T30 fan operation question

[burns334]

My T30 is a model 2336 2.4 Ghz machine, it seems to operate normally but the bottom of the base gets very warm. On startup I hear the fan run on high and as it gets to the desktop it cuts back in speed. The unit makes some noise as if the fan is running (it is very quite) but there is only the slightest of airflow out of the slots and they look very clean. Is there something I should do here? Do I have an impending problem? I have never updated the bios on this machine does that effect the fan?

[RealBlackStuff]

With a Dremel you could cut some small slits in the upper right hand corner of the wifi-door (looking at the bottom of the laptop, with door still mounted).
This would greatly improve air circulation. Some doors already have these slits.
When you remove that door, you'll see the fan in that top right corner.

You should update BIOS to 2.10 and ECP to 1.07. Do BIOS first, then ECP.

[burns334]

Thanks again RBS, I just looked at the Lenovo page and description of improvements made in the later bios versions and lots of them suggest improved thermal performance, that certainly looks like the place to start.

[burns334]

I updated the bios and EC and that went well, I removed the cover from the bottom of the unit and it seems like the wifi card is the warm area. When I start the laptop the fan spins up but comes to a stop about the time the desktop appears. I've been watching the fan for about an hour now and I have not seen it run again. Is this normal? Is there a utility that tells me cpu temperature and what is the high limit of temperature? My wifi door already has 12 small slots.

[nikki605]

Many of us here use MobileMeter. I have it installed on my T21.

[burns334]

Thanks nikki, I will give that a try. I tried tpfancontrol and it certainly makes the fan run but it seems to have a mind of its own.

[nikki605]

MobileMeter only reads laptop data and displays information - CPU speed, CPU temp, HDD temp. It does not allow you to 'control' anything. That's all its designed to do.

[Majestic]

Thanks Gary for the heads up on MobileMeter. Just what I was looking for.

[jronald]

http://www.pbus-167.com/
More features, slightly bigger footprint.

Ron

[burns334]

Update on CPU temperature, tpfancontrol certainly gets the fan running more often which has to be a good thing but it seems like the temperature varies from 50C when idle to about 75C (fan running) when playing a cnn video, is this expected or is it to high? Should I open it up and redo the fan to CPU interface with new thermal paste? The metal bracket on the wifi card holder also gets hot.

[RealBlackStuff]

Unless you need the horsepower, put in a 2.0 CPU, that's the 'sweet spot' for a T30.
If you use the old wifi/modem combo card, swap it for an Intel 2200BG or 2915ABG.
They should not run as hot as the old one (no modem that runs unnecessary).

[burns334]

Unless you need the horsepower, put in a 2.0 CPU, that's the 'sweet spot' for a T30.
If you use the old wifi/modem combo card, swap it for an Intel 2200BG or 2915ABG.
They should not run as hot as the old one (no modem that runs unnecessary).

RBS, Are the CPU's from T43's compatible?

[ajkula66]

Let me answer this one for my good friend RBS...

No, they're NOT compatible under any circumstances.

You have a P4M in that T30, T43 (as well as the rest of T4x generation) uses a PM which stands for Pentium Mobile.

[jronald]

I have never run anything higher than the 2.0 in my T30's. Run cool and with at least 1.25 gig of memory, it is the sweet spot.

Ron