Thinkpad Fan Noise Problem: Light at the End of the Tunnel

[emaijala]

@GeorgeP: until now you had to start Markus' version with autostart or the taskscheduler. With Eres version you can start the fan-tool as a running service. For this you have to run the fantool_service.exe with the parameter -i once. After that fantool is installed as service.

Thanks, but I'm still unclear on the advantage to running as a service vs autostart.

G

Running as service:
- does not require the user to have admin privileges (only needed during installation)
- starts up before the user has logged in
- hassle free
- doesn't exit if user logs off

In addition my version uses a different way to read the temperatures avoiding problems with getting readings and has a couple of bug fixes too.

--Ere

[GeorgeP]

Thanks, I wasn't familiar with the concept of services, I see the advantages.

I installed as a service. It seems to work really well!. I haven't gotten any "Can't read status warnings". I also like the fact that as a service, if it fails it will be automatically restarted.

Should the icon still be visible in the systray? Mine is not.

Thanks,
G

[chrisaix]

Many Thanks - now the solution I searched for is available!

Thanks, but I'm still unclear on the advantage to running as a service vs autostart.

G

Running as service:
- does not require the user to have admin privileges (only needed during installation)
- starts up before the user has logged in
- hassle free
- doesn't exit if user logs off

In addition my version uses a different way to read the temperatures avoiding problems with getting readings and has a couple of bug fixes too.

--Ere

Yepp - now it works - it's the solution I searched for (a couple of weeks now)!

- uasage without admin privilleges
- works when no one is logged in
- icon in the systray - changes can be done from admins and non-admins

Installation summary:
Do the following with admin permission - after re-start no admin permission are needed for this issue any more.

(1) Download and extract http://www.kolumbus.fi/emaijala/fancontrol_service.zip

(2) copy winio.dll and winio.sys to the new directory
(I've taken the latest versions from http://www.internals.com, the compiled files are in folder Release within the zip file)

(3) execute fancontrol_service.exe -i (fancontrol_service.exe /? shows the help) from the command line

(4) My changes in the fancontrol.ini:
DisableClose=1
StartMinimized=0
FanBeep=1200 30

Level=45 0
Level=50 1
Level=52 2
Level=58 4
Level=60 7
Level=70 128

(5) restart Windows

---
Alternatives I tried out:

I tried it with RunAsSvc (http://www.pirmasoft.com/runassvc.php) which seems to work - but without icon in the systray - so there was no control while it is running.

Another alternative was MachMichAdmin - but this needed to type in the Admin's password all the time when starting manually
---

Question: emaijala - Do you maintain this in the future or will your release now merged into the 'offical' release?


Many Thanks

Chris

[GeorgeP]

@chrisaix: Thanks for the installation summary. I now have the icon in the systray. Earlier, I installed using SC.exe. It installed the service, but the icon was not in the tray. (the only way I could tell it was running was by viewing it in Contro Panel>Admin Tools>Services)

@emaijala: Many thanks for your service version. This runs great! Very reliable. I've had no warnings, errors, nor terminations since I've been running it.

G

[Andrey.S]

Monitoring Fan Control temperature readings I noted that GPU temperature is always higher then CPU one. After turning on cooled laptop GPU warms up for about 15-20 minutes, then reaches threshold level of temperature to start and keeps running even no application are running. So the main problem of noise in my case is GPU. Has anybody any idea is it normal for GPU to reach 54-55 centigrade while laptop is idle. Is any solution to sink GPU temperature to 45?
I am running ThinkPad R51 1829-9MG, Radeon 9000.

[namezk]

I think that's the case with all of them, the GPU is almost always hotter.
The way around this is to underclock the GPU, I do this using the ATItool and it works great!

Monitoring Fan Control temperature readings I noted that GPU temperature is always higher then CPU one. After turning on cooled laptop GPU warms up for about 15-20 minutes, then reaches threshold level of temperature to start and keeps running even no application are running. So the main problem of noise in my case is GPU. Has anybody any idea is it normal for GPU to reach 54-55 centigrade while laptop is idle. Is any solution to sink GPU temperature to 45?
I am running ThinkPad R51 1829-9MG, Radeon 9000.

[rcrooks]

Thanks for this utility, I skimmed through alot of these posts, it was kinda hard to read 14 pages.

Basically I just changed my voltages, and have tested at 6x and 14x with prime95...

At 6x 800 mhz I run the CPU at 43C
At 14x 1.68 ghz I run the cpu at 56C

This is with default fan settings and on AC power. I also havent cracked this baby open and arctic silver'ed it yet.

