Another new Dell laptop with overheat issue, do I return it or keep it?

BunnyJ · Nov 28, 2021

The-Hive · Nov 28, 2021

Send it back, running too hot

FJRMarty · Nov 30, 2021

Update....
11-25-2021
An expedited service order has been created for your repair. You’ll receive your pre-paid return box and shipping label in 1-2 business days.

11-30-2021
[empty box] UPS Delivered On Tuesday, November 30 at 10:34 A.M. at Front Door.

11-30-2021
Drop-off 4.70lb package UPS Ground Terminal Tue 30 Nov 5:55 PM.

I mostly uninstalled everything but left W11 updates. I removed my login stuff and created an Admin user with no password in preparation for Dell's gymnastics with my laptop. Any bets it comes back just like it left?

In the meantime, I'm limping along with "Grandma," my 11.5" touch-screen Asus X200M 4GB Intel(R) Celeron(R) 2xCPU N2815 @ 1.86 GHz W10 21H1. I don't think it even HAS a cooling fan... What for?? :)

glasskuter · Nov 30, 2021

Glad you decided to send it back. The first thing to do when you get it back is make sure Dell didn't turn hyperthreading off to solve the heat issue. Rather than do something about their poorly designed cooling on my new desktop, they wanted me to turn hyperthreading off which, in my opinion, is not a solution but a cop-out to solving the problem. I proved that when I installed their premium cooler. When one pays for a performance cpu, one expects it to work as it is supposed to. If one wanted lesser performance, one would buy a cheaper system with a lesser cpu that did not hyperthread. For how you said you used your laptop, it probably wouldn't be noticeable to you, but that still doesn't change the fact that your daughter paid quite a few extra dollars for a performance laptop with a cpu that is supposed to hyperthread without issue. You have to watch Dell or they WILL pull the wool over your eyes. I guess I'm just too stubborn to quietly accept such poor business practice. Keep us informed of the outcome.

The-Hive · Dec 1, 2021

Best thing to do is send it back, hope it was a trouble free process

PerpetualCycle · Dec 1, 2021

glasskuter said:
Dell's proprietary stuff is a bunch of crap. I recently purchased a new Dell that ran too hot. When Dell wouldn't help me I tried to upgrade my cooling to Noctua. I remembered Dell's propensity for non-standard fan headers so that was the first thing I checked and mine were standard. Noctua worked great to lower temps but threw out fan errors at boot. I jumped through hoops for two weeks only to find out the problem was Noctua PWM fans feature a minimum speed of 300rpm to allow for quiet operation when your CPU is at idle state and doesn’t require higher cooling performance. The Dell mainboard displayed the “CPU fan error” during the booting process because the fan speed was below a certain level. So now, Dell may use standard fan wiring, but their bios keeps you from running non-OEM fans.

As soon as I put the Dell cooler back in, the error became "case fan error" so I put the original exhaust fan back in. I ended up having to buy premium cooling from Dell which lowered temps but not nearly as much as the Noctua cooler & fans did. Now I'm stuck with a brand new Noctua setup I can't use. The same thing goes for their damned power supplies. Years ago, although they used proprietary power supplies you could still get an ATX to fit inside the case & use adapter cables. Well, not anymore. Now they've made them narrower so if you want a bigger power supply you are locked into using their expensive replacement parts or having your power supply outside the case.

Yeah, been there. Build your own desktop.

For laptop - macbook air or pro base models are quite up to this task and will not give any heat issues with the m1 processor. You can't upgrade them though. The memory is soldered onto the processor for performance reasons and the SSD is an integrated piece. If you are OK with that they are good. A modern laptop is a very integrated piece of equipment like a phone or tablet. You can't upgrade storage or memory on a phone or tablet. You get light weight and performance at this cost.

TheMystic · Dec 2, 2021

BunnyJ said:
That sucks.. if a company acts like that I wouldn't buy any of their products.

All big companies are doing that these days.

ThrashZone · Dec 2, 2021

Hi,
Beware of thin laptops especially Intel ones but not exclusive
There is no room for decent cooling only time they come in handy is in the winter.

glasskuter · Dec 2, 2021

ThrashZone said:
Beware of thin laptops

Which is most of them aimed at the consumer market. Thinner and lighter means poor cooling and plastic components. Longterm, that's a disaster waiting to happen with today's cpus. This is exactly the reason I polled everyone for their opinion about buying a laptop.

