Thinkpads Forum

The X220 has a fan noise problem. Watch the video to see and hear (use headphones) how bad it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBVwVlEy19I

Lenovo needs to fix this. And BIOS update to version 1.16 is not the solution - tried that and this did not fix the problem. It did "something", but nothing that really solves the problem.

Until this is fixed - laptop buyers needs to be advised not to buy this machine.

This is a $2000+ laptop, so this is clearly not acceptable.

Having to use the fan at all on a laptop that just sits there doing nothing useful is pretty pathetic in the first place. The fast revving up and down on a fan that is part of a slow thermal control loop is even worse. And very annoying.

I am sure Lenovo has some clever engineers who can solve this, but is it enough of a priority?

I would suggest you take this up with Lenovo directly

I don't hear my fan at all on my X220 (Core i5 2540M) unless I put my ear right next to the exhaust port (where your candle is). YMMV

GomJabbar wrote:I don't hear my fan at all on my X220 (Core i5 2540M) unless I put my ear right next to the exhaust port (where your candle is). YMMV

+1

Good for you. The X220 in the video, where I believe you can hear the fan (right?), is a Core i7, 2620M. Plenty of horsepower for doing nothing

If the Core i5 is silent, it proves that the overall thermal system can handle that amount of power without needing much action from the fan - OR that you have a more silent type of fan.

On the what can you hear - this site http://www.freemosquitoringtones.org/ lets you easily judge the frequency limits.
I can't hear anything over 10 kHz, but the kids are way more sensitive. The other aspect is what kind of background noise you have - my place is quiet. No traffic noise, no ventilation noise, a few birds singing... that's it.

On taking this up with Lenovo... Yes, but where on earth do you get in contact with someone who will actually care?

rolf_o wrote:On taking this up with Lenovo... Yes, but where on earth do you get in contact with someone who will actually care?

join the lenovo forum and state your case in the existing thread: http://forum.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Thi ... d-p/425965

regarding the sound, my high-frequency hearing is still north of 15 kHz and i can hear my X220 fan whine in quiet conditions.   you aren't alone on that one.

the issue is being investigated thoroughly though.   there will be further updates on the topic in the coming weeks.   the thread linked above will be one to watch along with the X-series board overall.

lenovo is listening (no pun intended) and does care.