XPS8100 processor fan problem

I've just received a reaction from Dell concerning the Fan Issue.

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Unfortunately it is not possible to install other fan in your system, since some Dell system and components are Dell specific and might not be compatible with 3rd party hardware. Because of this we do not support any 3rd party hardware in our systems.
I have attached a guide for you on how to replace the fan and I have already written the service call for you.
If you have any other questions or queries I could help you with, please feel free to ask.

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Guess this ain't going to help me... Since people think it's not the fan but some software(Bios) that controls the Fan...

Help!!

Well G-Man74.... This is good news for you.  Good to hear that you got a working system. Makes me really wonder if this is a component issue. I am going to take my system back to to Best Buy as soon as I can and see if they'll do the same for me.

Just for kicks, could you do us all a favor and report back on what BIOS version your new system is running that doesn't have the issue?

Thanks!!

Add me to the list of people that had this same issue.  I got my 8100 Friday night.  It's an amazing computer but the fan issue was too much to deal with.  I spent around 2 hours on the phone with Dell Tech Support Sunday morning.  I had one tech support rep tell me that they were going to replace the fan and the heat sink. Then  I ended up with a second rep that told me that there was not an issue and he could not help me.  I took the computer back to Best Buy and the Geek Squad folks told me that it was normal for the fan to do what it was doing.  I had one of the guys walk over to the floor model and listen to it and then he realized that there was a fan issue.  The store manager went to one of the other local stores and picked up another 8100 for me and swapped the hard drives out.  So far so good, the fan on the new 8100 sounds great.  Dell does have an issue with the 8100.  I hope that they fix it soon because it is a great pc. 

My BIOS version is A03.  It tells me that it the most up to date version.  I had A02 on the other computer and upgraded to A03 but that did not help.  Good luck with Best Buy.  You might have to convince them that there is an issue.  I was really happy once they realized that something needed to be done.  I think that it also helped that I just purchased it.  I think they have a 14 day return policy. 

I just received a new CPU fan. I already pointed out to Dell support that it wouldn't help. But I'll have a try and keep you updated. The last email I've received doesn't make me very happy...

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Unfortunately currently there is no BIOS update for your system.

In case the replacement does not solve the issue, you will most likely need to wait for a BIOS update. I?m not able to let you know when an update will be released as I do not have any information about it.

I´m sorry, that I couldn´t help you to your fully satisfaction. Nevertheless I hope that you are satisfied with my personal support.
I wish you a nice day.

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Any suggestions? Just wait?

between the full speed fan noise, the system is indeed very silent. :emotion-1: No really if the fan slows down it's pretty silent. 

a colleague has the same system but without the fan problem. same system more or less. so there seems to be some copy variation. There are just so many people experiencing this. Could it be a manufacturing issue? maybe it's just a sensor that is not connected right? i have no idea...

I picked up the Studio XPS 8100 at Best Buy 2 weeks ago, but just opened the box this past Sunday.  It had the processor fan problem!   I read this thread and thought  (hoped) that it was probably just a BIOS issue.  However, the fact some folks were reporting they DID NOT have the issue got me to wondering that the problem may be a bit more than just a BIOS fix.   So, I packed it up and exchanged it for another unit.  Guess what,, the replacement unit DOES NOT have the problem (at least not yet).  Even stranger, the two boxes were manufactured on the SAME DAY (01-08-2010).  

HOWEVER, this unit (and the original one when the cpu fan wasn't howling) is NOT QUIET, by my standards anyway.  I've read posts from owners that claim their systems were: Quiet, Whipser Quiet, Silent, "STEALTH", etc.   The GPU fan on the the ATI 5770 is the cause of most of the noise (when it's set at it's default fan setting of 35%).  Lowering it  to 20% makes it tolerable, but then do I need to be concerned about inproper cooling of the video card?  Even lowering the fan on the video card, the power supply and other fans can be heard (system is on top of desk, sitting about 30 inches away).  (And yes, I know if I put it on the floor, it'll subdue the sound a bit, but I'm too old to bend down and fiddle with cords, etc!)

I know noise is subjective, but my Dimension 8400 system wasn't quiet (neither are the other 3000's I have )and I had hoped that Dell had finally addressed the concerns of their customers.

SO, in a quiet environment (no other background chatter), can any owners of the XPS 8100 comment about the "noise" that they hear from the system? 

THANKS!  (and good luck with the CPU fan problem!!)

Tony

Dell support send my a new CPU fan I could replace myself. So I've installed this CPU Fan (exactly the same as a had previously). And believe it or not... I haven't heard my Fan make the loud noise agian. Only when I start up the PC. Just like it should be doing! So replacing the fan actually helped for me! Unbelievable!

But... Because maybe I could have made I installation fault I've run diagnostics and run the fan test. No problems so far. Everything seems to be alright. Than I've installed a software program called "SpeedFan 4.40". This program showed me something disturbing. Temp1: 127C!! Aargh! See the included image.

I guess I've still got a problem. There seems to be some sensor that is not working correctly. At least the noise is gone... What do you think people???

the 127C readout doesn't mean that it's really that hot. it's a faulty readout. either a sensor not connected or not found... Don't worry.

About the fan: did you just replace the fan? or did you also need to replace the heatsink? How difficult was this action? a fan is just a fan. Mine still has the problem maybe something isn't connected right? or did you get another type? 

good to hear your problem is solved. i should give support a call (again...)

Hello I am a onsite rep for Dell and no its not normal

The issue is cause by the CPU Fan. Some thing to do with the mechanism that attaches to the mother board.

I personally own this system as well doing service on two for this issue

Hello Curtis,

Thanks for the input.  I had eaxact the same readout as above out of Speedfan. I agree with the assumption that readout is faulty als 127C is not possible neither -61C..

My system is in repair too for this problem (amoung another issue). Can you please be a bit more specific? So it is not a BIOS issue?  Do you share this information with the service centres and help desks? Are there possible solutions yet?

Regards,

Henk Jan

The cause is the CPU heat sink fan assembly. Have it replaced

If you need more specifics then that ask Dell engineering

that's great and all, but are all support desk aware of this problem and/or solution? Calling or mailing support to hear that i should keep an eye on the website doesn't bring me anything. How many people need to have this problem before it is mentioned on the support page?

Do you mean that the strange output of 127c is caused by the CPU heat sink assembly? Or is that an other problem. Because I've just replaced my CPUfan and heatsink and it only fixed the fan noise problem.