New HP Spectre x360 - 13 2018 noisy fan

[Sayps]

Hello guys 🙂 

You must download HP Command center, update bios, and update windows. 

Your laptop is high. So must sing  to pluggin AC adaoter and turn on third choice in total commander- few minut well be fan on maximum and then on few minuts later make first choice in commander center. Every time you must have choice first with screen up. 

[doubletmatthew]

I have the same problem. I'm thinking of returning it and downgrading to tthe Elitebook 850 G5. Rather have lower performance than put up with constant loud fan!

[emasty]

Same issue here.

I've already updated to F21 rev.A but no success.

The strange thing is, sometimes, the notebook stays relatively quite, allowing temperatures around 50-70°C before cooling down again. And sometimes, the temperature is down to 37°C but the fan is constantly spinning.

In most of the cases, the fan switches on above 52°C and off below 45°C (which is hard to reach). It totally doesn't make any sense. If i get a proper boot with fan kicking in above 70°, I can use the laptop most of the time without the fan kicking in and the outer surface stays still convenient to the touch. But that scenario barely happens.

Even as I am writing that text, the fan does not go off. The CPU has 49°C but doesn't go below. 

Most often, I get the scenario where the fan is on most of the times. Even changing to "quiet" in the Command Center doesn't help at all. Often, the fan kicks in, if I change to the quiet profile and goes off, when switching back to normal.

It totally doesn't make any sense and it is soo annoying. Also, no answer from HP on that.

The firmware/bios/windows driver seem to be a total mess...

I can also often see, that the CPU is often running in full turbo in idle...which doesn't make any sense.

Notebook fan control doesn't seem to work, also throttle stop brings no success.

HP, PLEASE PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!!!!

[simitu]

BIOS F22 is out.

[emasty]

Thanks, I saw it the same day.

Installed it, no change.

It is just insane how the processor is clocked at nearly no utilization when plugged in.

And it is also insane how and when the fan kicks in. HP doesn't even allow the notebook to heat up to a comfortable, hand warm temperature.

It's like using a hair dryer...

[vgiz]

Ok, I know this sounds nuts...  but if your fans are stuck running at the slowest speed, try tilting your laptop to the right so it starts to go into tablet mode.  I should just make a youtube video of this - but the second I get asked if I want to go into laptop mode, my fan stops (only if the fan had been running in it's lowest mode).   It happens so reliably, I thought there's a fault in a sensor or maybe it generates an interrupt that lets the system wake up and shut down the fan.

[emasty]

No, it doesn't sound nuts. I recognized the same last weekend by accident. The fans switch off when you tilt it 90 degree. 

They even often stay off and go back on when you bring it back in horizontal position. But I never checked if that has to do with the tablet mode...

Please all contact HP support. HP should get aware of the fan issue. But they don't seem to read the forum.

Edit:

No, it really seems to be connected to the internal fan control. Most of the time, I am running Linux  even if the fan there is even more screwed up. Linux doesn't have an HP driver to control the fan so everything is controlled by a chip.

Using Linux, the fan often switches on even at 45 degree celcius and will never turn off. Tilting the spectre or folding it into Tablet mode makes the fan quiet and allows to run the notebook quietly.

Sometimes a reboot helps. But only if the fan doesn't go on when in EFI boot. If it does  the fan is even more messed up.

It seems like the internal control circuit crashes often or gets into a state where the fan is always running. 

I also recognized that often, if the notebook was switched off for some time and than switched back on, the fan instantly start the second you press the power button. Then the fan gets even worse. Killing the boot process instantly and switching it back on helps. 

I start to believe that the internal fan contol is extremely messed up and buggy. And I don't know if an update can solve that.

I am currently waiting to hear back from HP support. They've asked me to collect some log files and record the behavior on video which I provided. But right now I am not optimistic. I think the device is just very badly designed and if I could would try to get rid of it. 

[vgiz]

Notebook Fan Control has a configuration that works with the x360. 

• Install it from here Windows Version of NBFC
•  Load up the config called "HP ENVY x360 Convertible 13-ag0xxx"
•  Set "Fan Control Service Status" to "Enabled"
•   Enjoy the silence.  Seems to bring up fans appropriately as cpu heats up and shuts down them down quickly when temps under control.

I'm not positing this as a long term solution - just something to tide us over until HP can figure better thermal strategy.  

[emasty]

Does not work on my device. Does it still work for you? 

It seems to disable the fan sometimes and not control it. But that also only works sometimes and only for half an hour or so. Then, everything is back to jet engine. 

[vgiz]

I used the NBFC 1.6 beta with the x360 config on my pc in quiet and normal modes for a full evening of light activity (web, youtube and software installs).  The fans were well behaved - core temps and total temp stayed around 50c.  The fans went on occasionally - medium/low and cycled off.   The laptop was on a flat surface, plugged in part of the time, and the battery profile was set to just below max performance.  All in all, I was very happy with the fan management.   As good as my  earlier model spectre which how I was expecting it to perform.

I'm on the road for a few days, but when I get back, I intend on running it through some benchmarks to make sure the performance isn't hampered.   I will say, I'm fine with disabling NBFC during heavy work (photoshop).  I just want it quiet when writing and recording audio.    I have another week to return the unit, which is why I need to run it through its paces this weekend.

Good luck.