Thinkpads Forum

I recently bought on Amazon a refurbished x230 and have been happy with pretty much every aspect of it, its speed, graphics, ease of use, but once again especially its super-speed

The only aspect that bugs me is the noise that increases each time I open a new program, and then decreases if it thinks the program is "idle". I am not sure if it is the processor or the fan - or both, because it starts heating up fast together with the noise.
Unlike other laptops I have owned, this noise behaves like a motorbike which drifts at the bends and accelerates wherever it can.

Typical examples of when the noise and heat increase:
- Having various browser/Chrome tabs open, in which one contains Flash or Java animation
(as soon as I close that page, the noise goes down!)
NOTE: this does NOT happen with video streaming like Youtube etc, but usually with Flash/Java banners... not sure what the difference is
- Using an advanced function in a graphics program
(as soon as I stop the function the noise winds down!)

What worries me a bit is that my previous base computer was an old Asus eeePC 1000H on Windows XP - using the same programs, functions and seeing the same web pages I NEVER EVER heard the noise/fan/processor go up or heat up that much.

My first question is: is this common on this model? Or should I be worried and take action to avoid damage?
My second question is: is there anything I can do to improve this?

Specifications of my model:
x230
Windows 8.1 Pro
Intel Core i7-3520M CPU @ 2.90 GHz
8 MB RAM
64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor

P.S.: I was planning, at some point in the future, to start using this machine for really basic video or multimedia/audio editing. But with the noises and temperatures I get with a graphics program.. I am a bit concerned.
But then again... if that's normal on this model, why could I do all that with ease on an Asus eee PC??!

Have you tried to clean the heat sink? Probably is full of dust.

You'd also need to replace the thermal paste (like AS5) between CPU and cooler.
Your machine is clearly overheating.

Thanks for your replies...

Does any of this involve opening/disassembling the computer?

If I have no experience opening it, would it be better to send it to Lenovo or something - or is it a fairly easy task?

If this is a so-called "refurbished laptop", whoever did this, did a lousy job.
The job should have included full fan cleanup and thermal paste removal, for which you need to take at least half the laptop apart.
Either send it back for a refund or replacement, or (if you have money to spare) send it to Lenovo,
or find someone capable (NOT your friendly neighbourhood repair ripoff shop), perhaps through the forum?

RealBlackStuff wrote:If this is a so-called "refurbished laptop", whoever did this, did a lousy job.
The job should have included full fan cleanup and thermal paste removal, for which you need to take at least half the laptop apart.
Either send it back for a refund or replacement, or (if you have money to spare) send it to Lenovo,
or find someone capable (NOT your friendly neighbourhood repair ripoff shop), perhaps through the forum?

Which is the best option if I don't want to loose my data?
(There was no system recovery CD or anything like that)

You can try also with a can of compressed air blowing into the heat sink, the effect will not the same but maybe improves

If you give it to (anybody) for repair, keep the hard disk.
Or better: start learning how to fix it yourself.
Begin with D/L this: http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... 666_01.pdf