Thinkpad Fan Speed/Temp Control (sorta long)

[skygodtj]

While searching thru posts about pulsating cpu fan on startup, I came across a post about changing the speed(and temp) of when the cooling fan would come on on a T4x.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=17715

I also remember reading posts from some that wanted to change the trigger temp of the fan so it would run all the time, or at least run the cpu a lot cooler. It may have been the same thread and the link below was the answer... prob was...

I followed the link in the post:

https://sourceforge.net/project/showfil ... _id=153962

d/l'ed the zip file and clicked on the ReadMe file. After a LOT of caveats about "fooling with the fan may turn your prized laptop into a large griddle" it said it was tested on several models by some brave souls but that the T23 was one that it worked on... sooooo....

After doing the simple test to make sure I can get back to BIOS fan control, I let it run..

WOW!! Thiis is GREAT!!! On AC power, without a load, the cpu temp is idling around 38C (it's warmer than that outside my door!) The PCMCIA area is 45C.. never thot I'd see that! Fan RPM is 4879. I can change the rpm to a specific temp range.. the fancontrol.ini file has the following temp triggers:

Level=40 0
Level=45 3
Level=50 5
Level=55 7
Level=65 10
Level=70 128

The Levels are temps in C, the number after the temp is the fan speed(but isn't an RPM), there is not a table what number equals what speed, but is says that a speed number of 0 make the fan shut off, while 64 would make the laptop take flight. 128 makes the BIOS take control.

ok, load test... rendering raw video to MPEG/DVD, CyberMedia ProducerExpress compiled three video clips into one mpeg file in a little over a minute. Highest CPU temp was 61C, fan rpm 5014, on completion, cpu temp now back to 42C, rpm 4904. When the temp drops below 40C, the fan will shut off. Interestingly, when I switched back to BIOS control during it, the fan shuts off, temp rises to 71C. I go back to Smart Mode(from the table) fan restarts, temp drops to 61C, fan rpm, 4945. 4:30 minutes into the rendering and the temp is below 63C!

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ok, I'm convinced, this is going onto my kids T23's. They are really bad about keeping the fan exhaust clear when they play, so if I make the fan run all the time, they should stay a lot cooler..
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D/L it, read thru the ReadMe.txt carefully, run it in passive mode(just monitoring), then if all looks good, set it to active.

One word tho: It says it will not load/run if any other temp monitoring programs are running. I can confirm that, with MobileMeter running, TP Fan Control will not load and you'll get an error msg. If you start Fan Control first, then run MM, all is well and you'll have MM to confirm what TP FC is reporting.
Hope this helps someone..

Have a good 4th of July..

TJ

[skygodtj]

Using the T4x Fan Control on my T23 (2647-8RU) yields these numbers:

Fan Setting:
----------------------------
0=fan off
1=1800-2313 rpm
2=2284-2431 rpm
3=4386-4992 rpm
4=4742-5011 rpm
5=4705-4869 rpm
6=4833-5029 rpm
7=4802-4912 rpm

A setting of 7 gives these numbers idling:

CPU 41°C (0x78)
APS 45°C (0x79)
PCM 43°C (0x7a)
BAT 26°C (0x7e)
BUS 0°C (0xc0)
PCI 0°C (0xc1)
PWR 0°C (0xc2)
XC3 0°C (0xc3

While 6 gives these:

CPU 38°C (0x78)
APS 47°C (0x79)
PCM 47°C (0x7a)
BAT 26°C (0x7e)
BUS 0°C (0xc0)
PCI 0°C (0xc1)
PWR 0°C (0xc2)
XC3 0°C (0xc3

It's interesting to note that a fan setting of 6 is a little higher rpm than 7. Changing from 7 to 6 has a slight audible change too.
I am surprised tho that there is such a large rpm jump from 2 to 3, nothing in between 2400-4300 rpm, may be a bad harmonic range

The T23 nust not have monitoring probes in the Bus, PCI, PWR or whatever XC3 is areas...

Test bed is a 1.2Ghz T23, 2647-8RU (originally a 1.0Ghz -4MU), 512RAM, 40GB HD, CDRW/DVD.

TJ