Accually, symptoms of overheating may not happen often to non-power users. I however leave my laptop on 24/7. Within 2 months there was an indication of heat problems. By the time I sent it in, it was idling in the upper 50s. When using the cpu it would hit 73 C then it would throttle the speed. It would sometimes shutdown due to overheating when i'm playing mp3s....I own an Inspiron 5150 btw...

Jared 123-

I purchased a nvidia 5200 fx 64mb from dell spare parts and I think it was like 105 with shipping. I wish I had done some more homework cause I would have gotten the ati 9000 (m9) 64mb. It sounds like you have the M9- so I wouldnt swap.

To All-

I kinda think this could have been a non-heat issue.. the problems started in idle processes with the fan working and all. Restarts happened at random times- there were times when I had the computer on for maybe 3 mins and *restart* (the computer had been off for hours). I think the MB had issues and I hope that maybe the problems have been fixed via new parts/engineering.

Why do you say you would rather have the ATI m9? As far as I can tell, the nVidia card is quicker. Was it overheating issues or something?

I hope that my computer doesn't start shutting down. I've got fangui running whenever I use the system. In about a month or so, when my english class starts, I'm gonna need this thing for a little more than 2-3 hours a day. I will be doing research and drafting with it. I could easily push 5-6 hours/day. (I don't think that's enough though to invoke the kinds of problems you guys are having.)

Good luck with your system.

From the research I have done the frame rates on the M9 are quicker yet the 5200 can be overclocked a bit. I will experiment when I get my computer back.

Dell did e-mail me to say that the depot "supposedly" recieved a shipment of the correct processors so hopefully by next week I will have my computer.

I know this is way off topic, but it is kind of interesting....

Here is a link to a whole set of benchmarks run by tomshardware.com. They were using the desktop version of both chips, but you will find in reviews of the 5200 go chip and ati9000 mobility chip, nearly an identical chip is used in the pc version and the mobile version. Don't use 5200 FX Ultra benchmark, to compare to the ATI 9000, use the regular 5200 FX. You will see that in UT2003, Quake 3 Arena, and the 3DMark tests that almost all the time the 5200 either barely beat the 9000, or creamed it. Sometimes, the ATI9000 card couldn't even run some of the tests. It is my opinion that between us, you have the superior video card. :)

http://www.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030714/vga_card_guide-11.html#test_setup

Message Edited by Jared123 on 01-22-2004 03:55 PM

Today is January 28, 2004 and the dell repair center called...... My new CPU is installed and my computer was shipped out, will reach my house tommorrow... Only catch is that he called to tell me they forgot to add THERMAL PASTE!!!!!!!!!! Lucky for my though the repair center (memphis) is only about 20mins from the depot and on the guy's way home from work- so he will stop by on his way home tommorrow and slap the paste on... then my computer can get shipped to me at school. So It will be a grand total of about 9 weeks w/o a computer... so much for the 1 week I was first told....

Once I get the computer back I will toy with the video card settings and also fan settings to get the fans on earlier and keep the thing cool. I have a desktop at my house that Is majorly overclocked and the fans are set on high from startup... stays cool.. has been working flawlessly for a few years so I may just have a noisy laptop.... I also may fiddle with the processor speed if I can keep the temps at 60 or below  IT CAN BE DONE!

Wow...
Who in the world would ever put in any processor these days without thermal paste? That is beyond belief. At least they called to tell you before you turned it on for the initial smoke-test. Best of luck to you with your machine. I love mine and haven't had any problems except a bad touchpad. (5150)
I've had it since July and it runs about 5-6 hours a day.

Tim

i have the same problem, and i tried to reformat, and my  computer shuts off everytime i boot off the windows cd and it asks me if i wanna repair windows or do a fresh install.....

Latest and greatest- Dell is still in the doghouse. My computer did show up on friday (as told) and the guy did come out and put on the paste... Well today is late sat (actually early sunday) and I have the computer. The big problem is that I HAVE NO BATTERY! I dont mean it isnt charged or something- THERE IS A HOLE IN THE SIDE! I called dell and they are sending another but I am really mad STILL. At first I thought they removed my hard drive so I guess it could be worse. I just dont understand how swapping out a processor takes over a month and involves removing a battery! Can someone give me an e-mail or something to complain to? I feel I have been put through the ringer and deserve something back in return! (maybe a discount on a M9).. I have had the computer in my possession only half the time I have owned it.

My 5150 was picked up yesterday by Airborne Express for the same problem.  I was told 5-10 business days but after reading this I have a feeling that might now be true.  :(

I'm sad to note that my computer has just started acting up this way.  If I run any 3D applications, they'll play for a while, and then all of a sudden pffft...the thing just shuts itself off.  It's really frustrating.  Do you think I really should send it back in to Dell?

 

P4 3.06 GHz

512 RAM

40GB HD

i suggest that you buy a can of compressed air and blow out the dirt in the vents.

I would almost be willing to trade you video cards.... except I'm wondering why you don't like the nVidia 5200? Is it just slow? (What game are you playing that is slow?)

I need more FPS.... Jared check your Private message folder...