Try running SpeedSwitch XP. You can search for it on google. Download it and run it. When you play games, set it to "Max Performance" and it should run steady at 3.06. Whatever you do, be sure to keep some free space under the fan intake so it can cool the computer and routinely clean out the heat sink with compressed air (or blow air into the vent areas on the back right hand side of the computer).
Thanks for that advice,Aznman. When posters say to use compressed air cans to remove dust and other rubbish is there any chance it could damage the fan? My laptop's just come to the end of its 1 year guarantee so I don't want to go and damage it. Thanks again.
Message Edited by Pyromaniac1000 on 12-13-2004 02:42 PM
if you're really concerned, insert something into the fan grill between the blades so that they can't turn when you spray the air -- spraying the air does turn the blades backwards, so i suppose damage could be a concern
My warranty ran out a month ago. I didn't think i would renew it as I've had a dell pc and a laptop in the past and they worked like a dream. If they have moved their customer helpline to India I wouldn't bother anyway. I had a terrible ordeal with an unnamed company who had their customer care based in India. The people had no idea what they were on about. Thanks for the advice about the compressed air cans, a very good idea. Thanks for all your help.
The compressed air shouldn't damage the fans, as far as I know. If you use it as directed, it should blow out air with the assistance of the fans and clear some of the dust off the heatsink. What you also want to do is blow air on the vents to the back and side of the computer (if you're looking at the laptop from behind (where the adaptor plug, video, USB ports are) there should be some vents to the left. Try blowing air there (you might get some dust cloud there). Try doing it when the computer is not on (shouldn't damage the fans if thats what your fear is).
Is your computer already out of warranty or it will soon be out of warranty? If it's not too late, give Dell a call. It would be wise to renew your warranty (who knows what can go wrong... mine had tons of problems just AFTER the warranty ran out). Be prepared to talk to India for a while, so play with a rubix cube or something.
Ok, thanks. I have the exact same spec as you. Does your hl2 run without any problems? Sometimes a wall disappears or you can see straight through things when I play!
If you want to run HL2 (cause I do), just select the power scheme "Always On" and your CPU should stay at 3.06 Ghz. It should then run HL2 fine as long as you have a graphics card with at least 64MB RAM.
that's why I don't use Speedswitch :P. It's just a matter of opinion I guess. I play HL2 on 1024x768 but I turn everything to low, they recomment med for my set up, but I turn it all down for better game play.
I just deleted speedswitchXP to get rid of the speedswitch option. Only problem now is that I can't test the CPU speed. Oh well. I'll just go and play css and have some fun!
I don't know why your hl2 works fine and mine doesn't. what resolution do use? Anyway whenever I change the power to always on and click apply, after waiting for about 10 seconds it goes back to speedswitch control whatever that is.
aznman43
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December 13th, 2004 18:00
Pyromaniac1000
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December 13th, 2004 18:00
Message Edited by Pyromaniac1000 on 12-13-2004 02:42 PM
NemesisDB
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December 13th, 2004 19:00
it may damage the fans but fans are *cheap*
if you're really concerned, insert something into the fan grill between the blades so that they can't turn when you spray the air -- spraying the air does turn the blades backwards, so i suppose damage could be a concern
Pyromaniac1000
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December 13th, 2004 19:00
Pyromaniac1000
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December 13th, 2004 19:00
NemesisDB
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December 13th, 2004 19:00
aznman43
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December 13th, 2004 19:00
The compressed air shouldn't damage the fans, as far as I know. If you use it as directed, it should blow out air with the assistance of the fans and clear some of the dust off the heatsink. What you also want to do is blow air on the vents to the back and side of the computer (if you're looking at the laptop from behind (where the adaptor plug, video, USB ports are) there should be some vents to the left. Try blowing air there (you might get some dust cloud there). Try doing it when the computer is not on (shouldn't damage the fans if thats what your fear is).
Is your computer already out of warranty or it will soon be out of warranty? If it's not too late, give Dell a call. It would be wise to renew your warranty (who knows what can go wrong... mine had tons of problems just AFTER the warranty ran out). Be prepared to talk to India for a while, so play with a rubix cube or something.
Pyromaniac1000
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December 13th, 2004 19:00
Pyromaniac1000
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December 14th, 2004 14:00
Pyromaniac1000
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cobra_2004
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cobra_2004
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cobra_2004
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Pyromaniac1000
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December 14th, 2004 15:00
Pyromaniac1000
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December 14th, 2004 15:00