Graphics problem on Dell Inspiron notebook
in [Hardware]
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From: Sydney on 6 Apr 2010 05:36 After approximatly 45 minutes of operation, the screen get scrambled. I suspect a problem of heating since none of the 2 fans operate when I switch on the notebook. anybody for an idea ? Is there a specific newsgroup for Dell ?
From: Paul on 6 Apr 2010 05:50 Sydney wrote: > After approximatly 45 minutes of operation, the screen get scrambled. I > suspect a problem of heating since none of the 2 fans operate when I > switch on the notebook. > anybody for an idea ? > Is there a specific newsgroup for Dell ? If you know the fans are malfunctioning, why continue to run the machine ? Operating the machine at a high temperature, will shorten its life. And if you're not careful, could lead to a battery malfunction. You can try Speedfan if you want, and see if that can adjust the fan speed. If the fans still do not spin, clean them out. http://www.almico.com/speedfan440.exe It is also possible, for the power source feeding the fans, to be broken. Some people with retail motherboards in desktop computers, manage to burn out the +12V copper track, feeding the fan headers. But that happens, because it is too easy on a desktop computer, to play with the fan header connector while the computer is powered (and one mistake can result in damage). Paul
From: kony on 6 Apr 2010 09:43 On Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:50:09 -0400, Paul <nospam(a)needed.com> wrote: >Sydney wrote: >> After approximatly 45 minutes of operation, the screen get scrambled. I >> suspect a problem of heating since none of the 2 fans operate when I >> switch on the notebook. >> anybody for an idea ? >> Is there a specific newsgroup for Dell ? > >If you know the fans are malfunctioning, why continue to run the machine ? >Operating the machine at a high temperature, will shorten its life. And >if you're not careful, could lead to a battery malfunction. > >You can try Speedfan if you want, and see if that can adjust the fan speed. >If the fans still do not spin, clean them out. > >http://www.almico.com/speedfan440.exe > >It is also possible, for the power source feeding the fans, to be broken. >Some people with retail motherboards in desktop computers, manage to burn >out the +12V copper track, feeding the fan headers. But that happens, because >it is too easy on a desktop computer, to play with the fan header connector >while the computer is powered (and one mistake can result in damage). > > Paul I have to agree it seems likely to be GPU or (with integrated video) northbridge overheating. Might be the fan, or the fan may be tied to CPU temp rather than other chips' temp, so it could then be that logical bios bug along with excess dust buildup. It's annoying how difficult it is on some laptops to open them to clean dust out especially if there isn't even a panel you can remove to gain access to the main fan/housing itself.
From: Sydney on 6 Apr 2010 12:46 "Paul" <nospam(a)needed.com> a �crit dans le message de groupe de discussion : hpf04i$9i4$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > Sydney wrote: >> After approximatly 45 minutes of operation, the screen get scrambled. I >> suspect a problem of heating since none of the 2 fans operate when I >> switch on the notebook. >> anybody for an idea ? >> Is there a specific newsgroup for Dell ? > > If you know the fans are malfunctioning, why continue to run the machine ? > Operating the machine at a high temperature, will shorten its life. And > if you're not careful, could lead to a battery malfunction. > > You can try Speedfan if you want, and see if that can adjust the fan > speed. > If the fans still do not spin, clean them out. > > http://www.almico.com/speedfan440.exe > > It is also possible, for the power source feeding the fans, to be broken. > Some people with retail motherboards in desktop computers, manage to burn > out the +12V copper track, feeding the fan headers. But that happens, > because > it is too easy on a desktop computer, to play with the fan header > connector > while the computer is powered (and one mistake can result in damage). > > Paul This notebook was given to me to see what was the problem. i have described what I saw. My question was rather : Do you know enough the Dell Inspiron to acertain that the fans should run as soon as they are in operation or should they run at a certain temperature. I am conscious of the effect of heat on components.
From: Paul on 6 Apr 2010 15:04
Sydney wrote: > "Paul" <nospam(a)needed.com> a �crit dans le message de groupe de > discussion : hpf04i$9i4$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> Sydney wrote: >>> After approximatly 45 minutes of operation, the screen get scrambled. >>> I suspect a problem of heating since none of the 2 fans operate when >>> I switch on the notebook. >>> anybody for an idea ? >>> Is there a specific newsgroup for Dell ? >> >> If you know the fans are malfunctioning, why continue to run the >> machine ? >> Operating the machine at a high temperature, will shorten its life. And >> if you're not careful, could lead to a battery malfunction. >> >> You can try Speedfan if you want, and see if that can adjust the fan >> speed. >> If the fans still do not spin, clean them out. >> >> http://www.almico.com/speedfan440.exe >> >> It is also possible, for the power source feeding the fans, to be broken. >> Some people with retail motherboards in desktop computers, manage to burn >> out the +12V copper track, feeding the fan headers. But that happens, >> because >> it is too easy on a desktop computer, to play with the fan header >> connector >> while the computer is powered (and one mistake can result in damage). >> >> Paul > This notebook was given to me to see what was the problem. > i have described what I saw. > My question was rather : Do you know enough the Dell Inspiron to > acertain that the fans should run as soon as they are in operation or > should they run at a certain temperature. > I am conscious of the effect of heat on components. The fans should be temperature controlled. The reason for that, is the laptop manages power consumption, and a fan draws power from the battery. When the laptop is turned on, it is still cold, so can run for a few minutes, before the fan comes on. The fan is only used, to keep temperatures to relatively high limits. If a laptop has a powerful graphics subsystem, it might have one fan for the CPU and one for the GPU. Or, it could have one blower, tied to both chips, using heatpipes. The CPU and the GPU could have thermal diodes, which are devices on the silicon die, to monitor temperature. Depending on the design, the CPU fan speed may be automatically monitored. (Some SuperI/O chips can be programmed to automatically operate the fan, as a function of the measured temperature.) I'm not sure what they use for the GPU, but it could take advantage of the same concept. Some Intel chipsets, also have built-in fan control (QST?). In any case, I suggest installing SpeedFan and verifying the fans still work. The program can set the fan speed manually. The program can also read out temperatures. At least, as long as the chip detection routines work properly when the program starts. Paul |