Best Combination of BIOS and GPU Driver for Minimal Fan Operation (M1330)?

I currently use the A12 BIOS, and the latest official NVIDIA Dell GPU driver (175.97). I have done the copper mod, and my temperatures are (with normal business usage, i.e. Outlook, Word, Firefox, etc):

CPU: 39C - 45C
GPU: 50C - 56C

...which is fine. However, the fans cycle on and off at a frequent, and annoying, rate. The fan isn't horrendously loud, and it is on 'slow', but having used quieter laptops previously, I find the constant on/off fairly irksome.

So, I'd like to know whether anyone here has succeeded in achieving satisfactory GPU/CPU temps whilst minimising the operation of their fan. If so, what did you do, and what BIOS/driver do you use? I wouldn't mind the temperatures increasing (though not substantially) if it meant the fan did not kick in as often.

(I don't particularly want to manually set the fan operation using Ik8fangui, etc, either).

 

go back to A09

underclock if u want? (think 159.69 or the revision that microsoft update has auto-under/down clocks)

or u can set i8kfan to trigger different temp thresholds to fan speed, all automated

 

Why? Will that help the frequency of the fan cycling? Or will it simply raise the overall temperature (i.e. the fan kicks in later, but cools it down less)? Any evidence?

159.xx drivers give incorrect GPU readings (off by about 10C, if I recall correctly). I am, however, happy to be corrected, or hear other ways that one might be able to underclock the GPU.

As I said, I'd prefer to do this properly, so to speak, rather than rely on a 3rd-party, and rather outdated, programme to alter the fan thresholds.

 

167.45 drivers they are the coolest ones.

 

Well, early indications seem to be that BIOS A09 is a good compromise. My GPU temp range is 53C - 63C, but it sits at 60C for hours with the fan off.

If I understand the NVIDIA GPU issue correctly, the problem is really about temperature fluctuations (and thus the die packaging expanding and contracting) rather than max. temperature per se. So, if my GPU sits at 60C for most of the day, with the fan off, I presume it will last more or less as long as it would with BIOS A12, with a temp range of 50C - 56C and the fan constantly cycling on/off. Agree/disagree?

 

Another question: GPU temps are far lower when running on battery (rather than plugged in). I never go above 56C, and the fan never comes on.

What is causing this decrease, and is there a way to replicate it when plugged in? I don't need full GPU performance, as I don't game or watch movies. So it's all about keeping that fan off.

Any help appreciated.