Dell XPS M1530 overheating problem

Recently, I discovered that while playing video games for a bit my frame rates would all of a sudden go abysmal for about a minute or to (drop by 50-75%) and then return to normal. I finally tracked down the problem and whenever I tested the temperature and CPU speed when the frame rates went crazy, I noticed that the temperature was 85+ degrees C and that the computer had halved the CPU speed to about 1.5ghz (I have a T8300 2.4Ghz) in an attempt to cool it down. Is there any way to fix if my fans have malfunctioned or something? I'm still within a 1 year warranty, so should I just call Dell or is there something I can do about it?

Thanks for all the help.

 

could you post both your GPU and CPU temperatures please ? could be either just the fan, or both the fan and the mainboard.

in any case you should contact dell ( chat with dell tech ) and say your computer is overheating, they should replace the parts.

 

Ok here are my temps after testing it some more:

HD:
Idle- 37 C
Max- 45 C

ACPI:
Idle-52 C
Max- 88C

CPU(just took average of both cores):
Idle-44 C
Max- 84C

GPU:
Idle-58 C
Max- 88C

Whenever the CPU hit around 85 C or the GPU hit around 85C (not sure which one), my CPU would cut in half and my temperatures would drop down to around 70 C, then it would let the processor or GPU run back up to 100% and then the CPU and GPU temps would max out again. I'm sure the temperature might even go higher if it weren't for the computer slowing itself down. Are these temperatures abnormally high? And what does the ACPI temp mean? Thanks

 

Silentswift,
Rather than the dreaded graphics problem, it seems you have a general overheating problem.
Yes, your graphics at 88 is hot (80 should be the limit), but your CPU at 84!
CPU should be around 75 Max.

You should make sure your fans work properly and there is enough airflow around the machine, don't play games on the bed and make sure the intake and exhaust are not blocked at all, even by dust.

If this doesn't help you need to call dell for a new cooler/fan assembly.

 

I believe that refers to the mainboard chipset

 

Ok, well I'm not sure how I should go about making sure my fans work properly. Speedfan can't track the fans because they cant detect them. I do hear them spin faster while doing CPU intensive stuff, and I have a 9 cell battery that does give the bottom of the laptop a bit of elevation. How many fans are there inside this thing? And is it bad if the only cool area under my laptop is the fan area? Shouldn't it be blowing warm air not cool air? The area surrounding that fan opening gets really warm too.

 

I would recommend a laptop cooler. For extensive gaming the CPU will be taxed hard to keep up with the game requirements and this includes the GPU.

 

I was considering buying one, but before a few weeks ago, I never had this problem, and I've had this laptop for almost 6 months now. I have a feeling something might be malfunctioning somewhere.

 

Forget about coolers for the moment, they should not be mentioned in this thread. You should have a laptop that cools effectively on its own in the first place. If you don't, it should be up to Dell to fix it.

Clean the fan and air vents of dust (particularly the rear exhaust vent) and see if that fixes your problem.

If it doesnt, call Dell.

 

looking at the difference between your CPU and GPU temperatures i would say that its your cooling assembly and fan, if you put your hand on the bottom vent you will feel like if its cool, but thats actually the air rushing into the fan, the one that MUST be hot is the air blowing out from the back of the laptop, if its not BURNING HOT while stressing, then the cooling coil is not making proper contact with the CPU-GPU, or there is too much dust inside, try blowing air into the vents ( i say this from experience, the metal HDMI connector actually burnt my finger when i was gaming... so it will get hot, but my fan does a good job at cooling my GPU and CPU )

SOLUTION: Tell Dell! this is a hardware problem that will only be solved if dell changes your cooling assembly and probably your motherboard ( just tell them you are having overheating issues and they should replace both)

Cheers and good luck

 

You should also make sure that you are on the most recent bios (available on Dell website) before ringing them, because their support techs just work off a script and that will be one of the first things they insist you do. It will save time to just do it yourself rather than do it while on the phone to them.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I bought a can of compressed air and just hosed down every vent I found, and WOW that made a huge difference. My load CPU temps are down to no more then 70 degrees C, and my GPU peaks at around 75 degrees C. I simply cannot believe that it made such a big difference, I didn't even notice that much dust move around... It's kinda odd though, when I run 3dmark all the CPU tests just barely turn my fan on, and when I run GPU tests the fan turns to max speed. This is normal right? Or could there still be a GPU problem?

 

I have this same problem. I do not care to go through the trouble of ringing Dell to try and get it fixed, but i found slightly undervolting the CPU has fixed the down clocking issue.

Temps are still highish but don't go out of control or anything.

 

There is nothing wrong with the fans coming on even on high. That's how hot air is pushed out of the laptop and keeps your temps under control.

 

I had this overheating problem, where as soon as I started a graphics-intensive game the gpu would quickly heat up above 90 degrees C even though the fan was running at full speed, and eventually the laptop would shut off without warning.

I searched around, came to this forum and others, and tried everything that was suggested: checking that the air vents were clear, checking the fan/cooling assembly for dust, updating system BIOS and graphics card drivers. No effect.

I'm still under warranty, so I called Dell, explained everything to the XPS technician, and he ordered me a new motherboard/graphics card and cooling assembly. The tech just installed it, and the problem appears to be solved. Thanks Dell