T430 Owner's Thread

anybody here jumped to Windows 8?

considering to use my student discount at a local store for a standard copy.......

 

I had a chance to review to review a HP laptop with Windows Eight. I liked the start screen and having all your stuff right there, but there's some quirkiness to it that's just a part of being new too and will take some time to acclimate to using. Personally, I wouldn't spend any money to get it, but will look forward to getting with my next PC.

 

hmmm
might wait to see if my father wants a new laptop then. Maybe I'll get to try windows 8 if he decides to get one thats preloaded.

thanks!

 

My T430 (i5-3320, NVS5400M) idle temp is around 43C with the ambient temp 22C. So it seems i7 indeed runs much hotter. When NVS5400M is disabled the idea temp drops about 10C to 33C.

The machine itself is quiet when idle, however you can hear the fan for about 1 minute when you begin to use the internet. After installing TPfanControl I can barely hear the fan.

 

Yes, you can barely hear the fan with that, but believe me you are killing the machine. I know how happy a user becomes when you have a super dead quite machine with software but actually your temp goes high without appropriate cooling and you are also messing with the motherboard management of cooling. Sometimes, your system may also shut down unexpectedly because of that. I know many will jump on that right now and defend the third-part program as the best thing in the world but that is just my modest opinion. Do not assume that everything is OK because the machine is strong enough to tolerate this mess up with the temp. Just know that you are killing it in someway and you may see this on the long-term or unfortunately, the second buyer of this machine will suffer it

 

Actually the temps I listed is with TPFC. The highest temp I have seen since the machine arrived one week ago is 64C, and in this case the Fan is noisy whether with TPFC or not.

 

Even by default the TPFC settings are pretty safe - I'm pretty sure it hands control back to BIOS at a certain temp. If you mess with it, you obviously can cook your machine, but I still imagine it's easier said than done.

EDIT: And yeah, I get full idle temps of around 40C (about 20C ambient) with the fan off (admittedly I have i3, but it's also SB). Full load is around 70C with the fan at full.

 

With the default settings TPFC will not compromise the machine's cooling capabilities, it optimizes it so the noise level is minimized. I don't see how is this slowly killing the machine if the temp stays at or below the same level as before it's installed.

 

Can anyone tell me what the best way to setup TPFC is? I have it but am kind of lost on my T430 settings.

 

If you don't know what you're doing, the default settings should be fine. Or are you having some specific issue?

 

No specific issue, I just keep hearing people rave about it and thought I would give it a try.

 

I just use the "smart" mode.

 

Is there any new information on the t430 fan speed/noise issue? Has it been determined what is causing the issue and if there is/will be a fix? Looking seriously at this machine, but if it's that noisy, I'll keep looking.

 

Get mine a few months ago:

Intel Core i7-3520M Processor (4MB L3, 2.90GHz)
14.0" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
Nvidia graphics
4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM) - upgraded to 16GB
Keyboard Backlit - US English (changed to non-backlit, thanks to crappy warranty service. trying to get this remedied.)
UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader
720p HD Camera with Microphone
360GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm (upgraded to 256GB Samsung Series 830 SSD)
DVD Recordable
9 Cell Li-Ion TWL 70++
90W AC Adapter - US (2pin)
Bluetooth 4.0 with Antenna
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN
2 Year Despot warranty


I love this machine, but hate Lenovo and their subpar warranty services. My backlit keyboard had died, leaving me without the backlight or TrackPoint (which I had become fatally addicted to.) It took several weeks of misplaced orders and random cancellations to get anything to arrive at my doorstep, and when it did, it was the non-backlit version. I'm going to call them again this week and try to get them to send me the correct keyboard, but my hopes are honestly not that high.

One thing that this ordeal has taught me is that the non-backlit version of the keyboard has an entirely different feel to it than the backlit version. The non-backlit version has grippier matte keys, and more springy key response. I'm not sure, but it feels like the non-backlit option may also have a slightly longer key travel, which is good. The function keys are a bluish accent color instead of white, and the matte finish also matches the chassis better. Those that can live with just the ThinkLight are better off without the backlit option, imho.

 

Use TPFC. As far as I know there is no official fix.

Yeah me too.

This could be just a matter of ODM, but I also found it to be the case on the old Latitude E6400, so maybe not. On my E6400 I went back to the standard keyboard after a while because it felt better.

 

Responding to hating Lenovo warranty service:

Ridiculous, isn't it? Not to mention that it took a month for the laptop to actually arrive. Hopefully this will be improved when they get that assembly plant built in North Carolina.

 

In terms of feel the non-backlit version is the better one. I think it is to do with the thickness of the bubble dome they use. To let more light through, the backlit version has a thinner elastomer dome as compared to the non-backlit version (from my own rudimentary analysis.

 

In my case the order to ship was about two weeks, which is not bad for a custom built unit. The shipping itself would take another week (Hong Kong to East Coast US).

