XPS fan issue: Solved?!

[ComputerStud]

Hey all,

Just got a L502x from Dell. Great machine but the fan cycling is darned annoying. Has anyone other than ComputerStud done a clean reinstall with updated drivers and had the problem subside?

I'm thinking about contacting tech support but I don't want to deal with having the computer opened up and fans replaced for no reason. I wish there was a way to find out if this is on anyone's radar at Dell HQ.

The clean install will get rid of the unnecessary crap that spike cpu and hence leading to the on/off cycle.

However, you have to set the nvidia control to use intel HD graphics for all apps except your designated games. Nvidia gpu will spike the temp and lead to on/off cycle because the cpu and gpu shares same heat outlet.

Clean install and set Nvidia gpu...then report back.

[ThisNoName]

The clean install will get rid of the unnecessary crap that spike cpu and hence leading to the on/off cycle.

However, you have to set the nvidia control to use intel HD graphics for all apps except your designated games. Nvidia gpu will spike the temp and lead to on/off cycle because the cpu and gpu shares same heat outlet.

Clean install and set Nvidia gpu...then report back.

Where do I change nVidia settings? I did a clean install and only update driver from Device Manager instead of installing a full package. There's a Intel Graphics icon in my notification area, but I can't find anything to config nVidia. Thanks


EDIT.

I run the setup from the driver director, only got Enable/Disable 3D on start menu. I don't think I have 3D vision when I order the computer. Not sure if they are the same thing.

Anyway, I found a nVidia Control Panel, launch it and there's a Set PhysX to GT550M or CPU. Is that what you talked about? Not sure if I'm imagine it, but I think the fan hasn't been on since I made the change and while typing up this message.


EDIT2.

I changed PhysX back to Auto Select and in Manage 3D settings, Global - Integrated Graphics. I think it does quiet it down completely. So much for paying extra for a high-end graphic card. The interesting thing is, the default setting is Global/Auto, then Chrome/Integrated. And I'm only browsing and nVidia still acting up.


Anyway, problem solved. Great thanks to all your guys effort.

[gull_s_777]

I see some people are getting their L702X now with A13 or A14 bios....
can someone with new bios tell how is the fan working with new bios???

[ThisNoName]

I see some people are getting their L702X now with A13 or A14 bios....
can someone with new bios tell how is the fan working with new bios???

I have A14, it does not solve the fan problem. I have clean install with driver scan/update only and fan runs very few minutes while browsing simple forum using Chrome. I almost thought it was normal and couldn't remember how I got started on this journey.

Anyway, changing nVidia global default to integrated video works very well. Fan never comes up again while browsing. When I stream video, it does come up and stays up. So sounds like it's nVidia/Windows fault instead of Dell.

Thanks again for the great effort of everyone on this board. Now I can really love my one and only new computer in 10+ years

[toronto]

Some of us don't think that disabling the NVIDIA card is much of a solution. What's the point of having a graphics card if you disable it?

[ThisNoName]

Some of us don't think that disabling the NVIDIA card is much of a solution. What's the point of having a graphics card if you disable it?

It's not disabled, you can set your game to use nVidia and let it spin.

If you run the nVidia setup package, it will set global default to auto select, then Chrome to Integrated and game to global. But somehow that's not working, GPU is powered on while you are browsing and thus the on/off fan. So you basically switch it to default integrated and game nVidia.

[tonyr6]

For me it spins fast and then slows down alot when browsing with Firefox and Chrome. I think is a BIOS issue but people with A14 are still having this problem.

[ThisNoName]

For me it spins fast and then slows down alot when browsing with Firefox and Chrome. I think is a BIOS issue but people with A14 are still having this problem.

Folks already get a very effective workaround, just give it a try. Fan still occasionally spin up on balanced plan and mostly browsing, but a lot less frequent, at much lower speed and for shorter duration. More like 5 seconds every 30 minutes.

So it's just a workaround and it's only winter. Already looking for a cooling pad and maybe eventually a new BIOS and fan speed control software.

[cpumonkey]

I have the exact same processor and issue with the spinning up and down. Cutting it 70 as per the OP, and it works like a charm. NO MORE SPINNING.

simple web browsing and even youtube vids and it stays silent.

granted, this is just a workaround until dell can come up with something more concrete but at least I can work in my school library and not have the fan driving people nuts


EDITED: an interesting note. While the fan now comes on much less frequently..it unfortunately still comes on. However I have noticed that if I switch from my custom plan to any other, the fan noise is immediately killed, then i can switch back to my custom and it will stay that way... for a little while anyhow
not too sure what to do about this

[skyh]

I have some possible light to shed on this issue, though no solution:

1) I received my XPS17 laptop in July 2011, and had no fan problems. It was both the quietest and coolest laptop I'd ever owned.

2) Last week a technician came out and replaced the motherboard, audio board, USB board and camera (for problems not related to fans or temperature). No changes to the software, drivers, etc - same setup that was perfectly quiet up till then.
Ever since then, I've been getting the kind of fan problems described in this thread. Fan coming on full speed every couple of minutes and running for a long time. Huge difference from the way it was prior to the board replacement. I updated the BIOS to A16 - no dfference, except that now I get a power supply error on boot!

3) The fact that my fan was perfect for 9 months, then became a problem immediately after a motherboard replacement, suggests to me that the problem is not instrinsic to the XPS design or the BIOS, but occurs only on certain systems. In other words, it may be a quality control issue - flaky motherboard/chipsets, bad fans, improper heatsink installation, etc.