Tired of DELL not handling the throttling/fans/overheating issues; what are my options?

Im not going to write my whole year long story here, but I will say that I am on my FOURTH e6400 and what do you know? The fan has lost its mind, having throttling issues and cant seem to get the temp down. Performance overall is declining, just like my last three...

Im so tired of dealing with these issues...I'm just exhausted and honestly, I feel defeated. They keep replacing my laptop (which I paid a small fortune for when they first came out last year) but the problem keeps coming back.

What are my options now? I feel like ive spoken to every person in that g-d forsaken company and its gotten me nowhere.

I will NEVER buy another Dell computer.

Any advice/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

Do you have the Nvidia graphics with a T-series CPU? If you don't need the performance, a GMA laptop with P-series CPU will definately help the situation.

 

You know, personally I would've sold off the E6400 after the second replacement and gone for a different manufacturer/model. One is a dud, sure, but two and I'd be a little bit uncomfortable. I find it amazing that you've stuck with it for four machines now...

And I think he has an X4500 machines by now.

 

wow that sounds really bad. did you try calling dell and getting the issue escalated? normally after so many replacements they'll offer to swap for a different model.

 

Tried the BIOS that was issued today?

 

I have the Intel GPU with a P9600 chip. This is the chip I swapped my last notebook for. Hasnt made any difference.

They will do nothing but give me replacements. Honestly the worst customer service experience of my life.

Did not know there was one released; will try-thanks.

Has anyone seen this?: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/dell-facing-massive-e6400-and-e6500-overheating-and-underclockin/

 

Not sure what country you are in, but it sounds like a small claims suit might fix the problem. It has been done before when Dell cannot fix a problem....

 

Under-volting has worked for at least two others with this issue...have you give it a shot?

 

well, it should work out of the box, we shouldnt have to mod our computers for them to operate normally.

 

My E6400 is perfectly fine, with the Nvidia solution. Heck I even overclock the GPU like no tomorrow (see my OC guide link on my signature, to see how much I overclock the GPU without any cooling pads) when I need the extra power. The laptop handles the extra heat without any problems (everything is under ~90C) when I play games on it. Seriously, doing what I did on a 14inch laptop shows how VERY impressive the cooling system, which comes into agreement with all the reviews I read on this system. I got my laptop in November of last year.. so it's been a year.

Frankly, I knew having a GPU in a north-bridge was a REALLY BAD IDEA from Intel, since day 1. And that was before this problem was announced. IIRC, this laptop was one of the first, which had this damn Intel crap. And when this overheat/throttling issue was started to be reported on forums, affecting several laptops and brands... I was really not surprised. Sadly, it's hard to say if it's Intel fault, because some other - newer - laptop don't have the problem, but my money is still on Intel fault. And now they want to put their new GPU in the CPU for even more smartness.

The problem is not banning Dell.. but banning Intel GPU's. You would think that they produce less heat, therefor cause no/less problems, but it just does the opposite, because Intel loves to put processors together without improving heat dispersion at the processor die level.

Things I would do:
- Confirm that your issue is not part of the users that have a throttling problem with their system, which Dell is currently looking into fixing it. You probably have that.
- Make sure you have the latest BIOS (currently A18), and see if it helps (hopefully Dell solution is not to run the fan at ma speed even on battery)
- Change thermal paste with Artic Silver (make sure your put enough to allow proper contact between heatsink and processorS)... maybe they used a cheaper quality one or their is bad contact from the heatsink to the processors. See with Dell if you can do this without voiding the warranty, and that your CPU, motherboard, and heatsink is still covered). This last solution won't solve the problem, but MAY help diminish it.


In my case, I did not have to do any of the above.