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Post by tinpusher on Feb 21, 2005 10:51:45 GMT -5
I have had the loud fan noise. I have a thread on the Dell Fourm and someone answered with the fix. It seems that Dell had received about 250,000 bad heatsinks (heatpipes) from Foxcomm. People have been calling Dell Tech Support and having the heatsink replaced and the problem would go away. I call Tech Support today and they are aware of the heatsink problem. They are going to replace my heatsink, CPU and rear fans. Give them a call and tell them you have a heatsink problem. They will square you away. Tom
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Post by devnull on Feb 21, 2005 19:19:43 GMT -5
I have one of the first Gen3s, should i look more into this?
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Post by tinpusher on Feb 22, 2005 10:08:35 GMT -5
I think with the faulty heatsink the heat stays closer to the CPU so the fans stay on and rev faster. With the new heatsink the heat can disapate throughout the entire heatsink and the fans don't have to work as much. This is just my opion.
Devnull: check and see if the heatsink is hot all the way to the top and if it is just hot near the CPU and cool at the top give Tech Support a call. Someone on the Dell fourm asked the Tech to check the XPS machines that Dell has running all the time and do the heatsink check and the Tech Support guy told him the heatsink was hot from bottom to top and they would replace their heatsink.
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Post by tinpusher on Feb 26, 2005 7:36:47 GMT -5
Well it's fixed. The Tech came out on Thur Feb 24th. When he opened the box that Dell sent it had a new CPU and fan assy. but no heatsink. The work order even said they were going to send a heatsink. Anyway he put in the new CPU and fan assy. I turned on the computer and ran Seti@home which uses 100% CPU. The fans started, went loud again and I had to reboot to quiet the machine down. The Tech made a call to Dell support and the Dell tech said that he thought it was the motherboard because the heat sensors where on the MB. I also talked to the Dell tech and explained the problem (he wasn't aware of it). The Dell Tech said they will send out a new motherboard and heatsink. The parts arrived on Fri Feb 25th and the Tech was able to come over. We ran Seti@home again. Same results. He replaced just the heatsink and we ran seti@home again. WOW you couldn't even hear the fans. My CPU Temps went from around 65c max to about49c to 52c max. What a difference. He didn't have to replace the motherboard. I would recommend that if you have the loud fans noise and have to reboot to quit the thing down that you make a call to Dell Tech support and let them know that you have one of the bad heatsinks (heatpipe). You will be glad you did. Tom
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Post by devnull on Feb 26, 2005 12:01:19 GMT -5
I really dont think Im a victim of this. My fans are not that loud at all, even when gaming they aren't a problem (even when my system was totally stock). I think they must have gotten a bad set of shipments.
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Post by hills420 on Feb 26, 2005 17:25:26 GMT -5
I'm going to check my Gen3 when I get home. I ordered mine the first few days it was available and my computer is def. louder than my old 4100.
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Post by honga on Mar 9, 2005 22:54:40 GMT -5
I got my gen3 like last august or something [and i put up with the noise thinking its probably way its suppose to be.....loud....because of all the computer power stuff it has but now reading all the posts about getting heat sink replaced helping stop the noise im considering calling dell replacements are free if my gen3 still under warranty right?
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Post by honga on Mar 10, 2005 16:39:38 GMT -5
thank you now im gonna call and tell them I want it fixed! i have fear of calling people... and how they trick you with reverse psychology and stuff so i didnt even bother calling dell at all but the noise is just too loud thank you for your help
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Post by munski on Mar 23, 2005 20:55:46 GMT -5
In other Dell forums I read about the heat sink replacements, so I took a shot of mine and photoshopped a duplicate image with the different heat pipe arrangement to see which version you guys have. Mine is version "B" and in the forums they said that the replacement HS's were version "A". I haven't had any noise issues with my XPS in the stock config. yet, even with the Delta 92x38mm rear fans instead of the Nidec's other Gen 3 owners have. Any other opinions? What's your version?
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Post by rsnaider on Mar 28, 2005 9:17:07 GMT -5
I purchased my Gen 3 back in October and have lived with the excessive noise thinking 5 fans means a louder system. I had Dell replace the fans back in February, and after reading a post on Dell's site about the heatpipe not being hot throughout (mine was only hot on the bottom) I finially got Dell to send a replacement. My original and replacement both looked like image B, but all I can say is my machine is now whisper quite even though I run them 24/7 with www.grid.org cancer program running.
