XPS fan issue: Solved?!

[kizh]

consider using this to control processor speeds:

The ThrottleStop Guide

I keep my processor at 2.3 when gaming with no noticeable effects, and while the fan is still on, its whisper quiet.

When I need to do some editing I just switch to another profile or close it.

[Fenikkusu]

consider using this to control processor speeds:

The ThrottleStop Guide

I keep my processor at 2.3 when gaming with no noticeable effects, and while the fan is still on, its whisper quiet.

When I need to do some editing I just switch to another profile or close it.

Ha-ha ironically this program was created to do the opposite. Now I use to lock my processor to the minimum when I don't need it.

[obsidian88]

Can you guys share in detail which settings are best? Is there anything to tweak?

[jimmyk50]

I finally got a reasonable answer from Dell personnel regarding fan issues in the XPS series laptops. He took the time to read this forum thread (and others) and replied in broken English below. It appears that he is acknowledging there is a problem. That's a start.

"Hi Jimmy. i took the time to read all the links you provided, and it seems to be a issue in the XPS models, and is kinda related to the Core i Series, the fans speeds usually increases when the system is getting hot and for preventing a burning or a freeze in the system, he cold it down, the system itself seems to have a not capable fan internally cause the noise is not normal, the intel Cores i Series as we know are high performance CPU and require a optimal fan, I can only suggest to take your system to a certified tech and check the fan to solve the issue and in the worst case, replace it for a better one, also try to use a cooling pad under the laptop just to test if it solve the issue. Regards"

Go to this Dell forum thread link below to view this reply:

XPS fan issue- Dell please respond - Laptop General Hardware Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

[kizh]

so replacing the fan would solve the sound? Is it a standard universal fitting? I used to deck my PC with huge fans and run them really slow. I don't see how this could work in a laptop though.

[tx_wildlife]

JUST FYI - I had the dell tech replace the fan and cooling sink. They used the same fan and sink model as the one in the system. It did not have any affect ont he noise. Still LOUD and cycling.

The on-line tech ininstalled the nvida driver and then re-installed them. Not much difference.

I sent another ticket into DELL tech support to escalate the issue.

[obsidian88]

I had my laptop checked out even though I knew the fan had no problems -dell's repair shop replaced the fan anyway and of course the problem was still there. Even the dell rep I talked to on the phone agreed that it would most likely do nothing but it was worth looking at in case the heat sink wasn't applied properly.

[Risco]

Guys, it is a bios issue with the fan profile. As soon as you hit over 60C even for a short period the fan goes nuts. It needs to be configured in a way that it does not go full blast when cpu usage spikes.

A bios update is the ONLY way this will ever get fixed.

[sevenofnine]

I agree with Risco, clearly a Bios issue.

Is it hard for Dell to tweak the Bios to fix? I guess it would be fairly straightforward to just tweak the fan?

I've got my processor throttled at 99% so dont get constant on/off but when my fan does come on it then stays on for ages until I toggle the power profile settings. Fan doesn't come on again until it hits 60C as Risco has said.

Also, is it straightforward to replace the fan/replace with a better model? I've never done it before but I'd happily have a go at taking my laptop apart to replace with a more capable fan.

[funky monk]

I don't see why Dell isn't dealing with this issue head on and tackling the problem at heart. They could save themselves so much money and effort if they simply tweaked a few values in the BIOS. It would literally only take a few man hours to fix.