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    Fan-Speed Comparison A04 vs. A05

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Megamilchmann, Aug 27, 2011.

  1. Megamilchmann

    Megamilchmann Notebook Guru

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    Hi,

    here are the results of a test I made for you to see the behavior of the fan-spaad compared to the temps.
    (i only make the test up to ~95°C - i think more is not very healthy :rolleyes: )


    Tools i used:
    • Intel Burn Test 2.5.1 (get hight temps on CPU)
    • 3dMark06 (get high temps on GPU)
    • HWinfo64 v3.85-1363 (Beta) read and set fan-speed

    "Problems":
    • I changed the Thermal "Paste" (liquid metal) an added some extra head-spreader inside so i had to cover the fan/cooler under and behind the Laptop to get this temps in short time.
    • HWinfo seems to be the only tool to read the Temps - but: it only updates the values every 2-4 sec - so i have to round the measured values.
    • I dont know which temps exactly the Bios is looking for to adjust the fan-speed.
    • I had my eye on every single "CPU-Core" and the "Cpu-Package" Temp.

    The Results:


    BIOS A04
    Temp (°C) / Fan-Speed (rpm)
    -----------------------------
    00-50 | 0
    50-65 | 3200-3400
    65-75 | 4200-5000
    75-95 | ~5500

    Highest manual speed: 5500-5700 rpm (it varies all the time)

    This Bios always seems to kick the fan to a specific speed and than it slows down a little bit - so there was no exact speed for a specific temp. but it always took the highest speed and than slows down. (when it reaches apprx. 65°C it gets up to 5000rpm and then it slows down in apprx. 15sec-steps.) Hope you know what i mean :eek: ​

    BIOS A05
    Temp (°C) / Fan-Speed (rpm)
    -----------------------------
    00-50 | 0
    50-60 | 3000
    60-70 | 3500
    70-80 | 4200
    80-90 | 4700
    90-95 | 5300

    Highest manual speed: exact 5700 rpm


    I will just repeat that this may not the exact values wich a programmed in the BIOS - but this is what was able to measure.
    Hope this helps in the upcoming discusions about "in A05 my fan ist not going down to 0 rpm in Idle" or "in A05 there is no "Jet-Turbine-Mode" anymore".
    I hope these are useful information for all of us.



    Greetz,
    Michael
     
    Megamilchmann, Aug 27, 2011
    #1
  2. Mazzacre

    Mazzacre Notebook Guru

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    Nice work, i've never used a04 so i don't really know how it ran. A01 is still my favorite out of 1, 3, and 5 though.

    I can see A05 being easier for those who don't feel like changing anything on their comp.
     
    Mazzacre, Aug 27, 2011
    #2
  3. Megamilchmann

    Megamilchmann Notebook Guru

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    How did you change the Fan-Speed?
    HWinfo "might be able to", but it never worked stable - after 10-30 min, the automatic-fan-speed-control of the BIOS is taking the command and HWinfo crashes ;-(
    If you use it: which version exactly?!
     
    Megamilchmann, Aug 27, 2011
    #3
  4. Lancer91

    Lancer91 Notebook Consultant

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    no such release as a04. Dell only released a01, a03, and a05. Of course you also have the 3rd party updated a01 and a03 for increased voltage for the 555mGT.
     
    Lancer91, Aug 27, 2011
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  5. 2GStyle

    2GStyle Notebook Geek

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    yes there was but all it did was added compatible cpus
     
    2GStyle, Aug 27, 2011
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  6. Megamilchmann

    Megamilchmann Notebook Guru

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    correct - as i received mine, i installed A04 - from the official Dell Homepage.

    Where can we finde modded Bios-Versions for the M14x?
    Never seen any of them...
     
    Megamilchmann, Aug 28, 2011
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  7. killbeagle

    killbeagle Notebook Geek

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    Great benchmarking :) (+rep)
    So the new bios is indeed decreasing the max fan speed.
    Now I wonder how that'd effect max performance and overclocking, or if those 200 missing RPM are only noticable sound wise...



    • Now I would be highly interested to see some pics of where and how you added the extra head-spreaders :) ?
     
    killbeagle, Aug 28, 2011
    #7
  8. Megamilchmann

    Megamilchmann Notebook Guru

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    Hi,

    I just put on some "Ram-Heat-Spreaders" on the CPU and GPU Cooling unit - srry - have no pictures and I don't want to open my m14x again.....
     
    Megamilchmann, Aug 29, 2011
    #8