Studio 1555 heat problem - need other users helps

Guys,

I am still having problems with FPS drops in games, I have tried everything and have come to the conclusion it must be heat related.

By running HWMonitor I can see the sensor for my GPU has reached 94c!!!
I think at this temp its downlocking and causing my FPS drops.

Could anyone else with a 1555 run hwmonitor (its free) then play a demanding game for a while and check the ACHI temps?
http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

You can see my temps in my other posts regarding the poor HS and Fan
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=391358

I have spent a week trying to sort this out and about to throw this laptop out of the window so any help greatly appreciated.

 

Alright, I just played a couple hours on Prototype to test this out.

Temperatures on HWMonitor in a room at 25 C (77 F)

TZ00
Value: 81 C
Min: 56 C
Max: 88 C

TZ01
Value: 69 C
Min: 53 C
Max: 71 C

TZ02
Value: 78 C
Min: 53 C
Max: 95 C

Intel Mobile Core 2 Temperatures
Core #0
Value: 67 C
Min: 44 C
Max: 76 C

Core #1
Value: 70 C
Min: 46 C
Max: 84 C

HDD
Value: 52 C
Min: 52 C
Max: 52 C


--

These were measured after quickly exiting out the game so the current values are much higher than normal.

These are the highest readings I've gotten, and I expect it go even higher as the summer progresses. This is getting me worried.

I did not notice any framerate drop or problems other than the usual warming of the touchpad/keyboard.

 

Hi Manofest, thanks again for your help!

It might just be me being paranoid but I am at a loss as to why my fps keep dropping.
Do you run FRAPS to monitor your fps?
Maybe I just have a faulty gpu as your temps seem similar to me

 

I only occasionally run FRAPS, but I never noticed any sudden drops that could not be linked to some ingame situation.

The only problem I had recently was I was trying to get Crysis to run and I reinstalled DX10. That was a bad idea. I had to system restore to fix that.

 

is it crysis or warhead you have?

I have warhead installed, I will run the benchmark on that and see if I get drops. I have mostly been playing TF2 and DOW2 and noticing problems

 

It was the original Crysis that I was having problems with.

 

Ninja try reapplying thermal paste or even copper mod your gpu, mastershrooms copper mod his gpu and he noticed a significant difference. Run fraps during the game and see if the fps drops. Another user reported that its was powerplay that was giving him the trouble, so disable powerplay and try agian.

 

Hi Badboy,

That was me that thought powerplay fixed it. Unfortunately it still occurs but not as often as without.

I am in the process of ordering the copper to mod it but half of me is just tempted to send it back to dell, a brand new laptop should not act in this way.

I do run fraps during games this is how I know my fps are dropping, I also monitor temps at the same time although Manofests temps are higher than mine and he doesnt suffer like i do!

Finally I have put AS5 on my CPU and it never rises above 55c

Also I have tried vista 32 and vista 64 so its not an OS issue

 

You might of got a bad gpu, i would say that the copper mod should settle it because it would bring down the temps. When the temps are that high the gpu usually downclocks to ease the temps, hence you loosing fps. If you do bring the laptop back at the end make sure you take out the copper on the gpu. (that is after you installed it ) Good luck

 

From the other 1555 heat thread:

So high heat translates into short GPU life? Would the heatsinks and fan have the same setup and issues with the integrated graphics card (GMA 4500MHD)? Would a chillpad significantly reduce these negative effects?

Ninja, did you try the copper mod? Did it help significantly? Heat problems and their negative effect on the life expectancy of the laptop are my only concerns with the 1555. If there is a way to reduce these, then I may just pull the trigger.

Thanks

 

Yes heat like that would reduce the life expectancy on the gpu or cpu. Basically whats mastershrooms did would apply to you and he noticed temperature drops. Please check the other thread and he posted a pic.
I've notice my gpu is been running hot, its because its very hot in my house and when it was winter it didnt run as hot.

BTW, are you elevated the laptop so the fan can blow out the air without being blocked. If the fan is blocked i notice my laptop would get even hotter.

 

Did they fix the heat vent so that it exhausts out instead of upwards along the screen like mine 1536 does?

 

What do you mean we need a picture DSPR_02

 

Oh dspr can you take a picture of the heatsink fan and cpu too, i wanna see it.

