Any advice on Toshiba A300/A305 Fan Noise?

I recently bought a configure to order A300 laptop (t8300 Intel 2.4 GHz and 3 GB RAM, 120 GB primary, 200 GB secondary HD).

The fan seems to run a lot. Even in the Power Saver setting in Vista, the fan kicks on every 2-3 minutes for about 30 seconds, even if the PC is simply idling with no applications running. Does anyone have any experience with this? How did you solve? Has anyone been able to get Intel "SpeedStep" working in Vista to throttle back the CPU? I thought maybe this would help it run cooler, but haven't been able to get the CPU set back.

Toshiba Tech support was not helpful on any of this.

Thanks!

 

well if you bought it recently and have a problem, then i think you should take it back to the dealer for them to have a look. Especially because it's a new machine.

Toshiba tech support is it the website?

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I had ordered direct from Toshiba's website so I could configure to order, so I can't take it back to the dealer. But I called Toshiba Tech Support, but they were not helpful. I actually took it by a Toshiba authorized repair center for a look and they told me about 30% of the Toshiba models do run the fan a lot. I guess this may be one of those models. But from the reviews I saw of the A305, this did not seem to be a problem that was mentioned.

In any case, since this is a new model, the Repair peole could not say whether the fan operation seemed abnormal since they haven't yet seen any of this model in for repair.

 

It sounds like the vents are partially blocked, creating a heating problem even in 'idle' (when not running processes). but since you said its new i think you should take it back to the dealer. Try to monitor the CPU temp. & post it on.

 

I also thought maybe I could run it cooler by changing the power settings. This seems to have helped a bit, but I really think it could help if I could get Intel SpeedStep to lower the CPU clock speed. At least it's my impression that this could lower the temp of the CPU. Do you have any experience with this? How does one even measure the CPU temp anyway? I think there is some software, I'm just not sure what to use (I have Vista).

I would love to see if the fan is kicking on once the CPU surpasses some temp. threshold. Although it seems a bit crazy the temp would increase when the machine is simply idling without apps running.

 

The vents seem clear, although there could be blockage inside the case. I thought maybe too they didn't attach the heat sink / apply the heat sink paste well in the factory.

 

what did the Toshiba tech support say about your issue when you told them?

it's possible there's a problem inside. Just having the vents clear does not indicate that there's no internal blockage to the heat flow.

why not you let the authorised repair place open it and have a look.
Afterall it is a new computer.

 

Toshiba told me I would have to take it to a service center. I think you have a good idea. I'll try to get it back to the service center. In the meantime I'll keep messing with the power options and see if I can get Speedstep to do something.

Thanks.

 

Since it hasn't been in your hands for long, it's possible that you've been a victim of the many (small percentage) problematic cases from the factory.

In any case, open Task Manager without running any application/process, see if there're any active processes using the CPU, to isolate the possibility of malware in your system, (from the net for e.g.)

 

I don't think it is any malware - the Tech did take a look at my processes running. Amazingly, there were 90 some processes (and I really haven't installed much s/w). I uninstalled all of the Toshiba bloatware I could and a few other items so I'm down to about 80 processes. CPU utilization is typically 5% or so. So that doesn't seem to be it.

I put the "System Information - Windows" tool ( http://www.pendriveapps.com/2007/02/23/portable-system-information-diagnostics-tool-for-windows/) on a USB and am running it now to monitor CPU temperature.

As soon as the fan kicks off, CPU temp is 90 F for Core 0 and 84 F for Core 1. By the time the fan kicks on again (after about 3 minutes), the CPU temp has risen to 104 and 97, with the system idling. Seems like there really is something causing the temp. to spike. I will have to get it into the shop so they can open it up and take a look.

 

could it be just trying to keep all those inner components you got in there cool?

 

hrudu,

Good to know that you've done some analysis of your own.

Good Luck.

 

This is abnormal operation in my opinion, joeyrb.

 

too bad you can't find another to compare...side by side....
i would try to do that before sending it to toshiba.....i've heard horror stories about notebooks rtnd to the owner either not repaired, or with new issues....
hey wait.....if you just got it, cant you get toshiba to give you another?

 

Well, I guess I could try to send it back, but after getting everything configured and files moved over, applications loaded, etc. I now have a lot of time invested. In any case, I'm hoping the techs can find something if I take it in. If not, I was thinking about an application like "SpeedFan" that I've read about. Anyone with any experience with that? Would using it void my warranty?

 

Also - good thought on comparing to another machine. Maybe I'll swing by Best Buy and take a listen to the Toshiba's on display.

 

dude, great idea. bring a dvd. tell them you got your laptop there and before you rtn it you want to try something out.
when they here you may rtn something that is there's they'll let you watch the entire movie and write a paper...
good luck, keep us posted.

 

LOL. Good thinking. They hate returns!

 

SOLVED! Thanks all for your advice. I took it in for warranty service - they found that one of the fan wires was pinched during assembly in the factory and the insulation got stripped on an 1/8 inch section. This was causing a short and making the fan behave erratically. They replaced the fan, problem solved. Thanks again all for your ideas and feedback!