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Lenovo X1 Extreme
- Thread starter lcseds
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I've applied it manually. No issues so far. Fastest BIOS update on X1 so far.
As far as BIOS updates go, it’s always a smart move to wait at least for a week or so.
But this time I’m one of the first, just because of the fans. I’m curious if they actually improved them.
Will post more on this lately, in a few hours I’m gonna connect my x1e to 3 2k screens and see how fans behave.
But this time I’m one of the first, just because of the fans. I’m curious if they actually improved them.
Will post more on this lately, in a few hours I’m gonna connect my x1e to 3 2k screens and see how fans behave.
Think Lenovo will take a little more time to download to Vantage if I heard correctly. For me, I would give it a bit time before a download and let others take the plunge just to make sure no issues surface.
Yes, the 8850H
I'm really happy with it, its cool, fast and has features that the mac doesn't have.
I still have episodes where the fans will spin up on occasion but they're fairly rare, and playing games (mostly fallout 4), the temps are in 50c to mid 60s and while the ands are running then, I'm ok. Its not silent laptop in that once it gets into the 60c range the fans run but over all for most normal usage its very quiet.
Is it easy to install the new bios?
My X1E is finally coming on monday by the way. its the longest i have had to wait for a laptop!
Here is what i plan to do guys:
I plan to just run it as it is, install my usual stuff, try out a few games etc, encoding stuff, photo editing and if no glaring issues after say 10 days of use, i will buy 2tb samsung evo, slap on a fresh install of windows 10 and with the included 1tb ssd i may use as more storage or load popOS
It's not to bad as long as you can downgrade, although I agree it's more prudent to wait a spell to ensure no drama consequence of the update. I'm confident of flashing the likes of BIOS so I'm fine with the latest update. We used to regularly update firmware on $50K boards, find it helps to read the instructions
lot of smart idiots who proved the improbable to be possible Q-6
In Lenovos case, it's as easy as installing an application. Just download .exe, run it, and that's about it
I would do a complete reinstall of Win10 straight away. No need to use rufus or anything, just download from microsoft win10 installer, it will do the iso 'burn' on your usb drive with just a few clicks
And Pop_OS is a great OS indeed. Lots of small things are really nice about it, especially their keyboard shortcuts.
But bare in mind, a lot of things need to be done manually, no matter what distro you use. Things like fan control, thermal management, etc.
Luckily for you, thinkpads are rather popular on linux, so there are bunch of tweaks out there.
It's not to bad as long as you can downgrade, although I agree it's more prudent to wait a spell to ensure no drama consequence of the update. I'm confident of flashing the likes of BIOS so I'm fine with the latest update. We used to regularly update firmware on $50K boards, find it helps to read the instructions
Nowdays I wouldn't even call it flashing BIOS. I was pleasently surprised when all I had to do is run a .exe. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing like in the old days
EDIT:
Reading @maflynn posts makes me sad. Happy for him, but mine unit isn't as half as good as his. Even doing basic tasks like web browsing and some email, my unit sits idling at 55-60 C. So without tweaks my fans do spin up. And I'm using a FHD version, and he has 4K version.
Happy for him, but rather sad in my case
But new BIOS does improve things a lot. Fans aren't as aggressive as they used to be. It's a noticable difference indeed. I hooked my up to three 2K monitors, and by doing some basic stuff (without tweaks), fans would occasionally turn on. Before 1.19, they would run like crazy all the time.
But with tweaks, no fan noise at all.
Still gotta test new BIOS out, but that will take days/weeks, not just 2h session
Bummers manHappy for him, but rather sad in my case
My fans are fairly quiet but they do spin up on occasion - nothing like the full blast that hajime posted about and Its not prolonged. its not something I really pay attention too. I can be oblivious when I work. They do spin up on certain tasks like checking for updates in Vantage app. Much of my work, i.e., office apps, remote apps, such as gotomypc and RDP, the fans are quiet.
I'm not all that happy with tpfancontrol, I don't think its working the way I in envisioned it. Maybe its the version and there's a specific X1E dual fan version. For example I'll run Prime95, my temps quickly ramp up as do my fans, I seem to top out at 80c range. Well once I stop the test and temps go back to normal I see tpfancontrol showing the fans off, yet they're still running. Another example is that the ini file as the fans spinning up at 65c, yet they start well before 65c.
Reading the subreddit about bios 1.19, it seems that Lenovo is using profile similar to what tpfancontrol has, so I may opt to just uninstall it.
What if there is an y issues with the laptop and i need to send it back? can i factory reset it somehow using a recovering ISO disk image?In Lenovos case, it's as easy as installing an application. Just download .exe, run it, and that's about it
I would do a complete reinstall of Win10 straight away. No need to use rufus or anything, just download from microsoft win10 installer, it will do the iso 'burn' on your usb drive with just a few clicks
And Pop_OS is a great OS indeed. Lots of small things are really nice about it, especially their keyboard shortcuts.
But bare in mind, a lot of things need to be done manually, no matter what distro you use. Things like fan control, thermal management, etc.
Luckily for you, thinkpads are rather popular on linux, so there are bunch of tweaks out there.
