High Pitch X220 Fan--should I send it back?

A fix for the high pitch fan is to use tpfancontrol, but that basically turns the fan off. Once the fan starts, it's a very high pitch sound and it makes my ears ring after a while (around Fan 3). I am not sure if sending it in will fix it. Is anyone else having this problem? Are there remedies?

In better news, this laptop runs SC2 decently . Max temp at 87...which seems all right considering that I am around 45-50 when I browse the internet.

Thanks all!

I apologize if this thread has been created before...I was reading through some very long x220 threads and saw tidbits of info here and there. I want to consolidate the information, if possible.

 

dont think it will be possible unless lenovo comes out with a new BIOS to decrease the fan speed.

mine is pretty audible too even when just web browsing.

 

On my T420s TPFanControl seems to use more fan speeds than are offered by the BIOS. I wouldn't claim to be an expert in this software but the place to investigate and try making adjustments is near the bottom of the .ini file.

My current settings are:

Which means that the fan comes on when the temperature reaches 60C and goes off when it drops to 55C.

However, the best efforts of this software won't prevent a noisy fan when the system is fully loaded but you can get a better balance between heat and noise than is provided by the BIOS.

John

 

Seems some people have the whinny fan and others don't. I wonder how many companies are supplying them with fans? Mine definitely has it. I thought my right ear was ringing too, when I first heard it. Concern built after five minutes of my ear ringing, ha. Computer off, whining/ringing gone.

Those who don't just say all they hear is the whoosh of air out the vents. Everyone's hearing is different. Either they are not hearing higher frequencies or their fans are truly quiet.

 

Do I change this in TPFancontrol's ini file?

 

That's the idea. Read the TPFC FAQs and then customise the settings to suit your own preferences while monitoring CPU and case temperatures. I suggest that you don't change the top setting.

John

 

I agree with the discussion here. TPFC alleviates a lot of the problems...but I feel like it's a stopgap? I will call lenovo tomorrow to see if there is a true remedy. I hope I don't have to send it in--I have no other problems with my computer.

Sigh.

 

TPFC lets the user adjest the balance between heat and fan activity. It cannot compensate for a either a heatsink that isn't properly mounted or a fan that is barely up to the task of shifting the heat. I suspect the problem is the latter. After all, my T420s can get noisy and that is a bigger chassis and therefore, I would assume, a bigger fan. Be thankful that you don't have the X1 where the NBR reviewer makes this comment:

John

 

At first, I didn't think it'd be a problem. But now my left ear is ringing as well. I'm just afraid that it would cause ear problem under continuous use.

Since some units don't seem to be affected by noise problem. I'd be interested to buy heatsink/fan and see if it makes any difference.

I don't want to return it though. With horsepower & RAM capacity in a small package, I'm overall happy with it.

Any idea where I can purchase Thinkpad/Lenovo parts?

 

Agreed, I love this machine... other than the fan. Everything else is solid.

I know one guy said he was going to have the onsite change the fan for him. Hopefully he can comment soon if that ever happened.

I am really against sending my machine in to have it serviced... this is my only computer and I work out of the home. My computer lost for a few weeks out for service really isn't an option for me. If I could just purchase a different fan that didn't whine, I honestly think this is the perfect computer (for me).

 

I think I'll wait and see if the on-site replacement works for him.

On the different topic ::

Unless Lenovo is willing to mail the FRU part out for you to replace it yourself, you can order fan/heatsink assembly from them for $60.

IBM Maintenance parts
Choose order from retail / no part to exchange, then search for "04W0435"

If on-site replacement does fix the problem for him, I'd probably order the assembly and replace it myself. Otherwise, I gathered from a very helpful post by chaose that the fan itself is indeed a generic fan (KSB0405HA). If it can be removed from the heatsink, I figure I'd order a couple of replacements from fleabay and see if they make different noise at higher rpm.

Too bad Thinkpad quality is going down the drain these days with Lenovo.

 

"I'm just afraid that it would cause ear problem under continuous use."

I'm going to take it this as a joke for hearing damage. The fan would have to be at a DB level of 85 or higher to cause hearing loss. At best I would say its 30db. Unless you know how to tear down you laptop then I would just send it in. It "sounds" no punt intended that your fan a bearing issue or fin or who knows what that is causing it to catch the air at a certain way that is bothering you. Call them.

ym

 

Hey if you got onsite for all means USE IT.

 

Yes, we need reports of people getting their fans replaced. Please!

