The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Alienware 17 HWiNFO64 Fan Issue

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Bartlett, Jan 8, 2014.

  1. Bartlett

    Bartlett The Prophet

    Reputations:
    336
    Messages:
    1,860
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hey everyone,

    I noticed a peculiar issue with the Alienware 17 when controlling fan speeds via HWiNFO. When I would manually max out the fan speeds, for some reason it would slow or stop the GPU fan, which would send temps flying in seconds. I never had this issue with the M17x R3. Can any other users verify this?

    Thanks
     
  2. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Have you tried reinstalling the app or using MSi Afterburner instead?
     
  3. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

    Reputations:
    37,240
    Messages:
    39,344
    Likes Received:
    70,689
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Yes, this is an unresolved known issue. It also affects the new Alienware 18. Alienware needs to release an updated BIOS/EC to fix it. It is kind of a sore subject because we have been waiting since the product launch.

     
  4. Bartlett

    Bartlett The Prophet

    Reputations:
    336
    Messages:
    1,860
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    No, I have not tried reinstalling it but apparently it is a known issue. I might try MSI Afterburner though. Thanks

    Hmm, so as of right now there is no way to control the fan speeds without this issue? I've been trying to prevent throttling, which seems to happen at 80C. Perhaps a repaste will work?
     
  5. Hackintoshihope

    Hackintoshihope AlienMeetsApple

    Reputations:
    308
    Messages:
    1,042
    Likes Received:
    227
    Trophy Points:
    81
    You can control the cpu fan speeds but not gpu. But yes this is a known issue.
     
  6. shabe

    shabe Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    30
    Messages:
    26
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Also affects the m17x R3 too. I think that is an issue with the latest version of HWINFO64 and not with the BIOS.
     
  7. Bartlett

    Bartlett The Prophet

    Reputations:
    336
    Messages:
    1,860
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Any updates? I have A12 BIOS and the newest version of HWiNFO but still no dice. The fan controls by default are way too conservative. The GPU can hit 85C without the fans maxing out which makes no sense.

    Apparently Mr. Fox at Tech Inferno claimed that it works I guess?
     
  8. Bartlett

    Bartlett The Prophet

    Reputations:
    336
    Messages:
    1,860
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Come on now I am sure everyone is interested in controlling their fans.
     
  9. JadesAffliction

    JadesAffliction Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I am in the same boat as you buddy, I have an Alienware 17 with 4910mq + 880m. My 880m hits 95c after 10-15 minutes of gaming since the GPU fan spins no higher than 3400rpm. I also tried out the new A13 bios, no luck :\ Not too sure what the engies at Alienware were thinking when they were designed the cooling method but many others including me could really use unlocked fans, especially here in AUS where its humid.
     
  10. Bartlett

    Bartlett The Prophet

    Reputations:
    336
    Messages:
    1,860
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Yep I can definitely agree. I believe that both fans can actually be controlled based on the post I linked to earlier, however because I have the unlocked vBIOS this is no longer possible.
     
  11. DARCODER

    DARCODER Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    252
    Messages:
    779
    Likes Received:
    232
    Trophy Points:
    56
    There was a threat to control both fan, but GPU control reach max 3400rpm