Dell TB16 - Loud Fan

Hi folks,

I'm only getting back to this issue now as updating the BIOS to 1.9.1 fried my motherboard and this was after BIOS revision 1.8.1 had damaged my SSD.

Anyway, has nobody else gotten this loud fan running noise on their Dell TB16 dock?

When I turn it on it is completely quiet but after a few minute the dock fan cuts in and then just hums loudly until I power off the laptop. It's really annoying..

I didn't buy the dock directly off Dell and the service tag on the dock isn't found on the Dell support page so I'm not getting anywhere with them currently.

If it was easy to open I'd nearly upgrade the fan myself but that doesn't look like a simple process..

Cheers..

Hi,

I'm experiencing the same issue and it is really annoying (!) :smileysad:.

My laptop is Latitude 7480 with thunderbolt 3. 

In my case TB16 starts the noise after some time (~30min) when external monitor is connected (which is Dell U2515H with resolution 2560x1440, 60Hz) via hdmi or mDP. To make the fan stop I need to turn off the system and wait ~5min.

DELL - could you please make it work reasonably?

I'm experiencing the same issue :(

I didn't try to reach them, so far I've upgrade all drivers and searched the internet, but found no even spark of hope.

Today, as workaround, I connected hdmi-display directly to the laptop and it is quiet.

This is still an issue with mine, all drivers etc. are up to date.. It is still very annoying but you kind of get used to it but for the cost of this thing it shouldn't have a fan with fans running this loudly...

Hi macartanmcquaid,

Thanks for posting.  Apologies that your system is not performing as expected.

The original post says the user is having a problem with the fans while using the TB16 dock.  Your post says you are still having the same issue, have you been able to try the system without the dock?  If so, how loud are the fans?  Can you hear them above the noise of a normal classroom or coffee shop?  Is the noise louder than a normal conversation, in other words do you have to speak up or shout to be heard?

Have you been able to run a systems diagnostics yet?  Please run Dell SupportAssist.  Make a note of any error messages encountered and post back.

If no errors are encountered, then the system is operating as designed.

If you require additional assistance and the system is under warranty, please contact me privately. Be sure to include your personal information (name, address, telephone, email) and your computer's service tag number in your message. Thanks.

If there is no warranty, then you could contact our Out of Warranty team to get a quote for a paid service call -http://dell.to/1vnT6CQ  

Hi Robert,

I was the OP :)

The fan noise is pretty loud. It's bearable if I've the radio on but without it isn't good.

I've had lots of docks over the years and never one with a fan, no idea why it even has a fan. Anyway, I had hoped that it was a BIOS thing but with every update I've installed it hasn't made a difference.

Anyway, if this is normal operation then it's a complete rubbish design.

I've a Macbook Pro and an Elgato dock and it's completely silent, as it should be...

Cheers,

Mac

Hi there,

Thanks for that. I will try what you suggested and report back.

I purchased this doc pre-owned. When I was having the issues support couldn't find the service tag on the system and asked to get the sales invoice. I requested this from the seller and he said that he no longer had it so I wasn't able to get it looked at while it was under warranty and have had to live with it since.

The power block is the 240w model.

I was hoping it was a software thing but perhaps it is by design.

I will try what you have suggested and see if that eliminates the fan spinning up loudly.

Cheers,

Mac

Thank you for your message. I believe you have mentioned about a fan noise issue on the TB16 dock & not the XPS notebook.

Please disconnect all other cables from the dock except the power cord & let it be on for some time & check if the noise is heard.

Try connecting one device at a time to the dock & observe for some time & check if the issue persists.

Is the dock used with a 180W or a 240W adapter?

When was the dock purchased?  Could you share the purchase invoice copy on a private message?

You are welcome. I am afraid, docking stations have a limited 1-year warranty. Since there is no valid purchase invoice copy my options will be limited.

Please try updating the dock firmware from this link

Note – Make sure that your system has the latest BIOS version before updating the dock firmware. 

I have the same problem. TB16 240w with precission 5530. Brand new. Fun in Dock is running all the time even when there is no load from the computer.

I just bough dell beacause of silent 5530. I am pretty tired of solving same problems with noise on pcs (after havin HP, Fujitsu...). Please, pc developers, hire somebody from apple to make good hardware. 5530 is anice copy of macbook, you are almost there :-D But the fun on TB16 is frustrating.

Thank you.

My fan used to shut off as soon as I put the computer into Sleep, until I updated the firmware with the "Dell Firmware Update Utility | Doc." Wish I could undo that step.

I was trying to fix a BSOD issue that I thought might be dock-related, but eventually turn out to be a bad SATA driver.

Now to only way to shut off the fan is to Sleep the laptop and cycle the power on the dock. Once I plug in the laptop, the dock fan runs forever - even after I sleep the laptop.

Can we get any fix from Dell about this? I have seen so many post of fans running at low temps as soon as you connect TB 15 or WD 16 docks. No good answer from Dell anywhere and it's not a individual computer problem, its something with Dell software/bios. 

My temps are 39C and fans still running at low speed on my XPS 9570.