x230 high temperatures

[TOTAL]

It appears that my x230 reaches higher temperatures than described by users across the internet.

At 3.1 mHz, which sometimes gets to 3.3, and 90% processor load for music applications, the machine is perfectly stable (lets me even write this post as the music gets generated), but the cpu temp goes as high as 93 Centigrate (with fan at 8000), which is a bit more than the allowed maximum.

Also, at minor use of resources, the temperature goes down only to around 60 degrees, which is still hot.

Could something be not right?

[axur-delmeria]

Have you thoroughly cleaned the heatsink and applied new thermal paste?

[TOTAL]

I am a bit concerned about digging in the thinkpad intestines that deep. I have only dusted the fan so far.
61 degrees at 2960 rpm at the moment, with 5% processor load.

Before I proceed, I just wanted to check: is this a substantially above-average reading or still within the norm? What is the norm for x230?

[axur-delmeria]

My X220, which by all accounts is hotter than your X230, currently shows 59C with a sustained 19% CPU load. Note that it's on a Series 3 Mini Dock (which generally raises CPU temps) and in a tropical country with ambient temperatures above 30c.

Your X230 with 5% CPU usage has no reason to be at 61C unless the heatsink is blocked by dust.

If you don't want to open it up and clean it properly, have someone you trust do it for you.

[bgravato]

First try cleaning the dust from the fan and the heat sink. Only if that fails you should consider replacing the thermal paste.

[StuB]

Hello, what do you guys use to check temp? I don't fancy trying different apps.

I try to keep my X230 of soft fabric. So either a book if on my lap or on the table. My place is quite dusty, surfaces get covered so I can imagine the fan getting quite full but funnily enough, when on 24/7 it doesn't. I took it apart a couple of weeks back (take photos and draw outlines for where things go and screws - have a cloth under and for workspace to help stop screws bouncing off the table - or lap ). So keep air moving after turning off to prevent dust build up, maybe. My X230 is now an on off laptop so I'll see in a few months or years if dust is worse than when the fan kept going (not sure if the fan stops and starts depending on temp or runs constant at various RPM).

[TOTAL]

thinkfan. Shows temperature next to the clock in bottom right corner. Works completely flawlessly.

[StuB]

Thanks TOTAL. Had to go with SpeedFan. Browsed Acer laptops on fleaBay and the temp shot up to 160°