Dell Studio 1537 - Fan Question

UPDATE: Not a fan issue as I originally thought, see my update below. HDD Noise issue.

Hello everyone. I am new to the NotebookReview forums, and new to Dell's as well. I just purchased a Dell Studio 1537 from BB over the weekend, and I have to say, I really like it. I am using it right now. Actually, this is my second Studio 15... the first one had a flicker/wave issue with the screen (when the brightness was turned down), so it went back for an exchange.

I had a question about the fan on this laptop. Is it supposed to run at a slow speed, all the time? I have been browsing the forum, and I've seen posts that go both ways... some people say it is, some people say it isnt. It not really loud, per se, but in a quiet room, it is noticeable. Since I am still within my 14 day return/exchange window with BB, I'm looking it over with a fine-tooth comb to make sure I've received a good machine. So... I just thought I'd ask.

So far this unit hasnt experienced the issue with the media buttons that I've been reading about.. although the first one with the screen flicker *did* experience the media button issue right out of the box.

OH, btw, CPU temperature is sitting at 38c right now... just browsing the web.

Thanks!
~Aryq~

 

The 1537 I had never even turned on the fan. I didn't stress it out though, we're talking just basic web browsing, word processing, and text editing. When the hard drive parked itself and turned off to save power the entire computer was dead silent. I only had it for about a week though. The specs from another post of mine were as follows:

Intel Dual Core T3400 2.16 ghz
Intel 4500 Graphics Card
Dell 1510 Wireless a/g/n Card (Broadcom)
4 Gigs Ram
250 Gig HD
DVD Recorder Slot Drive
WLED 1280 x 800 Screen
IDT Integrated Sound
6 Cell Battery

 

This is what I was afraid of. I'd hate to think that I got a *second* machine with an issue right out of the box... It bothers me, thats why I was wanting to solicit opinions. I'm not "stressing" the system in any way, just sitting here in Firefox.

:grumblesigh:

I chatted with Dell technical support just now... and received a conflicting answer: I reported the fan was running all the time. I was told to update the bios, that would fix "the issue" (his words, not mine). I said that I had already updated the bios, and was THEN told... oh, well its normal behavior for the system fan to run all the time.

Hrm.
What to do...
What to do...
~Aryq~

 

Eh, is your system of the same configuration as Tubby's? If you've got a fattier CPU or the discrete graphics solution, you're going to be getting more heat and thus more fan activity. Your BIOS versions may also differ; at the very least the M4400 has different thermal tables depending on your BIOS version.

I wouldn't worry too much unless you're actually have some sort of problem... nonetheless, if you're not satisfied, you should return it anyways. I couldn't stand having a system run its fan all the time, even if it was normal.

 

The off-the-shelf ones from Best Buy have the mobile Core 2 Duo 2.0ghz (6400) processor in them. 320gb HDD. Integrated graphics... and rest of the specs look to be about the same.

I got to listening to the machine a bit closer tonight, and I now actually dont think its the fan thats making the noise I'm hearing. Maybe the hard drive? It actually sounds like its coming from closer to the FRONT of the machine, not the rear. Unless, are there two fans in these laptops? I dont actually feel any air movement whatsoever...

Yeah, okay... Its not the CPU fan... I just loaded up Hulu in the background, and the CPU fan clearly came on... could feel lots of airflow out the back of the laptop. Could it be the hard drive making a low fan-like whirring sound constantly?

I'm beyond frustrated, my laptop shopping experience has been a nightmare. This is my second Studio 15, and my third laptop overall. All three have had issues.

 

Yeah, confirmed...... its the hard drive. Turned it off, unplugged it, booted it back up... machine is silent. So I've got a super noisy Hitachi hard drive. Great.

~Aryq~

 

Yeah if the noise is coming from the front it's the hard drive. If I remember correctly the drive was underneath the front left palmrest. The fan is in the back left.

 

Ya my first harddrive (my orginal for the 1537 was noisy) and my second is noisy. Is anyone elses noisy. Its annoying me and is there any fixes?

 

The first 1537 I received, was silent. No drive noise. Just the annoying flicker in the screen. It was returned for...

The second 1537 I received, the screen was fine, but the drive is LOUD. Constant "whirrr" sound, like a CPU fan. Returned for....

The third 1537 exhibits the same symptoms as the second. Its going back. I'll find a different model/brand. The noise is very annoying and "grating" to me. My 4yo Acer Aspire is silent. My the hard drive in my roommates Latitude is silent as well.

~Aryq~

 

In the BIOS, you can set the hard drive to operate in quiet mode, which costs a bit of speed, but makes the hard drive run much quieter.

I've been running mine on full power mode since I got it, and I don't notice any excessive noise. But if it does bother you, try the noise-reduction BIOS feature.

 

I've just looked through the BIOS and do not see this option. Can you tell me (us) where we might find it? I wouldn't mind at least giving it a try.

Thanks in advance...
--Eric

 

bought a dell 17inch studio, bought without seeing it had good reviews, fan is on and off constantly really annoying, my sony was totally silent unless really hard used. sent back twice to get looked at would not give me refund, got back twice exactly same, finally told this is normal for this machine. not really happy stuck with it

 

It's called HDD Acoustic Mode or something to that effect, as I recall...let me reboot quickly and tell you more precisely.

