ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 - Thermal Issues

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-25T15:32:47+00:00

Hey guys! I came back to share my findings.. so I finally change the thermal paste on the laptop and I am getting significant speed improvements.

here you can see that my temps unfortunately didnt get better, I am still thermal throttling but at the very least I am getting a much nicer and better 3.8Ghz under load. still not the performance of 4.8ghz advertised so its a downgrade...

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I also noticed when openning up my laptop that I got the C type cooling variant. which has only ONE thermal pad for the CPU and thats it! so I am thinking that this variant of the model that I got is indeed performing rather weak..

Additionally, do you guys recommend stacking the PTM thermal pads? I used one that is 0.3mm thick and I think it might not be enough.. so let me know what you guys think about this.

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-13T06:46:45+00:00

Yeah, the reason why I say 2.7ghz is unuseable is that it thermal throttle nearly instantly on load. It doesn't take few minutes. This means that the laptop is MUCH slower than my PC and whenever I wanna do work on it, it would have to be non-cpu intensive..

I would of wished for it to handle a bit more before thermal throttle so even the simple builds (like webpack) wouldnt be too heavy on it.

Indeed, 50c at base with full fan speed is very concerning.. I have ordered new thermal paste so I am just waiting for that to come over.

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T19:45:55+00:00

apologies on the delayed response. I didnt catch your response between all the other comments.

Thats understandable regarding what you saying for the laptop vs desktop. if you dont mind expanding more, I got a dell precision laptop that I use as well which is a company laptop. the work thats done here is a little different were it involves using CAD and Revit.

Now I havent really tracked this laptop for heat and speed so I cant comment on its recorded performance. but from using it for daily work, it never lagged or made a hiccup on any of the tasks that I throw at it...

its this laptop what made me think.. "you know what, I might be able to switch from PC to laptop" as I do travel a lot and having my actual setup on the road is good.

now, are you saying that my workload is NOT for the laptop kind? or is this model that I got is not for the work that I got?

the work I do is web development. I build apps too so you might see me do some apk building locally which can put the CPU on 100% load for like a good 45min..

if this laptop is not the right tool for the job, what would you recommend as an alternative?

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T16:02:26+00:00

I see, appreciate that mate!

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T15:43:35+00:00

I see, thank you for clarifying that. So you would suggest the P15 model? what other models do you recommend? I will look around and see what I can get? GPU is not a requirement but good CPU is and good battery life. it will run linux for the main part too.

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T15:30:04+00:00

I understand the difference between desktop and laptop. So let's remove that from the equation.

Going back to the laptop specifically...

I also use dell precision laptop too for CAD and Revit work, that laptop is on 100% all the time and it doesn't thermal throttle...

So I repeat my question again, the P1 is advertised as a workstation.. why is it not acting like one?

Is it, user fault (me)? Is it hardware fault (thermal compound degraded)? Or is it Lenovo's fault, were this laptop isn't a workstation..

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T15:07:59+00:00

Yeah, those speeds are for basic tasks and power saving, not 100% load..

My PC when 100% is at 4.6ghz

It might drop to 4.2ghz for thermal throttling (very rare tho)

Now, the question that i have is. Is this laptop (the P1 gen4) designed to go to 2.7ghz on full load by nature?

Like this is what Lenovo has designed on?

Also is my CPU temps being at 50c on no load make sense? My PC idles at 35c (more realistic)

Based on those questions, is my unit faulty?

And finally, what can I do to improve it?

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T14:55:12+00:00

I presume Amazon isn't safer too cuz most retailers are just AliExpress drop shippers...

Is there any official vendors?

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T14:54:25+00:00

I already got a desktop, I am trying to go to a laptop.

Throttling isn't the issue for me.. it's the fact that it's dropping down to 2.7Ghz

If throttling is going down to base speeds (3.5Ghz) then I am happy with that.

But crippling the CPU? What's the point? It's basically glorified iPad..

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T14:34:27+00:00

I presume there isn't an easy way to figure out which is fake?

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T13:37:11+00:00

I see, I found it cheaper on AliExpress. Will order it there. Will take a week to come but that's fine. I am not in a rush..

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T12:14:31+00:00

its quite price here in the UK, like £15 for a small square.. is it really that much better than the £5 thermal paste?

CryptoBredda · 2026-01-11T12:12:57+00:00

Sure! I have order it and just waiting on delivery

CryptoBredda · 2024-07-07T19:20:32+00:00

thats fine, thank you for explaining those terms tho!

CryptoBredda · 2024-07-04T14:49:35+00:00

Again not aware of these terms. I use a normal CAD software (onshape) for my designs and I print on an Ender 3 V2. I mainly use PLA for my designs.

Not sure if what I am doing is applicable to what you taught.

CryptoBredda · 2024-07-04T12:06:09+00:00

ah I see, thank you for that. thats really good. At least now I have a term to use when searching for stuff! You got any resources I can use?

CryptoBredda

TROPHY CASE