ThinkPad X61 Dual System Fan

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bin.dong · #1 Post by **bin.dong** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:28 pm

The new X61 comes with dual system fan? Is this real? Anyone can confirm it?

Antioch · #2 Post by **Antioch** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:44 pm

It is real, though the "second fan" (as the manual refers to it) only comes with machines that have WWAN. I've looked the hardware manual over and it is real. It's purpose is to attempt to cool down the right-palmrest area.

Personally, after I get my X61s (without WWAN) I am going to buy the second fan, install it, and experiment with it.

According to a post I read on a different forum, the fan speed of the normal fan and the "second fan" are linked - meaning that when the system decides to ramp up the normal fan the second fan gets ramped up as well.

spune · #3 Post by **spune** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:48 pm

Where would you buy the optional WWAN fan?

Antioch · #4 Post by **Antioch** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:46 pm

Just look up the FRU in the hardware manual, then call Lenovo and order it. Sometimes in the first 30 days of recieving my machine I've been able to trick them into sending me parts that my machine didn't originally ship with. I will try it with this fan, but if not you can always just buy it. I believe you can buy any FRU.

For example, my T42 didn't come with BlueTooth, but I bought the modem/bluetooth board that was for other T42 models, opened my machine and swapped the modem board - and voila, I had bluetooth (ofcourse, that's the in a nutshell story).

I believe a more knowledgeable forum regular can back me up (*crosses fingers*)

Antioch · #5 Post by **Antioch** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:25 pm

Here is the "Second Fan" FRU#: 42X3806

bin.dong · #6 Post by **bin.dong** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:12 pm

So, no matter X61s have the WWAN or not, the place for that second fan is just there, am I right?

By the way, any idea how much for that second fan if I order it directly from Lenovo?

Antioch · #7 Post by **Antioch** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:18 pm

I can't say without actually seeing a machine, but I assume so. I'm pretty sure almost all (if not all) of the motherboards are practically the same and have all of the same fittings on them. Don't quote me though as I've never taken one apart yet, but I'm pretty sure.

gunston · #8 Post by **gunston** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:17 am

can the 2nd FAN can fit in to X60/s?

sugo · #9 Post by **sugo** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:52 am

gunston wrote:can the 2nd FAN can fit in to X60/s?

Not without drilling holes

gunston · #10 Post by **gunston** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:54 am

sugo wrote:
gunston wrote:can the 2nd FAN can fit in to X60/s?
Not without drilling holes

even without drilling holes.
Does the X60/s motherboard to have extra slot for 2nd FAN ?

Antioch · #11 Post by **Antioch** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:23 am

Well, it looks as if the fan mounts to the case and connects to the motherboard. I really think it should be installable (without drilling). Even if the header on the motherboard for power isn't there, just solder your own cable and make it share power with the main fain (as it already is, normally). But I don't think you will have to do that. I really think it is a simple installation -- but who knows.

Once I get mine I'll post letting you know but that won't be for a month....

jkahng · #12 Post by **jkahng** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:28 pm

Gunston,
X60/s : Drilling holes won't do. As you said, there's no space for the fan itself. I wasn't designed for one.
However, one of my other forum member just bought a X61 palmrest today to see if he can fit in his X60. He's counting on the new vents on the right side of the palmrest to help vent out the heat.
edit : he ordered a x61 palmrest, it'll take 2-3 weeks for delivery. i'll update when avail.

Antioch,
installing the second fan on a X61 should be straight forward unless lenovo decides to leave out the fan connectors. (some X60 models don't have the second mini pci express slot connectors!!!)
As for connecting the 2nd fan to the main fan's current supply, I would first check if the extra current draw can be handled...

Antioch · #13 Post by **Antioch** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:56 pm

jkahng wrote:Gunston,
X60/s : Drilling holes won't do. As you said, there's no space for the fan itself. I wasn't designed for one.
However, one of my other forum member just bought a X61 palmrest today to see if he can fit in his X60. He's counting on the new vents on the right side of the palmrest to help vent out the heat.
edit : he ordered a x61 palmrest, it'll take 2-3 weeks for delivery. i'll update when avail.

