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

[Masi_K]

Thanks, but yes I've set that to 1.

[GatorHawk]

Anyone know where in the .ini file to modify it so that when it starts, it defaults to manual mode with fan level 1.

[troubadix]

...defaults to manual mode with fan level 1.

available with next version v0.62 only and .ini:

Code: Select all

// "Active=3" program will come up in manual mode.
Active=3
ManFanSpeed=1   // Manual Fan Speed
SlimDialog=0    // Set to 1 for slim widget

with Active=3 ManFanSpeed=0 ManModeExit=78 you can have a nice quiet time

[Ursus]

I've noticed that the "CPU" temperature reading that is shown in tpfc is actually the mainboard temperature. As you can see in the screenshot, tpfc says that the "cpu" is 47c but NHC and Everest both show that ACPI THM0 (which is motherboard) is 47c while ACPI THM1 (which is CPU) is 55c.



What's interesting is that tpfc does not show any values that could correlate to actual ACPI CPU temperature so I'm guessing the data is not just a mismatched ACPI reading and am wondering what's going on here.

BTW I also see the erroneous readings in NHC with the tpfc ACPI extensions.

[dcouzin]

(TPFC does not commit the error ascribed to it in the previous post. Out with that bad taste.)

I have a modest recommendation for an improvement to the icon temperature information. Now the temperature indicated in the icon is the calculated temperature (actual temperature minus offset) of the sensor having the highest calculated temperature. I agree that this is the sensor which should be indicated in the icon. However, TPFC offers a setting ShowBiasedTemps=0 for users who prefer to view the actual instead of the calculated temperatures. Users who set offsets probably prefer this. I do. TPFC honors this preference in the window but ignores it in the icon. When ShowBiasedTemps=0 the actual temperature of the sensor having the highest calculated temperature ought to be shown in the icon.

[troubadix]

not so much time, but ....here you are, just .exe to replace:
http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~schmit ... nnis03.zip

ciao, troubadix

[dcouzin]

Perfect!
If the future is software. And if software writing is cooperative as this example. What a good world ahead.
Thank you.

[troubadix]

Thank you for donation!!

[Tommy the cat]

Hi guys/troubadix ,

I'm using TPfancontrol to manage the fan speed for the X300. It's a great tool!! It's a lot better than BIOS settings because BIOS settings make the fan spin like crazy every few minutes, which is not nessecary at all.

Fan speed 1 is about 1800RPM, which is very good. Speed 2, the next step, however directly goes to 5000 RPM. That's just a little too much and not nessecary. So, is there any way I can make speed 2 about 3000RPM?

Edit: I've got the latest BIOS version, but there is no fan speed control option.

[troubadix]

So, is there any way I can make speed 2 about 3000RPM?

sorry, nope, fan levels and rpms are hard coded in embedded controller firmware.

Some guys tried to deal with that, but not so luckily:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=20958

ciao,troubadix

[Tommy the cat]

sorry, nope, fan levels and rpms are hard coded in embedded controller firmware.

Some guys tried to deal with that, but not so luckily:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=20958

ciao,troubadix

D*mn! Sorry but that just sucks .

Thanks for your reply . Is this someting that can be fixed with a BIOS update, or does 'hard coded' in embedded controller firmware mean that it's deeper?

[troubadix]

Is this someting that can be fixed with a BIOS update...?

It could be if there would be a suitable update....which not really is

[lowesox]

I had to get a new hard drive and battery, and instead of putting up $50 for a set of recovery disks, I just installed the latest RC of Windows 7. I'd used it on this machine in the past, and was quite happy with it. The one problem was that I needed bluetooth and the only fix I'd found to get Windows 7 to recognize the BT radio was to use TPFanControl, which it did. Nothing had been different, either, until today I noticed (because of TPFanControl actually) that I was getting extremely hot CPU temperatures. Like, 70-80 C, even hitting 88 (at which point I shut the computer down), and worst of all, not under load. I've been playing around with it since and have yet to hear the fan go into overdrive like it always had to get that kind of heat under control. It's a hot day today, but I'm inside and it can't be more than 75 Fahrenheit in here (or, what, 25 Celsius?). But I'm doing nothing more than surfing the internet and it's getting into the 60s without trouble (I've used other temperature monitors to verify this).

Searching for a fix to this, I only seem to find people complaining about the fan making too much sound. I never had a problem with this, as I'd rather have a cooler and more stable machine, and this one has always run hot. I've opened up the laptop, checked the fan, and it's not obstructed or anything. I'm not getting any fan errors like others have described when the fan isn't operating correctly (which has prevented others from even being able to start up evidently), and the monitors on TPFanControl tell me that it's spinning which I can hear, and I can feel ever so slightly, but I'm still not hearing or feeling that characteristic airplane sound that a cooling fan makes when things are getting too hot. Even when I set it to the maximum fan speed manually, it's telling me it's spinning around 4500 RPM (4800 is unstable, from what I read), I'm not hearing that loud, reassuring sound I want.

