Solution S-XPS 1645/1647 Throttling Issues

And you likely won't as Bill is not handling this anymore, it's up to you to go through support to get the adapter yourself. He posted this a few weeks back somewhere on these threads. He has biigger fish to fry.

 

Dumb question probably, does the 130 watt adapter use a 2 or 3 prong outlet? (I live in the US)

 

Are all these part numbers referring to the same 130w adapter we are getting for our 1645?

Part numbers: 330-1829, 330-1830, D232H, PA-4E, X408G

 

Dell Part Numbers: PA-4E, X408G, 330-1829, D232H, 330-1830,

Manufacturer: Dell
Power Cord: Included
Input: 100-240V ~ 2.5A 50-60Hz
Output: 19.5V 6.7A
Max Out: 6.7 A
Power Provided: 130 Watts

Also noticed my old Inspiron 5160 PA-13 is probably compatible ...

Dell Part Numbers: 310-4180, 9Y819, K5294, NADP-130AB B, PA-1131-02D, D1078, 310-6580, HP-AD130B13P, TC887, W1828, TC887, 310-8275, 310-7849, TC912, 310-7848, TC912 (WITH DELL CONNECTOR 7.4MM Outside/5.0 MM Inside).

Manufacturer ell
Power Cord: Included
Voltage Provided: 19.5 Volts
Size: 2.6" x 6.7" x 1.5"
Max Out: 6.7 A
Power Provided: 130 Watts

 

Well, mine is not even close to his results, so what's different..

CPU
ATI Driver Version
Thermal Paste application?
Room Temperature? (I'm at 72F)
WLAN Card

What else should I test? Let me know if I missed anything.

I run at 82C to 84C (with furmark + prime95 + TS + full brightness), he has very severe GPU throttling.

I have not done my clean Win 7 Install, just installed these utilities and updated ATI Drivers. Additional Main Memory increases furmark fps and score.

 

Never mind

 

three/3 prong

 

Here is after nearly 50 minutes (I was in Device Manager for a few minutes checking some things out, looks like my GPU temp went down during this time). I see my max temp was 85C

----> I will say this, the 130w slim is hot.. I can hold it, but...
Kill A Watt shows steady 117 watts during the test (above posts), now at 1h 20m

.

 

we you going to ask about the temp in TS?

I didn't have TJMax in the ini, I do now, set to 105.

 

I like the slim 90W. I haven't even considered 130W yet. Some report that even with new BIOS it doesn't help much, but as for me, I have had no problems with my 1647. I don't play games, so perhaps I don't care. Some video and graphics software I used didn't give me any worrisome signs. I am not an expert, but I ran Throttlestop and FurMark just for the heck of it and got such a wide range of values, that I don't even know what to make out of them. Other than that, the laptop is just fine.

 

You can get the 130w for free and keep your 90w. See Here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5963401#post5963401

Email Support.

 

I was going to ask if you were using 2 or 4 threads of Prime95 but then I noticed the load pegged at 100%. Can't get much more load than that.

I think the latest version of RealTemp supports these new CPUs.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/3/1794507/RealTempBeta.zip

If you add GPU=2 to the RealTemp.ini file, it might even tell you a thing or two about your ATI GPU.

Thanks for giving your laptop a good work out.

When the three top boxes in ThrottleStop are not checked, can your laptop still maintain the 18 multiplier?

 

Set to 4 threads in Prime95.

I have Real Temp v3.40, used it to verify the TJMax (which showed 105). I does seem to close unexpectedly when I go into Settings sometimes.

Thanks for the heads up on the Beta.

Yes, multi now around 19.7 (only thing checked is 'More Data').

 

That works, thank you..

 

sorry for interrupt..i'm new here..can i also get 130w adapter replacement for my dell xps 1647..i'm from malaysia..and is it normal my labtop batterry 6-cell..it can only stand around 1hour 15 minutes while only use wifi..sorry for bad english.

 

Saif, this issue has been transferred to all internal Dell Tech support staff and so you will have to call Dell Technical Support to request a replacement 130W adaptor for your 1647. Dell_Bill.H no longer monitors this thread for replacement requests.

 

They know about this issue and it was out of stock last month. It should be available soon. I will wait a bit longer and call them again.

 

what about the battery...is it normal

 

So, unclewebb asked me to do a couple tests and after I did these, I decided to do some more 100% load testing (usual furmark + prime95 w/4 threads, ThrottleStop enabled etc etc).

This time, I am running at about 50% RGBLED Brightness (7 clicks down using Fn + Down). Room temp is lower than my tests the other night, I'd guess about 68F.

At approx. 37 minutes, my GPU temp is hovering around 78/79C, lower than the 82C was getting the other night.

I'm going to let it run like this for a while, then I will increase brightness to 100%. It's probably just a combination of lower brightness and room temp.

