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

kevinboardley said:

interesting too....any of them Dell?

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A couple of them were Alienware, so Dell made. I believe the basic issue is something is wrong with the cooling of your CPU.

Well....I closed all the windows I had open an hour or so ago, reset the log and with just those 4 temp monitors running, still spiked to over 100 degrees...

Noticed the PL4 gone that someone pointed out as being a high voltage? Only thing I can think is the change of dell optimiser to optimised from quiet may have done that....

kevinboardley said:

Well....I closed all the windows I had open an hour or so ago, reset the log and with just those 4 temp monitors running, still spiked to over 100 degrees...

Noticed the PL4 gone that someone pointed out as being a high voltage? Only thing I can think is the change of dell optimiser to optimised from quiet may have done that....
View attachment 169162

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HWmonitor shows the PL4, not hwinfo64.
The Notebookchek test I mentioned yesterday used hwinfo64, so it didn't display the PL4. If it had been HWmonitor, it would have shown the PL4. In their stress test, the processor never reached 100° Celsius.

Your processor reaching 100° Celsius during no demanding tasks seems abnormal to me. You should ask Dell about that too.

I ran HWmonitor on my laptop. I have a 45W PL1, a 78W PL2, and a 130W PL4.
Maximum temperature with HWmonitor open, Chrome with one Eleven Forum tab and another Twitch live tab open:
core (max) 73°, package 82°. core (max) 85°, package 85° when I scrolled through Eleven Forum. It must be the ads :)
Current value: core (max) from approximately 43 to 55°, package temperature also from approximately 43 to 55°.

Regarding the maximum temperature of 100°C 24/7 on Ryzen processors, yes, that was just an example...

Updated from Dell Support on newer Dell laptops getting hot:

In the Dell Support chat about the previously reported USB-A port problems and heat related concerns on the Dell 16 Plus DB16255 laptop, that Dell is unable to correct or prevent "heat" related concerns on these newer Dell laptops. The newer Dell laptops will run hot because of Intel's and AMD's newer processors run that way. Dell cannot provide any further assistance or repair of any sort relating to "heat" issues.

These two Dell Support articles I have been referred to many times to troubleshoot the heat problems and now they are removed:
Troubleshoot Dell Laptop Overheating Issues
Identifying High Temperature, Heat, Thermal Concerns, Fan Noise on Dell Laptops

In the ongoing email discussion with a Dell Support Manager and Chat through Support Assist, Dell is now downplaying all these heat issue because they cannot resolve them.

Dell Support referred me to the same articles again on troubleshooting:
How to Troubleshoot Fan Issues
Dell 16 Plus - DB16255 - Owner's Manual

The Owner's Manual has nothing about heat issue as they told me in emails and chats.

I sent Dell Support the pics of me using a 2.0mm thermal pad on the CPU heat sink that has reduced the heat on the laptop, by a lot so far, and Dell Support told me that may void the warranty and this is an "unofficial" non-approved method that may cause permanent damage to the system. Apparently Dell Support do not understand what thermal pads do.

Since my Dell Support case has been escalated many times from September 2025 to now, a supposed Regional Manager from Dell emailed me telling me that he has ordered Dell Support to close my support case and to cease further in pursuing this wasteful heat issue.

In relating to the ongoing heat concerns on this Dell Plus laptop, Dell Support provided me an internal link that I can longer access stating that due to the heat of these newer processors in these thinner laptops, this will rapidly degrade the internal components (USB/HDMI/Thunderbolt/etc. ports). Dell's extended warranty does not cover heat related problems, such as degradation of internal components and ports. This is why the USB ports will start to fail due to prolong heat degrading internal components.

I tried to re-open on my Dell Support case and Dell Support told me in chat that the case is permanently closed and not to re-open or open a new case relating to heat issue on this laptop. Wow... great support there. 8 months pursuit on this problems, over 300+ emails, and countless logs of chats that I saved (which Dell does not want you to save anything, but I did anyway).

I would register a complaint with the BBB and also give them the review they deserve in as many venues as possible.

gunrunnerjohn said:

I would register a complaint with the BBB and also give them the review they deserve in as many venues as possible.

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That will not do anything against Dell. Dell is basically blaming Intel/AMD/Snapdragon for heat related issues.

One cheap and easy method is to use a 2.0mm thermal pad on the CPU heat sink. This will make the laptop not as hot and protect the heat from damaging the boards inside from heat.

I find it strange that Dell recently removed the article about the heat issues and listing the Dell laptop models where the thermal paste on the heat sinks were missing [a Dell production problem].

Mark K said:

The laptop seems to run better without all that heat. I may add another thermal pad in the laptop to see if it makes it cooler when running on intense heat

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Where do I get those thermal pads please

kevinboardley said:

Where do I get those thermal pads please

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Amazon.

Mark K said:

That will not do anything against Dell. Dell is basically blaming Intel/AMD/Snapdragon for heat related issues.

One cheap and easy method is to use a 2.0mm thermal pad on the CPU heat sink. This will make the laptop not as hot and protect the heat from damaging the boards inside from heat.

I find it strange that Dell recently removed the article about the heat issues and listing the Dell laptop models where the thermal paste on the heat sinks were missing [a Dell production problem].

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It would seem to me that Dell's thermal solution is at fault if they cannot keep the CPU temps under control. The TDP of the processor is a known quantity.
Also, a thermal pad needs to be in contact with some other surface to dissipate heat. Perhaps the thermal pad is helping the heat sink make better contact with the CPU die?

