Buying a Thinkpad T61p

[Wiz]

I currently got a Thinkpad T43p, 2.26GHz, 80gb 7200rpm, 15" (1600x1200) TFT, ATI FireGL V3200 and a Thinkpad 802.11a/b/g wireless, but is thinking about buying a new T61p. The T61p i'm looking at is the Core 2 Duo T7700 2,40GHz, 100gb SATA, nvidea Quadro FX 570M and a 15,4" (1920x1200) TFT which is the best T61p that i found. I couldn't find a model without a Intel wireless adapter so i'll buy a Atheros to replace the Intel adapter as well like i did to all my Thinkpads so far.
I'm pretty happy with my current T43p, but one thing that i find really annoying is that i have to use NHC to make the CPU and GPU to to stay at an acceptable temperature. Without NHC and maximum performance the CPU is close to 80c under normal use and above 90c if i play a game. Also without NHC the fan never turn off or run at the lowest level (always running at about 4000rpm or higher) so it's pretty noisy. Using NHC the temperature is between 50 and 60c under normal use at max. performance and i have to use a ACPI script to make the fan run at the lowest level or it will run at 4000rpm or higher with these temps as well.

So my question is if anyone have experience with the T61p model as described above since i don't want another warm and noisy computer? I would never bought the T43p if i knew how noisy and warm this computer is. NHC is pretty good, but i prefer to have a laptop with a better design to make it cooler and less noisy without any software to undervolt the CPU and stuff like that.

I appreciate any comments regarding the experience with the T61p as descibed above, but i'm mainly interested in the heat and noise on this model.

[pianowizard]

I can't tell you anything about this specific T61p, but can tell you that the T43 and T43p were the noisiest Thinkpads ever made (I owned a T43 for 5 months). Whatever you upgrade to will be an improvement.

[Wiz]

Thanks for your reply pianowizard. Yeah i guess the T43 and T43p is the worst ever when talking about heat/noise, but i also heard people complain about other Thinkpads like the T42. I guess anything is better then the T43, but i want something i find to be good enough and not just better then the worst. So before i buy a computer that expensive i want to make sure it's a huge improvment with the heat/noise compared to the T43p. I prefer the best CPU, but if the specific model got a heat/noise problem i might select another model if those are better (like another CPU then the 2.4GHz). Another computer as noisy/warm as the T43p and it will end up in the trashcan.

[SHoTTa35]

well the T61 has been said to be cool and quiet. I don't about the T61p but when buying these machines with huge screens and fast CPU and GPUs you have to also assume they consume a lot more power and therefore generate a lot more heat than their non-P brothers. The heat is part of purchase, you can't have super powerful, super thin without some heat issues.

As was said above tho, the T61 is a very cool running system.

[Wiz]

well the T61 has been said to be cool and quiet. I don't about the T61p but when buying these machines with huge screens and fast CPU and GPUs you have to also assume they consume a lot more power and therefore generate a lot more heat than their non-P brothers. The heat is part of purchase, you can't have super powerful, super thin without some heat issues.
As was said above tho, the T61 is a very cool running system.

Thanks for your reply. Sure i'll understand that a PC with the best spec. is a bit warmer, but i think the T43/T43p had a heat/fan noise problem in general. Just want to make sure the T61/T61p doesn't have the same issues. If the described model is too warm and got a noisy fan i will consider another model. That's why it would be very interesting to hear from someone that tried the described model, but i have the impression that most T61/T61p models run a lot cooler then the T43. Even if my current computer got a pretty good spec. i think the main problem with the T43p is a poor design that make the computer to warm. Even if i increase the speed of my fan it doesn't have much effect except that the fan make a lot of noise.

[ryengineer]

snip......Just want to make sure the T61/T61p doesn't have the same issues. If the described model is too warm and got a noisy fan i will consider another model. That's why it would be very interesting to hear from someone that tried the described model........snip

Considering your heat and noise concerns about T43 I can assure you T61p is far superior in those and many more aspects than it's predecessor, you won't be disappointed.

[Wiz]

Considering your heat and noise concerns about T43 I can assure you T61p is far superior in those and many more aspects than it's predecessor, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks, this is just what i was hoping to hear

[Liamo0o]

I've just got my thinkpad t61p today (with the same specs as the one you configured) and the thing I was most impressed with was the noise level (or lack thereof) Honestly I was suprised the thing was on it was barely making a peep. On the same line it also kept very cool, a little warmth (and by warmth I mean luke-warm) but nothing to the extent of the T43p or T60 for that matter

[Wiz]

Thanks Liamo0o, i read your post about the software recommendations and was really curious because the spec were identical. It sounds like the T61p is safe to buy and nothing like the noisy and warm T43 models.

[GarryF]

T61P is a big improvement on the T43P, both on noise and heat

[Mike Green]

I currently have a T61p to the spec you describe, and a T42. With the processor running at 90-100% utilisation, for prolonged periods, the T61p is effectively inaudible (I can hear it if I deliberately listen, with my head near the machine). In contrast, the T42 is audible from a good 4 metres away. i.e. the T61p is vastly quieter.

Temperatures are similar (under the same conditions) - both generally in the very low 60s, with the T61p sometimes in the mid-high fifties.

A really big improvement and I'm delighted!