have the Atheros card instead of the Intel ones? Those generate a lot more heat but that's because they use more power to get you stronger signals. I don't need to worry about that as i get strong wifi at home all over the house so i rather using my intel ones which uses less power too.

#10 Post by **richk** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:55 pm

What model? The Intel graphics motherboard (18xx) is entirely different from ATi (2xxx).

nikemen · #11 Post by **nikemen** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:10 pm

SHoTTa35 wrote:i'm guessing you have the Atheros card instead of the Intel ones? Those generate a lot more heat but that's because they use more power to get you stronger signals. I don't need to worry about that as i get strong wifi at home all over the house so i rather using my intel ones which uses less power too.

I think this one is the intel WIFI ABG card

DarkMark · #12 Post by **DarkMark** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:38 pm

I just changed my mind on what generates the heat:

The last few hours I've been using it with wifi switched off, and there is still a really hot spot under the touchpad. Hotter than any othe spot under the machine.

This Picture (Warning: Picture) indicates that it is the southbridge, maybe together with the gpu, producing the heat.

nikemen · #13 Post by **nikemen** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:11 pm

so, is that the WLAN card? Can I swap it out with the ATHEROS CARD?

aaa · #14 Post by **aaa** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:25 pm

I think the Atheros card is actually hotter... by two degrees if I recall correctly.

nikemen · #15 Post by **nikemen** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:41 pm

Hmm, I think I have the Atheros/IBM in my T41, and it doesn't get this hot.

aaa · #16 Post by **aaa** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:47 pm

Well I was talking about 44c vs 42c.

What generates the HEAT in a T43 on the front bottom?

What generates the HEAT in a T43 on the front bottom?

swap

could

intel

so

hmm

Who is online