@voss wrote:
After a few minutes, especially when watching video, the fan comes on, and, at the same time, the computer slows way down. Videos won't play, and everything gets slower and slower. The fan never goes off, and the machine starts to freeze up. The slow-down starts when the fan comes on. What is wrong, and what can I do?
Thanks
Overheating is happening. The computer slows itself down to protect from being fried.
What can you do/
Regularly shoot compressed air into the vents of the notebook.
If that has no effect, someone will have to disassemble it and clean the dust off the chip and everywhere else. Someone may have to reapply thermal grease to the chip.
If it is under warranty, Dell will fix it. If not, someone will have to.
Check that both the fans are working. Like Chris, I'd certainly recommend using i8kfangui, downloadable from here:
http://www.diefer.de/i8kfan/
The 8100 radiator grille is very easy to clean with canned air and a small paintbrush -- immediately accessible once you've removed the hinge cover, instructions here:
Otherwise, as John says, it does sound as though the thermal interface between the CPU and the heatsink needs attention. After a few years, the special thermal grease degrades and becomes less effective at transferring heat. You can (get someone to) replace the grease-covered foil pad which was originally fitted -- you don't need a new pad as such. Use Arctic Silver 5 or similar.
You might also check whether you have a rogue process causing the CPU to run at 100% all the time. On my 8100 I have found that the Dell AccessDirect applet sometimes runs away like this. If so, uninstall/reinstall it. (It's the one that makes the video/CD playback buttons work.) AccessDirect appears in Task Manager as 'dadapp' and 'dadtray' -- in normal operation they should be using 0% CPU time.
Thanks for the replies. Both fans turn when I blow on them, but when the computer starts heating up, only the right one comes on, and everything starts slowing down. Does that indicate anything? I cleaned the fan area with compressed air.
Test the fans with the Diags, and also if it gets hot enough to shut down, they should both be on. There was also an issue with a bad Bios version, it may be worth a look. [ there was an error in fan control ] Is the air hot that comes out the back ?
The resource CD is bootable, and has the full Diags on it. You can also download them, and use a CD to boot them, or make a set of 5 floppies. The built in Diags, are in a hidden partition, with some in Bios. Not sure about your model, but worth a try.
You need to boot from the Drivers & Utilities CD -- there's no hidden diags partition on the 8100. If only one fan is coming on at Dell's (rather high) heat setting, it won't provide enough cooling to reduce the CPU temp. Your choppy video etc performance would then probably be caused by Windows throttling back the CPU to reduce heat output (stop-clock throttling, not Intel SpeedStep).
So do run the diags, but it seems pretty likely that the solution is to get the fans replaced. The part is widely available for around $30-$40, but unless you're happy taking your 8100 to pieces almost completely, changing them is a job for a computer store.
Suggest that i8kfangui would still be a good idea once the new fans are in. Dell's notion of what constitutes a good running temperature for an 8100 is about 20C higher than mine....
Thanks again, for the replies. When the machine is turned off, both fans turn easily, when you blow on them. When the machine is running, should both fans always come on at the same time? Until I get this repaired, is there a specific product that I can use to keep the machine cool? I have heard there is a fan that works under the computer.
Because the fans are not seized, doesnt mean they work. You may be able to set it to run slow [ speedstep ] to keep it cool. You will have to get air passing through the heatsink to keep it cool.
jocase
651 Posts
0
July 15th, 2006 00:00
Overheating is happening. The computer slows itself down to protect from being fried.
What can you do/
Regularly shoot compressed air into the vents of the notebook.
If that has no effect, someone will have to disassemble it and clean the dust off the chip and everywhere else. Someone may have to reapply thermal grease to the chip.
If it is under warranty, Dell will fix it. If not, someone will have to.
AussieChris
4.2K Posts
0
July 15th, 2006 08:00
Hi,
It may be worth trying I8KFangui. If the CPU is faulty, it may be running hot and causing the problem.
Regards Chris
rwm32
557 Posts
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July 15th, 2006 08:00
voss
2 Intern
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147 Posts
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July 15th, 2006 22:00
AussieChris
4.2K Posts
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July 15th, 2006 22:00
Hi,
Test the fans with the Diags, and also if it gets hot enough to shut down, they should both be on. There was also an issue with a bad Bios version, it may be worth a look. [ there was an error in fan control ] Is the air hot that comes out the back ?
Regards Chris
voss
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147 Posts
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July 16th, 2006 01:00
jocase
651 Posts
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July 16th, 2006 03:00
During bootup, press F12
AussieChris
4.2K Posts
0
July 16th, 2006 08:00
Hi,
The resource CD is bootable, and has the full Diags on it. You can also download them, and use a CD to boot them, or make a set of 5 floppies. The built in Diags, are in a hidden partition, with some in Bios. Not sure about your model, but worth a try.
Regards Chris
rwm32
557 Posts
0
July 16th, 2006 16:00
You need to boot from the Drivers & Utilities CD -- there's no hidden diags partition on the 8100. If only one fan is coming on at Dell's (rather high) heat setting, it won't provide enough cooling to reduce the CPU temp. Your choppy video etc performance would then probably be caused by Windows throttling back the CPU to reduce heat output (stop-clock throttling, not Intel SpeedStep).
So do run the diags, but it seems pretty likely that the solution is to get the fans replaced. The part is widely available for around $30-$40, but unless you're happy taking your 8100 to pieces almost completely, changing them is a job for a computer store.
Suggest that i8kfangui would still be a good idea once the new fans are in. Dell's notion of what constitutes a good running temperature for an 8100 is about 20C higher than mine....
Message Edited by rwm32 on 07-16-200606:37 PM
voss
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147 Posts
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July 16th, 2006 20:00
boppo
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4.4K Posts
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July 16th, 2006 22:00
boppo
2 Intern
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4.4K Posts
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July 16th, 2006 23:00
http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=971&prevaction=category&previd=141&prevstart=15
AussieChris
4.2K Posts
0
July 17th, 2006 00:00
Hi,
Because the fans are not seized, doesnt mean they work. You may be able to set it to run slow [ speedstep ] to keep it cool. You will have to get air passing through the heatsink to keep it cool.
Regards Chris