Mobo part #s and ATI question.

[JBUK]

I have recently started acquiring T60s. Put wireless n in the first one an Atheros 5008 complete with 1802 boot error! This was saved by the Zender bios.

I then had another to fix as it had a bad mobo, a small component had burnt out just behind the wifi off/on switch.It was fitted with WWAN the mobo # is 41W1366. I was only able to get a replacement numbered 41W1456. As this mobo is not shown in the HMM as having WWAN I was surprised to find that it has. Not that I want to use it but you never know.

It has ATi Mobility Radeon x1400 graphics and I have read that this is the one to avoid if you are sensitive to excessive fan activity, which I am , so I am wondering if I leave the ATi drivers uninstalled which I have at the moment as it seems ok for my purposes at its native xga resolution will I then perhaps have a graphics chip that is not working as hard and will not consequently not send the fan into overdrive?
I accept of course that the standard XP drivers will not use the X1400 graphics to their full potential.
I will perhaps keep an eye on them both and see if the fan activity differs between the two.

[ajkula66]

There's really nothing wrong with X1400 per se.

Use proper drivers and enjoy. You can also apply NHC if you want to underclock the GPU.

As for excessive fan activity, TPFC can be set pretty much any way you want it to run...

[Johan]

It has ATi Mobility Radeon x1400 graphics and I have read that this is the one to avoid if you are sensitive to excessive fan activity...

I am surprised to hear that your X1400 T60 has "excessive" fan (noise); it didn't ought to have this if you have set power management to run the CPU in Balanced (adaptive) mode, and if it is not full of dust (in the fan vent, like e.g. this). If this T60 now has been in use for, say, 4-5 years, and never has been cleaned inside, then the fan vent/grille may be fairly "dusty" which will force the fan to run more often and at higher speed than if a clean laptop.

The fan (in T60's as in many other laptops) is most often triggered to go "on" by the GPU temperature, rather than by the CPU temp. You may reduce the GPU tempt. through mounting an e.g. copper shim between the GPU and the fan/heatpipes; see e.g. the thread How thick is the gap between GPU & heatsink?. Also, you may use the ATI "PowerPlay" to set the GPU to run less hot - see e.g. the thread How to get the ATI CCC on Win7 T60?; what I am referring to is seen in the image in the thread ATI Catalyst PowerPlay settings.

Also, consider getting the Shimodax/Troubadix "ThinkPad Fan Noise" program; see the sticky --> Thinkpad Fan Noise Problem: Light at the End of the Tunnel; you may download the program from here.

You could also get RMClock and reduce CPU voltage to reduce the heat... see The "Undervolting" Guide for more information. Finally, if you presently have a mechanical HDD (which is by nature/design more or less noisy, and at least audible!) you may reduce the power consumption and entirely eliminate the noise-contribution from the disk through getting a lower-power consumption and entirely silent SSD! By far the best upgrade you can do to a T60, in my opinion!

Johan

[JBUK]

I am surprised to hear that your X1400 T60 has "excessive" fan (noise);

Well I am not surprised yet. I have only just fitted the replacement mobo. I already have an Intel graphics T60 and just want my ATI equiped one to have similar fan activity. It does seem ok at the moment but I have not yet installed the ATI drivers.
Having now just installed TPFC I see that the GPU temp is 20deg higher than the CPU all the time so I am going to have to take the advised steps to stop the Radeon graphics from being so busy all the time.
In fact the fan noise at 3k revs is not that intrusive but above that I can see that it will become a nuisance. I will have to get hold of some copper shims.
Thanks for the advice.

[ajkula66]

You DID order a different fan to go with the "new" motherboard, correct?

[Johan]

I already have an Intel graphics T60 and just want my ATI equiped one to have similar fan activity.

This may not be possible owing to the higher power consumption (and thus higher heat generation) of T60's having dedicated GPU compared to the power consumption/heat generation in dedicated/discrete GPU's. If you try for yourself to use this very useful search-script made by HarryC and search hthis forum for "T60 fan noise" (+GMA950 etsc.), then you will see this for yourself. As is very well known (search!), the most powerful GPU's in T60p's (ATI V5200, V5250) result in such T60p's being much more noisy compared to GMA950, X1300 and X1400 GPU-equipped T60's.

You DID order a different fan to go with the "new" motherboard, correct?

What George is pointing your attention to here is the VERY important fact that fans in T60's with the integrated (GMA950) GPU are significantly different with the fans used in T60/p's having discrete GPU's (such as the X1300, X1400, V5200 and V5250) which you will see from System service parts - ThinkPad T60, T60p (4:3 format LCD's). More info in the thread Fan for T60 2007-CTO V3B. If you don't already have a fan for T60's with discrete GPU, my recommendation is to get the 41W6407.

I hope the above is of help, and I appreciate your feedback as to how you (hopefully!) manage to get your otherwise no doubt very nice T60 cool and quiet.

PS: I understand you currently have the XGA LCD... in your case I would for sure ugrade to an SXGA+ (1400x1050 pixel) FlexView/IPS LCD; these are such a pleasure for the eye compated to almost everything else. Search for e.g. FRU 42T0324/42T0325 or take the step and upgdade to an UXGA FlexView LCD!

Johan

[Peak2Peak]

was only able to get a replacement numbered 41W1456. As this mobo is not shown in the HMM as having WWAN I was surprised to find that it has.

AFAIK, all T60 MB's that have ATi x1400 GPU's have WWAN slots (as well as the ATi FireGL V5200's & 5250's) - I have never come across one without (yet).

You DID order a different fan to go with the "new" motherboard, correct?

George & Johan, my thoughts are as the existing "bad MB" - FRU: 41W1366 was a ATi x1300 and assume it had the correct descrete fan unit installed - It could be transferred/salvaged to the replacement ATi x1400 MB .