X61s' fan keeps running

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spune · #1 Post by **spune** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:20 pm

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? I have the CPU set to adaptive but the fan still keeps spinning pretty loudly. The bottom of the laptop is not hot at all, so I don't understand why the fan needs to spin so fast. Also, the fan doesn't slow down on battery mode either.

#2 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:49 pm

Have you tried TPFanControl? Works great on my X61 -- fan is very quiet most of the time.

spune · #3 Post by **spune** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:53 pm

tomh009 wrote:Have you tried TPFanControl? Works great on my X61 -- fan is very quiet most of the time.

I just did after you mentioned it, but I receive an error message upon opening it.

"Error during initialization of WinIo Driver. (winio.sys missing in app folder or failed to load)

I think it has something to do with the fact I'm on Vista Business X64. I'm assuming your fan is quite audible as well without tpfancontrol?

Jackboot · #4 Post by **Jackboot** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:24 pm

Have you adjusted the "optimize fan control to" setting in the Lenovo battery manager?

#5 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:41 pm

spune wrote:I just did after you mentioned it, but I receive an error message upon opening it.

"Error during initialization of WinIo Driver. (winio.sys missing in app folder or failed to load)"

Did you do "Run as administrator"? That's the most likely cause of that error message.

spune · #6 Post by **spune** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:11 pm

tomh009 wrote:
spune wrote:I just did after you mentioned it, but I receive an error message upon opening it.

"Error during initialization of WinIo Driver. (winio.sys missing in app folder or failed to load)"
Did you do "Run as administrator"? That's the most likely cause of that error message.

Yes I did.

roblim · #7 Post by **roblim** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:24 pm

The fan on my x61s is a bit loud. Seems like each x-series i buy is a little louder than the last one. X22 = virtually silent, X32 = fan was barely audible, X61s = i can hear the fan(s) clearly in a silent room.

Antioch · #8 Post by **Antioch** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:39 pm

[censored]. I'm scared now. I got 3 people to confirm that the X60 fan was very quiet... =\ And that is my #1 concern.

Tan Mann · #9 Post by **Tan Mann** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:38 pm

roblim wrote:The fan on my x61s is a bit loud. Seems like each x-series i buy is a little louder than the last one. X22 = virtually silent, X32 = fan was barely audible, X61s = i can hear the fan(s) clearly in a silent room.

OK...this is crazy...

Can anyone here unequivocally say if the X61 is quieter than the X60 w/ same CPU, as in C2D, with same power settings doing the same thing, like visiting the same website with some noisy flash?

I will want to transition from my X31 to an X6x(just to keep up with my buddy, TOMH009!) but I really would love to know if anyone here know if the X60 C2D is quieter/louder than the newer X61 C2D when doing the same sort of thing, preferably not in a cradle/media slice.

Personally, I cannot stand noise in a computer....very jarring to my sensibilities...if the X60/X61 beasties are as noisy/hot as people imply, I would have to stick with my aging, but very serviceable X31

Anyone tried X60/X61 C2D w/ Vista with the blingy nonsense turned off? Battery Life? Fan noise? Heat? Comments?

Jackboot · #10 Post by **Jackboot** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:40 pm

The fan speed/noise will vary depending on how you have configured your battery manager settings as well as on your ambient room temperature...an X60 in an air-conditioned office will run cooler and more quiet than a non-AC'd X60.

I am 100% certain that all but the most anal-retentive users would agree that the lowest fan speed for the X60 is essentially inaudible and certainly not 'loud'. TPFanControl can easily force the lowest fan speed.

patch · #11 Post by **patch** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:51 am

I must be losing my hearing! My x61s has been compiling for the past hour and I can barely hear any noise at all coming from it. It's still comfortable on my lap too! Though I can certainly hear that it is turned on, unlike my mac which makes zero noise all the time.

spune · #12 Post by **spune** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:14 am

patch wrote:I must be losing my hearing! My x61s has been compiling for the past hour and I can barely hear any noise at all coming from it. It's still comfortable on my lap too! Though I can certainly hear that it is turned on, unlike my mac which makes zero noise all the time.

Which Power Profile are you using?

