Thinkpad T430 Loud Fan Noise Problem

[latches]

I ordered this thing a month ago and only got it yesterday, Tues Oct 23rd. It was in good condition and worked fine out of the box but I immediately noticed that the fan was LOUD.

It isnt a normal loud either. It has this high pitched hum to it. When it isnt running at high RPM it is nice and quiet but when it spins up to high - around 42*C - it sounds like one of those bad florescent lights that annoyingly buzz without release all class. I only really hear it when Im alone and in a quiet place but when you're trying to do work...this is going to get REALLY annoying. It just buzzes and buzzes til it stops running.

Ive been doing my research and most have no idea what to do. I installed the Lenovo Fan Control Drivers but I have no idea how to use it. I bet if I could set the fan speed and have it run at that speed most of the time Id be alright with the sound.

I called tech support and they're sending me a box but I dont know if I want to wait another week. Yes, its just a week but Im a grad student and I need to work! This is ridiculous. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it normal? Will they fix it? The computer itself runs fine and runs cool. I dont understand why it starts freaking out at ~42*C. Wtf...

Specs:

CPU: i5 3210M
RAM: 4GB DDR3
GPU: nVidia 5400M
OS: Win 7 Home Premium

Edit: I think its worth noting that the buzzing goes away completely when I put the computer on its right side (literally sideways). Im guessing the fan is off kilter?

Edit 2: So I started experimenting with pressure points and found that if you apply a small bit of pressure - just pushing a bit with the thumb - at the point between the docking port and the battery - the buzzing goes away! What does that mean? Is the buzzing the fault of something other than the fan? What could be the problem?

 

[corkyg]

Take a look here in the Lenovo forum. That issue is cussed and discussed - seems to be common.

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-and-newer-T-series/T430-Fan-speed/td-p/796515

 

[paul878]

Try TPfancontrol, http://www.staff.uni-marburg.de/~schmitzr/donate.html

If that is not satisfactory to you, return it for a refund.

Base on the discussions over the Lenovo forum, that seem to be a very common complain.

 

[MarkLuvsCS]

One thing I noticed with my T530 was in the Lenovo Power Manager (double click their battery icon) and turn off "Lenovo Turbo Boost". I noticed my fan instantly was running more quiet (altho the T530 doesn't get "loud" to me).

 

[sm625]

Go buy a pentium B980 notebook for $300 and use it till you get your main notebook performing acceptably. Then return the B980 notebook. (Or heck, whom knows? You might end up keeping it instead and telling lenovo to go spit.)

 

[latches]

Ya, I read that it was a common problem but it seems like it got worse today. I dont know why. Its really annoying. They sent me a box. I think Im going to send it in once and see what happens. If it isnt fixed or stays the same or whatever Ill just live with it like I was planning to do anyway. So fucking annoying. It ruined my whole day today not being able to do anything about it. Im so used to diagnosing and fixing problems on the desktops I build. Sigh...

 

[paul878]

Ya, I read that it was a common problem but it seems like it got worse today. I dont know why. Its really annoying. They sent me a box. I think Im going to send it in once and see what happens. If it isnt fixed or stays the same or whatever Ill just live with it like I was planning to do anyway. So fucking annoying. It ruined my whole day today not being able to do anything about it. Im so used to diagnosing and fixing problems on the desktops I build. Sigh...

I have the same laptop, from what I have read in the lenovo forum there don't seem to be a fix for it.

Please Try TPfancontrol, it will keep the fan off until cpu gets to 60 degree.

 

[latches]

I have the same laptop, from what I have read in the lenovo forum there don't seem to be a fix for it.

Please Try TPfancontrol, it will keep the fan off until cpu gets to 60 degree.

So do you think I should send it in? And are you having the same problem? The pressure point thing really throws me off. Is there something lose maybe? I can stand the noise if it were like a blow dryer - low and humming - even if its loud but this buzzing is like a bee is stuck inside...I mean wtf should I do?

 

[paul878]

So do you think I should send it in? And are you having the same problem? The pressure point thing really throws me off. Is there something lose maybe? I can stand the noise if it were like a blow dryer - low and humming - even if its loud but this buzzing is like a bee is stuck inside...I mean wtf should I do?

The fan noise I am having is like everyone else on the Lenovo forum, it is just annoying fan noise. The fan is always on and spins at a minimum of 3400rpm when the CPU is 42c degree. Before I updated the bios my fan was spill at 2800rpm, so I don't know what is going on with that. Normally the noise is not noticeable except when I am alone in my room. It is brother some when I use my laptop in bed at night.

I don't have the pressure point thing, sound like something is lose inside your laptop. If you can stand blow dryer noise then there is definitely something wrong inside! May be the fan blade is hitting something, I would send it in and let them check it out.

If the fan noise still annoys you after the repair I would suggest you get a refund. No reason to live with it for the new few years!

 

[latches]

So I installed TPFanControl and I have to say - I like the quiet but now it runs at about 53*C. Thats a full 10* more and lol my left palm gets real toasty. Not sure what to do guys. What do you guys thing about sending it in?

 

[latches]

Im returning it. Came back from depot with a scratched lid and the palm rest unseated. Touchpad just would not work and isnt detected. Ill just order something else or the same thing for cheaper later.