f11: Would replacing HD w/SSD reduce fan speed?

Anyone done this? I don't need 500GB of storage. Sure would be nice to get rid of the whining...

 

Probably not. Heat output is not too huge. Best way would be to clear out the exhaust port and if you are capable, reapplying the thermal paste with something better than what came stock.

 

The whining is a resonance when the fan is at certain RPM's. It has more to do with CPU/GPU temps.

 

No it won't change the FAN speed/noise at all.

The FAN reacts to the temperature of the CPU and GPU (whereas it is mainly triggered by the GPU as it achieves higher temperatures and more dynamically than the CPU). The HDD is the least heat emitter and it is not connected to the FAN.

In fact, even if for some reason your HDD achieves high temperatures, the FAN will not react at all as it has literally no connection to the HDD. It is only there to cool the CPU and GPU and only indirectly all other components in the system while creating an airflow.

 

It probably won't reduce fan speeds, but going from a 5-7k rpm spinning drive to a silent SSD will make it quieter as you no longer hear the HDD spinning

 

Why would it not reduce the fan speed? HDD gets pretty hot, SSD stays cool. On my HTPC at home, the SSD stays 30 degrees (C) while the HDD runs at 46 degrees. And it's a 5200rpm WD Caviar Green.

 

I honestly never hear my 7200 - I need to put my ear close to the laptop or actually on it to be able to hear the spinning noise....

Simply because the FAN is not connected to the HDD. Does your ventilation in the bathroom go on when you use your hotplate in the kitchen? They are just not connected, although if your FAN in the bathroom goes on and your kitchen is next to the bathroom it will inevitably cool down the room.

That's exactly the point - the FAN spins according to the CPU & GPU temperatures and NOT according to the HDD temperature as under normal conditions it would never overheat - it needs no special cooling. The CPU and the GPU on the other hand DO NEED cooling to operate.

The normal temperature of a HDD is around 35 °C (even under full load it rarely would go above 45 °C if the laptop is designed properly)

CPU - WITH cooling 40 to 70/80 °C
GPU - 45/50 - ... °C

If you observe the temperatures you will notice that it is actually the GPU temperature that is really dynamic and that triggers the FAN to increase speed.

 

Yeah, basically what Gracy said. Here's a picture of the insides of a laptop, it should help you understand:



You can see what the fans/heatsink are connected to, and its not the hard drive. Ever.

The only time the fan cools the HDD is when the fan vent is located below the HDD, and thus some air gets pulled across the HDD on its way to the fan.

 

Thanks for all the input! So it sounds like the "thermostats" are connected to the CPU/GPU, and ambient temp is what it is. Sounds like my efforts would be better directed toward teleporting a year or two out so I could get a Sandy Bridge II (or III). The whining fan is the one thing I genuinely dislike about my F11 every single day.

 

Exactly. The CPU and GPU temperatures are the only ones controlling the FAN. It doesn't matter how hot your HDD gets - even if it is on fire - the FAN will not be triggered! It is just a stand-alone thermal item that does not need extra cooling. So is the RAM too.

I hear that the FAN is a typical and serious problem by the F... why don't you sell it and buy a different model? AFAIK the F is the only model having this problem (to such a great extend) among the Vaios.