XPS Temperature Problem?

I called Dell and the tech support seemed to think it should be around 35-45 degrees Celsius. You might want to try updating to the A06 Bios as it fixes some sort of fan problem, but my problem is a bit more than the bios fix I suspect. Checkout this thread to see if it matches any problems you're having:

err my dell 9100 3.4 ghz sits at around 65-70c when gaming. alot of other people on various forums also report these temp issues

This is how I fixed my heat problem after Dell wanted me to send it in. I usually don't like to mess around with my computer while it's under warranty so I don't end up voiding it, but I decided a week of downtime while waiting for the computer to be sent to Dell was a bit long. So, I decided to do things I guess I should've done a long time ago.

 

If you look at the back of my laptop at the heatsink / fan output vents, you wouldn't see any dust. So I figured dust was not the problem.

 

This time I decided to remove the two fans (F2 and F3: see the 9100 Manual for instructions on this, they're located under the laptop with fairly easy labeling). And I found that 1) the fan blades were covered in dust, and 2) the inside of the heatsink (that blows out) was blocked by dust.

 

I took both fans out and shot some compressed air onto em to clean it off. Then sprayed the can at the inside of the heatsink so the dust blew outward. I then noticed that the laptop drew in the air from the bottom, and blows it out the back. So I cleaned the dust off my desk because the laptop was probably pulling it in and blocking the vents.

 

Then, rather than sitting it in the middle of my desk, I put the front part of the laptop on the back edge of desk (as if it would fall off) and the back part is supported by the bookshelf behind it. I left just enough space in between so the fan vents on the bottom are not on either, and can get some cleaner air. It seems there should be a better way to make sure the laptop is getting good air from the bottom, but I don't have any better solution for it at the moment.

 

After doing all this, my laptop temperature is down from 72 degrees to 56. It seems like it should go a bit lower, but the processor has stopped overheating and is finally running at full speed again. It's amazing how fast my games go now, this is still a great laptop.

 

I might still look into a cooling pad, because I'm sure this problem will arise again in the future, but at least with a pad it'll take a bit longer to get there.

 Thats way to hot mine is running at 35 idle 45-50 under load.

Change thermal paste and use Arctic Silver 5. It takes several heat cycles to see optimal results.I have 3years complete care but I would choose to do all the work myself, Nobody is a touching my lapy.:smileyhappy:

 

Good Luck!