x40 vs x60s, want QUIETEST laptop

[flyingsherpa]

I'm trying to decide on a used ultraportable and have narrowed the list to the x40 or the x60s (unless someone has a better idea!). I am a silence freak, I am a regular at silentpcreview.com, where we all obsess over every decibel our machines produce. So I'm trying to figure out which of these 2 laptops will be quieter. I'll probably put a ssd in either (though I realize the x40 makes this a little harder with it's 1.8" slot), so it might all come down to fan noise (or screen noise, sometimes LCDs can whine). I believe the x60s uses less power than the x40 so it could be quieter, though that depends on the heatsink/fan they use.

Anybody out there who has compared the noise characteristics of these two? I know I could find a fanless laptop (dell x1?), but they usually have their own issues. I don't mind a fan kicking in when I'm doing something cpu-intensive, but I'd rather it stay off for office work and browsing. Thanks for any input!

[ssd_thinkpad]

I heard the x61s is even cooler than the x60. You can use software to completely disable your fan for daily use. You can even set this software to activate the fan only if it gets too hot. The x40 with ssd and fan turned of was totally quiet. I know that some backlights seem to have a very silent sound when set very low, that seems to be a transformer issue.

[archer6]

I have an X60s (1705-24U ) which is the quitest ThinkPad I've ever owned. Zero noise, and even at night in my very quite home office, with no ambient noise levels present. Equipped with the Intel Core™ Duo processor L2300 (1.50GHz) with low voltage, dual-core, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology, this is one very cool running laptop. Unlike so many other in the X60 lineup where people complained of hot or warm palmrests and noise, this one is exceptionallly cool.

Just for fun, I weighed it with the 4 cell slim battery and it only weighs 2.8lbs and is very sleek and easy to carry. The battery fits flush and does not protrude from any surface, therefore the X60s is very flat on both sides and easy to slip into any bag, or case. At 93% of full size the keyboard is very solid and easy to use, compared to my prior X models (see signature below) this X60s is far and away the best of the series.

For a brief time I had a new X61 but it just did not measure up so I sold it. One of the few new ThinkPads I've ever sold. Usually I keep them, but this one was too noisey and warm to keep. I tried everything to cool it down and did make some progress and got it into the normal "acceptable" range of temps. However I'm simply too spoiled by this S model to use anything else in that category. I can highly endorse this model. Finally I have a friend with one, and his is equally as cool and quiet as mine is, so it's not a fluke. This particular model is a fantastic machine.

Cheers...

[flyingsherpa]

I have an X60s (1705-24U ) which is the quitest ThinkPad I've ever owned. Zero noise, and even at night in my very quite home office, with no ambient noise levels present. Equipped with the Intel Core™ Duo processor L2300 (1.50GHz) with low voltage, dual-core, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology, this is one very cool running laptop. Unlike so many other in the X60 lineup where people complained of hot or warm palmrests and noise, this one is exceptionallly cool.

Great info, thanks acher6. Just to clarify... are you saying the reason so many others complained of hot palmrests while your laptop is cool is because its an x60s or because its specifically a 1705-24U version of the x60s? If it's the latter I need to be more picky in my ebay hunting. Thanks!

[archer6]

<snip> Just to clarify... are you saying the reason so many others complained of hot palmrests while your laptop is cool is because its an x60s or because its specifically a 1705-24U version of the x60s? <snip>

Actually I'm such a ThinkPad Addict.... That in 2006 when I learned that 2007-2008 would be transition years in terms of Lenovo making changes to the entire lineup I decided to "stock up" on the 60 series ThinkPads I was interested in, so in the event that they acted on some of the rumors I was hearing (such as offset displays, no IPS, etc) I would be covered for awhile. So, to answer your question I have both and X60, and X60s, and found that it is the specific model number that I gave you earlier that is the real winner.

