• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

I have a Dell Inspiron 2650C laptop and the fan is driving me nuts....

R

rnmcd

Platinum Member
This is the first laptop that I have ever used for more than an hour or two....

Anyway, I am past the "return for refund" period with Dell so I have to either fix, sell, or go beserk from the on-and-off fan cycling that this thing is doing.

It runs great for about ten minutes then the fan starts up for about 1 minute...then it goes off for about 15-25 seconds then it comes back on for a minute...it cycles like this forever (each fan-on time increases slightly until it is constantly on).

On top of it being a very loud fan and annoying this eventually, after about 30 minutes, slows the laptop down a great deal. The Start menu seems like it is on a delay it is so slow...forget about scrolling down through your Internet Explorer favorites...way too slow.

The only suggestion I have found from the Dell support site is that I should use fangui...which I have tried but it doesn't work with this laptop's chipset or something.

Is there anything I can do...or is this the reason Dell was selling this model rather cheaply?
 
This is just a shot in the dark...... but do you have any way of monitoring the cpu temp? it almost sounds like it's throttling down for thermal protection (if it's a P4). It could be overheating, maybe the heatsink isn't making contact ????

There has to be a reason for the fan to be doing this, and the fan coming on and off should not slow the pc down that much. You need to isolate the cause of the fan cycling. Has it allways done this, or did it just start?
 
What BIOS version are you running? (A09 - 6-22-03 is the latest)

There have been several updates regarding FAN speed regulation
and Speed Stepping isssues under Win2k/XP.
 
Go HERE and give this utility a try. It should allow you to set your fan to always on and you can adjust the fan speed to whatever you want. I don't know if it will display your CPU temp for your Laptop. You will have to give it a try.

I work on a lot of DELLs and deal with a lot of complaints about fans not coming on or being too loud. I use this utility to test the fan.

It is normal for the fan to cycle on and off. It is not normal, of course, for the system to slow down. It does sound like the CPU is overheating. Look through the air inlet at the heatsink to see if it is plugged with dirt. If it is, blow some canned air through the fan outlet to clean it out.


BTW, do NOT turn the fan off and leave it off for obvious reasons.
 
Originally posted by: boshuter
This is just a shot in the dark...... but do you have any way of monitoring the cpu temp? it almost sounds like it's throttling down for thermal protection (if it's a P4). It could be overheating, maybe the heatsink isn't making contact ????

There has to be a reason for the fan to be doing this, and the fan coming on and off should not slow the pc down that much. You need to isolate the cause of the fan cycling. Has it allways done this, or did it just start?
Click to expand...

It has always done this. I didn't use the laptop much to begin with so it didn't really bother me too much. I had never used a laptop before so I didn't know this was out of the ordinary. But since then I have been working with an IBM Thinkpad at work and I've asked other people who have laptops and they say they never hear the fan.

I have downloaded two or three different fan or cpu temp monitoring software and they didn't work with this laptop.

This problem is posted all over the dell support site (loud fan cycling) and it doesn't seem like it was ever resolved.

Thanks for your help.
 
Originally posted by: LiLithTecH
What BIOS version are you running? (A09 - 6-22-03 is the latest)

There have been several updates regarding FAN speed regulation
and Speed Stepping isssues under Win2k/XP.
Click to expand...

Oops. I have version A05 of the bios.

So does that mean I need to flash my bios?

I think I can figure out how to do that.
 
Originally posted by: CaseTragedy
go buy a laptop cooler.
so your fan won't come on at all / as often.
Click to expand...

Someone else recommended that to me. Right now I have the thing practically on stilts so that air can flow freely under it....
 
Originally posted by: rnmcd
Originally posted by: LiLithTecH
What BIOS version are you running? (A09 - 6-22-03 is the latest)

There have been several updates regarding FAN speed regulation
and Speed Stepping isssues under Win2k/XP.
Click to expand...

Oops. I have version A05 of the bios.

So does that mean I need to flash my bios?

I think I can figure out how to do that.
Click to expand...

I flashed the bios to version A10 and the fans run just as long and as loud....any other suggestions?
 
Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Go HERE and give this utility a try. It should allow you to set your fan to always on and you can adjust the fan speed to whatever you want. I don't know if it will display your CPU temp for your Laptop. You will have to give it a try.

I work on a lot of DELLs and deal with a lot of complaints about fans not coming on or being too loud. I use this utility to test the fan.

It is normal for the fan to cycle on and off. It is not normal, of course, for the system to slow down. It does sound like the CPU is overheating. Look through the air inlet at the heatsink to see if it is plugged with dirt. If it is, blow some canned air through the fan outlet to clean it out.


BTW, do NOT turn the fan off and leave it off for obvious reasons.
Click to expand...



I have tried this application before and it didn't seem to let me adjust my fan speeds. I don't think I would want to use it since it definitely doesn't let me monitor my cpu temperature.
 
rnmcd.

If you updated the BIOS and the problem still persists
there is really nothing more that you can do other than
trying the additional laptop cooler (and adding more noise).

Dell Inspiron laptops have always had the complaint of LOUD FANs.

You also are correct that FANGUI does not monitor your CPU temp
as it was written for older BIOS and is not compatible with yours.
 
Originally posted by: LiLithTecH
rnmcd.

If you updated the BIOS and the problem still persists
there is really nothing more that you can do other than
trying the additional laptop cooler (and adding more noise).

Dell Inspiron laptops have always had the complaint of LOUD FANs.

You also are correct that FANGUI does not monitor your CPU temp
as it was written for older BIOS and is not compatible with yours.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much LiLithTecH for your professional opinion. So other brands of laptops aren't as noisy? A friend a work uses an IBM Thinkpad every day and said he nevers hears the fan come one...is that possible too?

Thanks again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top