D430: poor fan and heat control. How about yours?

[bylybob]

Dear all (and owners of D430), I just received my D430, It is exactly what I needed except... that I found it to be really warm and noisy (somehow related).

Even in Power saver mode and light use (browsing, e-mail...), the CPU temperature is around 60-65 C, and fan rapidly kick in at high speed for extended period of times (hence the noise). I was wondering if any of you had similar experience and could post for example your operating temperature. I use I8kfanGUI to monitor temperature.

What is interesting is that using I8kfanGUI to control fan speed (the option "Automatic temperature control") does a better job at keeping it cool and quiet. What is wrong with built-in controls?

I have a few possible explanation, not being very knowledgeable on laptops make it difficult to discriminate. First, it is not a SSD drive, just a PATA drive. Then, it is loaded with 2GB of RAM. And it's running the demanding vista premium. Finally, I made a fresh install of windows but I think I re-installed all the drivers (anything I should particularly pay attention to?).

Thanks for you inputs,

bylybob

[chong67]

Warm? Warm on the palmrest?

It is noisy?

I am about to get a new D430.

[FrontierDriver284]

Lots of people have complained about the D430's heat output. The cooling system isn't very effective.

[vostro1400user]

maybe you could try thermal paste for your CPU/heat sink.

[Raphie]

You don't wamt to try opening a D430 yourself, it's ultralight and slim.
Have mine since last monday, used it for 10h a day, every day. No heat issues. Yes the exhaust blows hot air after a 5 hour Powerpoint session, but for me that's a sign of the heat dispension working, rather than a complaint.

[kneze]

Hi Everybody,

I've read few similar complaints on the heat/noise of D430. But those were about D430 stuffed with Core 2 Duo U7600 (1.2 GHz).

Could anybody tell me about heat/noise of D430 with Core Solo U1400 (1.2 GHz)? I mean when loaded say with Adobe Reader + browser.

Does the interplay between Solo <-> Duo affect the heat/noise in general?

Thanks in advance.

[chong67]

It it doesnt get warm on the palmrest, then there is nothing to worry.

[bylybob]

After almost 2 weeks with my D430, I kind of have narrowed down my complaint to just loud.

Reviewing your comments and some other posts online, operating temperature is apparently not unusual and it does not really gets warm on the palmrest. I still can't really use it on my laps (even with pair of jeans on) but for desk work, it is OK.

However, the fans are constantly on at medium to high speed and just too loud for me (yes I admit, I am picky but I do enjoy quiet laptop). This is the only laptop I have/had where I can distinctly hear the fans in most circumstances (home/office).

Again, playing with I8kfangui, what did surprise me is that temperatures are actually not really influenced by fan settings. Hence my initial remark: I cam keep the laptop within the same temerature range with much more quiet fan operations using the "Automatic temperature control" of I8kfangui.

[chong67]

Does it sound like turbo fan or a quiet humming fan?

I am about to get my D430. I am waiting for $450 off $1900 to show up again.

[swarmer]

Does it sound like turbo fan or a quiet humming fan?

I am about to get my D430. I am waiting for $450 off $1900 to show up again.

Just call and I bet they'll give you that deal. Actually sometimes they offer $500 off of $2000. So just call and ask if you can have the discount instead of waiting for it to appear again on the site. That is... if you're sure you want to buy it.