I assume running off the battery will raise the core temps by a couple degrees since draining a battery is an exothermic reaction, but I have it set up to force it to run at 800 mhz on battery, so it shouldnt get over 43 degrees unless the heat of the battery discharging affects the system.

My goal is max battery life, but not allowing the the computer to get too ridiculously hot. I was curious if anyone ran some tests and developed some type of battery drain vs. fan speed vs. cooling ability. Ill go back over this thread one more time, but I dont remember seeing anything like this when I went through the thread.

[Nick Y]

Many Thanks - now the solution I searched for is available! ....

Thanks for posting the Installation Summary -helped me a lot.

One thing I have noticed, although maybe too early to say... I am running NHC (1.10 beta 01) and there does not appear to be any clash between the temp reading of NHC, which I have now enabled, and Fan_Control_Service. (Slight differences in temp reading, but no problem; who is to say which one is correct?)

Nick

[Chrispy]

I think that's the case with all of them, the GPU is almost always hotter.
The way around this is to underclock the GPU, I do this using the ATItool and it works great!

Is your computer more quiet now with the GPU underclocked?

[alins]

I think that's the case with all of them, the GPU is almost always hotter. The way around this is to underclock the GPU, I do this using the ATItool and it works great!

Can you please elaborate more on this? Thanks!

[dorin]

hi guys,

did anybody manage to solve the acpiec issue? (the lost of errors in win event viewr, hdd not spinning down anymore- all seems to be cause by winio)

thanks,

dorin

[namezk]

for the guys who asked about under-clocking the GPU, yes, the computer is cooler overall, the fan comes on much less frequently, and the battery lasts a bit longer (have not measured it exactly).

here is the tool.

it is used to over and under clock ATI cards, so be attentive when using it. my settings are 70MHz for the core and the memory.

I'll be happy to answer anymore questions.

[nmuntz]

I'm on day 2 with my T43 2686-DGU and fancontrol fixed my problem. It's such a simple fix and makes a world of difference in very quiet environments. I don't understand why IBM/Lenovo wouldn't at least make it an option to use some slightly less conservative fan settings.

These are my current level settings:

Level=47 0
Level=49 1
Level=52 3
Level=55 4
Level=60 7
Level=70 128

It's the PCI 0xc1 sensors that seems to trigger the fan. Here are my idlish temps.

CPU 43°C (0x78)
APS 43°C (0x79)
PCM 34°C (0x7a)
GPU 45°C (0x7b)
BAT 33°C (0x7c)
BAT 28°C (0x7e)
BUS 40°C (0xc0)
PCI 47°C (0xc1)
PWR 46°C (0xc2)

All that being said, I now need to find a similar program for fluorescent lights and refridgerators!

Thank you Shimodax and everyone else involved!

[ThinkPad R]

does it work on R40?

[ThinkPad R]

ok. on mine it says the GPU, PCM, BAT, X7D, BAT, X7F, and BUS are 0Celsius.

Mine is R40.

[Asbradley21]

Mine is an R40 as well and its alos says CPU 46°C (0x78)
APS 10°C (0x79)
PCM 0°C (0x7a)
GPU 0°C (0x7b)
BAT 0°C (0x7c)
X7D 0°C (0x7d)
BAT 0°C (0x7e)
X7F 0°C (0x7f)
BUS 0°C (0xc0)
PCI 0°C (0xc1)
PWR 0°C (0xc2)
XC3 0°C (0xc3)


And my fan will never stay on for more than a few seconds(its on for about 4 seconds, turns off, then back on and its not always 4 seconds on.

[Dr_Flash]

hi,

will it give a Version for the T60 models soon?

thx

sven

[Fredoline]

Yes that would be kind of interesting, anyone tested the program with a t60 yet?

[christopher_wolf]

In the T60 Forum, there are threads that state that it either works or it doesn't work on a t60; if the EC and the the way the WinIO driver controls it through the ACPI haven't changed, then it should work as it is independent of stuff like the chipset, CPU, GPU, etc.

[PertTomcat]

I've tried the program on my R52(1847-42G) laptop and it seems to work quite well

[davidspalding]

Q: On my 2668, I'm hearing three beeps, spaced a second apart, from time to time. Not a Windows sound, but a hardware speaker beep. Only happens when TPFANCTRL is in Smart mode. Might only be coincidence, but it seems to occur when the fan is set off.

Has anyone else encountered this? I've searched this forum and several threads, and haven't found any specific references; sorry if I missed it. TIA.

[emaijala]

@chrisaix: As you've probably noticed, my presence here is intermittent so I wouldn't mind someone else maintaining the code. I haven't had any need to tinker with it since releasing the package, but in case problems arise I can also try to fix them, but can't promise anything due to time constraints.

