New Model Laptops

[AlHayatZween 2]

Hi VJers,

Another computer question: Just hooked up my new Dell Inspiron laptop, model 1525... it is really nice and i like it...

The only thing is that the fan is running near constantly, even when idle. It runs every couple minutes or so... for as long as long as a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The laptop is not particularly hot... regular laptop hotness, i suppose...

Is this normal for new model laptops? Or do you think this is going to be a problem and i should send back to Dell...

My last laptop was a Gateway 2003... and the fan would go on... but not like this...

Many thanks for your insight,

hz

[IAMX 3,055]

Usually self-regulating fan settings (speed, intervals) are relative to CPU/GPU or environment temperature.

If your graphics is IGP, then it shares the video processing with your motherboard, meaning if you have IGP and Vista's Aero, that might attribute to your fan running constantly.

One of my computers is a Dell Vostro laptop, I made sure to get it before they stopped giving OEM XP licenses out, so no fan trouble at all. Whenever the fan comes on it's always hot air. If it's blowing cold air, then you need to find a way to change your fan settings to something more reasonable. However, I'm under the assumption that the more integrated ####### you have (video, sound, etc.) the more strain on your CPU that puts, the more your fan will run.

[Jenn! 918]

I have an old laptop (HP pavilion) and the fan runs almost all the time. Has done so for as long as I can remember too. For a while it would even shut itself down (from overheating I presume). Now I blow some compressed air in there when it gets loud and it seems to help (but maybe that's just in my head). Hasn't shut down on its own since I started doing that though.

[AlHayatZween 2]

If it's blowing cold air, then you need to find a way to change your fan settings to something more reasonable. However, I'm under the assumption that the more integrated ####### you have (video, sound, etc.) the more strain on your CPU that puts, the more your fan will run.

i think it is mostly blowing cool air... i don't have that much integrated #######, but i am trying out Vista...

it is a shame if i end up sending it back b/c it really is a nice computer otherwise... i need it to last a couple of years...

So you think this fan thing might be "normal"?

[AlHayatZween 2]

I have an old laptop (HP pavilion) and the fan runs almost all the time. Has done so for as long as I can remember too. For a while it would even shut itself down (from overheating I presume). Now I blow some compressed air in there when it gets loud and it seems to help (but maybe that's just in my head). Hasn't shut down on its own since I started doing that though.

hmmmm... okay, thanks... so long as it's not the end of the world.

i'm in the queue to chat w/ Dell's tech support. i'm number 16 in the queue...

[IAMX 3,055]

I would check to see if you have any OEM fan regulating software installed (doubtful) or if you can change the settings from your BIOS. If you don't know what you're doing just call their fabulous tech support number and remind them that the fan is constantly on and blowing cool air. This is a problem because constantly running, even on idle, will burn out the fan rather quickly, and if your laptop fan goes, so do components that need the cooling. Fans are like $2 - $10, but a motherboard, CPU or GPU are far more expensive.

Also, Vista has been known to be a resource hog. If you can, try disabling Aero and see if that changes anything.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vis...-windows-vista/

Edited November 2, 2008 by SRVT

[William33 110]

Hi VJers,

Another computer question: Just hooked up my new Dell Inspiron laptop, model 1525... it is really nice and i like it...

The only thing is that the fan is running near constantly, even when idle. It runs every couple minutes or so... for as long as long as a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The laptop is not particularly hot... regular laptop hotness, i suppose...

Is this normal for new model laptops? Or do you think this is going to be a problem and i should send back to Dell...

My last laptop was a Gateway 2003... and the fan would go on... but not like this...

Many thanks for your insight,

hz

My wife just purchased a Dell 1525 about a week ago. We have not noticed the fan running that often. How is your laptop configured, in terms of OS and Ram?

[AlHayatZween 2]

I would check to see if you have any OEM fan regulating software installed (doubtful) or if you can change the settings from your BIOS. If you don't know what you're doing just call their fabulous tech support number and remind them that the fan is constantly on and blowing cool air. This is a problem because constantly running, even on idle, will burn out the fan rather quickly, and if your laptop fan goes, so do components that need the cooling. Fans are like $2 - $10, but a motherboard, CPU or GPU are far more expensive.

