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View Full Version : [ubuntu] Dell XPS M1330 - Warm Palmrest

dagurb
June 26th, 2008, 06:08 AM
I have recently started using a WUPI install of Ubuntu 8.04 on my laptop. The problem is that the palm rest gets very warm, even if the computer is just idling. The problem is not confined to either side of the palm rest. The whole thing gets uncomfortably warm for my wrists.

Windows Vista does not have this problem and the computer remains quite cool under most circumstances when running it. Even while running intensive computer games such as Half-Life 2.

I have paid close attention to CPU usage on my computer and that does not seem to be a problem. As I'm writing this the CPU remains at a rather steady 5-15% @ 800MHz.
atlas95
June 26th, 2008, 03:18 PM
I have the same problem ! same computer, but I have memory which is warmest than the default, and a hdd 7200rpm :/
Maybe we can tweak something for make it coolest?
IamReck
June 27th, 2008, 12:24 AM
Same problem! Only when I do not have it on my cooling station though...

I don't use Vista, so I don't know if it happens there or not.
atlas95
June 27th, 2008, 05:16 AM
What is your cooling station? Is it expensive? Could you give me an ebay/ebay like link please?
Thanks :)
IamReck
June 27th, 2008, 08:28 AM
You can't but it anymore, it is just a platform with two fans that you put under your laptop, just google around for Laptop Cooling, or something to that effect.

It works though.
sdennie
June 27th, 2008, 10:43 PM
I was seeing this too. The things I did to fix it were:

1) Bought some compressed air and cleaned out the vents on the machine.

2) Upgraded to BIOS A11 (which states, "Added enhancement for thermal control" but, it doesn't say anything specific about what that means)

I'm not sure which made the difference (maybe both) but, the machine is running nearly 10C cooler.
Kernel Sanders
June 28th, 2008, 02:23 PM
Same problem with the M1330, and mine has been running Windows since I bought it.

I'm about to upgrade to Mint though :guitar:
IamReck
June 29th, 2008, 07:49 PM
I was seeing this too. The things I did to fix it were:

1) Bought some compressed air and cleaned out the vents on the machine.

2) Upgraded to BIOS A11 (which states, "Added enhancement for thermal control" but, it doesn't say anything specific about what that means)

I'm not sure which made the difference (maybe both) but, the machine is running nearly 10C cooler.

How did you upgrade the BIOS?
sdennie
June 30th, 2008, 01:37 AM
I more or less followed the Dell instructions from here: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/12/05/37446.aspx. The final step didn't actually work for me and so I ended up having to manually select the system-bios-xps-m1330 package via synaptic. However, now I get BIOS updates via the update manager whenever they become available.

Note: If you do this, on my machine, when you do the reboot, it's a bit worrisome in that the screen has a bunch of vertical lines that gradually fade in and then the machine reboots again. It's my second BIOS update and it's done it both times. It doesn't appear to be anything to worry about.
dagurb
June 30th, 2008, 02:18 PM
Well, I've just updated the firmware to A11 and it's still too hot! :(
flakrat
July 1st, 2008, 04:20 PM
Dang, didn't realize you could upgrade the BIOS that way.

I just used a USB floppy drive from work, copied the EXE BIOS update file to a DOS bootable floppy and ran it after booting the laptop to DOS. The BIOS updated without any spooky messages, which is comforting.

As for the warm palm rests, I don't have them, however the touchpad is warmer than I'd like, but it may be the same in Windows for all I know.

How do you tell what the CPU temperature is?
sdennie
July 1st, 2008, 04:22 PM
For the temperature, try:


acpi -t
flakrat
July 1st, 2008, 04:31 PM
Cool, thanks:

acpi -t

Thermal 1: ok, 38.0 degrees C
dagurb
July 2nd, 2008, 08:13 PM
My CPU goes up to ~80°C during heavy processing but while browsing or watching videos at 800MHz it stays around 56°C. Is that too hot? All the while my palm rest is still very hot.
sdennie
July 6th, 2008, 02:54 AM
I've been testing this out the last few days and I think a lot of the palmrest heat is coming from the hard drive (and possibly the wifi card). I've been using my m1330 on battery a lot lately and, basically using the instructions here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=847773), the difference in palmrest temperature is noticeable (it wasn't too bad before but, now it's almost room temperature on battery). I honestly can't say if it's a function of my guide or a function of the BIOS doing something automatically when on battery power but, it might be worth it to try it for a day and see if you notice a difference.