T43 -- What fan?

[gentoo]

I just got my brand new T43 an hour ago after checking UPS's website about five times an hour. Needless to say, I am very excited about the new machine. But, since I ordered from IBM a week ago, I've read so much about the incessant fan noise on the T43s and how it's a huge step down from the uber-quiet T42s. I was worried -- did I order a bad model? Should I have gone with the T42?

All I can say is, either they fixed the problem in the newest models or the fan "problem" isn't as bad as some are complaining. The fan turns on during bootup, which is completely acceptable, but after that I can barely hear a whisper from my machine. I am in a completely silent office right now with no distractions. I can only hear the fan when I put my ear right up next to the machine, and even then it's quiet. My laser printer makes more noise while idling than this laptop does.

Anyway, I'm not an authority on Thinkpads by any means, and I've never used a T42 to compare, but for those leaning towards a T43 but concerned about the fan, I say give it a shot if that's the only thing holding you back, because I do not believe it is the machine-destroying issue that many have made it out to be. Or, as I said, they may have just fixed the problem on the newest machines.

[basilio]

Oh. Really good comments to me. Could you tell me which model you have and when you ordered it ?

[gentoo]

I ordered the 2668-4EU. I don't know if it's on the website; I spoke to a phone rep to place the order.

14.1" SXGA+
Pentium M 1.86ghz
40gb hdd
512mb ram
ATI Mobility Radeon x300
CD-RW/DVD
Wireless a/b/g
Bluetooth
3 year warranty

I placed the order on 5/17 and it wasn't scheduled to ship until 6/1, but it arrived today.

[gentoo]

Oh, and for those interested, the machine is still branded as an IBM. Even the packing materials say IBM.

[danny_isr]

did you use the wireless till now ?

[gentoo]

Yeah, I have wireless turned on. There is definitely a distinct difference in fan speed when wireless is turned on, but it is still not the ear-deafening roar that I think this problem has been made out to be.

[chbone]

One point to make:

If the fan runs faster now, it will be more noisy in the future. My emachines becomes noisier and noisier over time. I think it needs some oil or some dust issues. If the fan speed is faster, it will hurt you eventually. At least, it will shorten the fan lifetime.

[danny_isr]

but it is still not the ear-deafening roar that I think this problem has been made out to be.

Tell me about it

[danny_isr]

I’m curios about something else actually , when I’m playing games and it’s getting really hot. The fan doesn’t turns faster then wile its doing nothing (with the Wireless ON)
Is this what you experience with yours as well?

OR When I boot my laptop I can hear it for few seconds on high RPM . I NEVER heard it on any other situation (except the Boot) turning fast like that..

[gentoo]

I am at work and only got the laptop delivered this morning. I am going to install a few games on it tonight and see what happens; I'll let you know. I did notice the same thing as you though: the fan boots to a high rpm when the laptop is first turned on, but after that it quiets down considerably and I have not been able to do anything else that seems to get the fan that fast.

Also, and this may be an aurall hallucination, but I think the fan seems to have gotten quieter even while my wireless remains on. I'm using the wireless right now to type this and the fan has definitely slowed down again to its pre-wireless speed that I noted in my original post.

Has anyone used a decibel reader to get actual measurements on this? I might have a weekend project, I think...