Fan noise levels

Our MacBooks fan seems somewhat noisy, especially when working hard. We're looking to get a second desktop machine for a gameloader and Linux box, and the Mac Mini is one of our options. However, I understand that it uses the same hardware as the MacBooks. Unfortunately, the tech specs for the MacBook do not give any indication of the actual dB levels at idle or at full CPU usage, and neither do the specs for the 'Mini. Are these specs available somewhere? I've failed to find any thirdparty tests with them either, though I have't looked at all test sites out there yet... Also, the lack of dB info means we can't tell if the level of noise we're getting indicates something wrong with the machine or is just as expected.
Thanks in advance,
-Lars

Have had the same problem! I did a new OS instalation because of a remote control/front row issue. I did the upgrading of the system first and then installing the security update (3) and all the software updates. After this the problem was gone. Maybe you could run the 10.4.6 Combo updater again. I read on [email protected] this solution:
FIRST AID
- restart
- check/fix the filesystem.
- make sure you're not running out of free space on the boot volume.
- repair permissions.
- create a new user account, and see if the problem persists there.
- disable Application Enhancer, if you're running it.
- clear system & user caches.
- unplug all USB, Firewire devices except Apple mouse.
- startup in SafeBoot mode, and see if the problem persists there.
- zap PRAM.
MORE SERIOUS TROUBLESHOOTING
- unplug 3rd Party PCI cards.
- reinstall the latest combo updater.
- check the hard drive for bad blocks.
- take out 3rd party RAM.
- run the Apple hardware diagnostic CD.
But what do you mean with this one:
Secondly, the fan cycles on and off. It's very quiet, but still noticeable in a silent room
Does it mean somthing like this?
<i.e. in sleep mode or completely powered off - there is a very high pitched noise (I would guess around 15kHz) from the back of the iMac.
From: <a class="jive-link-external-small" href="http://">http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=448896&tstart= 0

Similar Messages

Fan noise level

I am very serous about fan noises and some say that they are coming in occasionally. But some others say that the fans are always on. So would you listen carefully please and tell me what is the truth and how loud they are when they are coming in. I get systems under heave load normaly because I am a logic pro user. So I am interestet in noises under heavy cpu and memory load to.

I also have a new MBP and the right side fan, at a certain task level or heat level I assume, rattles in the housing. It's almost as if the fan is slightly hitting some part in side of the casing.
We use the computer for our work and other than the rattle, has worked flawless and we would have a hard time sending it away for repairs.
I'm not sure I can live with the rattle so i would be interested in knowing if others had that problem, and so, how it was corrected.
Thanks,
Matt
1.83 GhZ Intel Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Fan noise level kills me - how to regulate fans using lm sensors?

I recently set up cpufrequtils using AMDs powernow-k8. Works awesomly - cpu frequency is at 1000 MHz right now.
Then I went and set up lm sensors. No flaws, runs.
But why won't my fans go off? This noise level kills me....
In my BIOS I set the (system) control temperature to be 50 deg C. I am running a passive cpu cooler. The system's temeparture is regulated entirely by system fans.
There would be no need to have the fans running right now. But still they run. Have a look at my sensors output:
[user@machine ~]$ sensors
k8temp-pci-00c3
Adapter: PCI adapter
Core0 Temp: +34.0°C
Core1 Temp: +30.0°C
w83627ehf-isa-0290
Adapter: ISA adapter
VCore: +1.12 V (min = +0.00 V, max = +1.74 V)
in1: +6.34 V (min = +13.46 V, max = +10.08 V) ALARM
AVCC: +3.23 V (min = +4.02 V, max = +3.06 V) ALARM
3VCC: +3.23 V (min = +3.82 V, max = +4.08 V) ALARM
in4: +0.96 V (min = +2.04 V, max = +1.27 V) ALARM
in5: +1.20 V (min = +2.04 V, max = +1.02 V) ALARM
in6: +5.12 V (min = +6.53 V, max = +6.12 V) ALARM
VSB: +3.22 V (min = +3.06 V, max = +3.04 V) ALARM
VBAT: +2.93 V (min = +4.08 V, max = +3.06 V) ALARM
in9: +1.74 V (min = +1.53 V, max = +1.46 V) ALARM
Case Fan: 1506 RPM (min = 703 RPM, div = 16)
CPU Fan: 0 RPM (min = 703 RPM, div = 128) ALARM
Aux Fan: 1795 RPM (min = 703 RPM, div = 16)
fan4: 1875 RPM (min = 341 RPM, div = 16)
fan5: 0 RPM (min = 3515 RPM, div = 128) ALARM
Sys Temp: +32.0°C (high = -3.0°C, hyst = -65.0°C) ALARM sensor = thermistor
CPU Temp: +33.0°C (high = +65.0°C, hyst = +60.0°C) sensor = diode
AUX Temp: +41.5°C (high = +65.0°C, hyst = +60.0°C) sensor = thermistor
Is there anything I can do for the Case Fan, and Fans Aux and 4 to at least approximate their min RPM?