 

If you want to know what temps are reached start HWmonitor BEFORE starting the game iso right after finishing the game. This way the max. temps will be recorded and you'll get an exact reading.

 

Update for you all.

Using a gpu stress testing program (rthdribl) and monitoring temps I can see that at 93c the fps drop by half on the stress testing program and then the temps drop to 80c so it certainly seems it is downclocking. it will then rise back to 93 and repeat.

I have ordered some copper shims and as soon as they are delivered I will install one with some AS5 and repeat the test. I hope that will resolve the problem.
The trouble is with the heatsink design it just doesnt carry away the heat effectively. I have been racking my brain to see if I can improve it at all.

My laptop is currently stripped down again as I am checking the contact with the gpu to the thermal pad so if anyone wants any other photos please feel free to ask.

Finally, I guess they have changed the hinge design slightly as the hot air seems to all come out the back and not vent up the screen

 

Is it possible you can post up more pictures?

I might eventually have to do the same, but I will wait since I assume that will void the warranty.

 

Yeah of course I can. Anything in particular you would like pics of?

I have ordered a 14x14x1.5 copper shim from ebay and will let you know if it improves my temps.

And I guess it would void your warranty but if I have to return the laptop I will revert the laptop to its factory settings first. There is no warranty void stickers.

 

I just sent my 1535 in to the Depot with thermal paste on my CPU (a replaced CPU, mind you) and the copper mod on the GPU. They never mentioned a thing.

 

haha really! I thought they might have mentioned it!
what did you send it on for? Knowing dell they wouldnt even have noticed

 

You had to send it in again Mastershroom?

What happened?

 

Here are the pictures of the inside of the Studio 1536 as well as the Heatsink and Fan that were requested.
All of the below were shot at 3072x2304
Whole motherboard with HSF and HS attached: Yea I know you can see the first two groups of my CD Key, not that I care though...

Heatsink Fan Front

Heatsink Fan Back

CPU & GPU

GPU Thermal Pad - Damn Macro could not work to save its life, even with image stabilization....

 

At least the copper pipe goes from the gpu to heat spreaders, no such luck for our 1555's
Same thermal pad too.
Whats wrong with your 1536?

 

Jesus dude, those pictures stretch the crap out of my 20" 1680x1050 desktop monitor! Thumbnail those or something!

 

I know your pain Mastershroom, It kills my 23" 1920x1080p monitor too!

Except for the last one, they are pretty clear, wouldn't you say?

 

Yeah, those are definitely some good quality photos. What kind of camera is that? The only camera I own is the 1.3 megapixel thing built into my cell phone.

 

Whats wrong with my 1536: - Shopping List time!

- The DVD Drive will not Read anymore
- The touch sensitive controls are fried
- The processor Idles at around 75*c and full load at around 94-105 *c
- The Vent exhausts air upwards on to my screen
- The battery dies within 1 hr of web browsing (from 100%)
- The battery discharges rapidly when off and when in sleep mode
- The battery takes around 6 hours to fully charge
- Recently the battery is losing more charge than it is taking in while plugged in
- The BlueTooth is fried
- The WiFi randomly drops connection
- Wifi can sometimes connect to my home wifi, and other times it can't
- Power adapter they sent me has the cable frayed by the plug into the laptop
- Card Reader cannot read well anymore.

Please ask if you want more examples!

 

Lol its my bro's GF's camera...she swapped with him.
Anywho it is an Olympus FE-220 w/ 7.1 MegaPixels and 3x optical zoom.

 

Very nice, sounds expensive.

I've been meaning to invest in a real camera for a while; this cell phone just ain't cutting it anymore, especially for detailed pics like computer internals.

 

Sloppy paste work on the CPU bud....it shouldn't really be outside the CPU itself, this way it might actually insulate the CPU and have higher temps because of it. This doesn't solve all of your other problems ofcourse but i'd definetly try applying the thermal past properly.
edit: Are you saying you're battery loses power when it's plugged in? How's that even possible..lol

 

Dspr 02 - I suppose it would be easier to have asked whats right with it

 

I dunno how the battery loses power when it is plugged in but it is funny as hell! and I will not bother to waste any more thermal paste on this as it is going back to dell, so why bother, right?

Meh, 3 days untill the rep calls me to tell me about my replacement and if I have to setup a CL or Ebay posting.....

True!

I really really hope to get a 1555 (really really really really really really hope)

 

yeah apart from my overheating issue which I expect the shim will sort I am really happy with it.