Mark K said:

Amazon.

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Guessed that thanks. All all thermal pads made the same?

kevinboardley said:

Guessed that thanks. All all thermal pads made the same?

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To my knowledge, yes. I could only find the 2mm thermal pads on Amazon.

HeavyHemi said:

It would seem to me that Dell's thermal solution is at fault if they cannot keep the CPU temps under control. The TDP of the processor is a known quantity.
Also, a thermal pad needs to be in contact with some other surface to dissipate heat. Perhaps the thermal pad is helping the heat sink make better contact with the CPU die?

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The 2mm thermal pad is keeping the heat down on the laptop. I have used them over the years and they work to dissipate heat.

FYI -

Even the MacBook Neo laptop have a heat issue where a thermal pad keeps it cooler.

Adding a thermal pad to any device will help reduce the heat. This will not void any warranties. That shows how knowledgeable Dell Support reps are with correcting problems.

Mark K said:

Adding a thermal pad to any device will help reduce the heat. This will not void any warranties. That shows how knowledgeable Dell Support reps are with correcting problems.

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I think the OP's post about his saga shows how knowledgeable Dell is about correcting issues!

gunrunnerjohn said:

I think the OP's post about his saga shows how knowledgeable Dell is about correcting issues!

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I was only referring to the thermal pad.

I deal with Dell Support quite a bit. They just take time to get anything done, but eventually they do.

Mark K said:

FYI -

Even the MacBook Neo laptop have a heat issue where a thermal pad keeps it cooler.

Adding a thermal pad to any device will help reduce the heat. This will not void any warranties. That shows how knowledgeable Dell Support reps are with correcting problems.

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Well no, just adding a thermal pad to something does not keep it cooler. There needs to be something dissipating the heat. Otherwise just adding a pad acts like an insulator. A thermal pad is designed to go between a device and a heatsink.

HeavyHemi said:

Well no, just adding a thermal pad to something does not keep it cooler. There needs to be something dissipating the heat. Otherwise just adding a pad acts like an insulator. A thermal pad is designed to go between a device and a heatsink.

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The primary purpose of a thermal pad on a laptop CPU heatsink is to act as a conductive bridge that transfers heat away from the processor to the heatsink, preventing overheating. Unlike thermal paste, these pads are designed to fill larger, uneven gaps between components and the cooler, while offering easier installation, less mess, and better durability against dry-out compared to paste.

Gaming laptop manufacturers have moved from liquid metal to the Honeywell PTM7958 thermal pad (a specialized version of PTM7950), which is not yet sold directly to individual consumers. Honeywell PTM7950/PTM7958 is a Phase Change Material (PCM).

(Note: Avoid buying the Honeywell PTM 'liquid' paste versions; they do not behave like traditional thermal paste and require a specific application process to match the pad's performance.)

I have a Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10, which utilizes PTM7958 thermal pad on both the CPU and GPU.

Google Gemini:

Why not Liquid Metal?​

While liquid metal has higher raw thermal conductivity, Lenovo has leaned into PTM7958 for several reasons:

1. Longevity: Traditional thermal paste "pumps out" (migrates away from the center of the chip) over time due to thermal expansion and contraction. PTM is largely immune to this, meaning you likely won't need to repaste for several years.
2. Reliability: In Gen 10, Lenovo's "ColdFront" cooling system uses a massive vapor chamber. PTM fills the microscopic gaps between the vapor chamber and the silicon dies more reliably than liquid metal, which can sometimes "bead up" or create dry spots.

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For me, the most important purchase criterion was highlighted in this review: "In other words, the fans are only loud when they need to be." In practice, that means the laptop is completely silent, for example, when I’m just browsing the web.

- Idle 22.9 / 22.9 / 26.3 dB(A)
- Load 27.8 / 53.9 dB(A)

zbook said:

Yes.



These are the applicable scripts/commands in addition to the temperature monitoring software:



V2

https://www.elevenforum.com/attachments/v2-log-collector1-11-zip.34993/

Tuneup plus

https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/bsod-crashes-debugging/360139d1645183596-batch-files-use-bsod-debugging-tuneup_plus_log.zip

Event viewer: system and application

Run administrative PS: > post share links

wevtutil epl Application "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\application.evtx" /ow:true

wevtutil epl System "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\system.evtx" /ow:true

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Hi

Ok have run all the logs and dumped some temp monitoring logs as well: 20260506_Dell 16250 Logs

Since the setting Dell Optimiser to 'Optimised' and the change of mobo the fan has been quieter and stopped for longer periods. But in use the fan still runs constantly, now usually at low level. Thought temps still seem to spike to 100 degrees, with reported throttling though (HWInfo).

Before I go back to Dell with these would be grateful for your thoughts. They have said that temp monitoring logs that show similar are 'normal'. So it probably comes down to interpretation of what 'normal' is and the interpretation of the individual logging apps.

Have had no more BSOD's as yet.

kevinboardley said:

Before I go back to Dell with these would be grateful for your thoughts. They have said that temp monitoring logs that show similar are 'normal'. So it probably comes down to interpretation of what 'normal' is and the interpretation of the individual logging apps.

Have had no more BSOD's as yet.

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After putting a 2mm thermal pad over the CPU heatsink, I have not had any issue with the laptop getting hot. Even if under a high CPU load for some time. This method is better than wasting time with Dell Support. Dell has put out a notice recently about these laptop getting hot. This is by design.


Dell: Identifying High Temperature, Heat, Thermal Concerns, Fan Noise on Dell Laptops