 

Actually with high pitched noises I'm not convinced that volume is a necessary condition to cause ear damage. For example there is still very little known about tinnitus, how the condition is aquired, nor how to cure it but I got tinnitus about the same time everyone was using hard drives that made high pitched noises (I was subjected to many of them at work). I am now extremely sensitive to high pitched noises and do everything I can to minimise them. I would say if you can eliminate any of these noises then do it, particulaly if your ears are ringing after the source of the noise is gone.

 

I don't know, it seems like they wouldn't say anything is wrong with it if you sent it in. Technically it isn't malfunctioning, it is just annoying. Hearing loss probably isn't an issue, but sanity definitely is.

 

I have a feeling this fan issue is only showing up on the x220 with i5 or i7's because of the turbo boost. I'm not aware of any i3 users that has this problem. someone correct me if I'm wrong?

 

I'm not a doctor, but I don't think prolonged exposure to high pitch noise is good for your ears and health in general.

If it's something that I can fix it myself, I'd rather do it. Paying $60 for a replacement fan assembly is cheaper than having to deal with convincing tech support to open the case, shipping the laptop back to Lenovo, then probably having to argue with the tech guy that the fan is annoying.

 

Well, my x220 has the high pitch fan noise as mentioned by the thread starter. The annoying thing is that the noise is not continuous, it would start when the fan starts, then stops abruptly after a while, and then it would start again. Moreover, after hearing it for a long time, my ears would start to ring as well, and it feels like my brain is keep telling my ears that I'm still hearing the noise even though it stopped.

 

I know I'm double posting, but this high pitched fan noise is just driving me crazy! If I send the laptop back for a refund with the reason of the fan, do you guys think they will charge me for a restocking fee? Thanks.

 

I hate to say something like, "I think I remember an i3 guy reporting the problem." However that is exactly what I'm going to say, ha. I swear I remember reading about the issue on Lenovo's forum and the guy had an i3. If I find it again I'll chime back in, but I *think* I saw one.

Anyone with an i3 confirm?

 

Sorry for not checking in. I tried to force myself to tolerate the fan, which happened. But then I went to study at the library, and ppl started telling me that my computer was annoying. At the point I realized that thix machine is being a hassle!

I called tech support (I also have random battery issues where my computer shuts off and tells me that my computer reached "critical levels." However, the batter was still charged at 50%). They are sending me a shipping box so I can send the laptop back and change the battery and the fan.

DO you guys know if such services will incur a cost? I have the limited (reg?) warranty. The guy said he's not 100% sure because he's tech support and does not deal with finances...I would read the warranty paperwork, but I can't find it! and you guys are crazy helpful. Thanks!

And I will definitely keep you guys posted. I

 

I'm getting the notion that only a minority of the x220 owners are getting this fan issue, seeing how that this discussion topic isn't being very popular. Are there actually x220 owners in here that do not hear the high pitch sound from the fan when it spins?

 

I just sent my laptop in to get the fan and display replaced. It should be covered under the warranty. We'll see how it goes.

 

Please keep us posted. If replacing the fan fixes the problem, I might be sending it in or purchase heatsink assembly and replace it myself.

 

Will do. The fan noise can actually be controlled with TPFanControl (I set mine to switch between mode off and 2000 rpm) but I want to get my display panel replaced so I might as well try to get the fan fixed at the same time.

 

I just received my x220 today.

I love everything about it.. except the fan.

I can't imagine this affects only certain x220s. I'm thinking some people can tolerate it and some people can't.

I'd like to hear if sending it in does anything for it - because otherwise - the laptop is amazing. No backlight bleed on my IPS either.

 

Yeah, after over a week with this machine, the fan noise haunts me after its off. Yesterday I disassembled the entire machine to replace the thermal paste on it, which dropped my temps like 5-10c!

I need to know if these fan replacements are helping, if they are, I'll get an onsite tech here, and I'll ask him if I can replace the assembly myself, since I'd rather do it.

Please, we needs updates on this asap!

Thanks everyone.

 

Thanks for an update! Which X220 do you have? i3,i5 or i7?
I'm using Linux and under BIOS-controlled fan (i7), fan speed is running between 3500-3900rpm all the time. Idle temp is about 42-44c.

- Can you share before and after idle temps ?
- Any special tool needed to disassemble x220? (I only have slotted, phillips, and torx. I'm trying to figure out what exactly is needed to remove hex nuts on VGA connector)

Note to self :: Next time buying stuff from Lenovo, use $$$ saved from a bunch of coupons to purchase an on-site service. It's most likely needed for stuff from Lenovo.

 

I have the i7.

