[Dell Studio 1745] - Fan issue

[Delite74]

Hi everyone,

On the new Dell studio 1745, fan goes on and off like an hair dryer:

Symptop:
The fan is completely stopped and kicks on like an hair dryer for about 10s.
This happens from 1 time every 2 minutes to 3 times per minute and occurs whith an idle processor (< 10%). This is very unusual and disturbing.

On a regular laptop, as I usually see, the fan should spin all the time silently at low speed according to low processor activity and should speed up by steps, according to the processor heavy load.

Some other users on French and German forums also noticed this issue.
Dell changed my motherboard as well as the fan but it didn't solve the problem. I guess it is due to a bad bios...?

- Did you also noticed this problem on your Dell studio laptop ?
- How does it work with yours ?
- any information ?

Thank you for your help, information or suggestions.

Don't know the Dell escalation process to report the problem to technical team...

[allfiredup]

Sorry to hear you're having this issue. I dealt with a very similar problem on my Studio 1535 and the solution, ultimately, was replacing the 1535 with the newer Studio 1555 (warranty replacement). That was AFTER four repair attempts including a new motherboard, fan controller, fan assembly, heatsink and various other thermal management components!

Have you updated to the most recent BIOS revision available from Dell. The newest version appears to be A02 released on 11/15/09- LINK

Other than that, you should inform Dell that it's time for them to replace your system! I recommend being polite, but firm, until they do so.

Good luck and I'd be interested to hear how things work out for you....

[Delite74]

Hi allfiredup,

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

The laptop is new and everything is up to date (Bios A02, all Dell drivers, windows update, firewall and virus protection).
As I noticed the issue first with the A01 Bios, I upgraded to A02, but it solved nothing.

So far, and according to your experience, I don't see any other cause then a Buggy Bios.
Ultimately, it could also be due to bad motherboard series or even a bad motherboard design, but i don't think it's the case.

- Do you agree that the fan should always spin, at least at low speed, when the laptop is not running under heavy load ?
- How long did you try to solve the problem until you upgraded to 1555 ?
- Do you remember the last 1535 Bios version at the time Dell changed your laptop ?

I have to call Dell back and see what could be the next step. I will do a post as soon as I get further information.

Very sad situation considering that otherwise, it's a great laptop...

[allfiredup]

Originally Posted by Delite74

So far, and according to your experience, I don't see any other cause then a Buggy Bios.
Ultimately, it could also be due to bad motherboard series or even a bad motherboard design, but i don't think it's the case.

The source of the fan control issues for my 1535 (and for several other NBR users at the time) was due to motherboard flex. The 1535 had the least structural rigidity of any laptop I've ever owned. As a result, the motherboard was subject to undue stress any time the system was lifted off a solid surface. This particular set of problems was more erratic than what you are experiencing, but they could still be related. Here is a posting from another 1535 user with photos detailing the particular motherboard flaw- LINK

- Do you agree that the fan should always spin, at least at low speed, when the laptop is not running under heavy load ?

Under light load, I don't expect the fan to be running constantly at an audible (noisy) level...if it runs so quietly that I can't hear it, I don't really care. But I find it unacceptable for the fan to cycle from low to high speed every few minutes when the system isn't under heavy load!

In both the 1535 and 1555, there have been complaints of excessive fan activity and/or noise on models with a discrete GPU (ATI 3450 or 4570). Whether your problem is caused by a hardware flaw or due to a BIOS with hyperactive/overprotective thermal protection settings, your graphics card could also be a factor.

- How long did you try to solve the problem until you upgraded to 1555 ?

The 1535 performed flawlessly for the first four months I owned it. The only time I recall hearing the fan during that period was under sustained, heavy loads (very few times).

Once the problems surfaced, it was just over six months before I finally got the replacement unit (1555). It's actually my fault that it took so long. At the first sign of trouble, I bought a new Dell Latitude E6400 to replace the 1535. I planned to sell the 1535 when Dell completed the warranty repair (I sold the 1555 when I finally got it). When the first repair didn't fix it, I was so frustrated that I tossed it aside for about two months before taking any action.

Instead of a specific time period, I consider three (or even two) unsuccessful repair attempts to be time for a replacement.

- Do you remember the last 1535 Bios version at the time Dell changed your laptop ?

A6 was the newest revision and I had installed it. I also tried rolling back to each of the previous BIOS versions and it made no difference in fan behavior.

I have to call Dell back and see what could be the next step. I will do a post as soon as I get further information.

Very sad situation considering that otherwise, it's a great laptop...

If you don't get results from Dell, either by calling or using the email address I posted, feel free to send me a Private Message with your email address. I will send you the letter that I sent to Dell that got results. I also have a list of emails for most of the Board of Directors, which is a last resort tactic that DOES get results if all else fails!

[oblomschik]

I must say that I can't really hear the fan spinning under light load on my 1747 box. It's not very load under full load either. I think you will have to call this one in.

[xxbbb]

I think i kind of understand what you are talking about.
The fan seems to run on a timer rather than temperature controlled when the computer is in light load....(or when the temperature is under a certain point)

[Pain Elemental]

Hi all,
greetings from Germany! ;-)

I also have a Studio 1745 and have the same fan problems. I have also posted this in the Dell Community Forums:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19315633.aspx

Hi all,

since 2 weeks I own a new Dell Studio 1745. The notebook is really good, except for one point:

The fan!



The fan starts up every 2-3 minutes even if there is no load at all!

I would expect the fan to run at a constant silent level and turn louder under load, but the current situation is that the fan is off and turns on every 2 minutes.

This is really annoying! Any chances to get a new bios with a better fan control?



Best Regards

Bernd



P.S.: my full spec:

Prozessor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P7450 (2.13GHz, 1066MHz, 3MB)
Arbeitsspeicher: 4.096 MB 1333 MHz Dual-Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2 x 2.048]
Grafikkarte: 1 GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
Festplatte: Zwei SATA-Festplatten mit 1 TB (7.200 1/min) (2x 500 GB)
Betriebssystem: Original Windows®7 HOME PREMIUM 64bit - Deutsch
Optisches Laufwerk: Fixed Internal DVD+/-RW Slot Load Drive including Software
Wireless Networking: Intel WiFi Link 5100 (802.11 a/b/g/n 1X2) 1/2 MiniCard
Camera: Integrierte 2,0-Megapixel-Webkamera
Colour Choice: Mitternachtsblau mit Mikro-Satin-Oberfläche
LCD: 17.3” High Definition+ (1600x900) LED with TL

I found out that I can make my notebook silent by creating a new "Energy Savings Plan" in the Windows Control Panel.
Most important setting is the graphics card! You have to set it to "max. battery saving" instead of "optimum performance", also when the notebook is connected to the power supply.
This way my book is silent, if there is no load or only few load.

But still, the fan control is really bad! Shame on you Dell!

Regards
Bernd

[Charles P. Jefferies]

This thread has been re-opened by popular demand.

[dandv]

Originally Posted by Charles P. Jefferies

This thread has been re-opened by popular demand.

Thanks Charles! PS: 33k posts? Holy Moses. When do you sleep?

Anyway, just wanted to say that the customer_advocate@dell.com address has been dead since August 2010, if not earlier.

There is a post dated from 2007, that lists e-mail addresses of Dell hotshots. If someone has current information, it would be great to start a new thread.

[ankushkool]

Can someone confirm in which direction the fan rotates in Studio 17? due to some reason the air is not exiting from back of my laptop!