 

OK, so no official fix appears to be forthcoming...I suppose a case of "If we ignore it, our customers will just go away". Can anyone tell me if it is endemic to all T430? In other words, is EVERYONE who buys one getting a noisy fan?

 

The issue isn't necessarily that the "fan is noisy"; the issue is that there is no granularity in the lower fan speed range such that when the fan goes on, it goes straight from 0 to 3000 RPM, rather than 1000, 2000, 3000, etc, as temps start to climb. And it's not that the fan spinning at 3000 RPM alone is that noisy, but the spin up whine and drastic change from 0 to 3000 can be obnoxious in low ambient noise. For whatever reason, this is just the way Lenovo decided to program the BIOS in the T420 and T430 (and maybe others), so yes, it afflicts all T420 and T430 from my understanding.

Even with TPFC, you can't actually get a 1000 or 2000 RPM setting; the only thing you can do is delay the fan spin up temp such that the fan is just off more and running at 3000 RPM and above less. This is generally acceptable for me, since I'm using it at light loads most of the time and can keep the fan off, but your mileage may vary.

 

OK, thanks for the detailed reply. The question for me now becomes "do I want to purchase a T430, even with the poorly programmed fan speed control in the BIOS?" I can hope lenovo issues a BIOS update/fix or I can buy and use TPFC or I can look elsewhere.

Seems like every time I try to buy a laptop, there is something like this lurking out there...just glad I know about it going in this time.

 

Every ThinkPad I've come across since the IBM days has one "quirk" or another.

 

Well, I consider myself to be pretty noise sensitive; I went to SSDs way back in the days of the Samsung RBX moreso because they were quiet rather than fast (and many weren't that fast). Half the reason I buy TP is because TPFC exists and I can set the fan profile how I want it. If I can find a fan profile that I like, I'm fairly certain anyone can, but you have to be willing to learn how to modify the tpfc ini and test trigger temps 'til you drop. And most people don't give a damn, don't care. But at least for me, I have the the option, which all I could ask for, and not really the case with any other brand.

 

The fan itself also contributes to the noise, and not just the settings. From the various 14" and 15" ThinkPad models I've had the chance to observe in the last few generations, this year's T430 and T530 fans are noisier (or produces more noticeable sounds). In previous models, the fan did come on at about the same "rhythms," but it spun gently enough (and not necessarily at lower RPMs) to not annoy the user.

A better fan (fan blades) design may help.

 

Yeah, but are you comparing fan noise at the same RPM or just making a more generalized, qualitative assessment? Admittedly, I have not done this testing myself, as modifying fan hardware isn't something I can do while changing fan software is, but if I had to give a reason for my T400 being quieter than my T430, it would definitely be because it doesn't ramp straight up to 3000 RPM or whatnot as soon as the fan spins up.

 

If the fan is inherently and mechanically noisy, no matter how involved the settings are, the fan always cause annoying sounds when it spins or, especially, ramps up. Take it any way you want, but Lenovo might have gone with a cheaper fan.

Ditto with an average screen: one can only "tune" it so much.

Every now and then I rest my left hand on the side of the T520 and can feel the hot air coming out, and not a sound. I put my ear close to the keyboard near the Caps Lock key: sure enough, the fan is spinning. On the T530, the fan says "Hey, I'm spinning!"

 

Err, I don't disagree that Lenovo may have gone with a crappier fan. I haven't looked into it. My point was that I appreciate having the ability to change the fan profile, since I can't change the design of the fan, and that I think it makes a bigger difference.

 

As long as I have an option (TPFC) I can feel better about going ahead with the T430 purchase. Mind you, it's inexcusable that a top tier business laptop should have such an issue, but if I can have some control over it, I'll be OK. How feasible is it to change the fan, once I get closer to the end of my warranty? And yes, I realize that the fan is not indeed, the problem.

 

Basically none. It's not that you can't take out the old fan and put in a new one - that's easy enough - it's that you won't be able to find a compatible fan that's significantly different from what's already in there, as these fans and fan casings are more or less custom made for these laptops.

 

How does the build quality and keyboard of the t430 compare to the t420?

 

The build quality is very good. My wife, who is not a fan of lenovo, said "this is better than the macbook" upon seeing my T430.

As for the keyboard, \someone will like that on T420 while others like the one onT430, but I think they are both good.

 

The T420 and T430 are almost the same machine build wise with a few very minor changes.

I would agree both are good keyboards, but if you're a long time ThinkPadder with the layout etched in your brain, you'll never be happy with the new keyboard.

 

Just dumping here a screen (LG model) calibration file from spyder3 colorimeter for any interested t430 (or t430s) owner.

 

Can you explain what this file is?

 

An .icm file contains a color system profile for a particular device such as monitor, color printer, or scanner. This profile is used by the color management software. It translates color data from one device to another based on an independent color space in order to maintain consistency.

