The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Alienware M14x fan trolling me

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Deep Snow, Jul 22, 2011.

  1. Deep Snow

    Deep Snow Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Alright, laptop is nine days old, from what I can tell, runs really well. Solid 150-250fps on Guild Wars with everything maxed and all. Of course while gaming the fan sounds like a jet turbine, this I don't mind.

    What happens though, is that this laptop is never really quiet. During internet browsing or youtube viewing the fan will kick up one or two speeds for anywhere from 10-30 seconds, return to quiet or one up from quiet, then repeat a little further down the road. All I'm asking is, normal?

    I've got the i7 2680 or w/e, 6gb ram, 6205 wireless, no SSD. No viruses as far as microsoft security essentials can tell. I mean the thing runs SC2 preset Ultra, GW maxed and Fraps with only like 50 percent CPU usage, it's a beast. Sony Vegas 10 and Adobe After Effects are typically smooth despite the occasional "graphics driver problem" and the fan makes sense to be on. But I want to make sure there's nothing unusual since it's always humming less than quietly regardless of what I do.

    *Edit - No problem from what I can tell with heating. Ie the common handrest getting warm, haven't felt it get warm even.

    *Also, in my task manager says my physical memory is at 37percent with just some webpages open, normal?
     
    Deep Snow, Jul 22, 2011
    #1
  2. Tsukurimashou

    Tsukurimashou Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    468
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yes for the 37% its windows 7, and for the fans, where is your laptop, on a desktop, on your bed? Be sure the fan vent location are not obstructed by something, or get a laptop cooler, mine is always silent, the fans always kicks when I'm playing or doing a lot of stuff but thats it.
     
    Tsukurimashou, Jul 22, 2011
    #2
  3. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

    Reputations:
    285
    Messages:
    1,477
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    56
    +1 Mine too.
     
    CGSDR, Jul 22, 2011
    #3
  4. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    570
    Messages:
    1,592
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Also depends on what youre doing. Videos, alot of youtube, HD youtube, heavy flash, ect.
     
    Gearsguy, Jul 22, 2011
    #4
  5. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    93
    Messages:
    592
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    This happened to me, and I solved it by closing background processes, especially stopping the realtek program from starting up. There has been a lot of discussions about how it takes up at least 25 percent of the cpu constantly, keeping the fans on in other dell laptops. Once i stopped it in msconfig, my computer doesn't get loud, even when gaming.
     
    niko2021, Jul 22, 2011
    #5
  6. modalsaliency

    modalsaliency Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I was under the impression the Realtek drivers weren't actually bloatware and were needed for proper sound output.
     
    modalsaliency, Jul 22, 2011
    #6
  7. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    93
    Messages:
    592
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    niko2021, Jul 22, 2011
    #7
  8. Deep Snow

    Deep Snow Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Alright, say I just don't think everything is all normal. Seeing as another family members 15inch HP Dv6 with very similar specs is always quiet.

    Would this be something I could use my 1 year basic warrenty for and have somebody check it out?
     
    Deep Snow, Jul 23, 2011
    #8
  9. modalsaliency

    modalsaliency Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    For what it's worth, I have the same problem on my 2-week old M14x. Even at idle (55C core temp, 0 programs running) the fan will rev up and then rev down completely randomly. Running the latest BIOS and it persisted doing this even after I changed the thermal paste, though the fan behavior when throttled (unplugged, running on battery) is as quiet as it should be.

    Still trying to find a solution. It's fairly annoying.
     
    modalsaliency, Jul 23, 2011
    #9
  10. Mazzacre

    Mazzacre Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    You can make your m14x quiet very easily. Try messing with the power controls.

    Here's a guide even though it isn't from here, it explains it well.. How To Make Your M14x Quiet! Without Performing Surgery

    You can also do this in the command center. It has the same outcome but a better look to it during the process.
     
    Mazzacre, Jul 24, 2011
    #10
  11. Panchowska

    Panchowska Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Panchowska, Jul 24, 2011
    #11