The other is a hardware solution called a Coolpad.
You can find information on this product at:
http://roadtools.com/index.html
The Coolpad is a swivel base for the system that allows better airflow around the chassis, particularly underneath.
Either of these products (or even both used together) should help keep your system cooler.
There isn't a simple answer for the temperature at which the fan turns on.
The system uses a thermal algorithm that monitors temperatures at different locations and the system can do a variety of techniques to reduce temperature.
The fan will only come on when the system surpasses the temperature rating listed in the BIOS which was determined by our engineers as the optimal setting.
In some situations, this means the fan may not come on at all. Systems normally get very hot (about 135 degrees).
To test whether the fan is functional, follow this procedure:
Put in your Dell Diagnostics Disk (this disk came with the system) and start your computer. You should boot up to a diagnostics menu.
Select 'run specific test'.
Under available test groups select 'System Set'.
At the bottom of the screen select 'One'.
This will launch a series of interactive tests.
One of these tests will turn the fan on and ask you if you can hear the fan running.
If you hear the fan running, we know it is functional and there is no need to send the system in for repair.
Notebook computers do get very hot. This is with all notebooks and is a direct result of the system components being compacted into a tiny space.
However, if you feel the notebook is running too hot, try removing any PC Cards while not in use.
They can generate extra heat and shorten the amount of time you can use the system with battery power.
One of your cards could be running too hot as well and might need to be replaced [too much means you can't hold them when ejected].
If so, contact our US Mobile Computing Hotline is 800-822-8965 for Corporate/Government Accounts or at 800-247-9252 for Direct accounts.
You will be connected to a Technical Specialist who will help you resolve the issue over the phone or arrange the appropriate service.
You can also email Dell by Clicking Here for assistance.
If contacting Technical Support via email, please include your system service tag and a description of the problem and troubleshooting done to try to resolve it.
If you are outside of the United States, you will need to contact Dell in your global area.
Problem: The heating problem that I have faced on my Dell Inspiron 5100 is very similar to the one that all of you are reporting - fan is in "high" mode all the time and the system shuts down due to excessive CPU heat build-up.
Possible Solution : The air intake fan vents are blocked. Especially in carpted homes and offices, the carpet fibres block the vents and dust accumulates creating a barrier to air intake.
Just blowing compressed air (from a can) into the air intake (rear of the system) will usually clear the blockage - but sometimes, the build-up is excesive and you have to remove this manually. This is recommended only to hands-on techies - if you have not done this before, do not attempt it without a supervised techie helping you!.
Open the keyboard and remove the heatsink with the CPU (very carefully as the pins may get twisted. Dell has actually glued the CPU to the heatsink - you have no choice but to remove the heatsink and CPU together (that is why they do not recommend cleaning the air vents as this may void warranty).
Examine the air-intake and clean with a softbrush and compressed air. You will actually see a layer of fibre and dust coming out like a skin. Be careful while you are cleaning - the heatsink rim is very sharp and if you may end up with a deep cut on your fingers (I did :).
Replace the heatsink and keyboard - and you will see your system fan almost silent and the heat problem vanish for the next 6 months to a year - until you have to repeat the process.
Good Luck...
JohnM025
2 Intern
•
877 Posts
0
October 22nd, 2003 15:00
The newer faster processors run a lot hotter than P1 or P2's ever did.
Fan operation is done at the Bios level and there is no way to change it.
You can try updating to the latest BIOS.
You can download the BIOS upgrade from out web site.
Go to:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/filelib/
Next, enter your service tag or choose your system model.
This will bring up a list of all files available for your computer.
Locate, download, and install the most recent BIOS version from our web site.
To install the BIOS revision you will first double click on the file that you have downloaded.
You will be prompted to insert a floppy disk, and the setup program will automatically create a bootable flash BIOS diskette.
Once the bootable flash BIOS disk is created, restart the computer with this disk in the floppy disk drive.
Your system will automatically do the BIOS update, simply follow the onscreen instructions.
After your computer restarts the update has been completed, and you can remove the floppy disk.
Also, I heard various reports that there are some 3rd party utilities that will monitor the CPU and fan.
Keep in mind it is not support by Dell.
The first is applicable if you are running Windows95/98; it is a shareware program called RAIN - and it can be found at:
http://www.softseek.com/authors/LEADING_WINTECHindex.html
FanGUI is also very popular.
The other is a hardware solution called a Coolpad.
You can find information on this product at:
http://roadtools.com/index.html
The Coolpad is a swivel base for the system that allows better airflow around the chassis, particularly underneath.
Either of these products (or even both used together) should help keep your system cooler.
There isn't a simple answer for the temperature at which the fan turns on.
The system uses a thermal algorithm that monitors temperatures at different locations and the system can do a variety of techniques to reduce temperature.
The fan will only come on when the system surpasses the temperature rating listed in the BIOS which was determined by our engineers as the optimal setting.
In some situations, this means the fan may not come on at all. Systems normally get very hot (about 135 degrees).
To test whether the fan is functional, follow this procedure:
Put in your Dell Diagnostics Disk (this disk came with the system) and start your computer.
You should boot up to a diagnostics menu.
Select 'run specific test'.
Under available test groups select 'System Set'.
At the bottom of the screen select 'One'.
This will launch a series of interactive tests.
One of these tests will turn the fan on and ask you if you can hear the fan running.
If you hear the fan running, we know it is functional and there is no need to send the system in for repair.
Notebook computers do get very hot.
This is with all notebooks and is a direct result of the system components being compacted into a tiny space.
However, if you feel the notebook is running too hot, try removing any PC Cards while not in use.
They can generate extra heat and shorten the amount of time you can use the system with battery power.
One of your cards could be running too hot as well and might need to be replaced [too much means you can't hold them when ejected].
If so, contact our US Mobile Computing Hotline is 800-822-8965 for Corporate/Government Accounts or at 800-247-9252 for Direct accounts.
You will be connected to a Technical Specialist who will help you resolve the issue over the phone or arrange the appropriate service.
You can also email Dell by Clicking Here for assistance.
If contacting Technical Support via email, please include your system service tag and a description of the problem and troubleshooting done to try to resolve it.
If you are outside of the United States, you will need to contact Dell in your global area.
Thank you for choosing Dell.
zeelog
1 Message
0
December 25th, 2004 13:00
Possible Solution : The air intake fan vents are blocked. Especially in carpted homes and offices, the carpet fibres block the vents and dust accumulates creating a barrier to air intake.
Just blowing compressed air (from a can) into the air intake (rear of the system) will usually clear the blockage - but sometimes, the build-up is excesive and you have to remove this manually. This is recommended only to hands-on techies - if you have not done this before, do not attempt it without a supervised techie helping you!.
Open the keyboard and remove the heatsink with the CPU (very carefully as the pins may get twisted. Dell has actually glued the CPU to the heatsink - you have no choice but to remove the heatsink and CPU together (that is why they do not recommend cleaning the air vents as this may void warranty).
Examine the air-intake and clean with a softbrush and compressed air. You will actually see a layer of fibre and dust coming out like a skin. Be careful while you are cleaning - the heatsink rim is very sharp and if you may end up with a deep cut on your fingers (I did :).
Replace the heatsink and keyboard - and you will see your system fan almost silent and the heat problem vanish for the next 6 months to a year - until you have to repeat the process.
Good Luck...
parkerti
610 Posts
0
December 26th, 2004 14:00
Did anyone else find that line amusing?
Merry Christmas everyone.