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February 3rd, 2009 20:00
XPS 720 CPU Fan Running @ 100%
Just upgraded to a new CPU and now the CPU fan is running at 100%. I upgraded from a Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 to a Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 (Yorkfield) 3GHz. I have downloaded the new Nvidia system tools version 6.03 hopping it would let me control the CPU fan but that did not work. I have also downloaded speedfan and still no control of the fan. The temperature on all 4 cores on the CPU are running at 25c to 29c so I do not have a heat issue. I think that it is a dell Bios issue. I am currently running the A06 Bios. The system seems to be working fine and CPU-Z and Nvidea system tools are showing the right spec's for the CPU. Hope that I can get the issue resolved soon because the fan noise is too much.
My System Specs - Dell XPS 720, 680i Motherboard, Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 3GHz, Windows XP Media Center, 4Gbit Corsair Dominator RAM EPP @ 1066, XFX9800 GX2 Video Card, 4 - 250 GBit Hard Drives (RAID5) , X-Fi Extreme Music Sound Card, Ageia Physx Accelerator, Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1800
Darrell WV
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482 Posts
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February 4th, 2009 07:00
Hello startravel57t,
I upgraded my 630i to the Q9650 and it works great without the fan issue. You will notice that the Q9650 is a 45 nm core CPU, and I am not really sure that the XPS 720 MOBO (Dell 680i) will support the 45 nm CPU. When a MOBO will not support the CPU completely the system will boot and run, but the fan runs at 100%. That fan speed which does not respond to control sliders generally indicates a CPU incompatability at some level. I am certainly not a CPU or MOBO expert, so I can not tell you why they are incompatable.
I know that just because your MOBO has the Socket T or LGA 775 does not mean that any of the 775 CPU will work. I think that what I remember is it has to do with the electrical capacity found on individual MOBO's.
Go to the 720 manual, can be found on the XPS Club forum, and read which processors are supported by the 720 MOBO. Several people have reported modifications which allow for upgrades, but I personally do not have the 720 and have not modified one.
Best,
Darrell WV
startravel57t
4 Posts
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February 7th, 2009 08:00
I found out everything that I need to know from the following site http://rampantspeculation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2330
If you look at the stepping for the CPU that where original released with the XPS they where all (B2 / B3 / G0) so the bois for a XPS 720 will support all CPU's with that stepping. Dell then released a new bois A06 and it looks like they added in two other stepping codes to the bois (C0 / C1). In the above link they have confirmed that a E8400 - C0 and a Q9450 - C1 will work in a XPS 720. Next if you go out to Intel's CPU finder, http://processorfinder.intel.com/ and enter in the Intel core 2 duo or Intel core to quad to pull up all of the CPU for your search. Then look though the stepping codes to find the processor that will work. Looks like the highest duo core CPU would be the E8500 - 3.16Ghz and the highest quad core would be the Q9550 - 2.83Ghz. Make sure that you double click on the link for the processor on Intel's site to get the box order code and spec numbers to make sure the stepping will be correct when you purchase the new processor.
The Q9650 is a E0 stepping and Dell bios is not supporting E0 and that is why the error message is coming up and the CPU fan is running at 100%. Not sure if Dell will be supporting the E0 with a BOIS change in the future.
I am not going to wait around will sell the Q9650 - 3Ghz that is only a week old on E-bay. Will be picking up a Q9550 - 2.83Ghz if I can find one in the computer shop today.
Darrell WV
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482 Posts
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February 7th, 2009 09:00
Good detective work on your part startravel57t,
I would certainly not wait on another upgrade to the 720 BIOS from Dell as that system is "end of life" in production, I have the 730 which has been replaced by the 730X, so the work now is on to this system. If Dell follows its normal path, and who knows what is really going to happen, there will be no future upgrades to the 720 BIOS.
I feel sure that you are making the logical and best choice by going with the Q9550, it is a great processor, stable and will do the job. My spouse has their own 730 across the room from mine and it has the Q9550 in it and it has done well.
Best of luck with your upgrade.
Darrell WV