Dell XPS 1640 Load system fan even when idle

I just got the xps 1640 today and I'm very distracted by the loud system fan. It's audible all the time even when the computer is idle. I haven't been doing anything intensive on my computer either. The fan starts as soon as windows loads and never stops. I know this laptop has heat issues but I checked the core temp and it is only between 38-45degrees C. I know the fan can get louder under load, this is what I would describe as idle but still, it seems way too loud. It was raining earlier and I could hear the fan over the sound of raindrops hitting my roof. It's getting unbearable!!

Has anyone had the same experience? Or more importantly does anyone have a way to reduce the speed of the fan slighty? Speedfan doesn't seem to support my motherboard so I can't do it there.

System:
P8600 2.4ghz
4gb ram
320GB (7,200rpm) WD HD

Thanks to anyone who replies.
JM

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5060561#post5060561


Have you tried to upgrade to the latest bios ? Have you done a format and clean install ?

 

Thanks for the reply HCW. I've already updated to the latest bios, no avail. I tried to change the bios settings but there doesn't seem to be an option to change the fan speed. I haven't done a clean re-install YET. I've been thinking about it though. Do you really think that will help? I assume you've done it on yours? did you have this noise problem before reinstall or has yours always been silent during idle operation?

Best,
Joaomario

 

What is your GPU temp? I don't have the XPS 16. I just have the Inspiron 1420. Its fans do not run as much in the winter time when the room temp was low. However, when summer hits, the fans run constantly regardless if it is just sitting there idle. It is annoying but I think it is normal.

 

Under load, yes it gets loud but when it's just pootleing along the xps 16 is a very quiet computer

 

myrcgarage:
I don't know how to access my gpu temp but I really haven't been doing anything that would cause it get hot. I've had it for one day and all i've done so far has been surf the net trying to find a solution to this problem. My room tempurature is cool.


Funky Monk:
In a quiet room can you notice any sound at all from your xps 16? I'm wondering if mine is defective.

Have you guys done a clean re-install of the operating system, has that helped with system noise?
Can anyone suggest an alternative application that can reduce my fan speed. "speedfan" doesn't seem to work with xps 16.

 

In a quiet room you will always notice it, pretty much any computer wil make that much noise. If you put everything on very low though and run it off the batttery it can go almost silent after a while, you have to put your ear to the fan to hear it

 

I've made a breakthrough!
I opened the bottom of my computer and could see that the cpu fan was not spinning yet I could still here that annoying noise. I put my ear to the hard drive and could tell quite clearly that the noise was coming from there! I have the fast WD 320GB 7200rpm hard drive(WD3200bjkt). It's supposed to be quiet but it isn't. I made a real mistake in ordering the faster drive.

I hope dell will exchange it for another one, or better still a slower one.
I can't seem to find a programme that will reduce the speed, but I don't know if that will work on this HD. Any recomendation on this front?

Thanks funk monk for your previous response.

 

I had the exact same problem on my machine... called Dell to come out and have the fan replaced. I also did the Bios update to v08, still making noise.

So far, the noise is gone.

 

What GPU is in the machine? I would probably leave the fan defaults alone and not mess with them (using any GPU BIOS altering app).

As for monitoring temps, I suggest HWMonitor. Small little app which covers all the bases...

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php