X201 - TPFanControl & thermal Sensors issue

[Boten]

Hello,

Since i got my ThinkPad X201, i have to say that it's been running incredibly hot despite the BIOS update to the latest version 1.40 & repasting + cleaning the CPU...

I've done some online research and found a really cool software http://tpfancontrol.com --- It seems that the software is compatible with WIN 10 64 BITS so i've done the installation but the program is working only in manual mode.. so i'm in the obligation to adjust the fan speed manually... i've noticed as well that all the thermal sensors are all in n/a..

1 CPU n/a
2 aps n/a
3 crd n/a
4 gpu n/a
5 no5 n/a
6 x7d n/a
7 bat n/a
8 x7f n/a
9 bus n/a
10 pci n/a
11 pwr n/a
12 xc3 n/a

Has anyone had this issue before ?

Cheers

[shawross]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

Firstly what software other than Windows 10 do you run on your X201?

The X201 can run hot depending on software and air circulation to CPU.

It sounds like a Windows 10 problem to me. I have Windows 10 64 bit installed on mine but I am overseas at the moment and I am not sure if I have TPFC installed. Did you install W 10 yourself? Did you do a clean install?

On the website it does say it is compatible with W 10 but you could try to reinstall in Windows 7 compatibility mode.

Sorry to bombard you with questions.

[Boten]

Hello shawross,

Nice to be in this community it seems there's a lot of passionates thinkpads users!

Firstly what software other than Windows 10 do you run on your X201?

Nothing really special, it's a brand new virgin win 10 installation.

I've done a brand new virgin Win 7 earlier on this night but I still have same problem even under win 7 with all drivers installed via lenovo system update.

It would be interesting if different users in this community test the software under their x201 thibkpads

Any hint will be much appreciated!

[mpcook]

My X201 always ran consistently hotter than X200 or X220-i7. Which version of tpfc are you running? If you search, you will find threads related to modifications to the X201 to help it run less hot.

[Pokrzept]

I just have tested latest version of TPFanControl (0.62) on my X201 w/W10 64-bit and it ran flawlessly but it shown me only cpu temperature in available sensors window.

[Boten]

I`m running the 0.63 version, here a screenshot:



@Pokrzept: could you tell me your drivers & bios version ?

[shawross]

My X201 doesn't run hot but sometimes warm depending on what I was doing. Running HD video will generally warm it up.

Installing Windows 10 will warm it up I would think. When I installed Windows 10 I did a clean install and this is always recommended.

Have you installed Power Manager and I would recommend conservative settings for Maximum CPU speed either Moderate or Low.

Power Manager normally doesn't want to install and I found the following on another forum which worked for me.

Install the Windows 10 Assessment and Deployment Kit ( adksetup for Windows 10) and download from Microsoft. (when you install Windows ADK, choose only Application Compatibility Toolki (ACT))
From the start menu, run the Compatibility Administrator, either the 32-bit or the 64-bit version depending on your application
In the left-hand pane under System Database (32/64-bit) -> Applications, look for the corresponding application.
In the large pane on the right-hand side there should be an entry AppHelp - HARDBLOCK
Right-click the exe-file with the hard block and select Disable entry
Now you should be good to go. In my case I additionally had to set the program to run in Windows 7 compatibility mode.

I would recommend to install Malware Bytes Free Version and give your drive a scan and also install CCleaner.

I did have TPFC installed on Windows 7 but I am sure that I didn't install on Windows 10 because I didn't have heat or fan noise problems.

I also found Windows 10 to be faster than Windows 7 but YMMV. Especially after switching as much off on Windows 10 as possible.


Good luck

[mpcook]

I`m running the 0.63 version, here a screenshot:



@Pokrzept: could you tell me your drivers & bios version ?

I agree, try 0.63 ver. This is what I am using now on all TP's. I do not have the X201 any longer however. It was always one of the hotter ThinkPads I have owned.

[Boten]

@showross: thanks for your suggestions, I've done all of them but still getting the same prob with tpfancontrol and it didn't change that much regarding its coolness it's still running very hot.

The thing that u don't get really is the passivity of the bios, I'm monitoring the CPU temp with core temp and I've noticed that the bios make the fan run only when it's 100° and more... In this case just let it burn why spin when it's extremely hooot? Could it be bad thermal sensors in the motherboard?


@mpcook: did try the 0.63 version too, need to get some real tests results from x201 users..

I've done some online research regarding ventilation and they're all stating that it's the major problem with the x201 thinkpads models since they're small with a little fan - - - it seems to be the main cause

[shawross]

I don't get back to my home for another couple of weeks and then I can check my bios and embedded controller versions. But sounds like something is screwed up there.

Maybe try unplugging computer from mains and removing battery and then press power button for 30 seconds.

[Boten]

I don't get back to my home for another couple of weeks and then I can check my bios and embedded controller versions. But sounds like something is screwed up there.

Maybe try unplugging computer from mains and removing battery and then press power button for 30 seconds.

Buzz me back when you go back buddy!

That's what i was thinking too, there's definitely an issue somewhere with the BIOS.

I did an experience earlier:

1) turned off completely the laptop & wait to cool down completely
2) turn on laptop but leave it for 40 mins on BIOS ONLY
3) Came back 30mins later and he was boiling even inside the BIOS only...

Really weird...

[shawross]

First try to reset/clear your embedded controller by the process I outlined. Something might have corrupted in your bios flash.

Because if that doesn't work I really don't know at this stage.

[Boten]

Thanks for your help guys.

I was thinking to program a JAVA App but i've finally switched to Ubuntu, it's more simplier to manage the fan within the OS.

It's done by the mod_acpi and you can control the fan via simple commands "service thinkfan start" & "echo level 4 > /proc/acpi/ibm/fan"

> http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_control_fan_speed

Did setting to some automated scripts and now the Thinkpad is runing flawlessly under Ubuntu 16 LTS! No more heating up...