Thinkpads Forum

Hi there

I am using Ubuntu (Mate Desktop version) 14.04 LTS on a Quad Core i7 T520, i have a second drive in the UltraBay (both normal SATA 7200 drives 320 main and 80 in UltraBay), 8GB of RAM and only use the integrated graphics card (disabled the discrete one) and also disabled most of the ports in the BIOS (don't use them..).

It came with Win 7 Pro (deleted within 10 minutes!) but I checked idling with a tool and it was giving around 55-60C idle (didn't have time to check thoroughly too eager to delete Windows...).

I am also using Thinkfan and set level 1 fans to run below 51C and this gives me idle around 50 degrees C in Powersave and Performance mode. So most of the time the laptop sits at 50C.

50C seems very cool as the laptop doesn't even seem to get warm (barely noticeable underneath).

Increasing the fan levels only gives me 3-4 degrees C benefit (to around 46C) but with a lot of noise so Level 1 seems optimal.

I configured ThinkFan to kick in aggressively after around 60C and this gives me a pretty cool system.

Although I am familiar with Linux I am not familiar with the i Core series at all. I have searched the net but many people seem to configure their ThinkPads to run at *ZERO* fan to 55C... safe?

Am I way off ballpark or are my figures OK?

many thanks, happy new year.

55C is safe, but seems high for a T520, especially if you are using integrated graphics. I would reseat the cooling fan and tighten the screws and check the temps afterwards. There have been some reports of T520/W520 units shipped with misaligned heatsinks. Other than that, you could also try applying better thermal paste.

For reference, my W530 (which uses virtually the same chassis as a T520/W520) with a 3720qm and K1000M graphics forced on, idles at 40C.

I'd say that you need to at least refresh your thermal paste, and make darn sure the heatsink is sitting properly on the CPU/GPU.
50C idle is too high.

Thanks guys.

T520/i7-2760QM (4 Cores, 8 Threads)
8GB/2xSATA Drives (1 UltraBay)/Integrated Video selected in BIOS

Windows 7 Professional idle
55C

Ubuntu 14.10 + MATE idle
49-50C

Ubuntu 14.10 + LXDE idle
41-43C (as low as 39)

Well I disabled ThinkFan and let the BIOS control the fans and now get around 44C idle (CPU cores 39 to 43C) with no processes open except this browser.

On Battery power and Powersave governor I can idle at 43C.

The machine is new and completely unmarked (original drive and SMART data showed just a few hours power on) so its not as if its been stretched out, also has 2 months warranty left.

Machine is (almost) totally cool to the touch at 45C.

I will see if I can get this even lower!

EDIT: Using LXDE Desktop instead of MATE drops down to 42C idle..

Hints:
Already using powertune...
Dropbox BIG CPU hog (hashing)... got cpu down by using "/usr/bin/cpulimit -e dropbox -l 5"