Is this how hot my laptop had always been running on hot days like this, 60-70 degrees Celsius? Was that loud sound actually a defect that TPFan has now fixed? Is it something particular to Win7 (and if so, why only now?). Finally, how I might get back the old school jet engine when I need it?

(Some other info particular to this thread: TPFan isn't installed as a service, and the only thing I've changed in the .ini file is the processpriority, which is now 5. I know the fan is working now, but even at a maximum manual setting of 7 -- 4500 rpm -- it's still not doing the work it used to and that I evidently need. And why is TPFan letting it get over 60 in the first place?)

Appreciate the help.

[dcouzin]

Criticisms of two programming decisions in TPFC.

It was a mistake to include Fahrenheit temperatures in TPFC the way Troubadix did it.
Interpreting settings over 80 as Fahrenheit was cute, but unnecessary. The American century is over and those folks really must learn how the rest of the world does things. More important, it is now a defect in TPFC to be unable to make Centigrade settings over 80.
TPFC should be able to emulate the Embedded Controller and then to let us customize it. The Embedded Controller on my T43 does not freak out when the CPU is just over 80 C. See the TPFC window pictured at this picturelink. The snapshot was taken during a defrag. I think my EC shifts to fan speed 64 (full throttle) when the CPU temperature exceeds about 90 C.

Conceivably TPFC can be tricked into accepting Centigrade settings over 80 by using positive SensorOffset values. For example, if SensorOffset1=15 and Level=75 64 then maybe the CPU would need to reach 90 C before triggering fan speed 64. But we can't be sure how TPFC calculates once the temperature is over 80 C. Nor for that matter can we know how TPFC calculates in mixed situations when some settings are over 80 and some under or whether it interprets the offsets as Centigrade or Fahrenheit. These ridiculous guessing games should be put to rest with the elimination of Fahrenheit from TPFC.

Another smaller weakness entered TPFC with Shimodax. The sensible way to set the fan switches is sensor-by-sensor. If the user wants
>Level=50 0
>Level=52 1
>Level=59 3
>Level=66 7
>Level=78 64
>Level=80 128
for sensor A, and the user wants
>Level=55 0
>Level=57 1
>Level=62 3
>Level=67 7
>Level=72 64
>Level=74 128
for sensor B, then the user should be able to set this. Separate schedules for separate sensors. Tighter control for sensor B than for sensor A. Such settings are impossible in TPFC. The use of offsets for the separate sensors was a "dumbing down" of the original sensible way. It weakens TPFC and ironically makes more trouble for the user who has to boggle over adding and subtracting positive and negative offsets.

[Tommy the cat]

I've reinstalled TPFC and now it won't go back to a lower fan speed when the temperature drops.

This was a problem I've experienced in the beginning too, but at some point in time it solved itself .

So euhm. What can be wrong? For example: below 50 celsius = fan speed 1. Above = speed 2. When the cpu is 40, it just continuous fan speed 2.

Edit:
O yes. I wondered if the 'start-dialog' can be disabled. I mean this:


Running tpfc as a service didn't do the trick.

[dcouzin]

Tommy the cat, your problem is probably due to your settings in TPFanControl.ini.
Make the lowest temperature switch point to speed 0. (See examples of this in my post before yours.) When the temperature falls to that the fan will turn off.
This and much more is explained in the 34 pages of this strand. I too asked naive questions before reading those pages.

[Tommy the cat]

Tommy the cat, your problem is probably due to your settings in TPFanControl.ini.
Make the lowest temperature switch point to speed 0. (See examples of this in my post before yours.) When the temperature falls to that the fan will turn off.
This and much more is explained in the 34 pages of this strand. I too asked naive questions before reading those pages.

Thanks for your reply.

I've added the ini:
Level=10 0 // Level= 90 0
Level=20 1 // Level=100 1
Level=51 2 // Level=131 2
Level=60 2 // Level=140 2
Level=65 2 // Level=145 2
Level=75 128 // Level=155 128
Level=80 128 // Level=160 128
Level=90 128 // Level=170 128

No result however. I will continue reading .

[dcouzin]

Why do you write
Level 10 0
Level 20 1
Level 51 2?
At start the CPU temperature will be between 20 and 51 making initial fan speed 1.
The CPU temperature will never fall to 0 so the fan will never rest.

[Tommy the cat]

Why do you write
Level 10 0
Level 20 1
Level 51 2?
At start the CPU temperature will be between 20 and 51 making initial fan speed 1.
The CPU temperature will never fall to 0 so the fan will never rest.

That's because I don't want the fan to have rest .....

Simply because when the fan has a rest, the temp will rise too fast so that fan speed 2 has to kick in. Fan speed 2 is audible, speed 1 is not.

[dcouzin]

You complained that "it won't go back to a lower fan speed when the temperature drops".
Look at your settings:
Speeds 1 and 2 are identical on the T43. Is this different on the T61? If not, your settings reduce to
>Level=10 0
>Level=20 1
>Level=65 1
>Level=75 128
What do you expect TPFC to do with such settings?
At start, fan speed will be 1. It will remain 1 until the CPU reaches 75C. Then the Embedded Controller takes over and will probably make speed 7. Then as the temperature is reduced below 75 the Embedded Controller might reduce the fan speed a bit. If the temperature gets back down to 65 TPFC will take over and make speed 1.

