Description of problem: Updated Dell XPS-M1300 from F12 to F14 (using preupgrade, frequently updated since), since then the laptop runs very hot (easily 80C when busy, about 60-70 when idle). The problem is not related to dust, because when running a previous kernel (2.6.32.23-170.fc12.i686.PAE) or WinXP things are cool. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): No idea which component causes this. How reproducible: Always when running F14 using the default kernel
Hint: for some time now, a vertical band on the display shows distorted pixel colors (they also show rapidly changing "noise"). Could it be that some part of the graphics is going/melting?
Stab in the dark...
The pixels are most distorted when temperature becomes higher (i.e. F14 working), and remain calmer when on WinXP or F12.
It seems more XPS F14 users have the same problems: http://fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=248403 https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=614691
Found a workaround: Inspired by comment 5 of bug 614691 ( https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=614691 ) I actually installed i8kutils. Running i8kmon manually after logging in starts the fans and keeps my laptop cool.
i8kutils comes with problems as well, fan staying on at full throttle all time, reporting a (false) temperature of 127 C. Using /etc/grub.conf I now boot into 2.6.32.23-170.fc12.i686.PAE by default. Will try how my dell reacts to any new kernels as they come out.
2.6.35.10-74.fc14.i686.PAE works fine, temperatures at c. 50 C idle, I can live with that.
closing per comment #7