CPU Temps at 74-77C, Kill A Watt shows 107 watts.

Of course, zero CPU or GPU throttling..

A04 BIOS, 130w, 1647 flat on coffee table and location (as the previous tests).


.

 

Not sure if anyone even cares anymore about the tests on 1647's..

Anyways, after an hour with the test above, attached are the results:

Still, zero CPU or GPU throttling.

The only reason it has a max GPU temp at 81C is when I was adjusting the brightness, I went to 100% to count the clicks down for approx 50% brightness. For the first hour, the GPU stayed around 78/79C (a very few times it showed 80C).

 

Thats great to know. 1647 + 130W psu is the way to go. Thanks for sharing the results, I dont know about others, but I care

 

.....and it continues...... from: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5974126&posted=1#post5974126

at 1 hour 2 minutes, I increased the Display's Brightness to 100%. In no time, I was at the approx 82C (actually, never over 82C) of my tests the other night.

Kill A Watt shows 116 watts.

Still no CPU or GPU throttling.

Display Brightness seems to impact thermal performance of the GPU.

 

I think that's good but couple of questions. Why do you have TS enabled and locked, shouldn't it have only been logging?

You could also set Furmark with MSAA 8x to draw the max out of it. Now, do I think you still have CPU/GPU throttling with 130W adapter on a 1647 using 520, nope .. but the only thing the sreenshot proves is that your GPU didn't hit 84 odd degrees causing GPU downvolt/downclock.

 

Hi,

I wanted to have the same test as SapienZ here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5945081#post5945081

My Previous tests: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5964959#post5964959

That wouldn't change things since the GPU is already at a constant 100% (and of course, both i5-520m Cores).

I'm simply at the limits of the CPU and GPU for this test and there is no thermal impact.

Apparently, Display Brightness has an impact.

The i5-430m should be fine.. Hopefully, a 1647 i5-540m Owner with A04 and 130w will test.

If there is severe throttling on a 1647 with A04 and a 130w, it may (IMO) be due to improper/sloppy Thermal Compound application at Dell.

 

No doubt there, especially with the RGB.

With my 1645 when I disable powerplay and run the RGB at 60% brightness, no issues. If I increase the brightness to 66% I see CPU/GPU throttling so that's about where the limit is.

When I enable powerplay for 3D clocks there's CPU/GPU throttling at 0% brightness (this is the same test you did).

Like you, I have no temp issues and it's now only going to get better with autumn/winter coming for us, so all I want is 125W or more from the 130W adapter to max. my setup so I can move on.

 

Anyone know if the solution posted by Dell-Bill_B in the OP is still in effect? I PM'd him on 2/25 and have neither heard anything back nor received a replacement power supply. Just curious before I go the Dell support route.

 

About 1 month ago Bill_Dell said that they may have something for us, RGBLED screen users. I searched this thread but didn't seen anything about that. Have I missed something?

 

I saw you say that you wanted to match someone else's test, but is it valid to claim no CPU throttling if ThrottleStop is actively negating any potential throttling?

I'm under the impression that the 1647 doesn't experience any CPU throttling these days even with FurMark, so wouldn't it be better, as a sanity check, to NOT have those TS options enabled?

 

He mentioned a while back that the "something" was Dell proactively replacing the 90W adapter for RGBLED customers since the throttling was most evident on those systems. As a result, any NotebookReview readers who contacted Bill for their 130W adapter already aren't getting anything else.

 

LOL, you are the 2nd person to bring that up

You would have to go back through previous posts. I was matching what another owner was doing that was having severe GPU throttling (thermal related) with his i7=620m. I suggested he try the new 10.3 Preview drivers since I noticed performance issues with one of the earlier Dell ATI drivers. Thorttlestop doesn't 'hook' into the GPU for its Core/Mem.

Remember, there was 1647 CPU throttling (due to BIOS and the 90w) and GPU throttling (thermal throttling). Well, both were due to power draw and thermal issues.

For the 1647, CPU throttling is resolved with the A04 BIOS and 130w.

My last tests were focused on the GPU which wasn't throttling either in my system. Prime95 and Furmark pushed my system to the CPU and GPU limits, both did not throttle. There was no impact with these GPU tests with Throttlestop disabled or enabled. I was trying to get it to be at a constant 84C

I stand by the comments

Perhaps, people should clarify which, CPU or GPU for the 1647 when bringing up throttling. I'm sure I am guilty for not being specific and clear in a few posts.

I'm hoping a another 540m and 620m owner will do the tests, first for the CPU, then GPU.

 

Duly noted and thank you for clarifying

 

Do you have a 540 or 620 and have time for testing?

 

No sir, I have a 1645 (with 820QM)!