jacko wrote:
CPU Fan: 0 RPM (min = 703 RPM, div = 128) ALARM
I dunno, but from the looks of it I'd say u have the computer setup wrong. It doesn't even recognize the fact that u have a cpu fan, how do you suppose it should regulate that fan?
Did you read my post? Apparently not.

Laserjet 5100Dtn - fan noise level / additional 500 page papertray

Hi all,
We've just upgraded our 4050n laserjet to a 5100Dtn laserjet.
2 questions:
- standby noise level: our 4050 is completely silent in standby; we're really amazed at the noise level of the 5100Dtn.
It's not excessive, but very audibly present.
How is your experience with the 5000 series in standby mode?
Could it be that something's wrong and our 5100 needs to enter 'deeper' standby? (We've set standby at 30 minute interval (shortest))
- Is it possible to add a 2nd 500 page papertray?
Our supplier has provided a second one, but it lacks the electrical pass-through connections. In other words to me it is a
'bottom' tray... Do these kind of papertrays exist at all, or is this only possible with 250 page trays?
Thanks for your help!
Erwin

Great opening post Carsten!
The latest bios:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-71252 (BIOS 66)
The FSB can be reduced from 133MHz to 100MHz using SetFSB, this also reduces the heat:
http://www13.plala.or.jp/setfsb/
clockgen = SLG8SP513V
If you add a shortcut to the startup folder the program will start at startup. Under properties you can change the target to:
"C:\Program Files\SetFSB\setfsb.exe" -s100 -b1 -cg[SLG8SP513V] -w20
So it starts with a FSB of 100Mhz, in the background, with the right clock generator, after 20 seconds.
Message Edited by quazar on 04-25-2009 05:07 AM

Can anyone compare the fan noise level of the C2D and the G5 imacs?

Anyone owned both? Is the C2D much more quiet?

I'm your huckleberry! G5 rev b went from being pretty quiet except under load,and lately since 10.4.6 and after, the fans started spining a little faster than they use to, thus louder. I didn't mind it. Interstingly I had to unplug it (which I've done to reset the SMU) but I guess never for long enough, now when I plugged it in, it amazingly works like it did at its best, fans didn't speed unless under big load, and then would spin down again. Be that as it may, it wasnever totally quiet. The new one is virtually quiet. Right now I'm encoding video for the last 20 minutes, the back left panal is toasty to the touch the fans are working and you can barely hear it at all. Sounds more like when you here slight moving of air from airconditioning in an office. Thats it for the fans, the quietest I've ever heard on any box I've ever worked on.

T420 Fan noise

I just bought a T420 a couple of days ago, and am rather surprised by the constant fan noise (level) after having read that it is very quiet. The fan runs constantly with a noise level that is much higher than other notebooks I've used (maybe noisy isn't the right word here, but it's noisy relative my expectations).
Even the Dell E4300 and D505 which I have at home is much more quiet, and I only hear the fan when there a lot of load. On the T420 even small loads will trigger the fan to run and at a noisy level. It could be my expectations are unrealistic, but I have quite a few notebooks in my history to compare with.
I've already had a noisy keyboard replaced by IBM (called them the first day I received it) and I don't want to be a difficult guy (the space key is still irritatingly noisy!).
Any similar experience with the T420? Is it a general feature with this notebook?

