fan runs too slow on high temps with BIOS control [SOLVED]

[quietlurker]

I have a z61m, it's only a few months old. I switched to using TP fan control on Linux because I wanted to be able to quiet the fan when my temps were low, and put it to full speed ahead of time when I was going to be gaming or doing other CPU-intensive tasks. The automatic control worked fairly well though, it was more or less sufficient. I just think I know a bit better than the automatic controls because I can plan ahead with the cooling

TP fan control still works great, and I use it most of the time. However, what worries me is that somewhere along the line the BIOS fan control started going horribly wrong. It's no biggie, I can just use TP fan... but I just wonder if this signals any hardware problems

Anyway, the problem came along one day when I was playing Civilization IV. The CPU and GPU temps shot up to around 70-80 C, but the fan lingered at ~3000 rpm instead of what seems to be the max, ~3500 rpm. It doesn't sound like much of an increase, but it makes a huge difference in cooling. I was fairly certain that the BIOS used to set it to that speed automatically.. but it was no big deal, I used TP fan which set it to ~3500 rpm and it cooled down nicely.

I learned to live with it and figured that maybe the BIOS never set it above ~3000 rpm anyway. But recently, during another gaming session when I forgot to run TP fan, I realized that the fan had started going no faster than ~2700 rpm in BIOS control, even when the temps went above 80C! I panicked and thought my fan must be dying, but TP fan control made it run as fast as ever and of course it cooled right away. And no I'm not using disengaged mode or any other dangerous unsupported level.. just level 7. I have never even dared try anything else.

As far as I know, I haven't done any BIOS upgrades or anything else that might make the fan alter its behavior. Have I forever ruined the BIOS fan levels somehow? Is my fan dying? Is <other vital hardware part> dying? Is it just dusty? Is it because the Z series is plain lousy? Is it all in my head because I'm just a bit too obsessed with fan speeds and temps? (I have a feeling the last option is the most likely, especially since I can't play games without sitting and staring at the temps and fan rpm )

Thanks for any help in advance

[quietlurker]

.... I hate how when I take the time to write something out on a forum I figure the problem out right away.

I remembered that the only thing I could have changed at such a low hardware level was one of the BIOS power settings... I put it on maximum performance instead of "balanced". Changed it back to that, for kicks, and now the fan runs fine again. It doesn't really make sense to me, I'd think that a maximum performance setting (I think that's what it was called) would have the fan at a higher speed, to take into account the heat generated by the CPU being on high performance?

Um, anyway. I'd delete this, but I believe in keeping such posts around to help others with the same problem. Thanks for being my cardboard programmer, everyone

[frogger3d]

they probably mean high battery performance in the bios..

[delisl52]

Where do you change it back to balance? I can't remember and I'm having the EXACT same issue...

[Harryc]

Config, power, scheme for AC, scheme for battery.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 69927.html

[delisl52]

Mine still isn't going over 2800 RPM...Anyone have any ideas?

[Dead1nside]

I'm experiencing similar issues. When just using High Performance mode in Power Manager and playing games the fans don't spin up enough to reduce the heat, resulting in crashes sometimes.

I have to resort to running tpfancontrol and putting it on manual mode (7), when playing games.

Is there anyway to tell the Thinkpad without extra tools, to spin up the fan when the heat is high?

[delisl52]

I'm having problems even using tpconfig. The fan won't spin faster then 3200 RPM which results in lack of cooling. Could it be where my lappy is located? It has plenty of breathing room, i'm not sure what the problem is besides possibly a faulty fan...