#13 Post by **tomh009** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 5:33 am

Running TPFanControl, I have now experienced a variety of fan speeds. Levels 1 and 2 are barely noisier than the spinning sound of the hard disk. Level 6 is still quieter than the X31 fan (which admittedly does not come on very often).

I believe that the X61 runs impressively cool, especially with RMClock managing the voltages, but in the end the Core 2 Duo does still use more power (and thus produce more heat) than the Pentium M.

The X61s might run a bit cooler, but other temps are within a few degrees of CPU, and those would be the same components on a X61s.

roblim · #14 Post by **roblim** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:35 pm

Just to clarify--I have to be in a SILENT room in order to hear the fans on my x61s. I mean no AC, no open windows, just super quiet. If there is even a little bit of ambient noise, it's difficult to hear the fans because they just blend in to the background.

I am pretty sensitive to noisy machines, but I wouldn't rule out the x61s because of noise. I think the noise level of the x61s is very acceptable. I sold an x32 for the x61s and do not regret doing so because the x61s makes a bit more noise. I've heard much worse.

gunston · #15 Post by **gunston** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:38 am

tomh009 wrote:
...I believe that the X61 runs impressively cool, especially with RMClock managing the voltages, but in the end the Core 2 Duo does still use more power (and thus produce more heat) than the Pentium M... .

thought C2D should have lesser power consumption compare to Pentium M processor?
that's why the X series thinkpads with CD and C2D can last for 8hrs battery life.

#16 Post by **tomh009** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:53 pm

1.5-1.7 GHz Pentium M models had 24.5W TDP (Thermal Design Power), while the 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo in my X61 has a TDP of 34W. Definitely hotter if you have both cores going, though not twice as hot.

Battery life? That eight-cell battery certainly helps as well ...

gerdh · #17 Post by **gerdh** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:46 am

I am running tpfancontrol on an X60 1707-DC3 with Core 2 Duo 2 Ghz CPU - the BIOS fan control starts the fan once the machine is warm and never shuts it off. Unfortunately, this machines fan makes an annoying howling noise while blowing air, other X60 we have do not do that at all.

- Now, would a change of the fan assembly help?

Second set of questions:
tpfancontrol allows for fan levels from 1 to 64; well, 0 is "off", but 1 is already 2800 rpm, and with 3 the machine´s fan reaches screaching 3500 rpm.

Is there a way to adjust fan speed to tpfancontrol levels 1 to 7 or so?
what temperature levels are acceptable to operate in (CPU temperature)?

thanks for a comment,
Gerd

iamdmc · #18 Post by **iamdmc** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:27 am

I have an X61s and X31, and I have to say that the X61s makes almost no noise. The fan is always on lowest unless I use it for more than 2 hours or am playing a game. The fan is often on, but it doesn't bother me one bit. It keeps the system at a consistent temperature, unlike on older laptops where there would be temperature spikes that would turn the fan on leading to huge dips... as a result, the laptops got hot and the components broke down faster.

The X31 is still a solid machine, and I'll still love it for its lengendary reliability, but I'd never go back. It gets very hot (especially at the bottom) after only an hour or less of normal use, the fan is much louder than on the X61s, and is 25% heavier than my X61s. Not to mention aesthetics, such as the amount of plastic around the screen (bezel), the size of the mouse buttons (huge on the X31 vs. X61s) and the keyboard is less crisp and responsive than the X61s.

Overall the X61s is a dream. It would run nearly silent (inaudibly) if it didn't have a platter HD - and it won't once SSD comes out.

gerdh · #19 Post by **gerdh** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:52 am

I appreciate your expressed admiration for the X61s; however, I am looking for detail info about

- noise of fan
- adjustment to utility sw tpfancontrol

is there anybody out there with some knowhow to share?

thank you.
Gerd

awolfe63 · #20 Post by **awolfe63** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:31 pm

Mine is moderately noisy and runs a lot - even on adaptive.

Still a great machine though.

RedGreen · #21 Post by **RedGreen** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:39 pm

When the fan in my X61s is in running at speeds 1-3 I dont notice the noise at all, on 4 I I have to think about it to recognise it.

I run Linux and have it set up to let me change the fan speed at will but I usually decide to let it be a little louder to protect my components from the heat.