@lenovoT420,
The T420 is fairly new and there hasn't been any reports on fan noises on this particular model so far. Maybe you can upload a clip on youtube or record it?
A very good example of a customer who recorded the fan issue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqQwp6K1kK4
//JameZ
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PPC QUAD Owners -- Got Bad Fan Noise w/Logic (or just in general)?

I'm having a terrific noise problem with my Quad's (now) overactive fans. When I first got the Quad this was not a problem. Seems to have started after an update from 10.4.3 to 10.4.4 or 10.4.5. With respect to Logic, the fans go into hyperdrive (blowing relatively cool air) after I launch Logic, even when it's sitting idle with a bare-bones autoload song loaded (no plugs at all). When I quit Logic, the fans start to calm down but it takes sveral minutes to settle down completely.
Even accessing the dock or loading up this forum on Safari will cause the fans to rev, but Logic is the thing that seems to trigger this behavior the most -- and the worst.
Anyone else with a Quad is experiencing the same thing? Particularly with Logic running?
I'd be grateful if anyone can offer offer troubleshooting advice. Here's some info:
- reinstalled the system software numerous times, no change
- all Apple RAM installed (6 G)
- running 2 monitors, but with only one connected, no difference
- using wall current or UPS current makes no difference

Thanks for the continued feedback/replies. Will be living with the computer/hair dryer combo for another week as the Apple store techs in my area are all booked up until after Labor Day. Gotta say, tho, that the $100 to be a ProCare member gets ya good attention from those guys.
Would still appreciate hearing about other Quad owner's experiences with their fans/noise level of their systems, just for comparison sake.
Tele, glad to hear your fans are well-behaved. Wanna trade? ;-)
Thanks again everyone.

HP 840 G1 fan noise?

Hi,
I'm considering a HP 840 G1 with i5 CPU etc. How is the fan noise level on this one? Does the fan spin constantly, or would it remain silent during light use?
Thanks!

Hello @techsas,
Welcome to the HP Forums, I hope you enjoy your experience! To help you get the most out of the HP Forums I would like to direct your attention to the HP Forums Guide First Time Here? Learn How to Post and More.
I am sorry, but to get your issue more exposure, I would suggest posting it in the commercial forums, since this is a commercial product. You can do this at:
http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-HP-ProBook-EliteBook/bd-p/bsc-274
I hope this helps!
Regards
MechPilot
I work on behalf of HP
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After downloading Lion the noise level of the fans increased. A noise which did not exist with Snow Leopard. Any ideas how to reduce noise?

After downloading Lion the noise level of (what I believe to be ) the fans increased. A humming noise which did not exist with Snow Leopard. Any ideas how to reduce this noise?

I have seen this mentioned a dozen times, here, on Lion,and MacRumors.
Nope. Usual suspects.
And whether you tried a clean install instead (backup and erase) and then use MA to import

SG300-28P noise level... (fan control)

Hello,
May be somebody can help me. In official information for SG300-28p noise level is 40.6 dB, but in fact its too noisy. Is it possible to change speed of fans? I use only 8 PoE ports.
Thanks in advance,
Andrey

Hi Andrey,
I placed a sound meter within 6 inches of the Right hand side of my SG300-28P and found a average dB level of 47
I rested a sound meter on top of my SG300-28P and found a average dB level of 59-60dB .
I used my motorola atria phone in conjunction with a Sound Meter ver 1.4.3 dB meter app to perform the measurements.
My measurements were not done according to any standards based approach for measurements of sound level of machines.
Conversation in restaurant, office, background music, Air conditioning unit at 100 ft
60
Half as loud as 70 dB. Fairly quiet
Quiet suburb, conversation at home. Large electrical transformers at 100 ft
50
One-fourth as loud as 70 dB.
Library, bird calls (44 dB); lowest limit of urban ambient sound
40
One-eighth as loud as 70 dB.
reference :http://www.industrialnoisecontrol.com/comparative-noise-examples.htm
My unit is no more than 3 feet from my left ear, and I do not find the sound distracting..but noise/sound is subjective.
The fans on the SG300-28P are not adjustable.
regards Dave

