XPS M1530 CPU idling at 67-70°, GPU at 77-80°, shuts down while gaming

Hello friends,

I've recently starting playing Civilization 4: Beyond the Sword again, and my computer (stats listed in my signature) has started to shut down, I'm presuming from overheating.

I downloaded CPUID hardware monitor and those are my web-surfing/idling temps. This bad boy can get very hot. I only just realized a few moments ago that my fan does not often speed up to max.

Unfortunately, I don't have the extended Dell warranty, and since I bought this in 2007, I'm a little out of luck. Any ideas?

Will I have to take it apply and reapply thermal paste?

What utility can I use to test the fan to ensure that it's working properly?

Am I just screwed?

 

You are not out of luck. I can't find it at the moment, but search around (possibly in the m1530 thread or the main dell thread) and look for the info threads on Dell replacing the motherboard/GPU due to the whole NVIDIA faulty manufacturing process issue.

The m1530 was one of the models identified by Dell which was affected by this. Dell has stated they would replace the MB/GPU even if the system was out of warranty for up to one year (i think it was a year).

Look into it, and then call XPS Support.

EDIT: Here ya go -

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...ate-limited-warranty-enhancement-details.aspx

 

I called Dell, and I was connected to an Indian gentleman who assured me that he had contacted XPS Technical Support, that my system was out of warranty so I cannot talk to them myself, and that only the graphics card replacement is under warranty, so I'll have to pay something like $350 to get the motherboard replaced . . .

Fat chance. I was trying to get him to connect me to an American but there was no way. Anyone have any idea what I should do? I'm thinking of calling them and just trying to get an operator.

Also, is there any more specific Dell Warranty Information? You said the motherboard was covered by the special extended warranty, the guy on the phone didn't. I suspect you're right and he's not. Any other website that makes it more clear than the blog?

 

well im pretty sure the gpu is soldered onto the motherboard, so in order for them to replace the gpu they'll have to replace the whole thing.

 

That is a good point.

I hate Dell India.


I cleaned out the vents. I was finally able to get some dust out of there and now the GPU is doing websurfing at 67°C and the CPU cores are sitting pretty at 54°C.

I'm pretty sure this is still very high.

 

If you laptop shut down again contact Dell and tell them you have no video output and just before it shut down you had a black screen with mulitcolors lines...Your mobo is still covered dont let them tell you otherwise...Also check threads on M1330 over heating, vertical lines the list just goes on...

 

Did you get a case# from your call where they gave you the runaround? if not, call back - get a case # and then use the unresolved issues link on the dell main page and reference the case number, your issue and the thread on the dell blog I posted.

After you do that, register on Dell's forum and then PM the blog post author (Lionel) as well as post in the thread. He specifically mentioned in that post:

 

i have the exact issue... the same temps..

recently my mobo was changed....

shall i place a complain too ?... but one prob i have slightly OC`d ...

 

I know the solution to this for it happened to me under warranty. I ended up getting my heat sink replaced. When the technician replaced my heat sink, the thermal paste burnt away and he replaced it with a heat sink with new cheap thermal paste. So just buy some arctic silver 5 and apply it on the gpu and cpu and the last spot should have a purple thermal pad on it so just leave that alone. Wait a couple days for the arctic silver to "cure" and this should make temps go back to normal.

 

Phew.

I opened it up to put Arctic Silver 5 on it . . . and not only was the old thermal paste like dried clay, the heat sink wasn't even in contact with the GPU. The stupid screw socket on the motherboard had come off. My brother soldered it back on and we reapplied thermal paste.

I hope this fixes it. Temps are already down to 60°C on the GPU and 50°C on the CPU cores.

 

Nice, glad that helped.