Right now, I'm on the balanced power mode, so my cpu is around 800mhz. Your idle temps are about the same as mine. You will see the benefit of the improved thermal past at the high end of the performance scale. When I max out my cpu now, it will hover just about 90c. Previously, it would go up to 96-97c.

There are issues with the i7's power management, between this fan noise issue, and the throttling, something funny IS going on still.

This is the kind of tool you will need to remove the vga nuts:
5mm Nut Driver - iFixit

NOTE: I don't know if the vga nuts on the x220 are 5mm, but you can make the measurements yourself.

It was funny, I got almost all the way through the disassembly process, and got to the part requiring the removal of the vga nuts.... I almost blew a gasket because I was not expecting to need this extra tool at all!!!! Luckily, after thinking for a few moments, i remembered I had a tool like this stashed away and it just happened to fit!!! Lucky me!!!

 

floz23 : Thanks for the info. I was hoping to reduce idle temp, but being able to lower temp under load is still good nonetheless.

Yes, I did measure it. It's 5mm nut. There are plenty of nut driver from Amazon. I'll be ordering them soon.

Thanks again.

 

TPFanControl was never the solution, it is simply a workaround. If a higher quality fan was used by lenovo in the first place, this problem would never have existed. I jumped to this conclusion based on the premise that some x220 owners never hear this high pitched sound coming out from their fan.

Anyways, I have arranged to send in my laptop back to lenovo to get the high pitched fan replaced under warranty, I shall keep you guys updated if that solved the problem or not.

 

Not trying to excuse the issue, but small fans are often quite noisy. Fans of the same make and model can differ pretty widely too, as anyone who's gotten a crapload of case fans for their desktop would know. Silence freaks think 1200rpm for a fan is unacceptable, nevermind 3000.

I haven't gotten my X220 yet, and god forbid it has the fan issue. But I'm curious as to how bad the whine really is. I know many mainstream computers have very noisy fans. If it's a software thing then that's kinda bad, but if it's just the fan, well that's the reality of demanding so much from so little right? At high speed any fan will be very noisy. If the fan has a slightly whinier bearing, it probably passed quality control anyways since they're all pretty loud.

Oh and noise isn't necessary a quality thing. For case fans at least, the quieter fans aren't necessarily the "quality" fans. Ball bearings tend to be louder for one thing.

All that said, I think Sunon has a magnetic bearing blower fan that could possibly fit. The magnetic bearing might help with the noise a little. If the noise bothers me enough I might look into trying to get one, although the problem is a supplier might be hard to find.

 

For me, the so-called whine was audible but only just and that was the case with two separate X220's. So, it really is hit and miss just how annoying it will be in each machine. One machine had a constant gentle whooshing fan but the fan never seemed to ramp up. The other machine had slightly increased whooshing and the fan DID ramp up often. Both i5-2410's

As with other factors, such as thermal paste and internal temps, it is I'm afraid 'a lottery'.

 

Serial, thanks for the input.

For me it isn't that it is noisy, it is the pitch. I don't mind a noisy fan, but the high pitch whine is what bothers me. My old dell laptop had a really loud fan, I had no problem with it. However if it had the whine this one does, it would've really bothered me. I can tolerate a loud whooshing of air, but this high frequency is testing...

 

Both mine had the 'high pitch' too, just barely audible in both.

 

Hello, I just got my laptop back from easyserv. The fan is less audible, but still a littly high-pitched. but it's an improvement, I suppose...

What was funny was that the description on the service form was "motherboard" and "battery," even though they said nothing was wrong with my batt on the phone. So idk, it's a slight improvement.

also: it's much cooler now.

 

I just got mine back too. I didn't think there was too much difference. At high speeds the fan is still pretty high pitched. I also installed the 1.16 BIOS which does fix most of the noise issues by keeping the fan at 2000 rpm.

I guess the high pitched noise is just inherent to the fan design.

 

Awww shucks, just what I was afraid of. Those claiming the fan is quiet just have lesser expectations.

I mean, with the new bios, with regular usage, it's totally ok. But if you're pushing the machine to the limits, it's quite a noisy fan.

 

Yeah, I think the fan design is just inherently noisy. To be perfectly honest, my Macbook Pro makes exactly the same level of noise - it's just that Apple chooses to only turn up the fan when the CPU goes above 72 degrees.

 

I coudln't get temp reading software to work on my MBP... But.. wow.. I didn't know that the threshold was that high.

My MBP is about 4-5 years old, while the fan louder than X220, it doesn't have the same annoying pitch as X220.