The-Hive · Dec 2, 2021

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Beware of thin laptops especially Intel ones but not exclusive
There is no room for decent cooling only time they come in handy is in the winter.

I am glad the Area51 is thick and has big exhaust ports on both sides and it warms your hands in winter

BunnyJ · Dec 2, 2021

The-Hive said:
I am glad the Area51 is thick and has big exhaust ports on both sides and it warms your hands in winter

There's also an Area 52

ThrashZone · Dec 2, 2021

glasskuter said:
Which is most of them aimed at the consumer market. Thinner and lighter means poor cooling and plastic components. Longterm, that's a disaster waiting to happen with today's cpus. This is exactly the reason I polled everyone for their opinion about buying a laptop.

Hi,
Laptops are getting as disposable as cell phones sadly.
2-3 years tops if they live that long.

Intel has been crapping out new chips way to fast and all are thermally more difficult to cool by device manufactures.
That's why I really would consider a amd laptop but prices are totally outrageous atm so hard pass on anything.

The-Hive · Dec 2, 2021

BunnyJ said:
There's also an Area 52

I will check it out

BunnyJ · Dec 2, 2021

The-Hive said:
I will check it out

It's the new and 'improved' Area 51

FJRMarty · Dec 3, 2021

FJRMarty said:
Update....

FJRMarty said:
11-25-2021
An expedited service order has been created for your repair. You’ll receive your pre-paid return box and shipping label in 1-2 business days.

11-30-2021
[empty box] UPS Delivered On Tuesday, November 30 at 10:34 A.M. at Front Door.

11-30-2021
Drop-off 4.70lb package UPS Ground Terminal Tue 30 Nov 5:55 PM.

Your package has been delivered.

Delivery Date:
Friday, 12/03/2021

Delivery Time:
9:59 AM

LOUISVILLE, KY 40299 US

8 days of the promised 7-10 days... Anxiety builds....

Well, a little anyway.

BunnyJ · Dec 3, 2021

FJRMarty said:
8 days of the promised 7-10 days... Anxiety builds.... Well, a little anyway.

That stinks.. I sure hope you get it soon.

Winuser · Dec 3, 2021

FJRMarty said:
8 days of the promised 7-10 days... Anxiety builds.... Well, a little anyway.

Wouldn't the time start today? Plus adding the extra time for delivery.

FJRMarty · Dec 3, 2021

Winuser said:
Wouldn't the time start today? Plus adding the extra time for delivery.

Re-reading all the emails, looks like you are correct, sorta. It seems it depends on which perspective from which you are peering. Feels like 3 months to me, I'm sure the support folks think everything happens in a day or two, and I'm sure my assigned repair person isn't even breathing hard yet.

Got this support email 11/24/21:
Since your system has Return-to-Depot warranty, it needs to be sent to our Repair Center and the turn-around-time for the repair process would be 7-10 Business days.

This support email 11/25:
An expedited service order has been created for your repair. You’ll receive your pre-paid return box and shipping label in 1-2 business days.
And later in the day: An Empty box to ship the unit back will be delivered at your address within the next 2–3 Business days.

12/3 9:59AM UPS reports pkg delivered. [to Dell]
12/3 3:01PM Dell reports "We’ve received your system at the Depot Repair Center. We’ll inform you once we start the repair process.
"
Turns out "...it will take approximately 7 - 10 business days for the system to be returned after the repairs are completed." They received the system today, and they have no stated time for holding on to it. So, who knows when I can really expect it. Not in 7-10 days, I bet.

Gotta laugh about it...:)

FJRMarty · Dec 7, 2021

Email update this morning 12/7 from Dell Technical Support:
The part(s) needed to repair your system are currently unavailable. We are working to minimize the delay. In most cases, the parts will be available in less than 5 days.

Online Chat with Dell Technical Support:
Me:
I'm curious, which part(s) need replaced?

Support Agent:
The Motherboard replacement needs to be done to resolve the issue, and the Motherboard is currently on the backlog as it was notified to you. However, it will be available soon and our team will complete the service accordingly on priority for you.

Almighty1 · Dec 7, 2021

To be honest, if I were you. What I would have done originally was return for a full refund and then decide to buy the same thing or something else because remember you are also losing time in the warranty coverage as it's basically a time decay. Parts when used for repairs do not need to be new but only Refurbished as New as the system tag number will not change even with a new motherboard since all they do is write the system tag information and store it back into the motherboard with software.

Another new Dell laptop with overheat issue, do I return it or keep it?

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