XPS 1640/1645/1647 heat vent issue

For both of your systems, how old are they? More than 6 months old or were they more recent purchases?

 

Care to post real temperature not just say 3C over your 24 inch panel, how do measure temperature on your laptop screen.... ?

You must keep in mind 16inch vs 24inch that 8inches difference and also your 24inch panel gets ventilated all around without any obstruction where as our 16 inch panel gets blasted with hot air mainly in one place at all times.

DELL have acknowledged flew in vent design but so far have not take any action to correct this issue.

 

If you bother to read what people post than you would have come across the third post on page 9. Temperatures are taken with a laser thermometer (my brothers, he uses them as he breeds reptiles) But I will save you the trouble, here they are again, and by the way the size has no impact on my temperature values as they are taken on a spot of about one square millimeter.

Running Furmark and prime95 x 2 without my laptop cooler on:
CPU: 70C
GPU: 81C
The Fins of the Heat sink: 55C
Screen bottom left: 49C
Screen bottom right: 27C
Ambient: 21C

 

To me, this one tells the story.. One side is close to 49 and other side is 27 which is net difference of 22..

need to do something about this vent design? How can they miss this basic design flow with i7?

 

This by itself is no issue at all unless you can explain to me why it is. The issue in question is not about temperature differences on the screen but rather the question if 49C is too much for a lcd screen and as my samsung has been running for years almost 8 - 12 hours a day with temps close to that (the back of it actually gets hotter) i doubt that. I wonder if RGB screens run hotter but with my WLED i am not worried.

 

well, RGB gets pretty hot I mean really hot... Now as you said your 24inch gets hotter on the back and that's fine since there are alot vents open spaces out there..... where as on the laptop screen usually get ventilated around the bezel...

 

Please todd/bell don't forget this is just about the screen coloring..but also about the GPU getting so hot it throttles

 

Hi Surf, I don't want to be rude, but if you don't see this a problem for you, why do you even come or comment on this thread. This is a thread for "heat vent issue", if you feel you have no issue with this, please consider yourself lucky, and stop defending Dell. Even they acknowledge this problem! Not like you, all of us have huge problem with this. I don't know how you got your temp read, and why you keep refering the screen to LCD, the reality for me is that the left bottom of my screen is burning hot. My friend's kid (3 y.o.) came over the other night, and he was messing with my laptop because i left the game on (dragon age origins). When he accidentally touch the blocked vent area, the poor kid got burned a little and started to cry right away...Well, I know this is a stupid and unprofessional example to give, but this is how hot the vent and my screen is...I think you guys get a point.

 

Surfed is entitled to his own opinion, which is technically, incorrect. Yes, I think there might be a potential issue with the screen in the long run due to poor vent design. BUT i cant just tell the guy to shut his mouth and leave the thread!! Freedom of speech guys!

 

Hi Todd,

to be very honest, i was over exicted when I received my XPS on Jan 29th, and I didn't check my screen too carefully. After that, I started to focus on the whole Throttling issue like everyone else. However, lately (this week or so) I started to feel that the color of my RGB screen is not as vibrant and striking...however, this is what I feel, I do not know how to prove it. What I do have proof is the bleed on both left and right edge of my screen. it is much more obvious on the left edge, especially the left bottom area, as the white bleed is much wider. As I mentioned, I receied my XPS 1645 on Jan 29th, and I usually play games for about 4-5 hours a day.

 

Todd,

While we would have liked to think that the A07 BIOS + 130W was a sufficient fix in unleashing the SXPS 1645's full power, this unfortunately was not the case, being only a partial fix. It has become a big concern over at the throttling thread that the GPU is being insufficiently cooled due to the poor vent placement, circulation, & thermal pastes in use. What is being noted is once the GPU reaches a maximum 82C it begins to throttle down, and while some of us would like to see this restriction raised or lifted, we believe the over-all temperatures of the machine need to be improved in order for the SXPS 1645 to run at optimal performance.

Sincerely,

Perdire

 

XPS 1647 i5-430m, 4gb ram, 90w adapter.

The 1647 throttles due to heat on the GPU as well. Even people with the 130w are seeing the issues with A04 bios, etc.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=458139&page=40

 

Just to be clear in my case, with the 1647, A04 Bios and the 130w adapter, the CPU is not throttling. In regards to my GPU, I ran for a few hours (furmark + prime94 @ 4 Threads, ThrottleStop enabled, Full Brightness, room temp @ 72C) and saw 6 times the GPU throttled down for a seconds (from those few hours. My GPU normally runs at around 82C, max at 85C.

One 1647 Owner who has the 540m is getting severe GPU throttling, I'm running a 520m...

My results:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5964959&postcount=405

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5965036&postcount=408


1647 Owners need to update to the A04 BIOS and email Dell support and get the free 130w adapter, you can keep the 90w.

.

 

Forgive my ignorance on this point, but what changes have been made? The unit has basically been the same since 1640 in-regards to the fan placement and exhaust vent hasn't it?