I would however say that the palmrest heat is a bit much. It will get hot enough that I am wary to leave the machine on any longer (or have my wrist touch it). I have a WWAN card so im not sure if thats adding to the heat much, but I have read that with the card comes an extra fan that should cool it off better; if some of the heat I get is considered cooler than other people I would really be worried about there machines.

apbudha · #22 Post by **apbudha** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:37 pm

RedGreen wrote:When the fan in my X61s is in running at speeds 1-3 I dont notice the noise at all, on 4 I I have to think about it to recognise it.

I run Linux and have it set up to let me change the fan speed at will but I usually decide to let it be a little louder to protect my components from the heat.

I would however say that the palmrest heat is a bit much. It will get hot enough that I am wary to leave the machine on any longer (or have my wrist touch it). I have a WWAN card so im not sure if thats adding to the heat much, but I have read that with the card comes an extra fan that should cool it off better; if some of the heat I get is considered cooler than other people I would really be worried about there machines.

RedGreen: May I bother you to ask what wireless network adapter you have? (Atheros vs. Intel)

RedGreen · #23 Post by **RedGreen** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:55 pm

apbudha wrote: RedGreen: May I bother you to ask what wireless network adapter you have? (Atheros vs. Intel)

No problem. I have the Intel 4965AGN card.

I may have exaggerated a bit about how it it gets, but it still does get quite warm sometimes. Its only once in a while that it gets hot enough to worry me.

Jackboot · #24 Post by **Jackboot** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:01 pm

I've said it a couple of times but I'll say it again...

The right palm rest on my X61s with the 3945 card feels no warmer than the left palm rest. They are both room temperature. This is after having been on my notebook for the last hour.

My X60s with the 3945 is another story - it get uncomfortably warm on the right palm rest. There are 3 differences between the 2 notebooks: X60s uses XP instead of Vista, no air inlet vents as on the X61s, and uses a silver heatsink instead of copper as my X61s. It is probably a combination of all 3 that allow the X61s palmrest to not have a problem with heat.

apbudha · #25 Post by **apbudha** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:27 pm

Jackboot wrote:I've said it a couple of times but I'll say it again...

The right palm rest on my X61s with the 3945 card feels no warmer than the left palm rest. They are both room temperature. This is after having been on my notebook for the last hour.

My X60s with the 3945 is another story - it get uncomfortably warm on the right palm rest. There are 3 differences between the 2 notebooks: X60s uses XP instead of Vista, no air inlet vents as on the X61s, and uses a silver heatsink instead of copper as my X61s. It is probably a combination of all 3 that allow the X61s palmrest to not have a problem with heat.

and I believe I recall your post, and take it a lot of folks on the internets are taking it as truth (and of course no reason no to, in your case study). I just wish there was more information on this, like on anandtech or something.

my history is I had a x31 for 3.5 years, I bought an acer to save money as I'm in grad school, and now I'm seriously considering switching back after price drop, basically for the weight,battery, and nav(trackpoint).

I do like the widescreen on my aspire 5570Z though, but not the glare, the heaviness, or touchpad when I'm trying to work stretched out. anywho.

Jackboot · #26 Post by **Jackboot** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:56 pm

I wish I had some equipment to take measurements but unfortunately I do not.

I think it may be possible to tweak the driver settings for the X60s 3945 card to get it to operate cooler but I haven't spent the time necessary to do so. It appears that the battery manager software under vista allows one to tweak the performance settings on the X61s to operate cooler - I am running my X61s at the coolest settings possible.

gerdh · #27 Post by **gerdh** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:01 pm

I had a particular question about modifications to a low level XP service called [b]tpfancontrol[/b], making use of the Winio dll and sys.

Instead of just setting fan speed levels from 1 to 7 in the GUI I need to understand how this is actually translated in fan commands for the hardware to be able to modify to my machine. Any idea out there?

I appreciate comments about "my X60 is not loud at all" or "vista could help", but these post fall under "wrong topic" if intended as reply to my mail.

best regards,

Gerd

apbudha · #28 Post by **apbudha** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:04 pm

Jackboot wrote: X60s uses a silver heatsink instead of copper as my X61s.

how do you know this about the heatsink?

also i briefly just read silver is better, slightly:
http://www.overclockers.com/articles452/

X61s' fan keeps running

X61s' fan keeps running

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