T43 operating temperature

[cmarti]

Do you know if there's any software to force the CPU into different power-saving modes? (I can force it to 800mhz using the power manager, but it would be helpful to have access to the other power modes as well, such as 1300, etc).

Thanks,

You can always use NHC, and it's free.

[Johan]

You can always use NHC, and it's free.

I recommend this suggestion! You may download Notebook Hardware Control ("NHC)" via the thread NHC 2 is out! and then get the "ACPI"-file as discussed e.g. --> here - and then you're simply in cool business! Then, when you want to really optimize (reduce!) your ThinkPad temperature (and hence reduce power consumption AND reduce fan noise... and also extend the battery life), you want to "undervolt" the CPU, which is explained very fine in e.g. the thread GUIDE: How to max out your battery life.

Note: By "undervolting" the CPU you don't loose anything (except the high fan noise and the short battery time!); what you do is adjust your particular, "personal" CPU the the minimum voltage setting which is sufficient for stable performance - in stead of continue using the default and a bit too high CPU voltage that Intel has specified to make sure that all CPU's would run (the thing is simply, as already said, that most CPU's will actually run exactly as well with slightly lower voltages - and that's your job, using NHC, to find out how low you can go!).

Good luck - NHC is really an outstandingly good program!

Best regards,

Johan

PS: A small clarification (just to avoid misunderstandings):

1. Reset the fan. <snip>

Ulrich meant re-seat (= take the fan out, apply new thermal compound, and put back the fan in its place).

[stand_99]

Thanks so much for the all the advice. I saw the post above for NHC above, but didn't know what it was. Your explanation is very helpful.

Furthermore, I just installed it and it's working great!

best regards,

[stand_99]

Recent update: I have finally gotten the nerve to take off the heat sink and I applied some new thermal paste. It made a few degrees difference, but not much. My machine still seems to run exceptionally hot for some reason.

One thing I noticed was that there is no thermal paste on the GPU, and I'm debating whether or not to take the machine apart and put some on there. Does anybody know whether this is advisable, or is there no thermal paste on the GPU for a reason ?

I've seen another thread that mentions that this, but I'm not sure what their reasoning is for saying not to do it: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 0d8a11ac91

Thanks in advance,

[ajkula66]

Thermal paste should NOT be applied to GPU.

Consider getting a long fan from T43p.

Good luck.

[Temetka]

I read through the NHC thread but was unable to locate the ACPI file Johan was referring to.

Anyone got a direct download link to said file? NHC is running fine, but I would like that ACPI config file.

[agarza]

I got the IBM config file from this page:
Enable fine-grained fan control with NHC on Thinkpads

stand_99:

Did you already undervolted your CPU, at least the 8x Multiplier and the 18X (800Mhz & 1.86Ghz), my T42p has 0.716 V for 600MHz (on older T4x series we do not have 800MHz as the slowest speed, and 1.8Ghz, 1.084V)

Good luck, did you notice the heat decrease after undervolting

[Temetka]

I got the IBM config file from this page:
Enable fine-grained fan control with NHC on Thinkpads

That was just what I was looking for. Although I did have to tell NHC to load all settings so as I could view the ACPI tab. Editing the 2 files took less than a minute and now I am good to go.

Thanks.

So idling at 600MHz generates 44 degrees c. I know dothans top at 100c. Is 44 good for idle or should I repaste the HSF?

[agarza]

Nah, 44C is good for idling temp, it also depends on outer factors such as ambient temp, the surface the laptop is lying on, etc

[Temetka]

That's what I thought myself, just thought I would see about 3rd party verification. So thanks for that.

[Tim M]

For fun, I was just doing a bit of torture testing of my T42 (really a T42p with the new motherboard as detailed in my signature). I used Video Card Stability test, which also brings the CPU to 100% usage (according to NHC). This makes it an ideal test, as both CPU and GPU are being stressed. Oddly, when I exit the "stability test" portion of the program but keep the application running, it tends to drive the CPU and GPU temps a bit higher until the program is closed; I don't know why.

Ambient temperature was warm, in excess of 80 F / 27 C.

Video "stability test" (20 min): CPU 82 C, GPU 87 C
Additional 7-8 minutes with app running: CPU 86 C, GPU 90 C (acceptable?)

Idle temps were in the low 50s (CPU) and upper 50s (GPU) with the higher ambient temperature.

EDIT: In the office today (with A/C), the temps are CPU ~46 C and GPU ~51 C (fan off).

Incidentally, all of these temps are with NHC undervolting the CPU to the lowest stable voltages (0.700 V @ 6x/600 MHz and 1.164 V @ 20x/2.0 GHz). The GPU is at its default clock speed.