Antioch,
installing the second fan on a X61 should be straight forward unless lenovo decides to leave out the fan connectors. (some X60 models don't have the second mini pci express slot connectors!!!)
As for connecting the 2nd fan to the main fan's current supply, I would first check if the extra current draw can be handled...

Sorry, I didn't see the part about putting it into an X60. I don't think it will fit in an X60 simply because the connectors aren't there. However, jkhang's friend's idea of buying the new palmrest sounds like a good idea - but I agree with him in that there may not be any connector for the fan. I do think that you can splice your own connector and share power with the main fan. You'll have to be careful and test the current draw, but from what I've learned from playing around with my T60 (and soldered devices) the BIOS seems to want to put out whatever voltage it needs in order to get the fan to run at the RPM it wants. I put a variable resistor between the fan and the motherboard header in an effort to slow the fan down to a more reasonable RPM (and sound level) but the BIOS compensated for the resistance each time I changed it.

Anyways, it should fit in an X61/s model without any problem. Atleast, this is what I am hoping for because I would like to test the new Second Fan and see if it does any good.

jkahng · #14 Post by **jkahng** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:23 pm

If anybody's up for this upgrade(adding a 2nd fan to a X61/X61s). pls post results as it would be very interesting to see the results.
Your help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
John

Antioch · #15 Post by **Antioch** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:46 pm

I will do it once I get my X61s.

mgags7 · #16 Post by **mgags7** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:29 pm

guys don't forget that this extra fan is going to eat up extra power. I haven't noticed my palmrest getting hot at all yet on my x61t and I've had it for almost a week now.

sugo · #17 Post by **sugo** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:18 pm

The physical layout and structure of X61t is quite a bit different from X61/s. I do hope they behave the same in terms of palmrest heat.

jkahng · #18 Post by **jkahng** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:19 pm

mgags7 wrote:guys don't forget that this extra fan is going to eat up extra power. I haven't noticed my palmrest getting hot at all yet on my x61t and I've had it for almost a week now.

Some X60/X60s owners complained of blistering heat on the right palmrest. I've heard of people forced to use an external keyboards or cover the palmrest with cloth to avoid the heat.
Although it won't affect their current situation, the option of a second fan will help when it comes time for them to buy another X series.
For these people, I would guess that a little loss in battery life will be of little concern.

Besides, the 2nd fan is only standard on the X61 with WWAN. other users will have the option to add the fan at their discretion.

Antioch · #19 Post by **Antioch** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:28 am

Unfortunately X61t is laid out differently than X61/s machines are and as a result their palmrests don't get as hot. It's a shame.

The use of battery by a second fan will be minimal at best - it's quite a small fan and, though I don't have the specs on hand, I'm sure it doesn't use many watts. But who knows! We'll see. I'm going to try it out just to see how well it works (or not).

mgags7 · #20 Post by **mgags7** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:07 am

jkahng wrote:
mgags7 wrote:guys don't forget that this extra fan is going to eat up extra power. I haven't noticed my palmrest getting hot at all yet on my x61t and I've had it for almost a week now.
Some X60/X60s owners complained of blistering heat on the right palmrest. I've heard of people forced to use an external keyboards or cover the palmrest with cloth to avoid the heat.
Although it won't affect their current situation, the option of a second fan will help when it comes time for them to buy another X series.
For these people, I would guess that a little loss in battery life will be of little concern.

Besides, the 2nd fan is only standard on the X61 with WWAN. other users will have the option to add the fan at their discretion.

yes, but that heat problem does not exist with the x61t, and since this fan is only compatible with the x61t, mentioning the x60 problem has no relevance.

Antioch, are you saying your x61s has the heat problem like the x60?

Antioch · #21 Post by **Antioch** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:38 am

The fan *is* for the X61/X61s. Please refer to the hardware maintenance manual - it is called "Second Fan."

I am not saying my X61s is hot because I do not have one yet. I am saying that other reviewers have mentioned that it gets warm with the WiFi/WWAN on. This makes sense because the design is practically the same as the X60 - the only difference is a vent to let warm air out of on the palmrest as well as the optional second fan. What I am saying is that I will install the second fan in my X61s when I get it and see if it helps any.

ThinkPad X61 Dual System Fan

ThinkPad X61 Dual System Fan

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