 

I have had mine since mid December.

 

It's been more than three months that DELL have acknowledged vent issue......... DELL-Bill please explain why is taking so much time to come up with a solution?

Can someone fill me in are they still on vacation or something....

How much longer we all must wait

 

honestly famx - we only started talking about the vent issue end january/beginning of february. It is not like they can just change the whole computer to fix it - and it's not like there is anywhere available to add a second vent.

So stop being dramatic and just be patient. We all have a warranty for at least 1 year so until it is almost next november - relax!

 

I seem to recall Bill saying something about putting famx or quietCat on his 'Ignore List' here, so hopefully he's been able to only pay heed to the more constructive posts.

 

I need examples of service tags of customers experiencing this issue. preferably those who purchased their systems within the past few months.

If you have one of the affected systems please PM me the service tag and region of the world where you purchased it.

 

"affected systems".. does this include overheating due to vent placement or that the screen turns a weird color?

 

Vent issue only. Although, that would mean "people who's screen has turned colors directly over the vent due to the hot air being blown out of the vent".

If your screen is turning a weird color for some other reason that's not something that I'm currently looking at.

 

I posted this in another Thread...

Dell does have approx 84C thermal limit on the GPU in the 1647, I can pretty much run all day at 82C with prime95 (4 threads) + furmark + ThrottleStop enabled + Full RGBLED Brightness. After a few hours, I do sometimes see the GPU Throttle briefly. The bottom left of the display is a lot warmer than the right bottom side. The 130w gets pretty hot pulling 117 watts during this time.


In regards to the screen getting very warm on the bottom left, where the exhaust vent is, you can clearly test how far the temps drop running the above tests but move the display's position to about 2-3 inches above the closed position. With the vent not blocked, things improve.

If only Dell had a different hinge design so the display, when opened, didn't block the vent ...

Display hinge design and the fact the display does block the vent when opened is a poor design IMO, actually, it doesn't take a "Rocket Scientist" to figure that out - Dell's engineers might want to make a visit to Houston though

The new i5's and i7-620m CPU's helped in the 1647. An ATI 5000 series GPU would also improve things a little with the current design IMO.

 

Is there an update on how to remove (if safe) the ~84c temp limit on the GPU? Is it ati driver based? dell based? motherboard?
I'd like to use my laptop with LCD open without having throttling on my GPU (it gets to 84c within 5min here)

 

That wouldn't be better application / QA of the thermal paste, and/or, higher quality thermal paste would it?

 

unclewebb is looking into this.. He is the author of some great utilities (ThrottleStop, RealTemp). I wouldn't doubt that he'll find an option/solution.

 

Jesus, what are you doing during those 5 minutes? I've run Prime95 with 8 threads and FurMark for 30 minutes (at max brightness on my RGBLED) and have never come close to my GPU hitting 84C. Given that I changed the thermal compound on my GPU, I accept that my temperatures during load will be lower... but how are your temperatures getting so hot so quickly?

Is your system placed at an odd angle? I know there was an issue where even my system got ridiculously hot quickly if running vertically rather than horizontally.

 

No. A physical variation on the vents. I wouldn't see thermal paste having much to do with the air flow coming out of the back vents, and where that air flow is directed. Unless I'm missing something from earlier in this thread?

 

it could help lower the temp of that air flowing (or at least help with the thermal throttling)

See n3verm0re's post above yours.

It's amazing that for so little $$ of material/upgrade in material (and proper application) that things can improve so much.

Are you authorized to post pics of this change (before/after)? If so, will you?

 

It's just on my lap.. it's only from december so it can't be totally dusted on the inside or something

 

That's probably the difference. My 1645 is almost always on a flat surface (table or desk), so the extended 9-cell battery allows better air flow.

 

n3verm0re, what kind of temp reduction did you see after applying your own thermal paste (and which did you use)?

I may go this route since I've seen posts showing positive results from others who have done the same as you.

 

I am always using my 1645 on a flat surface. This could be my desk or a dedicated cutting board that I use as a 'portable' desk when I have the 1645 on my lap.

Mine also gets hot very quickly. Sometimes I would reach 80+ within five minutes, and sometimes it will take a little longer, but definately within your 30 minute mark.

It might not always be 100% level, but that cannot be expected of a laptop. I do take care not to block the vents though.

 

Ehm that's good and all, but it's a " laptop" and it's supposed to run fine on your lap
I have a 6-cell battery

 

The cores of my 820QM idle in the low 40s and my GPU just below 50C. Under basic usage like web browsing, the cores are in the high 40s to low 50s and the GPU remains around 50C. At max load, my CPU runs in the mid-60s and my GPU in the low-70s. I initially used Arctic Silver 5, but saw better results with Gelid GC-Extreme.

I've always considered the term "laptop" a misnomer when talking about (what I consider) a desktop replacement. Notebook is also a poor name, in my opinion, so I default to the more generic "system" description

 

I've been under the impression that one of the chief benefits of using the 9-cell battery on the 1640 (and now the 1645) is better air-flow and consequently a cooler system. I assumed that was part of the reason the 6-cell wasn't an option on the 1645.