[Tommy the cat]

I'm not sure if I fully understand what you're telling me. First of all speed 1 and 2 are quite different on my thinkpad (x300). Speed 2 is annoying (5000+ RPM) and speed 1 is not really audible (1900 RPM). But I don't want to get an average temp above 55 so I'll have to live with it the fact that speed 2 is needed reguraly. But what I can do is trying to keep the temp as low as possible so that fan speed 2 is less needed. I'm trying to get fan speed 1 to keep my system below 51 as much as possible.

Surely than it's needed that the fan goes back to speed 1 when it can. The problem is that it isn't doing that (anymore). I just installed a new tpfc and didn't alter anything exepct for the temps/speed ratios.

So how to get it working again Of course I will read the thread but I'm a bit short on time so i'm hoping to get a quick answer... (sorry)

[dcouzin]

Thank you for the information that on yours speeds 1 and 2 are very different. Your .ini settings are still the problem.
Level=10 0
Level=20 1
Level=51 2
Level=60 2
Level=65 2
Level=75 128
These require the temperature to get down to 20 -- impossible -- before a speed 2 condition reverts to speed 1.

[dcouzin]

If you had read the strand you'd understand how the TPFC temperature settings work.
If there is an instruction
Level=X Y
then whenever the temperature reaches X, whether from above or from below, the fan speed is set to Y.

[Tommy the cat]

If you had read the strand you'd understand how the TPFC temperature settings work.
If there is an instruction
Level=X Y
then whenever the temperature reaches X, whether from above or from below, the fan speed is set to Y.

O my god. I finally understand .

How could I be so stupid. You explained well. Thanks a lot, a bunch, and such .

These are my succesfull settings now:
Level=0 1 // Level=80 1
Level=44 1 // Level=124 1
Level=51 2 // Level=131 2
Level=70 128 // Level=150 128

[troubadix]

Interpreting settings over 80 as Fahrenheit was cute, but unnecessary. ... More important, it is now a defect in TPFC to be unable to make Centigrade settings over 80.

The C/F switch is only the temp of the one lowest level (commonly set to fan speed zero): over 80 ->F . Higher levels have no influence on F/C.

But you can have an .exe with a separate switch of course:
http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~schmit ... nnis04.zip

6 different levels for each of 12 possible sensors...that's really going a bit to far

[dcouzin]

The C/F switch is only the temp of the one lowest level (commonly set to fan speed zero): over 80 ->F . Higher levels have no influence on F/C.

Thanks for this important clarification. The "statement" in .ini:
!!!! "Level" FAN 0 > 80 -> switch to Fahrenheit !!!!
does not convey that meaning to me.

But you can have an .exe with a separate switch of course:

Thanks for new .exe and .ini

6 different levels for each of 12 possible sensors...that's really going a bit to far

I agree that no user would bother with all the sensors, especially since the fan hardly affects most of them. However the fan definitely affects CPU and GPU which are heatsinked directly to it. Because of Shimodax's offset routine, TPFC does not allow the user to set, for example, tighter control for the GPU than for the CPU. The simplest way to allow the user to have full control over two sensors is, unfortunately, to allow the user full control over all the sensors.

[Lotus56]

hello all,
I have a R40 that has a fan/cursor problem. Whenever the fan is about to start the cursor locks up. Very annoying. When the fan comes on it will start then stop the start up again, run for a short while the shut off. Am using TPFanControl and is helping, (Many Thanks to the author). I have tried many setting and none will do what I want. So now I must ask for help. CPU temp are in the high 50C's to high 60C's. Fan seems to run good and is quiet. So what I would like to do is have the fan either stay at a low setting or when it comes on stay on for a while and not pulse. Or is there another reason for for the cursor to freeze up just before the fan starts.

Thanks,
David

P.S. This is a very nice forum.

[xiong]

hi guys,

The pulsing noise (I bet you know what I mean) "zzzzzzzzuzzzzzzzzu..." of my X60 drives me nuts. Is there anything I can use to fix it in XP? I know sth good in linux, however... I do not
run linux. Thanks!

Will lenovo fix it in the future?

[MeehaU]

Hello Troubadix and others,

I have just installed the Windows 7 Professional 64bit (full version not Beta neither RC) on my SL300 and I am facing the famous FAN PROBLEM. I have installed the TPFC v062 but it shows only one the "11 pwr" temp, the rest n/a. Running it as an administrator or in compatibility mode with Vista/XP doesn't help.



The temperature below is the CPU temp by Everest Ultimate Edition.

Thanks for help.
Michał

[troubadix]

in TPFanControl there is no support for SL series. Look for some workaround in german thread:

http://www.thinkpad-forum.de/thinkpad-h ... ancontrol/
http://www.thinkpad-forum.de/thinkpad-h ... post589244

edit: may be this hardware solution is suitable: http://tpfc.mywo.org/