Nowdays I wouldn't even call it flashing BIOS. I was pleasently surprised when all I had to do is run a .exe. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing like in the old days
EDIT:
Reading @maflynn posts makes me sad. Happy for him, but mine unit isn't as half as good as his. Even doing basic tasks like web browsing and some email, my unit sits idling at 55-60 C. So without tweaks my fans do spin up. And I'm using a FHD version, and he has 4K version.
Happy for him, but rather sad in my case
But new BIOS does improve things a lot. Fans aren't as aggressive as they used to be. It's a noticable difference indeed. I hooked my up to three 2K monitors, and by doing some basic stuff (without tweaks), fans would occasionally turn on. Before 1.19, they would run like crazy all the time.
But with tweaks, no fan noise at all.
Still gotta test new BIOS out, but that will take days/weeks, not just 2h session
I used popOS briefly on my dell xps 13 booted from a micro sd card..
Bios 1.19 installed and fan is slightly quieter thus far. Simple download but a little nervous about borking the system. Used the Lenovo Download site below.
https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/...ody_BrowseProduct&searchType=0&keyWordSearch=
https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/...ody_BrowseProduct&searchType=0&keyWordSearch=
Bummers man
My fans are fairly quiet but they do spin up on occasion - nothing like the full blast that hajime posted about and Its not prolonged. its not something I really pay attention too. I can be oblivious when I work. They do spin up on certain tasks like checking for updates in Vantage app. Much of my work, i.e., office apps, remote apps, such as gotomypc and RDP, the fans are quiet.
I'm not all that happy with tpfancontrol, I don't think its working the way I in envisioned it. Maybe its the version and there's a specific X1E dual fan version. For example I'll run Prime95, my temps quickly ramp up as do my fans, I seem to top out at 80c range. Well once I stop the test and temps go back to normal I see tpfancontrol showing the fans off, yet they're still running. Another example is that the ini file as the fans spinning up at 65c, yet they start well before 65c.
View attachment 824347
Reading the subreddit about bios 1.19, it seems that Lenovo is using profile similar to what tpfancontrol has, so I may opt to just uninstall it.
I read that some units have very bad thermal paste job done so perhaps that affect fan noise. One problem with the dual-fan version of tpfancontrol is that it only accepts integer values. I would want something like 0.2, 0.5 as fan speeds.
There is a dual fan version! The version you have installed is great, but only for single fans.
In the links I provided (reddit link i believe), there is a link to dual fan version. Check it out.
You can just format everything and reinstall windows.
Mine had terrible paste job. There was almost no paste at all. But I did a repaste, and that helped a lot. But not enough it seems.
Anybody tried the new firmware? After lots of complains, Lenovo told me that they have found a way to control the fans noise. It should improve the situation of fan noise and make the X1E and P1 quieter for general productivity uses. They mentioned that they fixed the alternation of dead silent and jet engine issue.
https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/n2euj11w.txt
https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/n2euj11w.exe
Could those who have updated it please report back on how the fan noise is like with the new update? Thanks
https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/n2euj11w.txt
https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/n2euj11w.exe
Could those who have updated it please report back on how the fan noise is like with the new update? Thanks
Last edited:
One thing I’ll say about Lenovo BIOS updates: I’ve never seen another brand make them so easy and problem free. To the point hat I don’t even think twice about applying them at work.
I got into this habit then foolishly carried that mindset over to a contractor who had a Dell. What a total and complete **** show that was. On an XPS no less!
I got into this habit then foolishly carried that mindset over to a contractor who had a Dell. What a total and complete **** show that was. On an XPS no less!
Ahh so much better. Though I noticed that while the fans are running the way I expected this app to control them. I suspect I'll look to apply the bios update at some point and hopefully render the need of this app moot.
I was reading up on re-applying thermal paste (its been a long time since I last did it), and I stumbled across a handful of videos showing that you really can't mess it up.
For example take a look at this video
I was always taught that its really bad to apply too much and manufacturers always apply too much. To cut to the chase, this screen grab from YT shows that applying too much didn't have an effect. There's other videos floating around that support this supposition.
I'm old school and I basically learned to apply the thermal paste by spreading it with a razer to ensure even coverage, but if you search methods to apply methods that's a no-no but yet I don't think it really matters that much.
The thermal improvement is more likely due to using higher quality thermal paste then the stock paste.
One caveat to the over-application method (if that is really a method), using conductive thermal paste is one exception that you have to REALLY careful not to get any outside of the chip since it could short out the motherboard, I'm looking at you liquid metal.
As long as there's adequate clamping force too much TIM isn't really a big issue, hence why many OEM's take that path. Personally I don't re-paste unless there's good reason as in my experience you don't get a out of it, just a few degrees at best and the OEM paste is designed to last multiple years without need to be reapplied.
I think a lot see big changes as they apply new TIM to older systems that have gathered dust over time, new TIM & clean coolers represent the big difference, not the TIM in isolation. Liquid Metal is enticing although difficult to contain in a notebook that on the move and from my understand still requires to be replaced in time.
Q-6
I think a lot see big changes as they apply new TIM to older systems that have gathered dust over time, new TIM & clean coolers represent the big difference, not the TIM in isolation. Liquid Metal is enticing although difficult to contain in a notebook that on the move and from my understand still requires to be replaced in time.
Q-6
