How important is CPU fan?

[TRS-80]

I have a confession to make. A good long while ago, I took my R51 out into the shop and took some compressed air to it to clean out the dust (as I do periodically with all my computers, but usually PCs). Taking the easy/lazy (ignorant?) approach, I blew into whatever vents I could reach from the outside, without disassembling anything. Immediately I heard something breaking (or maybe it was when I started it back up, don't remember now).

Anyway, disassembly revealed I had broken some of the fins on the CPU cooling fan. Not having a spare, I broke all the other fins off (so the fan could spin at least, without being off balance) and hoped that the heat sink alone could keep the CPU cool. And then of course, I got busy and never got around to ordering parts. That was probably a year ago or so, actually maybe more like two now that I think about it. And the machine is still running fine, including being used in a truck in a landscape company during summers in Florida. I can't believe it actually. I just came across some CPU fans in the Marketplace which made me think to order one finally. I guess I am just writing this to add another story to the canon of legendary Thinkpad reliability and thought someone might get a kick out of it.

Moderator edit: Moved to the R/A/G/Z-series forum.

[Medessec]

That's kinda funny. Doesn't surprise me either- I got a T43p in that was in horrible shape, and the fan was super noisy. I found out it was because 3 fins were missing, but the computer can still cool itself just fine.

Thinkpads have a pretty nice thermal design... even with some fins missing, the fan will still cool the computer to a degree. The OS may run slower, and certain tasks such as gaming will cause problems or overheating, but it won't be completely out of business... unlike other machines. As long as air is still being pushed through the fins, I suppose.

[Cigarguy]

Don't know man, you're playing with fire. Just because you got away once on 1 machine with a certain specs doesn't mean it'll work with others. Would be nice if you can eliminate the fan, no power consumption, less noise, etc.

[TRS-80]

Don't know man, you're playing with fire. Just because you got away once on 1 machine with a certain specs doesn't mean it'll work with others. Would be nice if you can eliminate the fan, no power consumption, less noise, etc.

Oh, don't get me wrong, this is not something I plan on as an MO going forward. lol Just relating an anecdote. As a matter of fact, I have just ordered a replacement fan, which is what made me think about (and post) this.

[Medessec]

Well, laptops are made to save themselves from imminent destruction if they run too hot-it's why if you run the CPU without proper cooling, the BIOS screen takes awhile, or Windows takes forever to boot. It is very dangerous and destructive to run a laptop like that in the long run, but in the short run, everything just runs slower than it otherwise would.

As long as there are still fins on the fan to keep air flowing, the laptop will still seemingly operate fine. The fan may have to spin faster, resulting in reduced fan lifetime, etc, etc.

Good you ordered another fan though. It'll keep your endlessly reliable T4x going.