Dell Precision M4400 Fan Issue and first impressions

Just got my m4400 finally. Quad core + uxga/led. The led screen went pink or something when docked without a/c power. It also flickered a bit when I was using it on battery (only happened once).

The fan is way loud (using bios A11). I found the I8kfanGUI program to control the fan (works pretty good) but what's funny is the laptop keeps wanting to turn the fan to full speed, then the tool kicks in and turns it off again. So it spins up, back down, up, back down.

Has anyone found a better way/utility to manage the fan speed?

Laptop works pretty good so far. I had an SSD MLC non-raid drive (gskill) which was cool and all, but useless once you start to do more than one thing at a time, it would freeze/be slow. The 250gig 7.2k is by far better.

I wasn't able to install the dell power management software. Gave me an error saying it wasn't supported on my os...(win xp sp3). To tired to go looking for a version that would work.

 

fan is loud because your system is hardcore. watch out for overheat.

 

haha. I guess it idles hardcore. The fan is just always on high speed. No matter if it's sitting there looking cool.

 

I don't have a quad, but I hardly hear my fan come on at all...so I don't know what's up with that...what are your GPU and CPU temps? I'm using BIOS A11 btw.

EDIT: I've used a notebook cooler from day one...always do, I know that usually helps around 5C on the GPU side.

 

What cooler do you use? I've ordered a Cooler Master Notepal Infinite, and I'm hoping for good results. It's on backorder so I won't know for a few months, but it'd be nice to know what other options work well with the M4400.

 

I'm using the A09 Bios and having great results. Fan runs low, and only spins up high under heavy load.

Make sure to give your unit some decent ventilation.

 

I've got a few...Vantec Lapcool 2, Belkin, a Single Fan Rocketfish blue shirt special , an all aluminium fanless, a rig I picked up at CompUSA cheap and reversed the fans...all the fan models seem to work about the same actually, that's what I've found. I've several laptops around here, and they get spread around amongst my kids, etc...

PS...that cooler master rig should be pretty great from what I've heard..but as long as air is blowing UP at the underside of the laptop, I think you'll find the same results with many of them...so just get the one that strikes your fancy the most

 

Are those cooling pads big enough for a dell with a dock? Are there any that are way quiet? The laptop sits on my desk to my right and I'm trying to keep it quiet. The fan being on feels like it's right on my ear.

which one would you recommend?

From my post on the m4400 owner's lounge...

Thanks.

My temps are at 44C for the cpu and 61C for the gpu. Would that be enough to justify having the fan always on full speed?

It gets cooler when it's not docked and I have it opened up using the laptop keyboard. Maybe that's why it kicks on...being docked.

Right now my temps (idling) are 38c CPU and 53c GPU

Fan still working hard. It JUST quieted it up. Temps are now 38c CPU 52c GPU. Might aswell try leaving it docked with the lcd open...

 

Are you having the fan issue when not docked? Others have reported the fan running too much, but only when docked.

Greg

 

Hey Greg,

Exactly. It only happens when docked. I am using it right now with dual lcds and the laptop is docked, but it's lcd is opened all the way. Will report what happens.