9550 high PCH temp when laptop is plugged

:(

+1 for this.

I have the exact same issue, albeit with a 9560.

@Panabuntu are you using Linux by any chance?

You don't happen to be dual booting Windows of any version, do you? While this issue occurs on my Linux install, Windows 10 seems perfectly fine.

Which distribution are you using? I'm on Arch (4.17.8-1-ARCH). 
Since I'm not experiencing any problems on Windows, I suspect it might be a Linux problem.

Next step would probably be to isolate it to being either the kernel itself, or something related to how the distribution handles power management.

Yep @Wizhi, I'm using linux. KDE Neon

I have dual boot, I've just checked in windows with the software aida64 and the PCH temp is the same. I disconnected the battery as well to check if that happen because the battery charging but it's almost the same temp...just 2 or 3 degrees less. @Wizhi Could you check your temps in windows with aida64 (the only one who show the PCH temp) and in linux and post them?

I have KDE Neon with 4.15.0-29-generic

Aida64 reports a pretty solid 51 degrees for PCH Diode whilst charging, and around 42 degrees whilst on battery. The latter is consistent with my Linux readings, but the former is still lower.

I do see other threads regarding high PCH temperatures on here, though they don't detail whether it occurs only when plugged in.

Is the laptop hot at the left-lower side of the keyboard? Mind there seems to be certain charging circuitry over there, nearby the PCH chip. Some have reported such heating up after battery replacement. 

Your temps don't look that hot as mine, I tried downgrading the BIOS, reset the BIOS and set powersave settings...but still the same temps. When I unplugged it go from 70 to 50 degrees in less than one minute, it's crazy. I would appreciate some help from @Dell-Alan D or anyone from dell staff, it suppose to be a premium laptop and after two years it's a premium grill.

I can confirm high PCH temps at high network I/O when the laptop is plugged to the docking station (TB16 in this case) and doing everything over TB3.

@samos1111

Yep, is the left side of the keyboard just at the left of the Ctrl and Shift keys. I've unplugged the battery from the motherboard and I turned on the laptop without battery and temps were the same so I don't think is a battery issue.

I've checked charging the battery while the laptop is off and it wasn't hot at all. It just happens when the laptop is on and plugged to AC.

Actually I'm wondering where is the PCH chip in the motherboard I couldn't identify it.

@pep0sn

In my case I have nothing plugged but the power supply and it's not the power supply because I tried another one with the same result.

THe PCH chip is a relatively big shiny rectangle next to (below) the right vent, near the battery (when the laptop is opened with the mobo upside down). 

The charging circuitry is next to it below a metal plate and a bit further to the battery connector. It isn't related just to charging the battery, also feeding the power to the laptop from the AC plug or the USB-C plug if used for charging. 

So the problem is with the charging circuitry I guess, that's why the PCH chip is getting so hot. Is it any way to fix charging circuitry?

I've updated the post with new info (temporary solution) :)

Hi @Panabuntu

PCH temperatures of around 70 degrees is not excessively high to cause concern. It will increase when the ac adaptor is plugged in as it controls the manages the charging circuit amongst other duties.

Is this a sudden increase of PCH temperature that you have seen as it could be indicative of a fault with the charging circuit?

It could also be an issue with the cells failing in the battery causing the heat when the ac adaptor is connected. 

I'll drop you a private message for your service tag details.

Alan