Solved New laptop, constantly running fan, high core temp?

kevinboardley said:

I've not touched the laptop or mouse in well over an hour now and fan is still running at low (audible) level. Ambient temp 21 degrees. This is what I mean, when I say 'constantly'. Obviously is does stop sometimes, usually briefly, but I would call that pretty 'constant'. Especially when I'm not even touching it.

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kevinboardley said:

My God, would never have anticpated that buying a laptop would be such a jungle....but thanks for the suggestion.

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itsme1 said:

This is exactly what the critical update for Dell Power Manager is about:
Fixes and Enhancements

- This release contains security fixes, as defined by Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-149. Details of this advisory are posted on the Security Advisory, Notifications, and Resources page as they become available. For more information about the update schedule, see the Dell Driver and Client Downloads Update Schedule.

Version 3.18.0, A00 Release Date: March 31, 2026

Download Type: Applications Category: Applications

Importance: Critical
Dell Technologies strongly recommends that you apply this important update as soon as possible. It contains critical bug fixes and changes to improve the functionality, reliability, and stability of your Dell system. It may also include security fixes and other enhancements.

I have an 8th generation Intel processor. It's completely different from yours, which has a different architecture. I couldn't say if your temperatures are good.

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Mark K said:

All OEMs are experiencing this heat problem. Dell "clearly" (which you have to hunt for this information a lot) provides the information about these laptops do run hotter than usual. Took me a while to find it, but Dell and HP have it in their manuals. This is not a design flaw, just heat by design.

Also, some Dell laptop models that I worked on had barely any thermal paste. Dell has a support article showing the laptops that may have this problem. The solution is to re-apply the thermal paste in the laptop. My laptop barely has thermal paste on the CPU, so I may apply more later. The 2mm thermal heat pad is helping a lot right now.

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Mark K said:

I used to have the same problem. I gave up on Dell Support and found an unusual solution.

Prior to the UEFI BIOS 1.7.0 update came out, the CPU fans would run majority of the time while in use:
* Boot in to the BIOS to reset as Factory Default.
* Boot back in to the BIOS and reset all factory keys. This relates to the Microsoft new boot certificates.
* Dell PK key will reset as majority of the keys caused boot problems.
* Allow Windows 11 to start up, make sure it is fully updated and the Power Settings/Mode is set Balanced.
View attachment 169115
* Make sure Dell Optimizer - Power & Battery is set to Optimized.
View attachment 169116
This should resolve the constant fan issue.

Dell recently released UEFI BIOS 1.9.0 update:

Fixes & Enhancements
- This release contains security updates as disclosed in the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-037. The DSA details are published on the Security Advisories, Notices, and Resources page, once they are publicly available. For more information about the release schedule, see Dell Client Drivers and Downloads Update Release Schedule.
- Fixed the issue where the system password window is displayed twice after you update the BIOS.
- Fixed the issue where the KEK, DB, and DBX keys are restored after you delete them in the BIOS Setup. This issue occurs after you reset the BIOS settings to default.
- Fixed the issue where the system charges at 20W when connected to the HP 527pu and Z27u G3 monitors.

You may need to reset all security boot keys to allow the recent new Microsoft secure boot certificates to update in the UEFI BIOS. On some laptops they appear to have updated but did not do so. Mine just updated correctly in the UEFI BIOS for laptop.

Also, on Dell, if you reset the BIOS, always select Factory settings.

All this information I have gather from correcting my own Dell laptop among many others (clients, friends, etc.).

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kevinboardley said:

So why do they keep telling me the fan should not run 'constantly'??? Has the frontline support just not caught up with the desing and configuration of the products they are selling?

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kevinboardley said:

I will check to see that I have installed that but I downloaded the lot yesterday, not for the fisrt time that are on the page of drivers for my laptop service tag and installed them all. The power manager file that I donwloaded was not marked as a critical update! You will see the Dell Optimiser download is only marked as recommended. Anyway it has been installed with all the others.

View attachment 169123

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itsme1 said:

Dell Power Manager is integrated into Dell Optimizer, which is a new application.

I've always had Dell Power Manager on my laptop, as well as Dell Update. I don't install the other Dell bloatware applications.

You must install all critical and recommended BIOS firmware and drivers.

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Mark K said:

Laptop fans should only run to dissipate the heat from the CPU when in use. When idling, the fans may run once a while keeping the laptop cool. The laptops in my Dell do not run that much now, only on high loads of CPU/memory which is expected.

Looking at my notes, there may be times in Windows 11 25H2 the AI services may consume more CPU/memory services than needed. Microsoft has corrected this bug, not sure which update. You may want to try temporary stop this services or disable it for a while to see how your system runs. When I disable and SysMain services, this improved Windows 11 performance. The WSAIFabricSvc disables AI features (which I do not use) and this will reduce the memory consumption used also. You can always turn it back on if you need it.

View attachment 169125

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itsme1 said:

AMD had indicated for its Ryzen processors that the maximum tj temperature is valid for 24/7 operation, for desktop processors.

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kevinboardley said:

So that contradicts other above here....?

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KevTech said:

Would not apply if your laptop has an Intel CPU.
Your specs for computer say Ryzen but I think that is a different computer than the laptop we are discussing here.

Dell 16250 has an Intel CPU as far as I know and Ryzen is AMD.

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KevTech said:

Would not apply if your laptop has an Intel CPU.
Your specs for computer say Ryzen but I think that is a different computer than the laptop we are discussing here.

Dell 16250 has an Intel CPU as far as I know and Ryzen is AMD.

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Mark K said:

Looking at my notes, there may be times in Windows 11 25H2 the AI services may consume more CPU/memory services than needed. Microsoft has corrected this bug, not sure which update. You may want to try temporary stop this services or disable it for a while to see how your system runs. When I disable and SysMain services, this improved Windows 11 performance. The WSAIFabricSvc disables AI features (which I do not use) and this will reduce the memory consumption used also. You can always turn it back on if you need it.

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kevinboardley said:

I assume itsme1 was just illustrating example of deliberate configuration where maximum tj temperature is said to be valid for 24/7 operation, for desktop processors.

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kevinboardley said:

Modern CPUs throttle more than you think, and that's completely fine

Could this explain, even if in part, what I am seeing despite the initial responses from Dell front line support...? Even the configured PL4 wattage....

...although I suppose the kicker for me is the last para, ...it shouldn't be happening under light workloads... so then the question, what is a light workload. But many open windows with little or no activity can't be 'heavy' workload.

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HeavyHemi said:

It is normal for CPU's run under stock cooling and BIOS settings to throttle cores to lower frequencies under high loads. What isn't normal is seeing temps over 100C with little or no load on the CPU. I've seen several laptop repair videos lately where they left the protective film on the heatsink which covered the TIM (thermal interface material) when they installed the heatsink on the CPU. It caused very high temps at idle and crashing under load.

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