Regardless, I'm not disagreeing with anyone here.. everyone has their own terms for what should be considered acceptable usage. Me, personally, I haven't experienced the temperatures that you've reported, but I know I'd certainly be on the phone with Dell if I saw those temperatures within 30 minutes of usage, let alone 5 minutes.

 

Says who? We tried to move away from calling them "laptops" when I did tech support years ago because they're not designed to sit in laps anymore. Heck, even back "in the day" they were too hot to do so. Unfortunately consumers have stuck to the term "laptop" even though in reality that hasn't been true for over a decade.

Just because popular vernacular calls something by a name doesn't mean it's true. It is extremely important to portables that they have complete, unimpeded, airflow. That's how they are designed these days. With the heat that the current generations of CPU and GPU generate its a necessity. I highly recommend you don't use that laptop on your lap or any other surface that can and will obstruct adequate air flow.

 

thermal paste / compound

I want

I was going towards using GC-Extreme myself

Dell could save themselves some trouble by upgrading their thermal compound to GC-Extreme...

 

Oh COME on if i wanted to put my PC on my desk i would've bought a PC

 

Those are nice temperatures. On my desk in an ambient temperature of ~20degrees celsius, my GPU runs around 56 degrees idle, as does my CPU.

Even though I mostly use this system on my desk, I bought a portable (to use a more generic term) because I sometime want or need to use it away from my desk.

That's why I always use a plastic cutting board to put the machine on, if I use it away from my desk. This way airflow is like designed, and any heat generated by the machine is not directly transferred to my lap.

While I agree that using a portable machine directly on your lap might not be ideal, I also think these machines are designed to be portable and part of their intended usage might be away from the desk. As with any product the user is responsable for applying common sense while using the product, and I think any kind of hard surface like a cutting board serves as an ideal desktop-replacement away from the desk.

 

Just for the fun of it, try your system on a desk. I really think your results will not vary very much as you're using a 6-cell battery and therefore there is little room for air to flow.

Try this and end the discusion

 

Different strokes for different folks? I bought the 1645 so I could use the system both at work and at home. That said, I have used mine on my lap while in bed a few times and didn't see my temperatures hit the 80s. I can't help but think there's something innately different about our systems other than the thermal compound.

 

Possibly but several others have posted significant temp drops (both idle and max load) after re-doing the thermal compound with GC Extreme.

I wonder if Dell has ever considered testing GC Extreme.. I can't believe it would add that much to costs in the volumes that Dell has and it appears it has a positive impact on thermal performance for the XPS 16's.

If your config can do it (with those great temps), they all can in the current design. This sounds like a low cost and quick solution until a re-design. Dell???

 

I am thinking of applying Thermal Paste on my XPS but I am bit confused. Come say Arctic Silver 5 is the best and some say GC-Extreme gives better performance. I am confused. So guys the question is, Which Thermal Compound to use that will give the best performance on this system??

 

from the Posts I've seen, GC-Extreme (though I think there was one Owner who felt AS worked better for him).

Proper application (and removal of the OEM compound) is also key.

 

THIS. If applied incorrectly you can actually see worse results.

AS5, GC-Extreme, Shin-Etsu G-751 ... they'll all be a great improvement if applied correctly.

 

I am thinking of getting Arctic Silver 5 coz I cant find GC-Extreme anywhere available in India. Even Arctic Silver 5 I am getting online with only one seller in india according to AS5 website. Additional to that I should get 99% Isopropyl alcohol. Then I should be good to go on applying the new paste right??

 

Yes, but make sure to set aside a lot of time, use that time to remove the original paste and prepare the service for AS.

There's a Thread here that has a video to help guide you. Watch that video a couple times first and have it playing on another PC/Mac while you are doing yours.

You want a good set of Precision screwdrivers. I use Wiha.

Please note your current temps (CPU / GPU) for idlle and max (furmark + prime95 would be good) and then post your new temps..

 

I actually have two system.First Dell Inspiron 14 and second the SXPS 1645. So will apply the paste on both. Hopefully will see gr8 results .
Ya I have checked out that video and will surely put my initial and post temps.

Thanx alot guys for the advice. Really Appreciated

 

About the thermal paste.
I wanted to do this today so I started to open the outside cover but I couldnt, somehow the screw was forced in there so I unscrewed harder but couldnt get it out, it applyed so much force that the screw started to loose it phillips shape. I tryied with every screwer around the house but couldnt do it do to its deformed shape. I am worried to not be able to get it out ever again. Any tips?

 

All I know is that quality Precision Srewdrivers are a must have.. I can't tell you over the years how many cheap ones I had, many times the size(s) weren't as stated.

There is no better than Wiha, high quality and perfect size(s) as labeled. I should have just purchased them in the beginning but I was too cheap.

Of course, match the tool size to the screw (000, 00, 0 are good sizes to have)..