Processor Fan Grinding Sound - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SecretMethod70 · 01-12-2004, 01:43 PM

Lately my CPU fan has been making a faint grinding sound. It didn't used to do this.

Any thoughts on why it would start doing this and ways to fix it??? The computer has been working fine, but betetr safe than sorry.

sailor · 01-12-2004, 02:40 PM

It could just be dirty. Turn the computer off, unplug it, and suck the dust out of it (carefully) with a vacuum cleaner. If that doesnt work, try some lube--peel the sticker off the middle if there is one, and drip something in the hole there. If none of that does it, the fan is probably just on its last legs, and its time to replace it.

cheerios · 01-12-2004, 04:04 PM

bearings could be dying, too... best bet is to clean the dust out (compressed air will help there) and if it doesn't help, replace the bugger

SecretMethod70 · 01-12-2004, 04:09 PM

what's the average life for a fan? This one is about 2.5 years old.

BuDDaH · 01-12-2004, 04:37 PM

I'd say its time to get a new one, pronto.
The fan goes out, then there is a real danger of the CPU overheating. That happens, you can kiss it monkey, goodbye..

SecretMethod70 · 01-12-2004, 06:41 PM

is there any way to be sure it's the processor fan? I'm pretty sure it is, but my way of figuring it out was opening the case, sticking my head in, and listening wheer the sound came from

There's got to be a better way

Don't want to buy a new one if that's not the problem

Destrox · 01-12-2004, 06:51 PM

Simply unplug all ur case fans, leaving the power supply and cpu fan only.

SecretMethod70 · 01-12-2004, 10:11 PM

actually, listening a little bit closer, I think it's actually my GPU fan. Would probably explain some of the minor issues I experience only every now and then though.

Zegel · 01-12-2004, 10:18 PM

Well, the way I've seen most techs test that kind of thing is the old fashion way. Open it up, turn it on, and stick your finger against the fan for a second. Dont worry, it doesnt hurt (unless you have some kind of super-fan), and it wont fry your cpu since it only takes a second. If the noise stops, you've hit the right fan.

If you're comfortable with it, fans are pretty simple pieces of equipment. taking them apart completely and cleaning everything out will usually fix any grinding noises. But dont do that if its not something you're comfortable with doing.

SecretMethod70 · 01-12-2004, 10:38 PM

Zegel, you're right - it doesn't hurt. And it is my GPU fan. Thanks for encouraging me to stick my finger in - cause I would have thought it would hurt

Zegel · 01-12-2004, 10:42 PM

By GPU I'm assuming you mean the fan on your graphics card? If so, that sucks =(. You can try to open those up and clean them out if you're careful.... but they're usually impossible to actually replace, so if cleaning doesnt work you're either stuck with getting a new card or living with the sound.

tehblaed · 01-16-2004, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zegel
Well, the way I've seen most techs test that kind of thing is the old fashion way. Open it up, turn it on, and stick your finger against the fan for a second. Dont worry, it doesnt hurt (unless you have some kind of super-fan), and it wont fry your cpu since it only takes a second.

HAHAHAHAH.

Yeah buddy, I thought the same thing too.

Thanks to my 7000 rpm dragon orb 3, and the same "Oh, it won't hurt" mindset, I have one less tip of a finger.

meff · 01-17-2004, 07:39 AM

Hrm, check screws, aircan the damn thing to hell until you can't see any dust, then check.. I do this monthly at least..

meff · 01-17-2004, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zegel
Well, the way I've seen most techs test that kind of thing is the old fashion way. Open it up, turn it on, and stick your finger against the fan for a second. Dont worry, it doesnt hurt (unless you have some kind of super-fan)

Also a tip, touch the middle of the fan and you can feel it spin and stop it without it ripping your finger (if its a faster fan) just push down a little harder or you'll burn your finger (I doubt it though)

merkerguitars · 01-18-2004, 09:52 AM

If you can take it fully apart...only guaranteed way to make sure that its clean and old toothbrush does wonders for cleaning them out too.

