M1330 - Major heat issue, please advise

Hey all
I bought an XPS M1330 a couple months ago. It's been running great for the most part, but recently I've noticed it getting very hot (to the point of throttling the CPU). I downloaded CoreTemp and found that it was hitting 100C at minor load (playing MP3s, surfing web). This was BIOS A11. I updated the BIOS to A15 last night and it seemed to help, but it's still idling at 60C and hitting about 75 when playing MP3s. It still hits 100 under Orthos load. Faulty cooling system? Anything I can remedy without voiding the warranty? Maybe some Arctic Silver?

Thanks for any advice.
JW

 

Check out the links in my signature to learn just how faulty the M1330 cooling is...

 

Be sure to try the copper mod!
M1330 was unintentionally designed to have a defect in cooling, but its not TOO major in the short term at least.

 

I asked in the lounge thread but I suspect it may get buried there. Are currently shipping models any less likely to have heat/reliability issue?

Along with any motherboard and BIOS revisions, I plan to get the low end processor (T6600) and integrated x3100 graphics. I don't run intensive stuff, mostly surfing, blogging, Office and email. I'd probably be fine with a netbook, but I wouldn't mind the bigger/better display, optical drive and connectivity.

 

dont get the m1330 then.... look at the macbook, lenovo u330, netbooks.... newer(and better) technology....

 

Yeah, back before the faulty nVidia GPU issue surfaced, I was really into my M1330. Now going back, I'd pick a Lenovo U330 100 times over before touching an M1330.

 

In my case, I dont want or need the nvida GPU, which is why I'm asking.

I've seen the U330. Very nice. Problem is to configure it similarly, it ends up being $150 more with no option of the nice LED backlit display. I'd probably take the advice to go with one of the nicer netbooks at that point. I'm also considering the Asus N20 which is a bit smaller and a little cheaper for similar features.

 

try consider Sony SR..

 

Just get the new Studio 13.

 

The M1330 without the Nvidia GPU (Intel x3100) is fine. This Integrated card is more than powerful enough for Vista Aero and general purpose applications.

Its the Nvidia GPU that made it such a horrifying nightmare.

 

Nah, its not the Nvidia GPU. Not all of them are flawed and screwed up. The only reason why the integrated card would not cause more heat would be the fact that you don't do any gaming on it that you would most likely otherwise do with an 8400. Even still, eventually heat will cause the heat gel to melt and get on all the insides of the M1330 when you use it long enough. Its a design flaw.

If you are one out of a few who actually has a faulty card, well, try to get it replaced one way or another.

 

I purchased my M1330 with intel X3100 graphics over a year ago and including the LED display.

At that time the X3100 graphics was also more expensive than the GeForce 8400M. Still - I had some reasons for going for the X3100: I assumed the battery would last longer (however it's not much). The Linux drivers are open source and developed by intel guys (though the close source nVidia drivers are better quality). Anyway: I talked to Dell on the phone and they gave me some discount such that it made sense to buy a X3100 powered one.

However nowadays you have more options: There is the GM45 intel chipset line which offers bluray playback support for the commercial player applications. And there are also more recent nvidia GeForce 9xxxM based notebooks, which don't suffer from this GPU failing issue.

If you buy a brand notebook, you'll get support. e.g. I got 8GB and 45nm Penryn support for free, which both weren't available at the time of purchase. If I wanted to I could upgrade.

 

Not really true... I have not seen anyone with an X3100 and a dead motherboard.
The 8400GS IS IS IS IS IS IS IS IS IS a faulty GPU, and the poor cooling on the M1330 exacerbates the situation. Even at regulated temps, the 8400M GS will fail over a series of warm up/cool downs following regular use.

 

My xps is like a time bomb blowing up anytime. I've friends whos machine is newer and already screw-up with the mobo. i felt sad after recommending them. Will not recommend ppl with de11 ever again!

 

Seriously - CLEAN THE FAN.

I thought mine was totally busted too, until I cleaned all the fluff out of my fan bay thing.

Try it. Might not help, but give it a go.

 

i agree, i do this every 2 months and i'm amazed at how much dust n stuff gets in there in such a short time. Having two cats walking around probably helps a bit but it's a good habit to clean the insides regularly.

and NO...you can't judge if the fan is blocked by looking at it from the outside, take out the fan itself and get that fur off the grills