Hi devans99,

It is normal for the fan to run constantly even with 5% CPU load. However, there could be an issue with the fan, if it runs at high speeds.

I suggest you to run a Custom Test on the CPU fan if it is running at high speeds by following the steps provided below:

1. Restart the computer.
2. As the computer boots, press when the Dell Splash Screen appears.
3. When the Boot menu appears, highlight the Boot to Utility Partition option, or the Diagnostics option and then press to start the 32-bit Dell Diagnostics.
Note: In some cases, PSA Diagnostics will run first. If you receive an error during PSA diagnostics continue onto 32-bit Diagnostics, Press N for No when it asks you to Continue Memory Tests.

4. Press the key to highlight ‘Custom Test’.Press to continue to 32-bit Diagnostics and run the test on the CPU Fan.

Please let me know about your findings.

devans99,

I don't usually recommend a BIOS upgrade, since I'm not a Dell employee, but what version is the BIOS you have on the system?

Thought I heard there was a bios update that fixed the fan issue, not sure of the model(s).

Maybe DELL-Rajath N has more information on this.

Rick

my xps 12 also has a constant loud running fan, it also gets quite hot

Here are the results of the test:

High Speed RPM: 5700

Max Speed RPM: 3600

Required Samples in range 1

Maximum Samples: 30

Target fan RPM: 3500

Detected fan RPM:3300

Tolerance in percent:40

Required Samples in range 1

Maximum Samples: 30

Target fan RPM: 5700

Detected fan RPM:5200

Tolerance in percent:40

Test Results: pass

The BIOS version is AO4.

The fan does run pretty much constantly, but its not getting hot.

Its a little disappointing and the fan is rather a distraction and detracts from the otherwise good experience.

Hi devans99,

Thank you for your reply and for providing the test results. The fan is working properly and the system has the latest BIOS version installed.  However, you can try cleaning the air vents with a can of compressed air and check it is reduces the fan noise, as it is located just below the air vents.

kraigiie, please run the Diagnostics by following the steps provided by me in the post and let me know the results.

It sounds like a problem to me. My fan only comes on when the CPU usage is high for a while. Normally it's completely silent, even if the sustained load is above 5%.

devans99: You're not sitting the laptop on a pillow or some other soft surface are you? That would tend to prevent the heat from escaping, and the fan would come on to try to cool it down.

I've tried a few experiments. From a cold boot, and ensuring the machine has cooled down, the machine can sit unused and idle at less than 5% cpu with no fan. However under normal usage (general browsing, email) sitting on a desk in a warm room, the fan will come on. It's not obnoxious, just mildly irritating. The fan isn't running a full tilt, but it is enough to be annoying when compared to an iPad.

This is not an iPad or a tablet. It is a laptop that is comparable to a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro 13. I am not sure why Dell markets it like a tablet. Essentially undermining a good laptop by making it a bad tablet. Tablets don't weigh over 3 pounds, they are not 12.5 inches, they done have feet, they don't have fans, they don't use Solid State Drives, they don't use Intel Core I5s or Core I7s.

Rajath N

I was having the same issue with my new XPS12. It did not happen when I first got the machine but a couple of weeks later.   Fan ran continuously high and battery life is reduced significantly.  I used you procedure above and ran the fan diagnostic.  When complete, the diagnostic reported fan was okay.  The interesting thing is from that point on the fan ran properly and battery life returned.  It would seem that somehow the fan control gets corrupted and running the diagnostic resets it.  

I would prefer a permanent fix instead of having to run the diagnostic, even occasionally.  After all it is a new machine.

Chuck