JStrider · 01-18-2004, 02:17 PM

well id get a new gpu cooler....

thermaltake makes pretty good ones... heres there gf4 cooler
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...=BROWSE&depa=1

i couldnt find any of their other gpu coolers on newegg...

genstylez · 01-18-2004, 02:48 PM

I had a problem similar and when i opened up the case to check it out, I found out the fan was grinding the sticker that came with it, sometimes its as simple as that. Try cleaning it out with a compressed air can, and checking screws like stated earlier.

01-12-2004, 01:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Processor Fan Grinding Sound Lately my CPU fan has been making a faint grinding sound. It didn't used to do this. Any thoughts on why it would start doing this and ways to fix it??? The computer has been working fine, but betetr safe than sorry. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

01-12-2004, 02:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	It could just be dirty. Turn the computer off, unplug it, and suck the dust out of it (carefully) with a vacuum cleaner. If that doesnt work, try some lube--peel the sticker off the middle if there is one, and drip something in the hole there. If none of that does it, the fan is probably just on its last legs, and its time to replace it. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

01-12-2004, 04:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	what's the average life for a fan? This one is about 2.5 years old. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

01-12-2004, 04:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
BuDDaH The Matrix had a point... Moderator Emeritus Location: 10th Mountain ASB Fort Drum, N.Y.	I'd say its time to get a new one, pronto. The fan goes out, then there is a real danger of the CPU overheating. That happens, you can kiss it monkey, goodbye.. __________________ I'd hit that so hard whoever could pull me out would become King of England! Last edited by BuDDaH; 01-16-2004 at 07:24 PM..

01-12-2004, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	is there any way to be sure it's the processor fan? I'm pretty sure it is, but my way of figuring it out was opening the case, sticking my head in, and listening wheer the sound came from There's got to be a better way Don't want to buy a new one if that's not the problem __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

01-12-2004, 04:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
cheerios Banned Location: 'bout 2 feet from my iMac	bearings could be dying, too... best bet is to clean the dust out (compressed air will help there) and if it doesn't help, replace the bugger

01-12-2004, 06:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Destrox Metal and Rock 4 Life Location: Phoenix	Simply unplug all ur case fans, leaving the power supply and cpu fan only. __________________ You bore me.... next.

01-12-2004, 10:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	actually, listening a little bit closer, I think it's actually my GPU fan. Would probably explain some of the minor issues I experience only every now and then though. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

01-12-2004, 10:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Zegel Tilted	Well, the way I've seen most techs test that kind of thing is the old fashion way. Open it up, turn it on, and stick your finger against the fan for a second. Dont worry, it doesnt hurt (unless you have some kind of super-fan), and it wont fry your cpu since it only takes a second. If the noise stops, you've hit the right fan. If you're comfortable with it, fans are pretty simple pieces of equipment. taking them apart completely and cleaning everything out will usually fix any grinding noises. But dont do that if its not something you're comfortable with doing.

01-12-2004, 10:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Zegel, you're right - it doesn't hurt. And it is my GPU fan. Thanks for encouraging me to stick my finger in - cause I would have thought it would hurt __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

01-12-2004, 10:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Zegel Tilted	By GPU I'm assuming you mean the fan on your graphics card? If so, that sucks =(. You can try to open those up and clean them out if you're careful.... but they're usually impossible to actually replace, so if cleaning doesnt work you're either stuck with getting a new card or living with the sound.

01-17-2004, 07:39 AM	#13 (permalink)
meff Vanishing, like I do.. Location: Austin, TX	Hrm, check screws, aircan the damn thing to hell until you can't see any dust, then check.. I do this monthly at least.. __________________ Toy-like people make me boy-like.

01-18-2004, 09:52 AM	#15 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	If you can take it fully apart...only guaranteed way to make sure that its clean and old toothbrush does wonders for cleaning them out too. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

01-18-2004, 02:17 PM	#16 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	well id get a new gpu cooler.... thermaltake makes pretty good ones... heres there gf4 cooler http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...=BROWSE&depa=1 i couldnt find any of their other gpu coolers on newegg... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

01-18-2004, 02:48 PM	#17 (permalink)
genstylez Tilted Location: :D	I had a problem similar and when i opened up the case to check it out, I found out the fan was grinding the sticker that came with it, sometimes its as simple as that. Try cleaning it out with a compressed air can, and checking screws like stated earlier.