XPS 15 & XPS 17 Owners - Fan Issues? Post here and get Dell to fix it!

Ok as we all know the current gen XPS series of laptops have an issue with random fan ramping up and down. The issue is NOT hardware related, so replacing the fan or any other parts will not fix the problem.

Summary of Problem

I have done some more research in to this. What seems to be happening is the temps of the cpu go very high, very quickly for short bursts. Browsing is where it is most noticiable, Firefox is not too bad with cpu spikes, so the fan does not kick in so much. Chrome however has used up to 54% (!!) when initially loading a web page. Now for most laptops, this is a non issue as the bios is set to only kicked in the fan when it hits a high temp for a certain period of time and only gradually rather than instant high speed.

The XPS ( from monitoring with Coretemp ) only needs to hit about 61C + for at least a second ( not much I know! ) Once it hits this, it trips the fan to go full throttle. I have also noticed the fan getting stuck @ full throttle for no reason, and only way to kick it off is to flip the power settings between profiles and it slows down. Either that or close and reopen the web browser. Another thing I noticed is the the temperature fluctuates massively in a short space of time, an I am not convinced that the bios is tracking and reporting this correctly. Again this could cause the computer to kick in the fan when it is not needed.

Now nVidia Optimus plays a key role in controlling the basic heat and power use of the system. I have noticed that various drivers can have quite an impact on how much the fan ramps, most likely due to the gpu running cooler. However I believe bios commands for the fan are just way too over sensitive. There is no in between it seems, just nothing then full blast. This is of course annoying and the sum of all our pain.

Ways to reduce the fan ramping

1 - Disable any desktop gadgets that monitor the cpu or gpu. This will make the fan ramping much worse.
2 - Keep your vents clean, use compressed air but do not go crazy and make sure the machine is unplugged and battery removed.
3 - Get a cooling mat.

My temporary resolution is to download the nVidia 270.61 drivers
Download the latest Intel Drivers for the gpu from Dell.
Uninstall both nVidia and Dell drivers, reboot as needed.
Install the Intel drivers first, then reboot, then install the nVidia drivers.
Once installed go to the nVidia control panel > manage 3d settings > program settings.
Look for all the web browsers you use and set it to use the intergrated graphics card.

Analysis

Ok, this is the bit where I need your help. We need to get a good collection of stats that Dell can take notice of. Hopefully they will and their engineers will produce a bios with less aggressive fan settings. Below is what I would like you to do:

Important, please make sure your system has been on for a while, as ramping does not seem to happen until it has "warmed up".

1 - Download Coretemp - Using this program does not affect the fan ramping.
2 - Open up a Youtube page and monitor what your temperatures are when the fan kicks in.
3 - Now open a few of your favourite web pages and keep and eye on your temps until the fan suddenly speeds up. Again note the temp it does this.
4 - Now open a 3 applications that you use normally, and again if the fan ramps, note the temp it kicks in.
5 - If you suffer the same issue as me with the fan staying on sometimes, then try to remember what you were doing and post here.

Please do these tests while on battery and on power.

Post your results in the following format:

This is just a sample layout

Battery

Youtube browsing - 61C
Normal Browsing - 61C
3 Applications - 61C
Fan Stuck On - I was just surfing the net and doing word and the fan would not go off!

Power

Youtube browsing - 61C
Normal Browsing - 61C
3 Applications - 61C
Fan Stuck On - I was just surfing the net and doing word and the fan would not go off!

Conclusion

I am open to suggestions on to how we can track this better, in order for Dell to take notice. So if you think of anything, then please post! Remember if we shout loud enough ( how ironic eh?! ) then Dell have a history of eventually listening!!

 

<<< Reserved for potential extra information or videos etc >>>

 

If give many trouble for solve temperature, Better I choice other brand.
That a dell design problems, Why need user settle it ?
I not do this stupid, waste my time, for misstake by dell !
I test asus, cooling system very good. normal used under 50C. For I7, I5 with GT540, 550M Card.

 

I haven't had any of the fan issues on mine (yet?), but the only gadget I run is a clock and the only monitor software I have installed is Speedfan and HWiNFO64. All my drivers are updated to the latest from the Dell support page except for my N-6230 which I installed from Intel's site and my BIOS version is A05 (I will not update until I get back stateside... maybe). The only browsers I use are IE9 and occasionally FF6.

As far as fan noise... when I convert HD video with HandBrake my fans are at max a lot of the time (normal since it's CPU intensive software) and they are just loud enough to notice they're running sometimes. Most of the time I have to feel the exhaust port to know they are running because I can't hear them.

 

You need to use a notebook cooler in order to keep it at reasonable temps. I am using an old Antec cooler I bought in 2006 and it works great. I do not have a whirlwind fan issue.

 

That a product bad quality, why I buy/use the notebook cooler ? we need *only complain, improve the quality !

 

If I get some time freed up I'll give this a go but I can tell you now my fan only comes on when I'm gaming and/or trans-coding media.

Also one trick that has been mentioned before and works wonders is to go into the power options and set the max processor state to somewhere between 90-99%, I just use this for on battery but my temps stay low and no fans.

seriously go post somewhere else if you don't want to be helpful

 

I've only seen this problem on my first l702x when I still had the Turbo Boost monitor running. Nixing that cleared it up, and I didn't even bother putting it back on my new l702x, and have no fan troubles. This does appear to affect the XPS 15 more severely from what I have seen, likely due to the smaller amount of cooling space?

Alinad, seriously man, enough is enough. I've yet to see a helpful post from you, just much stating of the obvious and the occasional somewhat-snide remarks. I wasn't going to say anything, but it seems I'm not the only one annoyed by it.

 

Well, none of these simple tasks kicked the fan to make it annoying.

P.S.

I have a weird feeling that there is a troll sneaking in this thread.

 

Hmmm I've set the processor to 99% MAX to kill the Turbo Boost feature and my fan is decidedly sane. Perhaps I'll set back to 100 and see how the fan handles. I had it for about a day before I noticed the fan issue and changed the power profile settings.

 

I have this in my XPS 15 as well, it doesn't really bother me that much, but it would be awesome if it's fixable by a bios update or something.

When i'm in school i run the power saver setting, which is the same as my default setting except for these:

processor max = 99% (to disable the turbo boost, essentially)
passive cooling

When i'm at home, i run the normal settings/max performance, and the fan (or rather, the temperature settings) does indeed seem very sensitive.

 

Youtube browsing - 59C
Normal Browsing - 59C
3 Applications - 59C
Fan Stuck On - I was just surfing the net and doing word and the fan would not go off!

It is not going off on off.. But when The Temps hits 59C the Fan goes on, and the Temps going down like 40 - 44C. The Fan does not go off, untill I click from save mode to balanced and then again to Save. Lol !

 

i was about to order new Xps 15 this week, i will hold back, now the ppl are facing the fan issue.
someone pl do confirm me regarding the build quality of XPS 15 with 2nd gen processor.
most of the review i have gone thru says regarding with poor display & upgrading the display to FHD R+BG screen.

Now this fan issue.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/617910-xps-fan-issue-solved.html