Experiencing increased channel noise levels on PXIe4497 with 1071 fan on HIGH

I am using a PXIe-4497 to collect microphone data and when I switch the PXI chassis 1071e fan to HIGH setting, the noise level increases. The chassis is outside of an isolated test chamber, so the noise isn't occuring acoustically. Please see the FFT plot below of fan on AUTO (white trace) and fan on HIGH (red trace). Has anyone had this issue?
Attachments:
Background Measurement with PXI1071 fan on AUTO and HIGH.PNG ‏89 KB

There was some noise getting the pass through into the chamber. We added more sound insulation to block it out. Here's what it looks like with the added insulation (FAn on HIGH, white trace is with added insulation):
But as you can see there are ~256Hz harmonics. The data below is for MIC Y which is last channel the PXI-4492 (first module). The difference between AUTO and HIGH settings is now:
Here is MIC Z which is first channel input on the next module PXI-4497:
Auto and HIGH fan settings are close to being similar for MIC Z> Here are MICs X (white), Y(red), and Z (green) plotted together with fan on HIGH...X and Y are on PXI-4492 (last two inputs) and Z is on PXI-4497:
As you can see MIC Z doesn't have the 256Hz harmonics. We swapped the Z with the Y channels to see if it was MIC or channel related. Below is MIC Z in last input channel of PXI-4492 (where MIC Y was originally):
The noise follows the input channel, not the MIC. Here is the other side of the swap...MIC Y in first input channel of PXI-4497:
No significant change now between Auto and HIGH fan settings.
This seems to be input module related....
What now?

Do MacPRo mid 2010 models run with level fan noises or uneven whine?

Apple is replacing my mid-2010 mainly because of a disturbing modulating, up and down, fan noise problem. Not sure of the source. At first thought it was 5870 graphic card, but haven't been able to nail down exactly why.
They claim that these machines run with a very even level noise, and that this breathing or modulating noise is not the norm.
I have read that these machines, relative to earlier models, are quiet hummers, at least relatively.. Do most people with this year's model have machines running at a constant noise level or do the fan noises, even at idle, modulate and whine up and down, even with light usage...or on idle. I don't want a replaced machine with the same issue. I do work in a quiet environment, and don't mind the fan noise, but the modulations of up and down sound like a tunnel and I need to turn off the computer at times. Model is 3.2 ghz quad core, with ati 5870 graphic card.
thanks

I am very much interested in comparison here too. Unfortunately our local reseller doesn't have any Mac pros to compare (they deliver only when you make an order:(). So I have no other machines to compare...
So I've read a lot of forums and generally there's no simple answer anywhere. People say that their hdd/optical is making more noise than fans. That's true to my case. Hdd/optical indeed sound louder than fans. From the other hand, I work in very quiet environment (no street noise, no ventilation noises in the room or whatever) and my new Mac Pro sounds... well loud! Once again - relatively it is QUIET, I can hear older PC from the other room (and the 'other room' connects through a corridor so...). Still, a lot of people mention that they literally don't hear ANYTHING from their mac pros except for hdd/optical operation sounds. I do hear fan noise...
So i was wondering is my room too quiet/ear too sharp;) or is there some kind of a problem with the mac pro and I should bother contacting retailers?
Anybody here who can compare their mac pro's with say mac book pros? I clearly hear fans of my mac book pro (even being idle) in the main working room and mac pro is like 2-3 (may be 4) times louder than mac book pro. This might be OK for tower, but definitely it is not 'dead silent'...
So far I've even tried some iPhone decibel measurement apps (yeah it's not even close to 'pro' measurements but no other means are available to me at the moment). They doesn't notice mac book (most noise measurement devices as far as I've read don't count noises beneath 40 dB for good), but mac pro is about 42-43 dB while idle at some 10 inch from the machine and some 45-46 if I bring the mic like 3-4 inches to the case. Is it like OK or what? Unfortunately all Mac pros I've heard before where in environments where even my 42-46 dB would be completely lost, so i cannot judge if it is OK. It is still one of the quietest towers I've heard/owned but those posts about 'dead silent' and 'only hdd/optical' make me a bit uncomfortable...
Oh, and the modulation. Indeed idle operation has some modulation. As far as I can tell it comes not from varying speed of the fans but rather from how frequencies of the fans inside of the case are different and modulate when added to each other (like those FM/AM in the synthesizers). More to say, there are angles in a room where other frequencies are heard (probably reflections produce some additional modulations)...

