Studio 1535- Fan now runs constantly, hasn't always done this...

In the last two weeks or so, the fan on my Studio 15 (1535) has been running continuosly. Even when it's under little/no load for extended periods of time, the fan stays on at higher-than-low-speed (from the sound)!?

I've had it for about four months and this wasn't an issue until very recently. I have updated the BIOS twice (A02 to A03, then A03 to A06) and wonder if the most recent update was the culprit. I skipped A05 initially, but a few days ago I re-flashed using A05 to see if that might fix the issue- no dice! I'm debating whether I should go back to A03 and see if that does the trick?

But I don't want to keep arbitrarily flashing the BIOS over and over if there's no chance of it fixing the fan issue.

Anyone else have similar issues with the fan running constantly? Any suggestions on how to fix or, at least, mitigate the problem?

FYI- I always use the laptop on a flat, hard surface (desk or wooden lap-desk) to allow proper heat dissipation. I have also tried elevating the back of the system by 1/2-inch or so to improve airflow- NADA!

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

 

Hey, I have the same thing with my 1535.

But I had updated to A06 BIOS and Windows7 when I started noticing this issue. Prior to it, the fan could be only heard after the temps crossed 50*C but now, it kicks in after 40*C.

 

You probably have a faulty fan controller; I believe this is due to motherboard flex. My Studio 15 is in for repair for this very same issue.

I even created a thread on this issue:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=328155

 

Bog quick question for you.
Sometime like (now) my fan is OFF, after a while It stars High speed and slowly goes to low speed!
I consider low speed or OFF as someting normal!
But sometimes my studio becomes to jumps from OFF to High only - for example 10 times for one hour!
Is this normal or what?

 

Remove the battery and prop up the back of the S15 with a book so that the empty battery bay is propped up on either side by the book; this is how I've kept it silent while on my desk. Otherwise, I couldn't even take it to school because the fans would kick in again.

I believe that the fan control chip is somewhere in the middle of the MB, which does seem to suffer from flex; you may notice that the body of the Studio 15 flexes quite easily. The fan control chip supplies a voltage of 0V, 2.5V, and 3V for 3 different fan speeds. My hypothesis is that, after a while, the bending of the board causes the fan control chip to alternate between 0V and 3V only. The 2.5V step seems to no longer work.

 

faulty heatsink/fan, call Dell, they'll replace this, and you'll be good as new, here's a video of my 1535 when it had the exact same problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISIcmEOJt88
take care!!

 

I have the same problem, and it also started happening (I believe) after updating the BIOS from A05 to A06. It also seemed the like the CPU was working harder after the update. I've talked to their support and they will be replacing my heatsink and harddrive. How do I downgrade the BIOS back?

 

Ok guys!
But please someone to define "What you understand by normal work?"
Fan is suppose to work - Off,Low Speed,High Speed
And It jumps from one to other!
Do you have NON-STOP FULL FAN SPEED?

 

I realize that the fan will switch between Off/Low/High depending on the cooling needs of the system at any given time. The fan switching on/off and whether it runs at low speed or high speed is usually triggered by a thermal sensor.

For the first 3-months I had the Studio 15, the fan was running no more than 25% of the time and it was ALWAYS at low speed.

The problem (and source of my concern/frustration) is that it's behavior changed SUBSTANTIALLY in the last few weeks! The fan was running constantly, roughly 60% of the time at low speed and 40% at high speed. NOTHING about how I use the system or the environment in which I use it has changed, though!

If my usage habits haven't changed AND nothing has changed enviromentally (consistent room temp, always use on a flat, hard surface to ensure adequate air flow/heat dissipation)...the fan suddenly running all the time is definitely reason for concern!

Last night, out of pure frustration, I decided to restore my Studio 15 back to factory settings. Restored to the exact out-of-the-box condition it was in when I bought it new four months ago- THE FAN IS STILL RUNNING CONSTANTLY!!!

I'm really starting to develop a completely reasonable hatred for this thing!

 

On a slightly different topic, is it possible to measure the fan RPM via a stand alone app? Im currently using RMClock for monitoring temps which doesnot have any fan monitoring.

 

ik8fanui, although you have to disable driver checking every time you boot up Vista.

 

Very good description!If i understand you right - YOUR DESCRIPTION IS THE WAY THE FAN MUST WORK?!YES?!

My fan works/runs exactly in this style!
It only worry me, because sometimes (today 3 times) when I'm not on the computer and display is OFF; the fan stars triggered from High (fore 5-10-15 seconds) <-> OFF (sometimes low speed in between)...Like High Speed comes for nothing...

I have Skype on all the time; may be and some other system proccess (I disabled Indexing today);

IS this little triggering between High (for 5-15 second) and OFF in IDLE mode normal?

My low speed is ~2700-2800 RPM

Sorry my bad english

 

allfireup:
"Noise

When the notebook is first turned on it is almost inaudible with the fan off. Depending on use and activated energy profile, this state can remain for some time. The system fan, when it turns on, brings the laptop's noise output to 35.6 dB(A). In this state, the Studio 15 can be described as clearly audible but hardly irritating.

Under load, the fan can further increase its speed, bringing the noise level to a maximum of 42.8 db(A). After a few seconds the rotation speed will drop, bringing the level to 38.8 db(A) with the fan still continuing to run constantly. Even this noise level was easily tolerable."

from
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Studio-15-Notebook.10752.0.html

My fan is on low speed 70 % time when I work on it (normal stuffs internet; movies; music)!
High Speed constant only in Heavy Games.
My fan is OFF when the computer is in IDLE about 80 % of the time.
I already mentioned about my OFF -> HIGH SPEED -> OFF (I Believe in this case High Speed is ~3000-3200 RPM) in IDLE.