[uux]

I can only comment on the X series that I've personally used (X31, X32, X40, and X61s). Under my normal usage (web browsing, email, text editing), the X31 (1.4GHz) is absolutely silent. The CPU scales down and the fan stays off. With the same usage, the X32's (2GHz) fan comes on periodically. It's fairly quiet as it comes on at a low speed. I tend to sit in a quiet room with no background noise, so it is noticeable. Under full load, the fans in these two machines are loud. Even background noise (like a TV) isn't enough to drown them out. The X40's (1.4GHz) fan is constantly on. It's quiet, but not silent. Putting the X40 under load, the fan gets a little louder, but not by much. It's much more tolerable than the X31/X32 fan when under load. I just recently purchased the X61s (1.6GHz). It's fan is always on, just like the X40. It's also fairly quiet, but not silent, and maybe the slightest bit louder than the X40. It seems to stay at it's lowest speed (~3800RPM) under normal usage, but doesn't seem distracting to me. The machine gets fairly warm, so I don't want to override the default controller settings and shut the fan off.

I realize you didn't ask about some of these, but I thought I would share my experience incase someone finds the info useful in the future. Obviously, I haven't taken any actual measurements and these machines all come with various processor options and may vary in fan usage and temperature.

[archer6]

IUnder my normal usage (web browsing, email, text editing), the X31 (1.4GHz) is absolutely silent. The CPU scales down and the fan stays off.

I agree as the X31 I have performs exactly as you have stated here. This model is indeed the best of the pre-X60s models with the low voltage processor, and other advancements. In the three years that elapsed between the advent of the X31 and the introduction of the X60s a lot of improvements were made, and they truly show.

What makes the X60s I have so much better than my old X31 is the faster bus speed/memory speed and efficient processor. These elements translate to much longer run times from the battery as before in the X31, I would have to use the extended over sized battery which added weight and size. With the X60s I can achieve the same run times with the slim 4 cell battery that is so light it's barely noticeable. Thermal management has also been improved greatly, as the fan hardly ever comes on with my X60s. When it does, the only way to detect it is to put your ear to the computer, it's that quiet. Overall l must say that the performance of this ThinkPad outshines all the rest I have in terms of doing what it was intended to do.

Cheers...

[flyingsherpa]

Thermal management has also been improved greatly, as the fan hardly ever comes on with my X60s. When it does, the only way to detect it is to put your ear to the computer, it's that quiet. Overall l must say that the performance of this ThinkPad outshines all the rest I have in terms of doing what it was intended to do.

Have you done comparisons with other x60s versions? The reason I ask is that ebay has several 1705-xxx models but currently no 1702-xxx like you have. I looked them up and it seems like the only difference is yours has a 1.5 GHz cpu and the 1705's have a 1.66. Is that enough to go from cool like yours to hot? If so I can wait and see what else up pops up on the used market. But seems like with good speedstep / cpu control that they should be about the same (unless I am missing something).

Cheers,
chris

[ajkula66]

As long as it's Core Duo and not Core 2 Duo, any X60s will run cool and quiet, much more so than a X61s.

[ssd_thinkpad]

As long as it's Core Duo and not Core 2 Duo, any X60s will run cool and quiet, much more so than a X61s.

You think a x60s is cooler than a x61s if they both would have same GHZ?

[ajkula66]

I don't think I know.

[ssd_thinkpad]

Thanks, I was looking for a x61 because I thought it was cooler! This forum is great.

[archer6]

I can also vouch for the X60s and being cooler than the X61s, as I had them both and you'll notice the X61 is no longer in my signature for that very reason. Newer is not always better....

[archer6]

This forum is great.

Yes it is!

I love this forum, I've gained more ThinkPad knowledge and received more help here than I ever thought I would when I first joined.

It has enabled me to give back and help others, something that brings me great satisfaction....

Cheers...

[sjthinkpader]

X60s, X61s are very nice. We use them for work at the office.

Really any X series machines can be made to run quiet. I am typing this message on a X30 with a Transcend 32GB SSD and CPU set to lowest speed. The fan is off and I can only hear the click of keys as I type. NHC shows CPU is at 730Mhz and 33 deg C.

I have a X40 running on a 8GB CF via a CF/IDE adapter. It is also a noisely machine.