Temps are up since M1530 BIOS update

Since I updated my bios I have noticed that my fans are pretty much always on high and that the heat coming out the back is a lot hotter than it used to be. Granted, I have been using the computer with my big monitor with the lid closed more now but even when I'm not doing that it's still just as hot. Has anyone else noticed this since the update?

 

mine has the same temps than before... the fan comes in at low rpm's so you barey notice it, i dont know why you are getting such peculiar fan activity, maybe try re-installing or getting back to your previous BIOS version.

 

What BIOS did you update from? I assume you updated to A12?

 

Ya I updated from A11 to A12 and it started doing this. It runs cool for awhile and then reaches a point where it gets hot enough to just blast the fans constantly and never back them down until I shut the computer off.

 

Bowlerguy92, have you done any stresstesting on the CPU or GPU before and after Bios update? If not, download Orthos to stress the CPU and HW Monitor to measure the temps to see if there is any change if you switch between BIOS-versions. 10 minutes stresstest ought to be enough to see any potential difference. You may have do upgrade/downgrade more than once to get the wanted effect (judging from other who have experienced problems when upgrading BIOS).

If you dont notice any difference with the CPU, it could be the GPU acting up, Furmark is a good program to stress the GPU, measures the temp itself as well. Leave it on for 10 minutes and see if there are any differences.

So the basic recommendation is still to downgrade (and perhaps upgrade again) the BIOS, but with these tools you, and we may get a clear picture of the temperature differences and where the problem is. =)

 

It is important to note that any changes made to the thermal profile by BIOS updates are not necessarily as simple as hotter=bad.

The Nvidia GPU problem is made worse (ie failure is quicker) by both high temperatures, and by thermal cycles. So as Dell have refined their thermal profile, don't be surprised to see idle temps go UP a little.

If you are in any doubts about your systems temps, ring Dell.

 

Its still nothing more than a poor band-aid to the issue.
Ultimately bios revisions can do nothing to solve the problem, the only solution is to replace the faulty hardware.

 

That's irrelevant, its got nothing to do with this thread. There are a dozen threads to post that comment in.

This thread is in relation to one particular user who is worried that his temps are higher since the BIOS update, and im saying that it is not necessarily a bad thing.

For example, it may be less stressful (in terms of thermal cycles) on the high-lead solder bumps in the long-term to be allowed to idle at 60C, rather than to hit 60C and be constantly cooled down by the fans to 50C and rise back up again (for example, just illustrative figures).

To the lay person, it may seem that 'the temps are higher so its a bad thing', but unless you have a degree in material engineering or an advanced knowledge of the situation, it is impossible to make that leap in logic (as I have seen so many unqualified people here do already, going back to old BIOSs etc).

ie in conclusion the correct thing to do is just stay with the most recent BIOS and if you think you have a temperature problem, contact Dell.

 

I never said I thought they were a problem, I was just asking if anyone else had noticed this so I don't feel weird and left out.

 

There are several examples of threads where computer owners have experienced different results when updating their BIOS, so before establishing that "a higher temperature may be normal" they should try to reflash BIOS because this is probably the first thing that any support technician will tell them to do. By correctly stressing the system and measure the temperature differences, they can give a more accurate picture of a feasible problem to the support and thereby, save themself a lot of hazzle jumping through hoops.

I dont say that a higher temperature is bad, but rather that they should not accept it without testing the significance and possible consequence of it.

 

No, a support technician will tell them to flash to the latest official BIOS, not to go back and start trying other ones. If you're already on the latest BIOS, he'll move on to other things.

Just stick with the latest one unless you have reason to believe you know more about the issue then the guys that write the BIOS revisions.

As for 'upgrading/downgrading more than once to achieve the desired effect', I have no idea what that means, BIOS updates either work or they don't, there is no reason to re-flash again.