Dell Fan Management — Software for controlling the Dell laptop fan speed

[Aaron44126]

Current link to 3.0 beta version (GUI) — https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsIwJHFk4EFdqNc2I45BxBqHhwaKIA

 

Please note that this software is not currently under active development and it is released in an "as is" state.  Also note that it does not work with Dell systems released in 2022 and later.

 

Requirements:

• 64-bit Windows
• The program is intended for use with Precision 7000-series systems, but it will likely work with all manner of Dell laptops, and maybe even smaller desktops (with Intel Sandy Bridge / 2nd-gen CPU or better)

• BUT systems with 11th-gen CPUs and later (systems released in 2021 or later) are currently not supported.  (The program may run, but you will not be able to control the fans.)
• Current Visual C++ redistributable (https://aka.ms/vs/16/release/vc_redist.x64.exe)
• .NET Framework 4.8 runtime (https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet-framework/thank-you/net48-web-installer)
• .NET 6.0 runtime (https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/6.0/runtime, desktop x64)
• In the registry, visit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CI\Policy, make a DWORD value called "UpgradedSystem" (no quotes) and set it to 0. Then, reboot. This allows drivers without a Microsoft EV signature to be loaded. (At some point I will have a version that will offer to set this value automatically at first launch.)

 

To run the program, extract the zip file, and then open "DellFanManagement.exe" with elevated permissions ("as administrator").

Source code is here: https://github.com/AaronKelley/DellFanManagement

 

More information regarding previous 2.0 version (command line) — https://web.archive.org/web/20211121044820/http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/dellfanmanagement-dellfankeepalive-–-tools-for-managing-the-fan-speed-in-dell-laptops.833340/

[Rob]

My Inspiron 7590 says:

Fan 1 level 0 speed: 0
Fan 1 level 1 speed: 2123
Fan 1 level 2 speed: 4769

Fan 2 level 0 speed: 0
Fan 2 level 1 speed: 2134
Fan 2 level 2 speed: 4761


DellFanManagement-3.0beta2 works fine and as intended, but makes me wish for an extra. Dell thermal management has nothing between 3150 and 0 rpm, and if the speed is fixed at 3200 (consistency) the fans are quite loud. I would like to be able to have the "medium speed" of 2200 rpm instead when the consistency condtions (< 3200 rpm and low temps) are met.

Background: the Inspiron 7590 is badly designed with a potent processor (i7 - 9750H in my case which would like a package power of 45 Watts even without the GPU) and a puny cooling system wich is good for a package power of something like 15 Watts. Restricting the power limit to 10 Watts (with the help of throttlestop) leaves me with half the computing power and a quarter of the heat. But Dell still lets the fans roar or be quiet and then roar some more.

[Samir]

Neat!  I'll try this on my M6800 once I load and OS on it. 🙂  Have you tried it on your M6700 yet?

Edited February 5, 2022 by Samir
M6700?

[Aaron44126]

6 hours ago, Samir said:

Neat!  I'll try this on my M6800 once I load and OS on it. 🙂  Have you tried it on your M6700 yet?

I wrote this software exactly because I hated the default fan behavior on the M6700.  I’ve been running some version of it since early 2019.

I don’t take credit for actually figuring out the fan control.  That’s been known for some time.  I just took bits and pieces for other people and combined them into an app….  I hope to keep working on it and “finish it up” but it is hard to find the time these days.

[Samir]

5 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

I wrote this software exactly because I hated the default fan behavior on the M6700.  I’ve been running some version of it since early 2019.

I don’t take credit for actually figuring out the fan control.  That’s been known for some time.  I just took bits and pieces for other people and combined them into an app….  I hope to keep working on it and “finish it up” but it is hard to find the time these days.

Nice. :)  I'll definitely have to see what it can do on the m6800.  I read your thread about modding the cooling--drilling that much that precisely would have been daunting to me!  Do you continue to use your software even with the cooling mod?

[Aaron44126]

1 hour ago, Samir said:

Nice. 🙂 I'll definitely have to see what it can do on the m6800.  I read your thread about modding the cooling--drilling that much that precisely would have been daunting to me!  Do you continue to use your software even with the cooling mod?

Yes, not really sure how beneficial all of that drilling was but it didn't hurt anything at least.  I didn't find it to be that difficult but it was time consuming and my back hurt a bit after bending over for so long 😕.

[Samir]

5 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

I didn't find it to be that difficult but it was time consuming and my back hurt a bit after bending over for so long 😕.

Been there done that--very easy way to find out how weak your back muscles are. :(

[developer]

Hello,

 

This app working properly with my 7750 10th gen processor but unfortunately it is not working with 11th gen processor 7760.

 

I have bios unlocked too, I can do undervolting and if I can control the fans it would be great.

 

Thank you for your support.

[Aaron44126]

Hi, this is a known issue.  Dell has changed the BIOS interface starting with 11th gen (2021 systems).  At the moment, there is no option for manual fan control.

[aldarxt]

You wrote "if the EC is left in charge of the fans, it has five (?) different fan speeds that it will use" from archive, does this mean all 5 being usable in the present session or would there be 3 in each session of runtime? I haven't installed it yet

[Aaron44126]

4 hours ago, aldarxt said:

You wrote "if the EC is left in charge of the fans, it has five (?) different fan speeds that it will use" from archive, does this mean all 5 being usable in the present session or would there be 3 in each session of runtime? I haven't installed it yet

There, I am just describing the normal behavior of the laptop under EC control (i.e. not using fan management software).  With “automatic control” there are more speeds available than with manual control…. you cannot force it to one of those speeds though.

