X41T fan makes whirring noise when tablet is moved/tilted?

[beq]

The X41T has a system fan that comes on from time to time (the one that blows out the exhaust grill on the left edge of the notebook, the edge where the pen slot is).

When this fan is running, it makes an annoying whirring sound but ONLY if my X41T is being moved or tilted (such as when cradled in my arm). It almost sounds like the fan is loose or something and that it's hitting things as it moves around. Otherwise if the X41T is stationary, the fan is silent even while running.

Is this normal, does it happen with everyone else's X41T unit??

[Ground Loop]

Sounds like a gyroscope. You tilt it, it twists on its fan shaft and rubs against something. It will probably fail soon.

[beq]

Oh man...

I wonder if I should contact IBM/Lenovo to return it for repair or exchange. But I don't want to be without my new X41T for a long time (which I've waited months for in the first place). And I don't want to lose all the software I've been installing and configuring on it (though I suppose I should stop now from doing more).

I also wonder how hard it would be to try to replace the fan (or the fan mounting) yourself

[gst]

other people have reported the same problem in other threads so this seems to be normal behaviour. have a look at http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=11894

[beq]

Ahh, thanks for the link gst! I didn't think to search for the same problem with the non-tablet X series...

I still have my longtime X40 notebook side by side with my new X41 Tablet. I've never had the fan whirring noise problem with my X40 though.

Your linked thread also mentions people with X41 having the same problem, but also people with X40 NOT having that problem. I wonder then if that's just coincidence, or if the X41 (and X41 Tablet) is really more prone to this problem because of some hardware design change from the X40?

[warpdrive]

I have the problem too....definitely when I move the thing the buzzy/whirry noise increases as I continue to move it...and goes back to normal as I stop.