Repairing T500 - broken fan and replacing?

[itamee]

So basically I have had 2 T500's. One's fan does not run at all and the other one runs at times, but the cpu gets too hot so the computer forces shut downs.

I must admit, I was trying to play games like League of Legends. I then went on and tried TERA which I think is what killed the fan. I have upgraded to a custom PC set up now so all my gaming and high performance editing will be done on this machine. But I'm wondering could I actually mod inside a better fan for the ThinkPad(s) (let's be honest, they are pretty bad xD)? Or will it be a case of buying another? And if that is the case, which one would work because there seems to be thousands of different types for the same laptop?

Thanks

[skm67]

I popped open my T500 and got the part # for the fan and searched online and found a new replacement fan for about $10. This is just the fan and not the whole assembly with the heat sink. It was pretty easy to replace if you are handy.

[itamee]

I popped open my T500 and got the part # for the fan and searched online and found a new replacement fan for about $10. This is just the fan and not the whole assembly with the heat sink. It was pretty easy to replace if you are handy.

Oh right - I search mine but they only come with a heat sink which costs around £30 + postage from US so eh.

I've seen this advertised on eBay for £2.19 - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-CPU-Fan-C ... SwgQ9VsJHS

They have in the title "T500" but then in the description it states "Compatible Modles:IBM Lenovo T61 T61P series." so unsure :/ Awaiting a reply from the seller if it would be compatible

[thinkpadcollection]

Just a note, the T500/W500 fans have more blades than T61 series fans and helps with high watts design that CPU and GPU generates.
My advice is just buy a used heatsink for T500/W500 with GPU and take fan off and oil bearing, clean fins just in case and seal again with kapton tape.

By the way, some used T500/W500 fans in place of T61 for better cooling performance, my included as well.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[TPFanatic]

That ebay fan looks like the right shape and housing for a T500. But see that it says "For" a T500, it's aftermarket and we don't know if it will be noisier or slower, or faster than the stock?

This is what my T500's fan housing looks like, see the wire colors and no sticker on the motor, just text. http://i.imgur.com/7Dm2W9e.jpg

[thinkpadcollection]

Correct, this fan from ebay is for T61 only.

The fan with more blades as mentioned before is for T500/W500 and can be used to upgrade T61 heatsink using this better fan due to hotter GPU if equipped and is important to clean out fins too.

Like this one:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Genuine-IBM-Leno ... SwiCRUatLM

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[itamee]

So this one would be fine? - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Notebook- ... 2376909515

Also, would this ram work? - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... ROKL5A1OLE

Sorry if I sound like a total noob - I'm just used to desktops :/

[thinkpadcollection]

No and no, sorry.

Problem with looking around for new memory is usually 1Rx8 configuration and will not work, also voltage for this vintage is 1.5V.

That fan is for 61 series only. The HD3650 GPU is so much hotter than most of GPUs of comparable performance GPU needs original fan design. Ebay link I provided for heatsink is the right one.

What you need to look for is like this, even samsung is no problem; http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-samsung-8GB- ... SwLN5WjpBy
Even PC3-12800/DDR3-1333 will run at DDR3-1066 no problem. Another link on DDR3-1333; http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Laptop-Memory-Ra ... SwqYBWpKQS

Note to other posters do not leave out details about low density memory based on 2Rx8 for T4x0/T5x0, they will chase and find wrong ones and get frustrated. I do not know if this memory requirement is for Tx30 series yet.

Update: I tried 2Rx16 2x 1GB in T410 vintage (this has same problem as your T500 and Tx20 also). This is an 8 chips per module format. Works. Just to clarify any 4GB 1Rx8 will not work, I know had done that before.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[itamee]

Could I get those T61 fans for the berring and swap it out with my original fan? As the berring is what is gone, not the fan itself?


Thanks