Studio 1558 fan problem

Greetings and Happy Thanksgiving!

No, I didn't get the illuminated keyboard.  I couldn't justify it because these old eyes need lots of light all the time.  I couldn't see myself on my computer with low light, so I didn't get it.  Were I younger and busy, I would have gotten that feature.

At any rate, I DID opt to extend the warranty on this new laptop.  I've never done that with a Dell laptop, but having read about potential problems, I decided it would be a comfort to have backup like that.

I'm disabled (think I mentioned that) and my laptop is a partial window to the world for me.  I do all of my shopping online, with the exception of groceries!  I hate shopping malls anyway.

Best Regards,

SJB

Well, the Dell arrived this afternoon and so far, the news is all good! One of the first things I did was to install a core temp gadget, and this thing is running no higher than 115* F. -- briefly -- more like 95-110 most of the time. That's cooler than my old Inspiron 6000 normally runs. MozBackup worked flawlessly to transfer all my profile infomation for Firefox and Thinderbird, as well as all of the e-mails & account settings for the latter. I'm feeling a bit relieved!

SANJE17,

I don't know how you kept your cool as much and for as long as you did.  I've had moments for years, when an OS system from MS has pushed me dangerously close to throwing my laptop through a window.  But then I'd have to replace the window.

With my 1558 Studio core i3, I've been spared all problems, with the exception of the loud fan noise.  At one point, without any hesitation, Dell offerred to send me an exact replacement machine.  After reading all the reviews online about the new, faster Intel processors, I decided to quit while I was ahead.  Everything is fine with my 1558, with the exception of fan noise.  I've almost become totally used to it.  At least it seems to be keeping the system cool.  The bottom of the machine is cool to the touch.  However, I'm using an Aviator cooling "rack" which I hightly recommend.  It comes apart easilly for storage in your computer bag and it's designed for working on your laptop while on a plane.  It raises the back of the laptop 4" and the front 2".  I think that helps in my case.  The air blown out by the fan is cool too. 

I've never had a problem with shutting down.  That's one reason I decided to keep this 1558.  As I said, if it weren't for the fan noise, I'd rate it five stars.  Love the keyboard, the light weight, and it is fast.  I had more of an overheating problem with my 1505 (?) Inspiron.  That computer never malfunctioned and was always quiet.  But I had to keep it on a chill pad.

So breathe a sigh of relief, congratulate yourself for your tenacity, and let me wish you the best of luck with your new machine.  Thanks for updating the rest of us.  :emotion-30:

Hai every one,

I bought my dell studio 1558 about 3 months back and it worked very well for 3 months and now this laptop gets switched off after using it for 20 to 30 minutes.

I have this laptop in india i have originally purchased it in USA .will they replace me the laptop in india .As i donot have any global warranty .If any knows about this please mail me at  <ADMIN NOTE: Email id removed per privacy policy>

I'm having the same problems with my Studio 1558.  It's running just fine, then suddenly shuts down.  I've updated all the drivers.  This seems to happen when watching a video on the iTunes (for Windows) application while doing other things.  I'm using AVG virus checker- and there are CPU hogging issues with AVG too.  The task manager shows 100% usage of all CPUs (4 in my case).  I think it may be heat related.  I've installed RealTemp software to watch my temperature in real time.  My hunch is that certain processes, like heavy use of the USB, WiFi and ethernet at the same time creates too much heat in the vicinity of the CPU.  

My recommendation is to install a temperature manager and see if this problem reliable occurs when the temperature is too high.  If that is that case, there has to be some reliable way of cooling the CPU.  I guess that would mean one of those strap-on CPU coolers for laptops.  But just cause they sell these CPU coolers doesn't mean it will help much with your laptop.  You'll need to somehow determine if it's really moving more air through the parts of the laptop that need it.  I have a handheld windspeed measurement instrument.  I guess I could get a simple reading to putting it near the output vent.  

Solution for problem: make dell replace the computer, they dont sell the studio models anymore because they know there is an issue with them. they cannot cool themselves. i got a brand new XPS 15 2 months ago and have had no trouble. the studio lappy's need re-engineering and have been taken out of their catalogs i get in the mail. clue #1 . make them replace it . i did .

I ordered and got my Studio1558 back in October 2010.  It worked just fine for about 8 weeks.  Then the LOUD fan started running almost all the time, even when the machine was cool.  The next problem came when I tried to watch ANY streaming video online or off-line.  Then it started shutting itself down for no apparent reason. 

Long story short, I spent many, many hours talking to tech support.  I sent my machine back to Dell's Repair Depot twice, only to have it returned in even worse shape.  At no time did Dell offer an upgrade or admit to a problem.  My 1558 i3, 500gb, 4gb RAM, was a lemon.  Finally I called for the last time, and I was offerred a "replacement."  I was having trouble understanding the tech person I was speaking to (language accent problem) so I didn't even bother to ask if I would be getting an upgrade, another 1558 that was brand new, or a refurbished machine.  I got the latter - refurbished Studio 1558.  I hope I don't jinx myself even mentioning the refurbished 1558.  So far, the replacement/refurbished is running well.  I am no expert on computers, but the fan on this refurbished machine has the same tech specs, and the only difference seems to be that the refurbished one has a fan that is timed to kick in every so many seconds.  I've never taken time to count the seconds, but the quieter fan comes on at regular and specific times.  Thus far, I can do what I SHOULD be able to do with any laptop - use it.