--Ere

[Nick Y]

Q: On my 2668, I'm hearing three beeps, spaced a second apart, from time to time. Not a Windows sound, but a hardware speaker beep. Only happens when TPFANCTRL is in Smart mode. Might only be coincidence, but it seems to occur when the fan is set off.

Has anyone else encountered this? I've searched this forum and several threads, and haven't found any specific references; sorry if I missed it. TIA.

Yes, I had this at times. I think that you will find that the three beeps indicate when a change cannot be made. Look in the fan control log and see if there is a warning. (May be caused by something else monitoring/ displaying the temp at the same time. E.g. NHC.)

[JHaislet]

Is there any way to increase the number of slower speed fan levels?

For example, my fan stays around 3250-3300rpm regardless if it's set to Level 1 or Level 2. Then Level 3 bumps it all the way up to about 4050rpm.

Would it be possible to add user customizable fan speed levels in the configuration file? For example, having Level 1 run the fan around 1000-1500rpm would probably be perfect, as 3250rpm is still audible, but having the fan turned completely off probably isn't something I'd like to do. Then maybe Level 2 in the ~2000rpm range, ect.

I'm not sure if this is even possible though as I'm not sure if the levels are pre-set by the hardware microcontroller or if your program establishes what voltage should be applied to the fan for each corresponding level.

[christopher_wolf]

Is there any way to increase the number of slower speed fan levels?

For example, my fan stays around 3250-3300rpm regardless if it's set to Level 1 or Level 2. Then Level 3 bumps it all the way up to about 4050rpm.

Would it be possible to add user customizable fan speed levels in the configuration file? For example, having Level 1 run the fan around 1000-1500rpm would probably be perfect, as 3250rpm is still audible, but having the fan turned completely off probably isn't something I'd like to do. Then maybe Level 2 in the ~2000rpm range, ect.

I'm not sure if this is even possible though as I'm not sure if the levels are pre-set by the hardware microcontroller or if your program establishes what voltage should be applied to the fan for each corresponding level.

Right now, I don't think that is possible; whatever RPM you would like to run the fan at would have to be supported by the EC. The program doesn't directly control the voltage that is applied to the fan motor, that is one of the jobs of the EC.

[davidspalding]

Yes, I had this at times. I think that you will find that the three beeps indicate when a change cannot be made. Look in the fan control log and see if there is a warning. (May be caused by something else monitoring/ displaying the temp at the same time. E.g. NHC.)

Interesting. In my case, no such other program is running. So the beep is being initiated by TPFANCTRL?

Is there any way to increase the number of slower speed fan levels?

Hardware controlled. I find my T43 runs okay if I have the fan off up to a "warm" setting, then kick in at 1, and it cools down pretty good. YMMV, as I use a CoolPad to allow ventilation under the TP.

[Nick Y]

So the beep is being initiated by TPFANCTRL?

As far as I know, yes. I moved to fancontrol_service and my beeps stopped(!) Did you look at the fan control log (in Fan Control 'Show Window')? That would show if your cause is the same as mine.

[xblomx]

Hi

Thanks for the great util controlling my fan Im using the fan control and it runs fine, but in my eventlog I have alot of warnings with an eventid:3 the warning looks like this

\Device\ACPIEC: The embedded controller (EC) hardware returned data when none was requested. This may indicate that the BIOS is incorectly trying to access the EC without syncronizing with the OS. The data is being ignored.

Do you have any ways of solve this behavior? its writing to my eventlog every second with 7-10 warnings.

My Laptop is a Thinkpad T43

and btw. when will a new version be available?

Thanks and happy easter

[beckele]

I wanted to thank you for creating this program. It has saved me! I have an A30 Thinkpad that just recently started to over heat. I checked the fan and all was clean and could run...it just wouldn't when it needed to. My machine would just shut down after about 20 or so minutes and was frustrating beyond ALL belief!...at least for me.....Anywho....I loaded your fan control and modified the .ini file and not I am a computing fiend! Thanks again! It rules and so do you!!!

becca

[gbusa]

I have an IBM ThinkPad R51 1836-Q4U

with CPU running at "Slow" in Battery MaxiMiser

ATI's POWERPLAY active when plugged in and on battery

ambiant temperature of 75 degrees F

during web browsing all internal temps are 50 degrees C or lower with fan off

fan will not kick in until 54 degrees C

Having both hard drives spinning, iPod and ThinkPad equadistance, the iPod is louder

I love ThinkPad t43 Fan Control and would marry it if legal

GB