Dell Inspiron (laptop) Overheating

[Simulation]

I thought that as DELL laptops are popular I would share this nugget of information.

I have just fixed my daughter's laptop which was suffering from low performance and overheating (quickly followed by a complete shutdown) http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/yikes.gif .

It appears (after doing some Net research) that some of the Dell Inspiron range (1100 and 5100) have the cooling fan on the bottom. So, basically it act more like a vacuum cleaner than a fan. After a while the heatsink get covered in c r a p and the processor will start to throttle down to compensate for rise in temperature (low performance) http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/privateeye.gif . After a while longer the PC will start shutting down without warning... :eek:

Solution 1 : - Get a can of compressed air and blow it into the air intake and exit. Worked for me http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif . It is also worth getting some self-adhesive pad and stick them on he bottom to raise the laptop off the desk. This will improve air circulation. Repeat the blow job every couple of weeks to avoid the problem comming back. ;)

Solution 2 : - If the compressed air doesn't work, then either the c r a p is too thick or the fan is broken and it's time to send it back to Dell to repair. :(

[Henhead]

DELL must of asked James Dyson for some design tips http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/whistle.gif

[Simulation]

:D

[laracroft8290]

wasn't there a problem with inspirons catching on fire because of the battery?

[Simulation]

yeah, that's right. They recalled all those units.

[Bokkie]

I have Dell Inspirion 1100 laptop (2GHz P4 Celeron, 512MB RAM). It is really overheating, especially the graphic card. The problem is that the processor inside is the same one as in desktop machine (it's not Pentium M class)

Solution: I'm using a small book to raise the part of laptop (where CPU is installed) off the desk :D

[ 16. March 2005, 09:18: Message edited by: Bokkie ]

[Simulation]

Morning Bokkie, http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/wave.gif

I'm using a small book to raise the part of laptopTypical teckie.. Find simple solution and leave it....


We have the 1100 2.4GHz Celeron. Are you going to try the compressed air?

[Bokkie]

Well, on summer I'm using an external fan. Just need to move it into the right way :D

Or, if it's really too hot in the room, then I turn on the air conditioner and everything is just fine ;)

[Neteru]

Bokkie and Sim check out new cooling fan before laptop use.

http://neteru.tombraiderforums.com/images/lgefan.jpg

[Joseph]

http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/jumper.gif LOL Net.

[Quiver.]

Can some of you tell me how long you can work with your lbattery with your laptop? (just doing normal things, not playing games)

[Simulation]

Not sure really, but under an hour. The DELL Inspiron doesn't have great battery life.

[Draco]

Celeron's are horrible processors.

[Bokkie]

About 90 minutes

[Quiver.]

another Quistion:

I bought a laptop,

Medion, Pentium 4, 2,54 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB, Geforce 4 64 mb

How do I know when the laptop is overheating? When i'm just doing my "normal" things on the laptop, its getting pretty warm.

But I want to install my GTA Vice City this weekend and someone told me that the laptop wil getting warmer then usual if you play games on it.

Is this true? And is there a way to see if the laptop is overheating?

[Joseph]

Hi Quiver.
Download MotherBoardMonitor v5.3.7.0 from THIS PAGE. (http://www.3degs.net/index.php?page=webfile&dsn1=nav_webfiles&file=9)
Select MBM5 Main program file v5.3.7.0, and don't forget to download as well the MBM5 Language pack v5.3.7.0 from the same page.

[Quiver.]

Ok, I downloaded the programm and I´m busy with the configuration and as I told you in a pm, I bought this laptop from a friend and I do not know what kind of type motherboard it is.

Do you know a way where I can check this?

[SpArKy]

Originally posted by Draco:
Celeron's are horrible processors. If i still had my old laptop i would agree, but my current celeron is this new M version. My laptop battery last usually around 2.4 hours when running it like a desktop. I.E photoshop WMP MSN all the genneral multitasker things you do. Yet still maintains efficient processing power, pretty cool.

It seems to be ok for me right now.


*By the way great tip, i may try this even i did notice yesterday when i had my laptop on mains for about 10 hours without turning it off i was starting to get some slowdown, so i just turned it off to cool down which i should do everynow and again anyway.

[Quiver.]

already found it...I think.

the bottom of the laptop says:
Medion MD 5400

And that type is not in the list of supported motherboards in the configuration wizzard.

[Joseph]

Quiver, download this free tool from here. (http://joseph.tombraiderforums.com/aida32ee_375.zip) Unpack the zip, then doubleclick the aida32.exe for a detailed report of your system. Browse through all details you're interested in.

[Quiver.]

Thanks Joseph,
that is very handy tool http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

That programm showed me that I have a Medion M295M motherboard. But that type is also not in the list of the MBM program.

[SpArKy]

Download this programme it will tell you a temperature of your CPU and stuff.
Everest Home Edition (http://www.klitetools.com/comments.php?catid=52&id=328)

[Quiver.]

Thanks for the programm Sparky,

It works very good http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[SpArKy]

Yes it is a very good programme indeed.