5. Using The Dell XPS M1710: Temperature Management

With the Dell XPS M1710 full assembled we measured temperatures on the keyboard deck, the bottom of the computer's case, at the CPU vent and at the graphics processor vent. An infrared thermometer was used for all measurements. Keyboard deck temperatures were measured in 4 x 4 matrix representing 16 locations on the deck. The same procedure was used for the case bottom. Vent temperatures were measured once for each vent, in the horizontal center of the vent.

We made two sets of measurements. The first set was made one hour after the computer was turned on and with the computer running at idle, that is no software was running. The second set of measurements were made after the first set with the computer running FutureMark's 3DMark05 gaming benchmark suite. Thanks to Max Wilson for gathering the raw temperature data.

Interestingly the top of the XPS M1710 tended to run cooler under 3DMark05 than when it was idling. This is because the fans did not turn on much at idle (allowing heat to accumulate in the components), while the fans ran more or less continuously under 3DMark05.

Not surprisingly, the 4 x 4 matrix measurements showed that the highest temperatures on the keyboard deck occurred toward the back, above the Nvidia graphics processor, the Intel 945PM Northbridge chip and the Intel Core Duo CPU. At idle, high temperatures ranged between 100 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 and 41.4 degrees Celsius). With 3DMark05 running, high temperatures ran from 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (35.0 to 37.8 degrees Celsius).

Temperatures on the case bottom ran hottest below the graphics processor, Northbridge chip and CPU. There was also considerable, though lower heat where the disk drive and memory are located. High temperatures ranged between 98 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit (36.6 and 41.1 degrees Celsius) at idle and pretty much the same when running 3DMark05.

The following tables show mean, minimum and maximum temperatures for the idle and 3DMark 4 x 4 matrix measurements for the keyboard deck and the case bottom. Following those four tables are two tables showing temperatures at the Nvidia graphics processor and Northbridge/CPU vents in idle mode and with 3DMark05 running. Notice how the mean vent temperatures are always a fair amount higher than the mean temperature measures for the deck and bottom. That's a good indication that the cooling system is doing its job well.

Keyboard Deck, Running Idle (Temperature Fahrenheit / Celsius)

Keyboard Deck, Running 3DMark05 (Temperature Fahrenheit / Celsius)

Bottom of Notebook, Running Idle (Temperature Fahrenheit / Celsius)

Bottom of Notebook, Running 3DMark05 (Temperature Fahrenheit / Celsius)

Air Vents, Notebook Running Idle (Temperature Fahrenheit / Celsius)

Air Vents, Notebook Running 3DMark05 (Temperature Fahrenheit / Celsius)