HP TouchSmart 610-1280qd CTO Desktop PC Fan Noise

Hi,
Can you tell me if a loud CPU fan is normal for this computer?
The CPU fan is working very hard and the CPU and GPU are all ~38 degrees Celcius. The bios reports 1100 CPU Fan Speed and 3800 system fan speed. It sounds like my CPU fan is actually spnning faster than that.
Thanks
SOLVED: I spent some time with technical support and they had a model in the lab and confirmed that the loud fan noise is not by design. I returned my Touchsmart and received a new replacement and it is almost silent. I checked the BIOS and the fan speeds are reporting 1100 CPU Fan Speed and 2100 system fan speed with the same low temps above. I believe in my original machine they did not install fans right by swapping the plugins on the motherboard; I do not have solid evidence of this though.
I hope this help and just know that these machines should be very quiet most of the time other than some low level harddrive access noise.

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Mac Pro 2x2,8 Ghz - Fan Noise - Please help evaluate

Hi Guys,
Since yesterday, I'm the proud owner of a Mac Pro 2x2,8 - Really happy - really nice machine.
However I'm slightly irritated by the posts I've read all over the internet, saying that you can't hear the fans of this machine at all in idle.
As you may have guessed, my box is not silent at all - it is quite quiet compared to other noisy PCs, yes, but no match for the previous iMac 24" which it replaced. You could hardly hear the iMac versus now the Mac Pro... you notice it's there... sitting under the desk - audible.
I realize that fan noise is highly subjective, and I'm using the Mac in a completely silent environment. No AC, no nothing. I've tried the following: removing the hard drive and silencing the graphics card... Upon bootup the Mac would quickly "turbo" it's fans and then go to it's normal state. The loudest fan (which is drowning out all other noise) is the one at the bottom front (CPU?).
Looking at istat, it's in normal parameters (500rpm or so) and doesn't move up or down...
Comparing it to other devices, it would sound like a PS3 when having played 1 hour (fan speed at level 2-3) or an (quiet) xbox in idle mode (dvd not spinning). I know... geeky comparisons
Now, again - not close to my interpretations of "whisper quiet" "can't hear it at all"... "only hear it when I put my ear to the grill" "sounds like it's cooled passively"
Which makes me think that either
a) people out there are deaf /
or
b) my Mac needs a closer look by a genius
Would really appreciate your opinions.
Thanks,
Tom

hey tom,
you might have the same problem i have. I have the 2.8 octo 2008 mac pro. and it used to be whisper quiet. I was amazed. But recently as in the last few weeks the graphics card fan has become audible. I put in an e sata adapter last week and while inside the mac pro I took a look at the fan to see if it was dusty or visibly distressed. Nope. Couldn't find anything wrong with it. So now i'm just dealing with the noise. Which is too bad cause I really really really don't like fan noise. But the air conditioners on most of the time now so I really can't complain about a little fan noise compared to the ac's grumbling.
but i'd like to know if others are having this problem
thanks,
jayson
www.oldchildprojects.com
Message was edited by: woodybrando

