T43 Noisy Fan problems

[skibum1981]

Quick question: I have noticed people complaining about a noisy T43 fan. Is this only for the p model? What models generally have the noisy fan problems?

[jdhurst]

I have a T41 that runs at body temperature (37 - 38 C) if the ambient temperature is 21 C or less. It runs at 40 C or more if the ambient temperature is 23 C or more, or I am working it hard. The fan is much more noticeable over 40 C than at 38 C. The fan is not noticeable at all at 38 C or less.

I just set up a T42 (brand new by the way, branded totally as IBM) for a client and it seems to want to run at 41 C even at idle. The fan is on and noticeable much of the time, but not enough to bother me.

Both are 1.8 GHz Dothans, mine has the 7200-rpm drive whereas the T42 has the 80 Gb 5400 rpm drive. Both have IBM (Atheros) WiFi, so I don't know what causes the increase in idle temperature.

In another post here, I just read someone's T43 was running at 46 C at idle. I'm not sure why newer models are running hotter.
... JD Hurst

[roast]

My T43p runs 44-50 idle. Right now it's 46 (so it was kinda ironic when I read that and looked at the systray to check my temp).

I would generalize the problem to the T43/T43p line. It's either IBM's fault putting it together (since the 'p' is only to designate the "higher end" models that meet a specific criteria) or Intel's fault with the new chipset or just the fact that PCI-express requires so much more electrons flying around (ie, bigger bus, faster bus, da da da, more heat dissipation).

[sugo]

I don't think it's Intel. Not all Sonoma laptops make more fan noise.

[skibum1981]

I don't think it's Intel. Not all Sonoma laptops make more fan noise.

bump...

[roast]

I don't think it's Intel. Not all Sonoma laptops make more fan noise.

That's true. Forgot about that.

[odyssius]

T42's noise level is very very low, but never silent. But since it's too low, (definitely lower than a normal desktop fan noise), so people usually says the noise is blended into the background noise, which is actually very true.

[Bluecat]

I understood from other forums, Sony, Toshiba, Dell, that all Sonoma Lappies are really hot. The fan on the S series Sony is famous to be very loud. Trust me, by default louder than my T43p.

My take is that with the new chipset, knowing it was going to be hotter, the manufacturers preferred to be safe than sorry and made sure there was sufficient cooling.

If I want a quiet surrounding I put it on Standby.... super fast in and out of that.

[odyssius]

"well....this chip is supposed to run faster, so it's normal to be noiser". I agree with that, but uh....it can be a "little" noiser, but not that much.

[stalin]

Guys, please do bug IBM about darn fan. It would be nice if they do smth about it...

[sugo]

I played with Sony new S. It makes no more noise than non-Sonoma S.

[roast]

Well, if it really is true that, in general, all Sonoma chipsets are currently dissipating more heat and requiring more fan action on part of every other notebook manufacturer, then I wouldn't worry. I'd be sitting in a class with 20+ other people with hot and noisy Sonoma chipsets, and the professor won't be able to single any of us out (though they may decide to ban noisy notebooks altogether).

I'm just worried about having to be the single person in the room with a noisy laptop, which is, unfortunately, also quite distracting while I'm working by myself.