Also, Vista has been known to be a resource hog. If you can, try disabling Aero and see if that changes anything.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vis...-windows-vista/

Thanks...

i just got out of the Chat with Dell Tech Support and they said it was pretty normal and then "flashed the BIOS" remotely. it was pretty cool...

they are supposed to call me in 2 hours... but the fan is still running so i don't know...

[IAMX 3,055]

They may try to install some third party fan regulating software (I have ASUS PC Probe on my desktop which came with my ASUS MB) if they couldn't get it to work from the BIOS.

I really don't see any other alternative, beyond offering you a replacement, which, if you are under warranty, would require an RMA. If the fan keeps going and is blowing cool air it will have a short life -- even shorter if it's a crappy brand fan -- and that spells trouble for the hardware that depends on it to keep cool.

Also, the environment you have it in, it isn't like 90+ degrees is it? Computers are very sensitive to environment, especially with stock cooling.

[AlHayatZween 2]

My wife just purchased a Dell 1525 about a week ago. We have not noticed the fan running that often. How is your laptop configured, in terms of OS and Ram?

Intel Core 2 Duo (16GHz, 667 Mhz, 2M L2 Cache)

250 G 5400RPM Sata Hard dive

?

They may try to install some third party fan regulating software (I have ASUS PC Probe on my desktop which came with my ASUS MB) if they couldn't get it to work from the BIOS.

I really don't see any other alternative, beyond offering you a replacement, which, if you are under warranty, would require an RMA. If the fan keeps going and is blowing cool air it will have a short life -- even shorter if it's a crappy brand fan -- and that spells trouble for the hardware that depends on it to keep cool.

Also, the environment you have it in, it isn't like 90+ degrees is it? Computers are very sensitive to environment, especially with stock cooling.

Yes, i'm going to give it to the end of the week... i have 21 days to return it... and then see.

i really need it to last a long time, so it's important i get the right computer...

Thanks for your help!

[William33 110]

My wife just purchased a Dell 1525 about a week ago. We have not noticed the fan running that often. How is your laptop configured, in terms of OS and Ram?

Intel Core 2 Duo (16GHz, 667 Mhz, 2M L2 Cache)

250 G 5400RPM Sata Hard dive

If you are using Vista home premium or above with less that 2 GB Ram, you may notice the processor working harder. With the processor working harder (and hotter), the fan will run more.

My wife has Vista home basic, with 3 GB Ram. This may explain why the fan does not run excessively.

What Vista version are you running and how much Ram do you have?

[Niels Bohr 72]

The doesn't run constantly, it runs variably according the the operating temperature. There's a thermo-resistor on the board that will change the current to variate the fan speed. Either something is obstructing the thermo-resistor causing accumulation of heat, or your computer is running lots of stuff. To determine whether or not your computer is running lots of stuff, look at the PROCESSES number when you're in the task manager window. The threads doesn't really matter as processes establishes more resource allocation.

For a vista machine, at idling, the processes ranges between 80-100 depending. If you have over 130+, then it may explain why your fan is constant.

[William33 110]

The doesn't run constantly, it runs variably according the the operating temperature. There's a thermo-resistor on the board that will change the current to variate the fan speed. Either something is obstructing the thermo-resistor causing accumulation of heat, or your computer is running lots of stuff. To determine whether or not your computer is running lots of stuff, look at the PROCESSES number when you're in the task manager window. The threads doesn't really matter as processes establishes more resource allocation.

For a vista machine, at idling, the processes ranges between 80-100 depending. If you have over 130+, then it may explain why your fan is constant.

What if the resources (processor) are taxed heavily, due to insufficient Ram? Seems the processor would take up the load and run hotter.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Yes, when the processor is taxed heavily that means the processes have allocated a number of processes in memory that are scheduled to be released to the processor for processing when it''s in the ready queue. Therefore, it will demand more current to flow and more switches to be switched internally within the CPU creating more heat. The transisters inside the CPU are MOSFETs, their thermal properties are different compared to BJTs.

[William33 110]

Yes, when the processor is taxed heavily that means the processes have allocated a number of processes in memory that are scheduled to be released to the processor for processing when it''s in the ready queue. Therefore, it will demand more current to flow and more switches to be switched internally within the CPU creating more heat. The transisters inside the CPU are MOSFETs, their thermal properties are different compared to BJTs.

So, this could be one possible cause of the OP's fan running almost perpetually?