New T60, disappointing noise - help!

[Antioch]

After Lenovo destroyed my T42 I was upgraded to a T60 (2613-HKU) with a 2GHz core 2 duo, ATI x1400 graphics card.

After I power up the machine, in Windows or in BIOS, the fan kicks up a notch to the same level as my T42 during intensive 3D apps. My roommate has a T60 which, according to tpfancontrol, is running at the same temps - however his fan is running at 2900RPM while mine is at 3400RPM.

I can hear the difference, its like silence and a jet engine. I'm very very disappointed with this machine, almost to the brink of not wanting to use it.

Is there any way to clock down the ATI core, manually control the fan speed, or is any other way quiet down this loud beast?

I believe I have the newest BIOS and ATI drivers - 2.00G and 8.293.1 respectively.

Thanks for the help,
disappointed and upset T60 owner.

[christopher_wolf]

Well, I would rather consider using TP FCU directly rather than trying to downclock the GPU core. TP FCU should do the job nicely.

[Antioch]

It doesn't let you control the fans, just read the temps -- otherwise I'd use it.

Also, I'd like to correct myself. My fan runs between 3500 and 4200 RPM. It is LOUDer than my desktop.

[agarza]

It doesn't let you control the fans, just read the temps -- otherwise I'd use it.

Also, I'd like to correct myself. My fan runs between 3500 and 4200 RPM. It is LOUDer than my desktop.

Make sure the fancontrol.ini setting:

Code: Select all

// ENGL: Set to "active=1 "allow program to modify 
// fan.  otherwise it just reads config.  do not
// set to 1 unless you have checked the readme file!
// if you set "active=2" the program will come up
// in smart mode.

is set to:

Active=2

doing so you'll be able to set the fan speed and threshold levels.

I've found out that in some machines, the fan kicks in at higher speed (3400-3500)rpm because the thermal compound has a bad thermal mating with the CPU. For example, in my T41p with stock thermal compound in the CPU and GPU, the fan sometimes would run at 3400rpm just browsing the net, sometimes at 2900rpm. Then I replaced the thermal compound with Zalman STG1 and the fan constantly hums at 2900rpm (this without the TP FC running)

Could be useful if you post your Thinkpad temps as read by TP FC.

[Antioch]

CPU 39°C (0x78)
APS 35°C (0x79)
PCM 31°C (0x7a)
GPU 71°C (0x7b)
BAT 50°C (0x7c)
BAT 30°C (0x7e)
BUS 33°C (0xc0)
PCI 39°C (0xc1)
PWR 36°C (0xc2)

Fan State: 0x80 (BIOS Controlled)
Fan Speed: 3527 RPM

If I set it to manual I get 0 = 0ff, 1 = 2 = 2900RPM, 3 = 4 = 5 = 6 = 7 = 4300RPM.

1/2 is still a bit louder than my T42 and louder than my roommate's T60.

I miss my T42. It's GPU ran at 45C. What is the deal with the X1400, was ATi on drugs when they released it??

Can anyone else comment on their T60 temps? Am I doomed to suffer through this crappy noise? Quite irritating for the "IBM" quality.

[marlinspike]

I would comment on temps but I don't get how to use the TP FCU utility. I ran it, but all it shows me is
[11/14/2006 3:22:32 AM] Current Config:
[11/14/2006 3:22:32 AM] Active= 0, Cycle= 5, FanBeep= 1200 30, MaxReadErrors= 10
[11/14/2006 3:22:32 AM] IconLevels= 50 55 60, IgnoreSensors= XXX,YYY,ZZZ
[11/14/2006 3:22:32 AM] Levels= 47°C -> 0, 50°C -> 3, 55°C -> 4, 60°C -> 7, 70°C -> 0x80

[filter]

Well before playing with manipulation on your GPU clock, I'd advice to you upgrade to BIOS 1.09 and get the newest ATI drivers and use powerplay. Then set your BIOS power settings and your windows energy profile to appropriate settings. That should do the trick.

[Antioch]

I don't think I can use BIOS 1.09 with a Core2Duo, and I do believe that 1.10 is out on the website anyways.

Which BIOS power settings are you talking about? I couldn't find any.

I have the newest ATI drivers and powerplay does nothing. The temps stay pretty constant when the GPU is powerplay clocked down to ~150MHz as compared to full clock of 350MHz.

Actually, the temps stay pretty constant regardless of the fan speed as well. I can turn the fan off, on low, or on high and the temps don't fluctuate much.

[thinkweird]

After I power up the machine, in Windows or in BIOS, the fan kicks up a notch to the same level as my T42 during intensive 3D apps. My roommate has a T60 which, according to tpfancontrol, is running at the same temps - however his fan is running at 2900RPM while mine is at 3400RPM.

I can hear the difference, its like silence and a jet engine. I'm very very disappointed with this machine, almost to the brink of not wanting to use it.

disappointed and upset T60 owner.

Return it and get one that comes with an integrated graphic card.
Tell me the graphic card of your roommate's T60.

It is NOT the CPU that makes the fan run, it is the high temperature of GPU and sometimes PCI (wireless) that forces fan to run at top speed.

Besides, the fan is on the left instead of behind the screen which can be used as a sound barrier shield. Change the location of the fan will make a big difference.

No intention to cause a flame war here but rumor goes that hp dv2000t is sooo quiet.

[steveg47]

I looked at the dv2000t and seriously considered buying it; but, ultimately decided on the t60p. The primary reasons I finally rejected it were: No trackpoint, no pc card slot, mediocre keyboard, limited video options and the fact that I work with thinkpads every day and knew I would never be satisfied with anything less. If I hadn't been spoiled by thinkpads I believe I could have been happy with the HP. The price was certainly right.

[Seeb]

I'm also interested in the graphic card model of your roommate
Antioch.

Furthermode in the temperatures of marlinspikes GPU, can
anyone explain to him how to use this TP FC(?) tool? :-]

[Antioch]

My roommate has the same card, X1400. He just has BIOS 1.10 as compared to my 2.00G. His X1400 runs at the same temp as mine - all of the TP fan control temp probes report the same temps, only his fan is either in off or very low mode (in BIOS control mode) where as mine (in BIOS control mode) is at 3500RPM+.

I'm hoping that a newer BIOS rev. will get the fan behaving better. But I'm pretty upset that the X1400 runs at 70 deg C regardless of clockspeed OR fanspeed. Why put a shoddy piece of hardware in a laptop, Lenovo? Why?

[ronan_zj]

My roommate has the same card, X1400. He just has BIOS 1.10 as compared to my 2.00G. His X1400 runs at the same temp as mine - all of the TP fan control temp probes report the same temps, only his fan is either in off or very low mode (in BIOS control mode) where as mine (in BIOS control mode) is at 3500RPM+.

I'm hoping that a newer BIOS rev. will get the fan behaving better. But I'm pretty upset that the X1400 runs at 70 deg C regardless of clockspeed OR fanspeed. Why put a shoddy piece of hardware in a laptop, Lenovo? Why?

that sucks. Right now, I am thinking if I really need go for T60 X1400. what about T60p? does T60p fan work good???
uhhhhu