Keep your fingers crossed and prepare to argue your case

 

YO DSPR there way too much thermal paste on your studio 1536. Why dont you put less and put it on the actuall processor die.

 

I have a feeling that is why your processor is overheating and the extra heat is making the internal parts malfunction, like the express card, your random dropouts in internets, etc. But dont waste any more thermal paste on that ruined laptop. Next time just try to put like half that on the processor.
Lets us know what they send you.

 

I hate how they make these laptop processor's dies to be so small, Part of the reason that there is so much thermal paste is because the Heatsink squeezes the thermal paste to the sides. Had the same problem on my nc8230.

And for arguing my case, would the following work if I expanded on the idea?

"I would like an upgrade to a Studio 1555 because all of the 153X series have similar problems that have not been fixed over the course of their product life and I feel that a system replacement to a 1536 or 1537 would not solve the issues I am having, but still continue them or bring up more issues on top of the ones I already have."

Does that seem good? Any suggestions?

And sorry to the OP for thread jacking.

 

Hi

I gave my studio 1555 a go using HWMon and ATI Tool 0.27 Beta4 to stress out the gfx.

Got temps to over 100c (102c at one point) and FPS did not drop at all, it stayed constant.

This was while power was plugged in.

PS Max core temps were whilst running prime95



Diddy

 

Would the problems ninja2000 is encountering apply to a 1555 with integrated graphics?

 

Well yeah, you'll have that same "problem" on all your laptops because that's kinda what's supposed to happen. I always just apply 1 drop in the centre of the die, the infamous "rice grain", spread it out just a little bit and the put the heatsink on to pread it out further. then take the heatsink off to see if it's spread over the die enough and done. You just shouldn't cover the while die in it and then let the heatsink push it over....the minimal amount works best.

 

wow diddyman...over 100c! thats mental. I guess I have a problem with my gfx card then if it does not downclock at that temp.
If the shim doesnt sort my problem I am sending it back to dell.

BTW what version of HWmonitor are you using? I notice yours correctly picks up the 4570, mine shows it as an AHCI sensor

 

Its version 1.06

I just tried the latest 64bit version and its shows it like you said as an AHCI sensor plus under the latest version the temps and a little lower (about 5c)

I also had a play with laptop plugged in and on battery:-

1) Plugged in Gfx card runs at max get 200fps+ in ATI Tool
2) On battery gfx is underclocked, get about 80fps, not matter what Power Plan I use
3)On battery if I disable Powerplay in CCC fps goes back too 200fps no matter what power plan is used.

Diddy

 

I found the same by turning off powerplay.

I also noticed with powerplay off I was getting slightly lower performance (3dmark06 went from 3700 to 3100, DOW2 went from 35 to 30fps) I looked at everest and there seems to be about 7 powerstates (different clock settings) I wonder without powerplay if mine was lowering the clocks slightly as it was also not causing the downclocking as frequently

 

Yeay! My copper shims have arrived from metaloffcuts!
Stuck at work at the moment but will install one later and test plus take photos

 

Hi
I put an order for following configuration

STUDIO 1555, 15.6 Widescreen High Definition (1366X768) WLED with TrueLife, 2.0 MP webcam, Intel Core 2 Duo T6400(2.0GHz, 800MHz, 2MB), Memorie 4096MB (2x2048) 800MHz DDR2, HDD 250GB Serial ATA (5400RPM), ODD 8X DVD+/-RW Drive, baterie 6 cell 56W/HR LI-ION, Video 256 MB ATI Mobility RADEON HD 4570, Dell Wireless 1397 (802.11 b/g) Mini Card, Dell Bluetooth 370 Card, SO Free DOS, Culoare Jet Black Matte Finish, CIS service

basicaly lowest config,
Only game I play is Conter Strike Source, let's say once per week, 4-5 hours

Can you tell me if I will have problem with heating?

 

It will heat up. The question is if you will experience ninja2000's problems of periodic slowdown. Mine did get quite warm, but I have always been able to play without noticeable framerate drops.

 

Yeah, I guess I just got unlucky. I installed the copper shim and it has brought my temps down by 5c on load. I have only had it hit 95c and downclocked once since I have installed it, so a pretty successful mod.

Also if anybody else does the mod get a .9mm copper shim, the 1.4 was too thick