M4400 Downclocks :(

Hi all. Just got in a M4400 for a client and it looks like it will go back.

It has the nvidia 770 and a X9100 3.06ghz chip and it downclocks. It seems the fan is not powerful enough to cool the nvidia chip at full speed.

Not even overclocking, either.

Gets up to 97 degrees C, and then throttles the card back to cool it off. Fans are running at 100%. If you're considering this system, and want a X9100, don't plan on too much 3D. I get downclocks in minutes in Crysis.

I have tried both Dell and LaptopVideo2Go drivers with no difference.

This is a shame really, as this is a really nice, well made laptop. The LED screen is fantastic. But downclocking indicates the cooling system is not up to the task and so this system will be going back.

N

 

You confirm what I thought,looking at the cooling on my own one and how the air from the fan first passes through the cpu heatsink and then through the GPU heatsink....hotter cpu = hotter air trying to cool the GPU.....no doubt will be even worse with the FX 1700m.

What temps does the X9100 get up to?

 

I wonder if they have any room to bump the top speed of that fan up. Its right on the edge of being OK, but not quite. I wonder if a BIOS update would be able to help.

Whats a good, simple, free tool to monitor CPU temps? I tried GPU-Z, CPU-Z and ntune, and none show the CPU temps.

N

 

Have you considered undervolting?

 

Dell Support wants me to get the system exchanged, so I'm going to do that. Just for reference, SpeedyMods, how would I undervolt this?

N

 

This is important. Please keep us up to date.

I am planning on getting a X9300 quad core with 8GB RAM and 4GB Turbo Memory. So far M4400, M6400 and 8730W are possibilities.

Since the X9300 uses 1W more power than the X9100 they are likely to have similar heat problems.

How loud is your M4400 with the fan on high?

Could you summarize load types that result in no fan, low fan, medium fan, high fan?

The W700 is off my list as it is too big and too heavy (just over 12 lbs with adapter) and possible fan noise issue.

Your post could knock the M4400 off my list which was at the top as it is fast and light. Although I have heat and fan noise concerns with X9300 quad, 8GB RAM, 4GB Turbo Memory, 7200 rpm HD in a 15.4" case.

Thanks.

 

I use I8kfangui,which is ok as long as you offset the GPU temps to match Ntune,or I think everest hardware monitor has a free trial version......I8kfangui gives the peak temps which is handy though.

Can you still find the max cpu temp for me,before you return it ?

 

Yeah, I'll see if I can figure out the CPU temp for you. They tell me I should have the replacement one week from today. I'll be sure to post an update when I get it. Interestingly, I have an M6400 on order as well, so if these systems overlap, I'll be able to do some nice comparisons.

About the noise, I'm not qualified to judge noise as I'm hard of hearing, but I did not notice anything abnormally loud.

Its a great system - I'm hoping I got a bad unit. As soon as I mentioned overheating, the tech was like, get it exchanged. I asked him if the combo of x9100 and 770 could be doing it and he said the overheating could be caused by anything and it was better to exchange it. That sounds to me like they know the problem exists in some units, so I'm optimistic the new one will be better.

N

 

There is a huge topic called the "Undervolting Thread" in the Hardware forum. There are detailed instructions on how to undervolt there.

I'm hoping to get mine done this weekend.

Greg

 

Anybody know if the M6400 has a similar overheating issue, especially since it contains the more power hungry FX 2700/3700m GPU?

Or is the M6400's cooling system significantly more capable?