T530: Unbearable fan noise

Probably similar to this thread, the T530 I recently received has fan noise issues. I've invested considerable time in solving this, but found that a solution can be achieved with reasonable effort only by Lenovo:
Introduction:
Most ThinkPad models do not provide the operating system (or the user) the ability to set the fan speed directly (e.g. in rounds per minute) or in a fine-grained way (e.g. as a percentage of maximum speed). Instead, there are "fan speed levels", usually 9 levels (level 0 through level 7 as well as the level "disengaged"). For each level, a particular fan speed is defined and the Embedded Controller tries to achieve this particular fan speed by measuring the fan speed and adjusting the electrical properties of the fan (e.g. voltage or pulse length or something like this).
The fan noise problem:
Every time the internal temperature sensor reaches 50 °C or so, the fan starts with about 1900 rounds/minute and then quickly goes to about 2737 rounds/minute, where it is loud. Then it takes about 20 seconds, the temperature drops to 45 °C, then the fan is switched off. Then, after maybe other 30 seconds, the cycle repeats and the fan is switched on again, ...
There are major problems with this behaviour, because:
The fan is not running continously, but pulsating.
The fan is running at level 1 at a much higher speed than needed, creating unnecessary noise.
I have measured the individual fan speeds for individual fan speed levels:
The fan speeds at different levels are as follows:
Level 0: 0 rounds/minute
Level 1: 2737 rounds/minute
Level 2: 2944 rounds/minute
Level 3: 3033 rounds/minute
Level 4: 3074 rounds/minute
Level 5: 3597 rounds/minute
Level 6: 3773 rounds/minute
Level 7: 3773 rounds/minute
Level disengaged: 4754 rounds/minute
Solution draft:
A minimum solution to the problem above would be introducing another fan speed level between 0 rounds/minute and 2737 rounds/minute, with about 1900 rounds/minute. The reason this makes a difference is that there is a fundamental difference between laminar flow and turbulent flow, where the laminar flow makes nearly no noise and the turbulent flow makes a lot of noise. (Whether an airflow is laminar or turbulent is easiest influencable by affecting its speed.)
As you can see on the observed mapping from fan speed level to fan speed, level 6 and level 7 map to the same speed.
Thus, no particular fan speed would be lost if the mapping would be changed to the following:
Level 0: 0 rounds/minute
Level 1: 1900 rounds/minute
Level 2: 2737 rounds/minute
Level 3: 2944 rounds/minute
Level 4: 3033 rounds/minute
Level 5: 3074 rounds/minute
Level 6: 3597 rounds/minute
Level 7: 3773 rounds/minute
Level disengaged: 4754 rounds/minute
Solution implementation by user is impossible:
The problem, however, is that, while a user can decide which fan speed level should be active at a particular time, the user cannot decide which fan speed should actually be achieved for a particular level. Thus, the user can either decide to have 0 rounds/minute (which is not particularly sustainable, because the equipment becomes hotter and hotter) or to have 2737 rounds/minute (which is not particularly sustainable either, because both the user and other people arund the user's Lenovo computer are distracted from work).
The mapping from fan speed level to fan speed is actually stored in the Embedded Controller Programm ("ECP"). This Embedded Controller Programm is freely changeable or configurable by the user. Only Lenovo has the source code to this Embedded Controller Programm, and actually only Lenovo may know how to disassemble such a binary Embedded Controller Program in case the user wanted to change it. Thus, even advanced users cannot fix this problem by fixing it where it should be fixed.
It should be noted that, because fan speed is a long lasting issue at Lenovo, a third party has been even developed an after-market hardware solution: TPFC. However, this solution probably voids the warranty, and it work arounds the problem at the wrong place, and it costs time and money and effort to actually install it.
Only Lenovo can fix this problem:
How Lenovo should fix the problem
Thus, this is my call to Lenovo to fix this problem (at least for the T530 series, but probably W530, T430 are also affected). Ideally, the solution should be as follows:
Change the Embdedded Controller Program such that the mapping from fan speed level to fan speed is as follows:
Level 0: 0 rounds/minute (no noise level)
Level 1: 1500 rounds/minute (low noise level, sweet spot)
Level 2: 1700 rounds/minute (low noise level, sweet spot)
Level 3: 1900 rounds/minute (low noise level, sweet spot)
Level 4: 2100 rounds/minute (some noise level)
Level 5: 2600 rounds/minute (high noise level)
Level 6: 3100 rounds/minute (high noise level)
Level 7: 3773 rounds/minute (high noise level)
Level disengaged: 4754 rounds/minute (high noise level)
The reasons for this fan speed design are as follows:
