Another tip on keeping your i7/435m XPS cool

My fans were turning on more frequently in the past couple weeks on the XPS in my sig (totally anecdotal, didn't keep a log, just noticed it and started getting annoyed), so I figured considering how much dust I clean off my desk when cleaning the apartment, the insides could use some dusting (mine was in the first batch of XPS's out, so its almost 5 months old).
While I was in there I dusted off the copper fins and the fan, and noticed while cleaning that the little piece of plastic with all the holes in it on the bottom of the casing that covers the fan (it sits on the inside of the grill that covers the fan intake). It doesn't do anything other than cosmetics. Its holes are too big to block excess dust from entering, so unless you are putting your laptop around places with lots of small debris, it has no benefit and reduces airflow somewhat, so I popped it off.
Also ordered a Cooler Master U2 off Amazon for $19, which has 80mm fans you can place directly under the fan intake on the XPS and the larger grill that sits in the middle on the bottom of the XPS.

Now according to AIDA64 my temps hover in the high 40s to 52-54 C when idle and running Powerpoint/iTunes/FFox.
When light gaming I don't go over 70C.

Just another tip.

(bought the CM U2 fans as the Targus in my sig sux, gave it away)

 

Not bad, but light gaming puts it at 70C? What about heavy duty gaming? Portable heater?

And I'm assuming that's after all that XPS repaste guide?

Edit: Doesn't look like there's room to mod the heatpipes..

 

I don't heavy duty game so no idea, when I used to it would be around 75-80C.

 

What temp are you referring to in AIDA64?

What is considered light gaming and heavy gaming? Would WoW with max setting and max resolution considered heavy?

 

Hi, do you have any pictures available for the laptop sitting on the cooling pad? Does it hang off the edge a little from the size difference or?
Currently its £14 on play.com but the slightly smaller size put me of a little and was considerign the U3 which is bigger, but also double the price!

 

As requested, the Cooler Master U2 is a great fit for the XPS 15. They advertise it being compatible with up to 17", although I think a big 15" like the XPS is at its max.
There is a tiny bit of overhang on either side, but it is minimal and doesnt bother me. I use it like a desktop at home though so its connected to an external KB/mouse/LCD.


(you can see in the above pic the moveable fan just below the fan intake, there are 2 of these)



As to AIDA64, the temps it monitors are... all of them. The temps I am referring to that you asked about are the ones I already posted, AIDA64 reports all computer temps in realtime, as well as a ton of other stuff about the computer.
Here is a screenshot of its temp monitor page. Also took a pic of AIDA64's coolest feature, it drives the LCD on Logitech's gaming keyboards so while in game you can monitor GPU/CPU clock speed/multiplier, and all temps.

 

Hrm that looks nice but looks like the limit for the U2 is really 15.6" notebooks. I bought the X-Lite and X2 Notepal, both very good for the money, I'll consider the U2/U3.

 

Thanks for the photos, I didn't read that you had a XPS 15", I have the 17" one so I think the U3 version is definitely the one I need to go for.
Also thanks for the tip with the software for temps. I was using GPU-Z only for GPU temperature and after playing an hour of Bulletstorm it showed as 55c which I thought was pretty good. That is stock with a 9 cell battery [raises the bottom]. I want to keep an eye out on all temps whilst playing now to see what it gets to.

 

If you can call that 'heavy gaming' I played Civilization V for 2-3 hours and the GPU hit 90 degrees celsius max for a period of time on my xps15. Have not repasted it.

 

Back when I had time to get a solid round of CivV in after repasting with Liquid Ultra I think it hovered around 80C, without the U2.
Haven't tried any games since I got the U2, it does keep it cooler when doing other tasks though, couldn't care less about the gaming function of it anymore though.

These temps are during class today taking Powerpoint notes and surfing da web while on Power Saver settings.

 

Im using the U2 myself. The best cooling pad i had so far. It fits my 15 inch laptop perfectly. 17 would be a little big for it.

 

I agree, for $20 it can't be beat.
The $60 Zalman's are nice, but student loans don't cover $60 laptop coolers very well

 

thanks for the tip.
Just picked ordered one today.
Appreciate the photos & owner review.

 

Thought I should post my finding here although mine is xps 14 i7 425m.
Removed the dust vents and got the zalman 3000s. Fits perfectly for the 14!
My overall temp never goes above 50C for the cpu and gpu even after an hour of red alert 3 with max out setting. Well RA3 is not gpu intensive if you want to argue.