Thinkpads Forum

So my recently acquired T410 was running very hot. Browsing the web using Firefox with a few tabs open and VLC playing some tunes would result in CPU tempts in the lower 90's celcius. Just idling at the Windows desktop would have temps hovering in the mid 60's. So I figured that the machine was past due for a good cleaning and a new layer of some Arctic Silver 5.

Below are some pictures of the process.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/ ... fb1a65.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/ ... fb1a65.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/ ... d7e09f.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/ ... 112e48.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/ ... bd0cb1.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/ ... 31fc5d.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c163/ ... 9e16bf.jpg


The end result is idling temperatures are around 44 degrees celcius and load temps are in the low 80's. The fan barely comes on now and the whole machine is settling in nicely. I've read a lot of reviews about this unit and many people commented on how cool and quiet this machine is and I was finding it hard to believe. Well, now I do. I have replaced the TIM on many laptops in my life and it has never failed to reduce the temps. But I am very happy with the drastic reduction in temps.

EDIT: Lenovo had a plastic black sticker on the CPU with cutouts for the 2 exposed dies. The old TIM had gotten underneath it and was quite nasty. So I removed it. Unfortunately, the 91% isopropyl alcohol I used to clean the TIM from the rest of the CPU was not able to remove whatever glue they used to adhere the sticker to the CPU.

Mod edit: pictures way too big! Replaced them with links. Please read the Forum Rules!

Also,

I was using tpfancontrol before I cleaned out the system and it seemed to help a bit. But after restarting my nicely pasted machine, it seemed to keep temps higher and it kept fluctuating the fan speed. So I removed it. I have been using CoreTemp on a lot of my laptops to monitor CPU temp (because I am a geek and I like to do stuff like that). With tpfancontrol removed, my temps are about 4-6 degrees celcius cooler.

I am a very happy camper.

EDIT: I am browsing with FF and 4 tabs, and VLC playing some music. Both cores are reporting 37 degrees celcius. Awesome.

[quote="Temetka"]Also,

I was using tpfancontrol before I cleaned out the system and it seemed to help a bit. But after restarting my nicely pasted machine, it seemed to keep temps higher and it kept fluctuating the fan speed. So I removed it. I have been using CoreTemp on a lot of my laptops to monitor CPU temp (because I am a geek and I like to do stuff like that). With tpfancontrol removed, my temps are about 4-6 degrees celcius cooler.

I am a very happy camper.

EDIT: I am browsing with FF and 4 tabs, and VLC playing some music. Both cores are reporting 37 degrees celcius. Awesome.[/quote]

The default settings on tpfancontrol do keep temperatures a little higher, but it is a highly configurable tool. You should try it in Smart mode 2,as it keeps temperatures lower.
I typically keep it set to BIOS mode unless I have a particularly demanding CPU task, at which point I go to manual mode 64.

With a machine this powerful (compared to my D630), I think I will let the BIOS handle the cooling for now. If I decide I want more control, I can always re-install tpfancontrol.

In the first couple pictures is that how much thermal paste they slather at the factory? Looks like way too much. The way the paste is applied makes a big difference IMO.

sir_synthsalot wrote:In the first couple pictures is that how much thermal paste they slather at the factory? Looks like way too much. The way the paste is applied makes a big difference IMO.

In my experience this is what I have noticed as well. Initially both my Dell E6510 and my X200tablet initially had excessive amounts of thermal compound when I checked them out. In general for any laptop I get these days one of the first things I do is to check the fan and its components (may possibly be clogged with dust) as well as an application of fresh thermal paste. Nothing worse than a laptop that runs terribly hot!

Not sure if the application of thermal compound is automated at the factory but I would say that Lenovo needs one of us (TPF members) for consultation when it comes to the assembling a ThinkPad with TLC

Also congratz on your new to you T410 Temetka!

This is a used laptop so I cannot be sure if the amount of thermal paste that was in pics was the factory amount, or if applied by a previous owner. That being said, typically the OEM's will order the HSF's with paste already on them. All the factory workers do is remove a protective cover and install the HSF. It's kind of like when you buy a boxed desktop CPU that includes the HSF and all you do is remove the plastic cover and install it. But for 25,000 pieces or however many of that model HSF they ordered.

emeraldgirl08 wrote:
Also congratz on your new to you T410 Temetka!

Thanks!

I am really enjoying this machine.