I guess Low Speed most time is cause/d by GPU DIODE TEMPERATURE between 48-57 C!
MY HDD (30-31 C) and CPU (40-48 C) are most time under 50 C!
As we know Fan stars kicking over 50-55 C

 

I conducted a little experiment today.

I have a dual-fan notebook cooler for an old Toshiba M45 that I keep as an emergency spare laptop. The fan runs all the time on the Toshiba, but the exhaust coming from the vents is really HOT! I call it the Toshiba "Hibachi" Edition...seriously, you could roast marshmallows. The notebook cooler has four rubber stubs at each corner which puts 1/2" of space underneath the entire notebook. With the increased room for airflow and the cooler's fans running on low, the Toshiba's fan rarely kicks on.

So...I decided to see what effect, if any, the cooler would have on my Studio 15's fan behavior. I first tried with the cooler's fans set on low- NO CHANGE. Then switched the fans to HIGH- still NO CHANGE. The Studio 15's exhaust vents were cool to the touch, though!

I'm fairly convinced that it has to be a hardware issue. I've been putting off sending it in for a warranty keyboard replacement for over a month now, so I'll just send it in for the keyboard and the fan issuse now, I suppose.

I've already bought a replacement for it- a Latitude E6400 from the Dell Outlet. As soon as I get the Studio 15 fixed and working just as it did when it was new, it's going on eBay!

 

I'm sorry to hear that!
In my country Bulgaria I don't have very big choose!
MY MOBO and Wireless Card were replaced!
I personally love my Studio 1535 only this (like it is working now) -> Off -> High Speed (10-15 second) -> Low Speed (30 second - 1 minute) -> Off
and again!
And Now my HDD (28 C) and CPU (41 C), only GPU Diode is (49-50-52 C)

I guess it is normally for Studio to starts cooling from OFF to High Speed (a while) - like in the article.But why It goes so fast from Low Speed to OFF?!

 

From what I've learned so far, this is not a problem that is caused by the user. Dell must have overlooked something in the design process. After all, the Studio line is fairly recent, and still has yet to work out the "bugs".

I've heard a lot about the bios possibly causing this, and also possibly because the computer is actually hot. I don't think this is the case because I can turn the fan BOTH ON and OFF on cue (que?) and my computer isn't hot.

Here is what I found, that turns ON the fan:

Pull the top of the screen toward yourself.

Holding your thumb above where your charger plugs in (for leverage), lift up the the screen at the pivot (the power button side) using your index and middle finger.

Here is what I found, that turns OFF the fan:

Push the top of the screen away from yourself.

Pushing down on the pivot point (power side) of the screen.

A gentle push on the black trim immediately above the Num Lk and Prnt Scrn buttons.

Conclusions so far:

The screen tilting is far too general of a test because it warps your whole computer - causing everything to shift. I believe its under the black trim cover, because this requires the least amount of force and it doesn't move much else. The strange thing is, that the fan is located on the other side of the computer. I will most likely take my computer apart (in the next week) enough to see whats under that trim. I'll keep you guys updated and please respond if you have any suggestions!

Also, possibly related problems:

I can hear a sharp click in the Num Lk/Prnt Scrn area immediately before my computer completely shuts down (after screen goes black and things are still running for a few more seconds).

Volume buttons stick sometimes - not the light, but the action.

CD eject button randomly triggering?

This forum seems to know whats up, but for those who don't really:

I hope, that this can at least get the fan to stop for those of you who cannot mentally (or morally) take your computer apart yourself. For those of you who can, you can get the Service Manual from Dell's website. http://support.dell.com Thanks to Dell, these computers are very easy to take apart and mess around with. Just be sure to read the "Before you begin" section before you well... begin. You can do it! Best of luck guys...

Back in the day of carburetors, everybody either learned to become a mechanic or became stranded. If everything always worked, why would we ever bother to figure it out? Dell may have many flaws, but they provide easy to follow service manuals for free and they use phillips head screws!

-Eric

This is my first post on anything, so I'm not too familiar with "forum etiquett". If you see anything wrong, annoying or unnecessary, let me know!

 

Hi ericdang and welcome!

If you haven't yet, you may want to read thru this thread which relates to the issue you are describing- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=328155

Also, here's a great YouTube video demonstrating the erratic fan behavior- LINK

 

Thanks allfiredup! Do you think I should post there as well?

Took it apart and tested with one variable at a time. The back cover, battery, and touch pannel were removed (the touch pannel's wire ribbon wasn't very secure). Plugged in charger, booted up and ran it. Fan still had the problem. Plugged in the touch pannel and snaped it back into place. Plugged in charger, booted up and ran. This time, the fan issue had gone away. Quiet computer!!

What I'm guessing:

After all the opening and closing (back and forth) of the screen, the media touchpad's wire ribbon gets loose in its reciever. When the fan is spinning (when computer is cool) and you bend the screen or push in that area or lift a corner of the computer (anything that causes that area to warp and stop the fan), the ribbon makes contact like its supposed to. I didn't have the courage to unplug the ribbon again, so I cannot guarantee this was the exact reason. But I do know that the problem was gone after that step. (I didnt flip or move the computer when I replaced the media-tp). I think Dell actually fixes it when they plug in the ribbon completely and securely while reassembling.

Anyone else find this solution?

-Eric

 

Eric, thanks for the finding the root cause!

What I did I removed the touch panel, the wire ribbon was plugged very tightly, I didn't even managed to unplug it. My assumption was that wires had a contact with a metal panel and caused improper fan and touch buttons control. So I just isolated the plug with a piece of an insulating tape.

Now, fan and touch buttons problems are gone.

P.S. after installing A06 bios the problems with long wake up after waiting mode are gone as well.