Comments on: How to replace cooling fan in Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop

By: John

John — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:28:04 +0000

Took apart my lenovo T61 and found that my heatsink didn’t have a part number sticker on it. I looked around and couldn’t find any that matched, any ideas on how to identify the part?

By: James Cook

James Cook — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:52:26 +0000

Thanks for the guide! Something to watch out for: my Lenovo T61 has an nVidia chip in addition to the two other chips mentioned in the guide. The replacement heatsink I bought apparently was designed for T61 laptops without the nVidia chip: it had thermal grease ready for the other two chips, but a translucent sticker where the nVidia chip should go (like the heatsink pictured in this guide). I removed the translucent sticker, cleaned off the adhesive*, and added my own thermal grease to the nVidia chip before proceeding.

* I used the cleaner that came with the thermal grease I bought. I also cleaned off the old thermal grease from all the chips.

By: Laptop Tech

Laptop Tech — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:48 +0000

@ Lu,

I have a Lanovo T60. It has fan noise. Is the replacing procediure of T60 same as of T61 ?

The cooling fan replacement procedure will be very similar. Just in case, you can take a look at the Lenovo T60 service manual. It has step-by-step disassembly instructions. Fan removal shown on the page 81.

Should the cooling fan assembly be replaced?

I guess it's up to you. You can replace the entire cooling fan assembly (cooling fan and heat sink) or just the cooling fan itself. It's possible to separate the fan from the heatsink. The entire cooling fan assembly is more expensive but easier to replaced. Just the cooling fan is cheaper but takes more time to replace. Both parts available on eBay.

By: Lu

Lu — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:54:01 +0000

Thank for your great instruction. I have a Lanovo T60. It has fan noise. Should the cooling fan assembly be replaced? Is the replacing procediure of T60 same as of T61 ?
Thanks

By: glyq

glyq — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:39:06 +0000

Just want to thank you with the detailed and pictured instructions. Although I had the X series instead of the T series of Lenovo, but I managed to dissect my laptop for the first time in my life! Thanks again!

By: Janette

Janette — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:55:24 +0000

Thank you for your great instructions. I am so fortunate to have found your website! Everything looked exactly like you had pictured, and the step-by-step directions were very easy to follow. Thank you again!

By: Laptop Tech

Laptop Tech — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:47:01 +0000

@ Mike,

what is the fastest CPU I can install in the T61P 15″ screen? Lenovo should have a list of CPU’s that are fully compatible, but where the heck is it?

Probably all CPUs listed in the service manual. Here's the manual: ThinkPad T61 and T61P service manual. The CPU list starts on the page 141.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:01:40 +0000

Tremendous job done here. 1 additional question, what is the fastest CPU I can install in the T61P 15″ screen? Lenovo should have a list of CPU’s that are fully compatible, but where the heck is it?. Many Thanks on the fine Tech Article! Mike

By: Debbie

Debbie — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:35:32 +0000

Hi–
The link you gave me took me to the same 18 pages. Fourteen steps. Each describilng the T61 cooling fan replacement. Can you please email me the one page. In fact, I’m not sure what you’re looking at. No offense. That directions on a fan replacement, when what seems like 50 screws are involved, is difficult to imagine.

By: Laptop Tech

Laptop Tech — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:28:04 +0000

@ Debbie,
All instructions located on this page:
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replace-cooling-fan-lenovo-thinkpad-t61-laptop/

If you are talking about pages listed after the guide, they are pages with comments, not the instructions.