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Post by charlellis on Mar 30, 2005 12:05:18 GMT -5
Same here. I took delivery of my Gen 3 on 1 Nov 04 and lived with the noise thinking it was normal. Thanks to this forum, I called Dell on Monday and had a new heatsink sent. After installing it and stressing the processor, absolutely no increase in noise and a wonderful flow of heated air out the back. This is really an elegant cooling solution when it is working properly. Both of the heatsinks looked like B also, but there were six die marks on the aluminum bottom of the new vice four on the old one.
Now my only concern is whether the processor, memory and motherboard lifespan has been affected by the excess heat.
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Post by rsnaider on Mar 31, 2005 15:59:24 GMT -5
Now my only concern is whether the processor, memory and motherboard lifespan has been affected by the excess heat. I would not worry. In my case it has been colder here due to winter and had this been summer that I may have a concern. In addition, with the higher fan speeds you had better airflow through the case.
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Post by munski on Apr 1, 2005 17:53:24 GMT -5
Well, I might have just jinxed my XPS and spoke too soon. I was puttin in a hard drive cooler & when I closed up everything and fired it up - I thought it was going to take off thru the roof! First the HDD/Video fan kicked in on high, then the rear CPU fans both ramped up to full speed and stayed there. My heart isn't strong enough for this sh*t. I went over all the connections & everything else with a fine tooth comb - still same problem. Finally called Dell and they are sending me out a new HS, but I can't figure out how that will solve the problem yet. I tried new thermal paste, even flipped the HS around - no change. How the CPU HS can make the fans take off to the moon after a cold boot is beyond me. I had to remove a rather large blob of Dells stock grey paste off the HS & chip - it looked like they put it on with a trowl. Tried some leftover Zalman paste - still a rocket ship. I guess I have to wait till next week to find out.
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Post by hills420 on Apr 1, 2005 20:32:55 GMT -5
Yes, I am a lazy ass and just got around to checking my heatsink now. I have version B. Will Dell question why we are calling for the replacement or is it a "no questions asked" type of thing? Do you have a direct link to the speciific forum discussing the issue?
The top half of my HS is much cooler than the bottom half.
Thanks.
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Post by munski on Apr 1, 2005 22:48:50 GMT -5
Check out this long link, and see what you think. forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_other&message.id=217084&view=by_date_ascending&page=5I'm praying that poping in a new sink fixes the problem and I'm glad the Dell tech guy is letting me install it instead of a xps maytag service guy. I also fired up the retros & let him listen to it over the phone. He told me that it was not an uncommon problem and would have the new sink in the mail the same day. He also told me that since I got my re-furb'd Gen3 around X-mas, my 92x38mm CPU Delta fans were probably upgrades from the Nidecs that other people had replaced to cure part of the fan turbo-noise problem. If it turns out to be a motherboard problem, I'm going to beg the tech guy to let me replace that too & send the bad one back. All this stuff just started happening after 3 months of "normal" operation so i'm glad to be under warranty! The last time I checked the HS temps there was about a 5-6 deg. difference between the top & bottom fins - which seemed OK by me at the time.
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Post by beneathherfeet on Apr 2, 2005 8:40:30 GMT -5
The replacement heatsink I received from Dell came with thermal compound preinstalled. Just took off the old one, cleaned the heat spreader over the processor, and popped on the new one. Instant silence. I had to call DHL so they could pick up the old one. Dell wants it back!
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Post by munski on Apr 2, 2005 10:22:48 GMT -5
Beneatherfeet, Thanks for the thumbs up - I hope mine is that easily fixed. The XPS has got me so spoiled, it's been a drag to go back to my old computer. Munski
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Post by munski on Apr 2, 2005 20:28:09 GMT -5
Well boys, the saga continues - It looks like I'll never know if it was a HS problem or not. Discovered today that the motherboard had fried somehow, and after running thru diognostic testing with the Dell tech guy, they're sending me a new board, and yea! I get to install it myself. And I will tell you - taking out the P4 3.6 Ghz. CPU was totally childs play with the new pinless mounts. I'll post some before & after photos for the archives in a new thread. later dudes, munski
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Post by crusier on Apr 3, 2005 0:38:45 GMT -5
Those "maytag dudes" unionized ages ago and negotiated a contract with a "never ever have to go on service calls" clause!
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Post by netring on Apr 3, 2005 11:24:56 GMT -5
is this gen 3 only or gen 2 as well? can u guys post a picture, if the gen 3 is same one as gen 2
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