W500/T500: Noise and heat with T9400

[Systematician]

I consider buying a W500 with the T9400 processor (2.53 GHz, 6 MB L2 cache). I wonder if switching to the integrated graphics from the dedicated ATi FireGL V5700 - GDDR4 and using an SSD will improve the temperature and noise score compared to Notebookcheck's results in this review.

The T500 with a worse GPU and P8600 (2.40 GHz, 3 MB L2 cache) achieves a better score, especially regarding noise; I wonder if this is mainly due to the less powerful GPU or the less powerful CPU. Only the latter is relevant as I plan to switch to integrated graphics, but I wonder if I can modify the power settings to make the T9400 behave more like the P8600.

Basically, I can accept a low degree of noise, but I must be able to keep the palmrest absolutely cool. Does W500 with the above settings (T9400, integrated graphics, SSD) achieve this?

[RealBlackStuff]

I have an upgraded T500 with T9400 and switchable ATI/Intel graphics for sale http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=119186
I haven't noticed any 'warm' palm rest there!
PM me if interested.

[Systematician]

I could be interested, but do you ship to Norway? Also, I would like to see some pictures of the machine.

Does anyone else have experiences with the noise and heat of the T9400 T500/W500 when using integrated graphics (and an SSD)?

[ajkula66]

I have a T500 with T9400 and the palmrest doesn't get warm at all. It currently has an Intel X-25E in it. You will hear the fan if you push the system hard.

My wife's R500 was the same way with the Micron C400.

[Hans Gruber]

I have two T500's. Both will soon have the T9600 2.8ghz processor. The one that doesn't have it installed is running on a 2.4ghz and runs very cool and efficient. The other runs as hot as blazes with the discrete graphics and a bit warm with the integrated graphics. I will post pics of both because I think they utilize different heatsinks but both hav AMD 3650 graphics. I like the 16:10 ratio displays more so than the 16:9 displays. Both of mine are the 1680x1050 resolution screens.

[n2ri]

I have two T500's. Both will soon have the T9600 2.8ghz processor. The one that doesn't have it installed is running on a 2.4ghz and runs very cool and efficient. The other runs as hot as blazes with the discrete graphics and a bit warm with the integrated graphics. I will post pics of both because I think they utilize different heatsinks but both hav AMD 3650 graphics. I like the 16:10 ratio displays more so than the 16:9 displays. Both of mine are the 1680x1050 resolution screens.

Lenovo did some poor designs cooling starting with the T/W500 serises some physical changes some software but not designed for the faster/hotter CPU/GPUs only easy fix found is a 3rd party app called TPFC or Think Pad Fan Control google it. the guy made it for several manufacturers/models laptops. it works very well at keeping laptop from shutting down due to high heat limits triggered with heavy usage over 60%. My W500 still gets warmer than my T61 but under limits even at max usage. btw limit is 93c WOW thats near boiling point of water. it also causes power supply to get very hot when that happens due to resistance changing turning both into heaters. physical change I noticed on them is they added fine screens to air inlets on bottom which T61 dont have as it restricts air flow by at least 25% and its already limited and dont need screen, just blow dust out some now and then.

[Systematician]

Thank you for all the replies. I think I need to stress that I am extremely sensitive to even moderate heat. I tried a T520 with the i5-2520M (integrated graphics). Noise level was alright, but the level of heat on the palmrest was not, even after adjusting CPU settings. Looking at the Notebookcheck review, one would not think that this would be a problem, even though the CPU tested there (i5-2410M) is slightly slower.

It was supposed to be a refurbished machine, but as I was going to return it (for other reasons), I didn't look for dust on the fan.

Does anyone know if R500 with integrated graphics stays cooler than T500, given the same CPU and SSD?

[ajkula66]

Does anyone know if R500 with integrated graphics stays cooler than T500, given the same CPU and SSD?

I wasn't able to notice a difference. However, neither of them gets warm in the palmrest area in my experience.

[jedisurfer1]

Have the t500 and w500 2.8ghz and t520 2.5ghz and I noticed no warm palmrest. I think running an SSD will be better for heat in that area. Only thinkpad thought that got warm at the palmrest was the x61 and x61t.