Precision 3530 fan control

An update: it seems that the problem exists only when there is a docking station (tested with TB16 and DA300) connected to the laptop's USB-C port, with or without a monitor connected to the dock's DP port.

I started searching for exactly this issue and your post is the first result.  I've done nothing to try and resolve the issue, yet.  I just wanted you to know the issue is not isolated to you or myself, our whole department now has 3530's with TB16's and the noise from the fan is enough to get picked up by microphones on the machines as well as on desk phones.  If we find a way to resolve it, I'll be sure to post here.  If you've found any way to resolve or tame it, let all of us who are suffering know!

Well, I've tried propping the laptop to increase airflow from the bottom but that doesn't seem to change anything - which makes me think this isn't a thermal issue but something else (software?).  I've checked the Power Plan settings, Processor power management > System cooling policy > set everything to "Passive", but this was already the setting and changing the values here doesn't seem to do anything at all.

Last night, while working from my living room I did not notice the fan spinning up at all.

Today, docked at my work desk, it's back to the dull roar.  I've installed the Dell Command Power Manager and set its Thermal Management option to "Quiet", which appears to be the lowest setting.  This reduces fan speed and noise, but the noise is still very noticeable and beyond the norm of a laptop.

I checked the BIOS, and didn't see any option for controlling fan speed.

HWiNFO64 is reporting my fan speed to be a constant 3,600+ RPM.  After a restart, if I open Dell Command Power Manager and change my "Quiet" setting to "Optimized", speed drops to 3,300 RPM.  If I change back to quiet, I drop again - this time to 3,000 RPM.  I think we've got some sort of software issue at this point, my thinking is it may be firmware related.

Thank you for your posts Superstar. I too noticed that the fan spins down relatively quickly only when the USB-C port is not occupied by a docking station (TB16 or DA300). It might be related to the chipset temperature (assuming that connecting anything to the port increases the chipset power draw and thus the temperature). I did not try using the port for DP port only, which presumably should leave the USB or TB lanes free and hopefully reduce the load on the chipset. By the way, speaking of the chipset temperature, I noticed that HWiNFO64 loses the chipset sensor after laptop comes from standby. To get that reading again I need to reboot the machine.

I have the same issue, and I also believe that the USB Type-C connector is the culprit of the fan going nuts. I changed the connection to the dock to USB 3.0, and the problem disappeared. I am currenctly using the D6000 dock.

I have the same issue but I didn't dock it by Type-C, I sent it back to the franchiser who told me it's the problem of the fan and they will replace it in 2 days, I will update then.

Meanwhile, the Dell Service said the fan is not a KEY element of the computer so can't withdraw it, I told them the problem the day I bought it, very very disappointing.

I just updated my system's BIOS to v1.3.8 (released Aug. 14, 2018; available here: https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/drivers/driversdetails?driverId=65X65) and noticed the fan did not spin down in Windows after the update.  I've opened Power Manager again and adjusted Thermal Management to "Optimized."  This seems to definitely give me the lowest fan speed I've had since this system was purchased.  Oddly, the "Quiet" setting is now louder than "Optimized."  We'll see if this setting is persistent (I hope) and if Dell is continuing to work on the issue (I really hope).

I too updated the BIOS to the 1.3.8 and noticed that the problem is a lot less pronounced now. It still does not spin down as fast as I'd like it too (the CPU cools down as fast as before and the fan usually follows a few minutes later) but at least the docking stations do not cause the fan to spin at high speed all the time (tested with TB-16 and DA300). And I don't have to switch to the Quiet setting any more (though I tried a few times and it does make it silent).

Agreed, though I'm not sure if the quieter fan is completely consistent for me just yet.  It seems I have to open Power Manager and select a different radio button in the Thermal Management section every few days in order to keep it quiet.  This morning, it's been perfectly quiet all by itself.  We'll see.  Thanks for posting the original and updates.

Dell posted some BIOS updates that claim to address this issue.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverId=0707M

Dell Latitude 5491/5591 and Precision 3530 System BIOS
This package provides the Dell System BIOS update and is supported on Dell Latitude 5491/5591 and Precision 3530 for Windows Operating Systems.
Fixes & Enhancements
Fixes:
- Fixed fan noisy when unit connecting WD15/TB16 dock.
- Update Intel ME Firmware to address security advisories INTEL-SA-00125 (CVE-2018-3655), Intel-SA-00141 (CVE-2018-3657 CVE-2018-3658 CVE-2018-3616) & Intel-SA-00131 (CVE-2018-3643 CVE-2018-3644)

Enhancement:
- Improve Embedded Controller Engine Firmware.
Version
Version 1.4.2, 1.4.2
Category
BIOS
Release date
25 Sep 2018
Last Updated
25 Sep 2018

I noticed when I applied the update, the following changed:

BIOS: 1.3.8 > 1.4.2
Embedded Controller: 1.0.7 > 1.0.10
Backup Embedded Controller: 1.0.7 > 1.0.10
Main System TI Port Controller 0: 2.0.0.7 > 2.0.0.7
Gigabit Ethernet: X04 > X04
Intel Management Engine (VPro H) Update: 12.0.0.1069 > 12.0.8.1124
System Map: 1.0.1 > 1.0.1
PCR0 XML: 1.0.0 > 1.0.0

I can say that there doesn't seem to be much difference for me.  With Dell Command Power Manager, the "Quiet" setting is still louder than "Optimized", and occasionally I need to flip that radio button to get it to quiet down after a reboot.  It does seem (not proven) to need the radio button flipped much less than before (I've been running this for at least a week).  I perceive there to be a difference, though I also believe it is not completely resolved.

I have exactly the same experience: constant significant fan noise even under minimal load. Optimized setting often yields lower fan noise than 'quiet' but both are excessive for the activity level, IMO.

Latest BIOS and Dell drivers via Dell Command update,

Dell WD15 dock,  

Thank you dh4711 and jtlarson for confirming your identical issues.  That's really helpful to the rest of us wondering if we've received bad hardware.  Hopefully they get around to resolving the issues.  I'm thinking about submitting a ticket so I can more easily track the progress they're making.

My Precision 3530 fan is staying on 100% of the time when I have the Dell power supply plugged in - NO docking station.

I had the TB16 dock plugged in, and the fan ran 100% of the time. So I was expecting/hoping that by removing it from the equation, that the fans would NOT run 100% of the time.

Because this is a WORKSTATION, I have the power plan set to 'High Performance' (with all the default options) - but that should NOT mean that the fans run 100% of the time.

I'm running Win10, all latest windows and driver updates.

I'm running 4 chrome windows, one playing Prime Video, Skype, and a handful of other small apps (NOT Photoshop, etc.)

This is SOOO LOUD AND ANNOYING! What's going on? Is this just a bad laptop?!

I can't use this machine if it's going to be this loud all the time. :(

Same experience here. Whenever i plug into power, the computer gets warm and fan goes crazy. When on battery power, the laptop seems to run cooler and no fan noise.

comparing it to my latitude e5550 at idle, this 3530 runs noticeably warmer.