EDIT - yep, that's what it was called. I can't exactly get you a screenshot of my BIOS, but I took a picture of it on my display. In the list of categories on the left, open the "Performance" category, and "HDD Acoustic Mode" is one of the options there. The three settings you can change it to are Bypass (the default setting), Quiet, and Performance, which should be pretty self-explanatory.

 

Woah... That is not what my BIOS looks like at all. *confused*

Update: Mine uses PhoenixBIOS... I have the 1537. I have very few options in mine. Peculiar.

 

I have exactly the sam BIOS as Mastershroom's

 

Interesting. I wonder if the Studio 15's that are sold at Best Buy have a different motherboard and/or BIOS configuration than ones purchased directly Dell.

(Mine is a BB pre-configured unit, btw). I'm just guessing at this point.

--Eric

 

yea, the bios mastershroom showed is from dell 1720 not studio 1737.
studio 1737 has bios page exactly like a hp's.
besides, hdd acounstic mode doesnt do a thing for reducing hd noise.
changes setting to quiet mode is useless.

 

No, mine is a Studio 1535.

Also wrong. I don't think my hard drive is loud in Performance mode to begin with, but I can still hear the difference when I enable Quiet mode.

 

Mastershroom is right.

 

You should try updating the BIOS. What version do you have currently?

The latest BIOS for the 1537 is A08, which was just released at the end of February. Here's the link to download it on Dell's support page:

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=1&fileid=298547

It may very well give you some of these options that you're currently missing. Best Buy models are no different from ones you order from Dell, except that you only have so many options to choose from, whereas on the Dell site you can customize everything.

 

The machine came with A07... and one of the first things I did was update it to A08.

Peculiar...
--Eric

 

That is curious. I have a 1535, and the BIOS for that is only A06, and it was released December of last year. :/

 

Even though it'll likely cost me nearly $100 in a restocking fee, I'm seriously thinking about just returning this laptop. I'm now also having the "media keys" issue that so many others with Studio's are having (stuck eject button on cold boot). This is beyond ridiculous. This is my first real experience with a Dell machine, and it has not been a good one AT ALL.

Disappointing...
--Eric

 

That's a very easy fix. Just shut everything down, take out the battery and unplug the laptop from AC power, and open it and press the power button as though you were going to turn it on. Just hold the power button for 10 seconds or so, and put the battery back in or plug it in. It's not a permanent fix, but it will last a few boots. Just out of habit, I do this every time I shut down anyway.

If you want a more permanent solution, you could remove the media panel and reroute the ribbon cable that connects it to the motherboard, or cover it with some foam tape.

 

What you described is a "workaround", not a "fix". Its not really an acceptable solution.

Epic Fail, Dell...
--Eric

 

If you don't want to pay the restocking fee for completely returning the notebook, talk to Dell support about the issue, and they should send you a replacement media panel. It's a very easy replacement, but if you're not comfortable with it, you can always have Dell do it for you.

 

Are new media panels a sure-fire fix though? From my googling, it appears that the results have been mixed with the new media panels. Some reports of it fixing the issue, some reports of it not. I guess I'm afraid that if I ask Dell to send me a new panel, by the time it gets to me, I'll be beyond my return period ... and then if the new media panel does NOT fix the issue, I'd be stuck.

I'm perfectly comfortable working inside computers, so installing the new one wouldn't be a problem whatsoever for me. Anyway, I'm still contemplating on it for now... not sure what I'll decide to do just yet.

I'm gonna take a phone pic of my BIOS here in a little bit, just to show ya what the one I have looks like. Its really weird that they are so different. Peculiar, as I say

Thanks for your insight and assistance...
--Eric

 

Why curious?
Let just say the BIOS for 1535 is good.
Some minor issues, but nothing serious for fix.
I guess 1537 has more issues and they improve BIOS with every fix.1537 is new model and have more flaws in software (includ. BIOS for now)
I'm update fan too, but for example my fathers HP 9420 is with BIOS from 2006, HP has new BIOS, but you know the rule "if ain't break, don't touch it"

Sorry my English.

 

I just got a 1537 replacement for a 1535. I can attest that the 1537 runs cooler and more quietly. Unfortunately, the stuck eject issue I originally had on my old system is present on this replacement one.

You would think they'd send a replacement that fixes the original issue I contacted them about...

 

Try to update your DVD with new firmware.
Dell has realized new firmwares for two
For HLDS GA10N 12.7mm SATA Slotload 8X DVDRW:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=32&fileid=292951

For OPTIARC BC-5600S 12.7mm SATA Slotload BD-Combo:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=32&fileid=297855

I personally have Optiarc_DVD+-RW_AD-7640S________________HD14____
And my only problem is it freezing the sound if sound is played,during the ejection (eject operation).
I guess it is some type of protection or will will be fixed in some next BIOS.

 

I too have the Optiarc 7640S, but I experience the eject getting stuck on boot issue. So far it (or the volume) have not started triggering randomly while the PC is in operation, so thats a good thing. If it stays to only being during bootup, I can live with it.

Hey bigdark, which hard drive does yours have, out of curiosity? I'm wondering if you have the Hitachi, and if you experience any hard drive "whirr" spin noise, even at idle?

Thx
Eric

 

I've actually tried the firmware update utility, but it doesn't recognize that I have an optical drive, so I'm stuck with whatever firmware I have. :/

 

I have the TSST DVDRW. It already has the latest firmware installed.