[aldarxt]

2 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

There, I am just describing the normal behavior of the laptop under EC control (i.e. not using fan management software).  With “automatic control” there are more speeds available than with manual control…. you cannot force it to one of those speeds though.

Thanks, I was just hoping I could get more than the 3 speeds ,  to 4 speeds like High, medium, low and 0. I set in my Alienware the low fanspeed up 3 points to 78 in bios just to have it at a cooler base before it goes into high, but it still gets up there under load

[PolygonBronson]

The OneDrive link to the GUI isn't working for me, it says the file has been removed. Any chance getting a new link or am I missing something? After falling down the rabbit hole trying to properly control the fans in my Dell, this tool looks like it might be exactly what I've been looing for so I'm stoked to try it.

 

Thanks a bunch!

[Aaron44126]

22 minutes ago, PolygonBronson said:

The OneDrive link to the GUI isn't working for me

 

Refreshed the link, try again.

(Expiration is now 2022-12-31.  I keep hoping that I can get a new build out, but I do not have time to work on it.)

[raptorddd]

On 4/10/2022 at 12:14 PM, Aaron44126 said:

There, I am just describing the normal behavior of the laptop under EC control (i.e. not using fan management software).  With “automatic control” there are more speeds available than with manual control…. you cannot force it to one of those speeds though.

so the EC is what controls fan speed. i wonder if the EC.bin file could be edited then reflash the bin file.

am ok with m4600 but would like the fans to kick in sooner not around 60-70c.

[commissioneranthony]

Neat piece of software!

Unfortunately, I cant seem to get "consistency" mode working on my precision 7540. I set lower temp threshold to 10, upper as 85, rpm threshold at 2800, and the application just states "waiting for embedded controller to activate the fans" on the bottom left.
I have Visual C++, .net 4.8 and .net 5.0 installed and modified the registry as stated.
There were a few posts about "unlocking" the bios. What does that entail? Could that be related?
Thanks!

[Aaron44126]

26 minutes ago, commissioneranthony said:

Neat piece of software!

Unfortunately, I cant seem to get "consistency" mode working on my precision 7540. I set lower temp threshold to 10, upper as 85, rpm threshold at 2800, and the application just states "waiting for embedded controller to activate the fans" on the bottom left.

 

"Lower temperature threshold" needs to be something that is achievable.  (65 °C maybe?)  The program will not try to lock the fan speed unless the temperatures are below that value.

 

If it says "waiting for embedded controller to activate the fans", I guess that the fans are off (0 RPM)?  The program can't lock in the fan speed until the fans are running.  Wait for the EC to decide to turn them on, or run something that will generate a bit of load.  (I never have to generate load.  The system will kick them on eventually.)

[commissioneranthony]

Oh that makes a lot more sense. I'm just setting up a new machine and testing out the fan control. It is at idle, so the fans are at 0rpm. I'll try again with a load. Thanks!

[solemgar]

Dear all,

 

In a 7590 with windows 11 doesn't work (all the proper runtimes are installed) and I get this weird stacktrace regarding the GPU (nvidia 1650).

Pressing OK keeps the app open, but once you select any option (such as disabling EC), the app stops responding and you can't click anywhere else.

 

[Aaron44126]

This issue is caused by a change in NVAPI behavior in newer NVIDIA driver versions.  I just found out about it this morning.  I will be investigating next week.  In the meantime, you can roll back to an earlier NVIDIA driver, or run a program that uses the NVIDIA GPU to keep it powered on while Dell Fan Management is running.

[solemgar]

Thanks @Aaron44126!! If there is any testing I can do, please let me know :) 

[Aaron44126]

I updated my NVIDIA driver today to Dell's 512.18, and was able to reproduce this issue.

 

I took the pull request but added some extra logic so that the program can "remember" the GPU name from previous working requests when the GPU was powered on.

 

Here's a test build.  I'll do a proper release tomorrow or the next day.  There's another bug that I've been sitting on that I want to address, relating to the "Thermal setting" feature.

 

Note that the project has been moved from .NET 5 to .NET 6, so you'll have to install the .NET 6 runtime if you do not have it.

 

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsIwJHFk4EFdqKJP4MOlZA6NwrWAPg

 

[Edit] Refreshed link, good until 1/1/2023.

[solemgar]

Thanks a million @Aaron44126, I went back to windows 10 and have to reinstall some stuff but will test as soon as possible.

[SinCityTeck]

@Aaron44126 I came across an issue when I recently upgraded my Dell Latitude E5470 to Windows 11, I attached the error message I get when I open the program which I love by the way. Do you know how I can fix this? 

[Aaron44126]

19 hours ago, SinCityTeck said:

Do you know how I can fix this?

 

Huh, never seen that one before.  It's trying to load the file "irrKlang.NET4.dll", which should be in the same location as the main program, and getting an error.

 

Check and make sure that you have the file and that it has not been messed with or corrupted, I guess?  The MD5 hash is e52968028c3c4c1b94576eae48ffe411.

 

...I tested on Windows 11 and didn't run into this, but it has been nearly a year since I have done so, and I don't have any (non-VM) Windows 11 machines sitting around currently.  If my Precision 7770 shows up tomorrow as planned, it will have Windows 11 preloaded and I'll give this a try again.