Thinkpads Forum

I've a X61s with a 1.8 GHz Core2Duo which still is very noisy.
Having tried Bios version 2.06 and 1.11 which not seemed to make some real difference and I'm now down on 1.03.
Installed Windows 7 32 bit on a separate partition to Flash as I struggled to make the SD card bootable stuff to work and there was no support to flash bios in a 64 bit version of Windows.
Having loaded Setup Defaults bios settings and it is not much of a difference.

There is no visible dust in the fan outlet or the fan itself when I took the keyboard off. Cpu activity is newer higher than 5% at most while idle and I just check the Task Manager.
Having downloaded the Hardware Monitor. The temp for THM0 and 1 is 41c and 40-42 as most for the Cpu cores and the fan is running despite no real cpu usage.

This is surprising as I had got the impression that unreasonable fan noise with old Bios versions for this laptop not would been a problem. I had read a number of reviews as well which not complained about fan noise either.

I would like to use the laptop as it is without some utility like Thinkpad Fan Control but it seems to me that is not possible because of the unreasonable fan issue for no real heat.
Sorry to have to say it but this probably are the worst laptop, seen to ridiculous flaws like this, which I've used.
And I've had some: Thinkpad 350 and 600. Toshiba Satellite 320CDT, Portege 3110CT and Dell Inpiron 8100. None of these had such a major problem with the fan kicking in unless it really needed. All of them have been quite dependable as well. Used the Dell as a desktopreplacement and used it mostly solely for daily work and gaming for at least 5-6 year. Aside from the failing ATI radeon 7500 which I replaced with a Nvidia Quadro 700 Go GL that laptop worked well. But I read that IBM had similar problem with an ATI card in the Thinkpad T43 or was it X43.

I still have my old Portege 3110CT which has been up and running 24/7 for the last 7 years with only 2 months as most as downtime. I use it to run a Gamebot and although that laptop is old and slow It don't make much noise except for the harddrive which can be heard working occasionally. The fan only kicks in during heavy load when it is used actively to play some old game. I might switch the hdd in it for a Compact flash or SD to use as SSD in it. It would help to save weight even more as it is one of these Ultraportable 1.4kg. It is always nice when traveling light.
The X61s on the other hand has not been such a pleasure to use. I'm sorry but I've to say that IBM/Lenovo days of dependability are mostly gone from my experience with the other laptops compared to this X61s. The Thinkpads used to be far better than this.

1. You can use Thinkpad Fan Control to monitor the readings of sensors not detected by Hardware Monitor. It might give you more information regarding the situation.
In truth, I don't understand your reluctance to use this program. As a program that allows you to fine-tune the fan profile to your preferences, what's not to like?

2. Have you oiled the fan?

3. I had a Thinkpad 760XD long ago. Once the fan turned on, it never turned off and was quite noisy. But I don't remember whining about it as much as you do.

You obviously have not read up on the good X61/X61s/X61t options!
1) Install Middleton's BIOS
2) install an Intel 6200N/6205N/6300N or similar half-size wifi-card with half-size bracket
3) refresh the thermal paste between CPU and cooler
No more hot complaints!

1. I mentioned the TPFC.
2. The fan works well but the problem is that it kicks in even though there is no need. I might guess that you have not used some of these affected Thinkpads.
3. Call it whining if you want. But that can't take away that I hardly are alone about having this problem.[quote="RealBlackStuff"]You obviously have not read up on the good X61/X61s/X61t options!

RealBlackStuff wrote:You obviously have not read up on the good X61/X61s/X61t options!
1) Install Middleton's BIOS
2) install an Intel 6200N/6205N/6300N or similar half-size wifi-card with half-size bracket
3) refresh the thermal paste between CPU and cooler
No more hot complaints!

1. Have already had the Middleton Bios which I now replaced with an older.
2. I've not had heat problem with the bundled Wifi-card
3. Might do but there should be no need. The Toshiba Portege still works fine without such a slight modification.

I just recently cleaned my X61s which had noisy fan. You need to get inside the fan by lifting the cover of the fan. Otherwise you wont be able to reach the dust pillows inside. After that I remove and washed the fan itself, added small drop of lubricant in the middle of the electric motor and cleaned the apartment of the fan.
Now my fan runs like a new, no complaints what so ever, smooth and quiet.

I've ordered Tuniq TX-4 which according to comparing tests with other good pastes are top notch. When the replacement of the original paste is done there probably won't be any more away explanations if the fan still kicks in at 40c which is unreasonably compared to other laptops which I've had.
There simply is no need at such low temps or below so then I'll surely see if the temps gets down so that the fan stay silent while just writing something in Ms Word. I'll have another look at inside the the fan at the heatsink to check if there is dust stuck there but I doubt there is. Have already had a look there from narrow angles like 5 months ago and have not bothered use that laptop much since the.
I've dusted off the Geforce 8800GTS (the heatsink inside AT the fan) in my main rig like two or three times during the years but that computer is going 24/7 since 2008 with like 30 days as downtime in total as most.
It will take some time before that new thermal paste arrives however. Ordered it inexpensively from an Ebay seller located in Hong Kong. Was hard enough to find that paste.

Not so sure about that!
See this thermal-paste comparison and weep!
Tuniq TX-3 sits in position 2,
and our usual favorite Arctic Silver 5 is in position 3,
but your Tuniq TX-4 is only in position 50,
out of 71 used substances!
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/ ... 012/1490/5

Interesting though not something I would worry about as it beats the Artic silver 5 and some other in an other test. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/featur ... e?page=0,1