 

Retested after new thermal paste (haven't let it cure just yet), but still getting abysmal results on the GPU (85C in under 5 minutes testing). The CPU maxes around 72C though (even with Prime95 + FurMark).

Running i5-430m, 4gb ram, 1600x900 WLED 50% brightness, 130W, Bios A04. In a room with a temp of 65F.

Using Catalyst 10.3 Preview.

 

wow, that is ty, what is your ambient room temp?

 

It's not like I am trying to run it on the sun or anything. Idk what to do with this garbage, but this sucks hard.

 

EDIT: I was incorrect!

 

EDIT: I was incorrect!

Results for the 1645:
--------------------
Prime95 = No CPU throttling
FurMark = No GPU throttling
Prime95 + FurMark = (power-based) CPU and (thermal) GPU throttling

 

n3verm0re,

What paste are you using?

Are you using a laptop cooler?

Damn, I can hit 84C in a 62 degree room with FurMark only, High Performance, AC Power, and the 10.2 drivers.

 

I'm using Gelid GC-Extreme.

I have a Zalman NC-2000 at home, but that was not used for the above tests.

The above test was on AC power, High Performance with Powerplay enabled.

EDIT: I was incorrect, see here

 

Thanks.

Those are some pretty sic temps.

 

Its all about ambient temperature. Here at Argentina its almost 28C and running Furmark I am getting the 83C mark which makes the GPU to start throttling. I am guessing that most of you are in the US, which is winter and it is harder for you guys to reach that 83C temp. The good news for me is that in about 3 months I will be enjoying the cold and you will be suffering, lol

 

I'm not really doing anything differently. With the stock thermal paste I was getting similar results. Idk what's up with the GPU on here, but it literally idles 10-13C hotter than my CPU.

Ex: My CPU is 33C right now, my GPU is 45C right now. I am not running anything except web browser and aero is on, on AC 130w power. (Ambient of 62F or 16.7C)

That basically stays the same through the tests. My CPU gets to 70-72C or so, and the GPU ends up at 83-85C, which throttles.

Edit: I was also running Prime95 pushing my CPU to 100% the ENTIRE time of the test. I didn't see Prime95 running for you, so that is probably the difference.

Edit2: Running the test for over 6 minutes with the same settings without prime95 gets me a top temp of 76C, with an avg temp of 74C on the GPU. (Ambient 62F(16.7C)). My CPU got to all of 59C (with all the regular progs running in the background).

 

There we go, let me retry testing with Prime95 running. Unfortunately this means I'll have to use ThrottleStop (1645 can't run both simultaneously without CPU throttling, even with the BIOS update and 130W adapter).

More to come...

 

i,m also using 1647 with i5-520M ...and i already send a massage to dell support last monday to request a adapter 130w..but i got no feedback from dell about these metters.its hard to me to speek directly to the dell .because i'm too bad in english.could you help me how to do it..

 

I stand corrected!

Repeating my earlier tests while running 8 threads of Prime95 Blended eventually (after about 10 minutes) resulted in my GPU reaching 82-84C and consequently entering the same thermal throttling cycle that others have mentioned here.

Currently it's unrealistic that an application/game will max all 8 threads and the GPU, but moving forward I'm certain that this will become the norm.

I updated my earlier posts to reflect this.

 

Sucks, doesn't it? That Dell didn't come up with a better thermal design :-\. Well, my next question would have to be, just how hot would it get if the 84-85C limit was lifted?

I haven't EVER seen these temps in games (even BF:BC2). But, I'm not sure that we won't see these kinds of temps in future games, as you have stated. It's kind of disheartening, that even with the best thermal paste, it just can't cut it.

 

Personally I'm unaffected by this since I don't stress the GPU and the CPU pegged doesn't get that hot, but I can certainly see how I'd be pissed off if I was using this system for gaming. One of the leads on my system was listed as 150F when I stopped the torture tests, which isn't TERRIBLE, but is certainly much higher than I would like.

TL;DR: This system doesn't dissipate heat well.

 

Are you on stock paste or did you redo yours?

 

I redid mine, but it hasn't fully cured yet. Also, I am not sure if it's worth a crap, I have had it for a little while.

n3verm0re is on Gelid GC-Extreme, sure he has a 1645, but he is also getting thermal throttle on the GPU.


Update 3/10: Played WoW for the first time in quite a while and I went raiding today, on the highest settings (highest everything except shadows, including 8xMSAA) my GPU temp got to 83C maximum, just shy of throttling. So yes, I do believe that there are real world games where throttling can and will occur. (CPU maxed at 76C.)

Update 3/10 #2: Tested out my GPU/CPU temps with a laptop cooler that I put together and my temps dropped significantly. Just goes to show if Dell would have put a little more money in a better fan and/or heat sink, our problems would be solved thermally.