In the meantime, during the midst of the Studio 1558 nightmare (I have bought a grand total of 7 Dell laptops.  Out of the 7, in all those years, I NEVER had to contact tech support and never, ever had a problem with a Dell.) I had to have a working laptop.  I bought a brand new Dell Inspiron 15R, core i3, 4 gb RAM, 500 gb hard drive.  It has run flawlessly.  It will be a keeper.  The only thing I don't like about the Inspiron 15R is that the keyboard has a full numeric pad.  That means I must shift my hands and fingers to the left to type.  I keep accidentally touching the touchpad while typing, and that is a real nuisance. 

If I am going to be writing a paper or using WORD extensively, I use the Studio 1558, since it has the best keyboard.

I won't give up on Dell, but I hope I never have to deal with a problem like that again.  I should have just ordered the Inspiron 15R in the first place.  But the catalog I had received from Dell last fall really made the Studio 1558 sound like THE laptop to buy.

It will be interesting to find out if the refurbished Studio 1558 lasts without failing at some point.  If it does, at least I have the Inspiron as a fall back machine.  By the way, the fan on the new Inspiron 1558 runs so quietly I have to listen for it.  It runs as a fan should run on a laptop.  And the 15R has the same tech specs as the 1558.  Go figure.

Therefore what should we do ?...

so if you have i3 or i5 or i7 the problem is the same .. . dell says nonesenses  that i7 only needs cool. ..  

this is dell's failure !!   

wrong design of cooling system !! ...

they should tested them before selling us .!! ...

:emotion-39::emotion-39::emotion-39:

I've had my Dell Studio 1558 (i7 720 1.6Ghz, 4GB mem, 320GB disk) a year now, the battery needed replacing after 9 months due to the fans constantly running at full speed making this the loudest laptop in the world.

I went to China for a month in Decemeber, while I was there I called Tech support and they agreed they would send a new battery, but I had to move my warranty out to China, filled in the form and got a reply 2 months later when I was back in the UK to say it was complete, so then I had to transfer warranty back to the UK to get anyone to speak to me about the overheating, constant fan, rubbish battery life and constant reboots when doing anything with videos. Now they can't find my laptop on their system so can't talk to me. Was given the advice to speak to tech support in China to see if they could help. Great work Dell, bottom of the class for customer service.

I replaced the HDD with a larger disk and obviously a total rebuild, with all latest drivers and BIOS upgrades, but still same issues. Poor design of cooling, apparently bad choice of chipset combinations make the 1558 a complete disaster.

I spent over £40,000 with Dell last year, and can't get them to replace my useless laptop. I now have no faith in Dell products and will close my account with them. It's a shame, they have very competitive pricing at times, but I can't run a business the way they do, so why should I carry on with such poor support.

I now fancy a HP Elitebook or the massive Acer Aspire 8934G, but absolutely anything is an upgrade to this piece rubbish.

Bye Dell

Back in November, I posted that I had just bought a Studio 1558 which exhibited none of the problems that many of you have had. Well, it's still running flawlessly five months later. It consistently stays fairly cool under normal use. The fan does cycle up & down a lot more than the fan in my old Inspiron 6000 did, but it never races unless I'm really taxing the CPU, e.g., by processing large files in Photoshop, etc. Maybe it's because it had been returned by someone & fixed prior my buying it from the Dell Outlet, but this laptop has been great.

I'm not posting this to rub it in or to refute anything the rest of you are saying -- it's just that, the more I read this thread, the more I realize how lucky I was to get a good one! I hope you're all able to get satisfaction from Dell!

I own a Dell Studio 1555, and have researched this problem, finding some interesting stuff online.

If you Google combinations of: Dell Studio 15, 1555, 1557, overheating, cooling, copper shim,    etc...  you'll find that a great number of people have had problems with the cooling on this Studio 15 design. Mine is fine, unless I really push it (which is what I need it for, even though it's now several years old.).

See http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18219777  is one example

There are DIY solutions that involve installing copper shims one the GPU and GPU memory, to help transfer heat.

My suggestion in particular is to read any entries that deal with your specific Studio 15 model, as some of the internal manufacturing fit and dimentions will

surely have changed, as they've dropped in multiple CPUs, Chipset, graphics cards, etc.

This looks like the gold mine of stuff, for 1558 owners:  http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-inspiron-dell-studio/468806-dell-studio-15-1558-thread.html

Good luck.

Hello to everyone who reads this,

In my opinion you are all very lucky not to be in a sanctioned country like mine.You all have Dell near you and you can contact it directly and they should help you and if needed change the product you have bought but what about me.I'm having a Studio 1558 too.At first it worked convincingly fine but now pfff.

I need to keep my laptop on even for weeks but as you all know the rear fan can't make the system cool enough and as it is Core i7 1st Generation it overheats as it is an engine or nuclear reactor or something (of course I have bought a cool pad too).I'm from a country I don't dare to say its name.maybe some of you can guess where it is.just know this that we don't have any real Trusted retail Center of any Brand and we have to buy the products from a reseller Company that sells the products with any price it dares.for example I should by something like Dell inspiron Duo which is 600$ with a price of 1000$.Isn't that marvelous ha?It's like heaven in here :D

Then tell me guys!!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO??????!!!!!