Put the .icm file in: C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color

Read Windows 7 Color Management FAQ, focusing on these 2 questions:

• How do I add a color profile for one of my devices?

• How do I choose a color profile to associate with a device?

 

Thanks. I tried it but found my panel is not LG. Hopefully others with LG panels will find this useful.

 

I've been checking prices on Lenovo.com for about 2 weeks on the T430 and priced out some hypothetical systems. One thing has changed in the past week related to available options. As of Nov. 2, you could still order the base model of the T430 WITHOUT the web cam. As of today this is no longer possible. I'm not saying their online sales support reps are the most knowledgeable in the world, but the one I spoke with also confirmed that he could not configure a T430 without a web cam. Is this true? When did this change go into effect?

I see that the lenovo outlet still sells NEW T420's without the cam. I may go that route.

 

I mean I go to the Lenovo site, and sure enough, the webcam is mandatory. I'm not that surprised considering that the x230 also recently lost some options. They are probably just trying to save money by only allowing one configuration... I don't see a problem though, if it isn't adding to the cost (though that I don't actually know if it's the case).

 

Lenovo's online config options and prices never sit still. (Which can be a good thing.)

 

If I had bought my config 3 days earlier. it would have been $50 cheaper..

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk 2

 

Are there 14' cases that work with the 9cell or must I get a 15' case?

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk 2

 

If that's for the same configuration, you can actually ask them for a price match. I price matched my T430 from like $530 to $480 after a B&N price drop.

 

Is it possible to ask for a refund now? Already paid....


Edit: emailed them
"
Hi,

I recently add to cart a b&N deal which was 711 for a T430 with most of the customizations add in. However when I finally decided to take the plunge to purchase the laptop. Until after I paid, did I realise that the configuration of the same specifications had been marked up by $50... And after reading on forums I understand that you guys can do a price match? I

Thanks in advance"

Hope I can get back $50. WHOOPS just realised I didn't put $ sign haha

 

Basically you need to configure the laptop exactly as it was and show them that the price is currently lower. And yes, you should be able to do it even if you already paid.

 

It isn't lower. It was lower...

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk 2

 

Oh oops, yeah ok, unless you saved a quote on that, you can't price match an older config. Sorry.

 

All is fine!

I saved the cart. I know I did. Will check later when I am on my computer. And fire them another email with the different quotes haha. Hope I am able to acquire a refund.

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk 2

 

Hi guys, I have never owned a Lenovo product let alone a Think pad. I really want to get one and it looks really cool. I just wanted to know if the specifications that I have selected below are really worth the $900 bucks I might be paying for this. Sorry for sounding like a newbie. I would really appreciate some insight. Thanks in advance.

ThinkPad T430 - 1 Year Depot Topseller Warranty
Processor: Intel Core i5-3210M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)
Operating System: Windows 8 64
Operating System Language: Windows 8 64 English
Display Type: 14.0" HD+ (1600 x 900) LED Backlit AntiGlare Display, Mobile Broadband Ready
System Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000
Total Memory: 4 GB DDR3 - 1600MHz (1 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard (Backlit) US English
Pointing Device: UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader
Camera: 720p HD Camera with Microphone
Hard Drive: 320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
Ultrabay: DVD Recordable 8x Max, Dual Layer, Ultrabay Enhanced w/ SW Royalty for Windows 8
System Expansion Slots: Express Card Slot & 4-in-1 Card Reader & Smart Card Reader
Battery: 9 Cell Li-Ion TWL 70++
Power Cord: 90W AC Adapter - US (2pin)
Integrated WiFi Wireless LAN Adapters: Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2200 (2x2 BGN)
Integrated Mobile Broadband: Mobile Broadband upgradable
Language Pack: Language Pack Win8 US English

 

Choose the bundled upgraded one... Better value. More upgraded components for the same amount of money spent.

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk 2

 

Hi
I am not sure if I am hijaking the thread or what not.
I asked the same question on linux mint website but I got not so satisfying answer so I might ask here again because I could be hardware problem
It works on my samsung but not on my t430

So here is the question:


Hi
I have been googling all day and searching around this forum but can't seem to understand the problem.
Any help from you guys will be greatly appreciated.
My goal was to dual boot linux mint 14 cinnamon with my windows 8 by going to BIOS on start screen and installing it with my usb.
I have two laptop. One is samsung and the other is lenovo. I used different iso files and different usbs, different usb ports with different linux usb creator.
I have tried universal usb and lili.
Everytime, I can successfully install it on samsung laptop no problem, but for my lenovo thinkpad, after choosing Mint 14 on start screen, it gives me a black screen. No cursor, no keys. no nothing....

I am bit frustrated as I did try my best to figure out. Right now I am downloading fedora to see if this is only problematic with Mint.
Please give some advice
Thanks
samsung is 32 bit
lenovo is 64bit
I used 64bit iso for both


Thank you