Big problem solved....

[edik]

Installed CentOS on my T500, after a BIOS reset, and it ran so hot that even touching the left metal hinge would almost burm my finger.

I could feel the heat from the machine.

Decided that couldn't live with this, tried various other Linux, same result.

So put back on Windows 7 Ultimate... still so hot it was uncomfortable to use the machine.

Solution?

Initially I selected "discrete graphics" assuming that meant the Intel Low Power card, but of course it was the ATI card, so selected back to "integrated"....

Boy... the heat difference is ENORMOUS.

Intel generates NO heat, the ATI *HUGE* heat....

May help somebody!

[edik]

Should also say using the discrete graphics card caused huge ACPI problems with all Linux distributions...
Most failing even to boot stopping at the ACPI line in the boot sequence.

With the (integrated graphics) Intel card the machine is magic....

[dux5]

so ati cards won't work on linux??

[ajkula66]

Yes, Linux support for older ATi cards is pretty much non-existent, which is the main reason I haven't gone 100% Linux years ago...