The "sweet spot" where both the fan will run most of the time and where the user would not complain is between 1500 rounds/minute and 2100 rounds/minute. If the fan needs to be faster to keep the system cooled, then the user is likely to run the system with considerable load to CPU or GPU. In this case, there is no option to reduce the fan speed, but also in this case, the user probably accepts the fan noise for the computing power delivered.
The "sweet spot" in terms of CPU load is where the users do not accept fan noise while actually generating only minute CPU load (e.g. during web browsing or writing documents, where the CPU and the GPU is mostly idle). For many users, this is their normal working state (e.g. working in a quiet office, a very quiet library, a quiet bedroom, a quiet boardroom, ...). These scenarios are where Lenovo ThinkPads currently fail to deliver, unnecessarily
The "sweet spot" needs higher resolution (more fan levels allocated to these fan speeds), because slightly different load patterns may make it necessary to go from one level to the next higher level, but then the next level still should be bearable. Conversely, the higher levels (e.g. from 2600 rounds/minute on) do not need such a high resolution, because for most of the users, these levels will be only attained rarely anyway, and then they are accepting the noise.
Currently, there is no fan speed level at the sweet spot. With the proposed fix, there would be 3 fan speed levels at the sweet spot, with a neighbouring fan speed level (2100 rounds/minute) still being bearable when considering the performance delivered.
There is no fan speed level below 1500 rounds/minute. This is ok, because the fan is nearly inaudible at this speed anyway, and below a certain speed, there is a risk (depending on the fan) for the fan to actually not rotate at all (e.g. due to friction).
How much time and effort would Lenovo need for fixing the problem:
The Lenovo engineer responsible for the Embedded Controller Program of the T530 should need less than one day to change the source code of the Embedded Controller Program and to recompile it. The engineer may need one additional day to test this program (e.g. for different types of fans), and there may be a need for an additional day to release the update to the BIOS and ECP. All in all, Lenovo should not need more than 3 engineer-days (maybe worth 1800 USD) to fix the problem.
Why Lenovo should fix the problem:
Probably the whole current T series (T530,T520,T430,T420) as well as the current W series (W530,W520) fails the users in any of these scenarios (among others):
User working in a quiet office.
User working in a quiet library.
User working in a quiet bedroom.
User working in a quiet boardroom.
Thus, the Lenovo T series is currently not usable for many business users and almost all students. This problem should cost millions of USD of revenue, while fixing it would cost it maybe 1800 USD.
Incidental remark: Lenovo subsidiary can do better:
Lenovo has bought the majority of the Germany consumer electronics company Medion. Medion currently offers a consumer level notebook "E7222" for 499€ including German VAT. Despite of this low price, this notebook delivers very good fan control (that is: the notebook is nearly silent when the CPU is near-idle). (However, being consumer-grade, it does not offer a docking-station or a FullHD screen or WWAN.)
What will I personally do:
Some weeks ago, I had a powerful W530. I returned it due to fan noise for cash refund. Now I have the T530 (Serial number: R9RRF26) which has exactly the same problem. The deadline until I can legally request a cash refund runs until 2012-09-07. I hereby ask Lenovo:
To fix the problem and release an ECP or BIOS update until 2012-09-06 (it is doable, see above) or
if the problem cannot be fixed in this time (e.g. due to bureaucracy): provide me with a written statement (e.g. e-mail or forum post is sufficient) that my legal cash refund deadline (German law: §355 BGB) will be voluntarily extended by Lenovo (to some date Lenovo thinks it needs to fix the problem).
If none of the above happens, I will have to return the T530 as well. This is the 2nd chance Lenovo has gotten from me, there will be no 3rd chance. I would have to turn to Fujitsu (they do have business-class machines with big batteries, FullHD, WWAN) and they probably have better fan control.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

kaawee,
Thank you for the considerable thought that you put into your summation / analysis and proposal for a change.
I don't agree that you are wasting your time as we did make EC changes on the X220 and T420s to change fan behavior (along with several other systems). However, not all customers agree that the changes made the system behave the way they wanted and were completely satisfied (hence some of the dissenting opinions expressed here).
We are interested in feedback on T530, W530, T430 fan concerns and we are investigating. It is possible that a future change might be made, but I cannot say for certain that it will, nor can we commit to making this change within 4 days (2 now remaining) from your original posting.
Best regards,
Mark
ThinkPads: S30, T43, X60t, X1, W700ds, IdeaPad Y710, IdeaCentre: A300, IdeaPad K1
Mark Hopkins
Program Manager, Lenovo Social Media (Services)
twitter @lenovoforums
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