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Geek Culture / CPU Fan Slowing...Processor heating up

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Destrugter 1
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Posted: 13th Jul 2011 10:43
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Hey everyone. Not long ago I built my first custom PC. Ok, now it's treated me VERY well until just recently. I noticed SpeedFan was reporting odd temperatures...like...idling at 51C+ when I was idling at 37C. I thought at first it might be the increase in temperature lately (been 95F and up for almost a week straight). I run my computer almost 24/7.

Anyway, I looked at the fan speed in SpeedFan and it was reporting a speed of about half what it normally reports. I thought this was so surprising. I have tried a couple things but to no avail. I searched Google. Now, before I give up and buy a new fan and heatsink and not be able to do crap for 3 weeks on my computer, I decided to ask anyone here for any help. I tried doing the SMART thing via the BIOS, that didn't work. The BIOS has virtually nothing on my fan, other than enabling SMART.

Anyone have any suggestions at all?

My name is Brian.
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The Wilderbeast
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Posted: 13th Jul 2011 13:08 Edited at: 13th Jul 2011 13:09
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I don't think you'll get anywhere with SMART, it's a technology to do with hard drive upkeep. Try running it through a 3 pin - Molex adapter (running it off unmoderated 12V) and see if your temps drop. If they don't then your fan is knackered.

Also make sure that you don't have manual fan control turned on in SpeedFan.


Blitzwerks | Indie Development Team
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Destrugter 1
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Posted: 13th Jul 2011 15:15 Edited at: 13th Jul 2011 15:23
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Well my BIOS calls it Smart Fan, I put SMART and that's not what it is. I turned it on and off, put it on 3-pin and 4-pin. I don't have the adapter you speak of, and delaying the fixing by ordering a part before figuring it out is just going to ruin my summer.

It just kind of randomly happened. After that Steam sale, I left my computer on for about 4 or 5 days without any breaks and I noticed it only then. I didn't pay much attention at the beginning of the process. Of course I was using it then too, I monitor it but I don't spend an extended period of time watching it.

In my BIOS hardware monitor, it says the fan is getting 12.01v. But even in the BIOS stage it's running at half speed, not just when windows loads, so I don't see how it could be a software issue.

Anyway, anymore input is ok. I might even have a warranty on the fan, I'll check.

[EDIT]
Here is the fan I bought. Since it's been more than 30 days, I can't return it. But oh well, it's a $20 fan. It's got all the specs on it on that page.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7248279


[EDIT]
By the looks of it, it's got some pretty bad reviews.

My name is Brian.
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The Wilderbeast
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Posted: 13th Jul 2011 16:30
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If you're on a budget then buy an Arctic Freezer Pro 7, they're about £15 in the UK, pretty quiet and very cool.


Blitzwerks | Indie Development Team
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xplosys
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Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 13th Jul 2011 16:39
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It probably is the fan but you should do as The Wilderbeast suggested and run the fan through a 12V source other than the current CPU fan connector. You won't be able to monitor it through the BIOS of course, but you may be able to see a difference. If there's no noticeable difference, then you can be fairly certain that the fan is failing.

Brian.

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Ocho Geek
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Location: Manchester, UK
Posted: 13th Jul 2011 19:21
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Quote: "I left my computer on for about 4 or 5 days without any breaks and I noticed it only then."


That kind of use is really going to shorten your system life


Not Spanish, Not Eight, Just Ocho

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Indicium
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Posted: 13th Jul 2011 19:43
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Quote: "That kind of use is really going to shorten your system life"


Care to explain how? As long as the cooling works, there's no problem with it, obviously he didn't know his cooling was failing. If this was the case, servers wouldn't be doing too well.

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bitJericho
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Posted: 14th Jul 2011 12:57 Edited at: 14th Jul 2011 12:58
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Quote: "That kind of use is really going to shorten your system life "


I've had my computer running non-stop since I put it together years ago. A video card did die because of that though (the fan died in the middle of the night) But otherwise no problems.

As for your cooler, it looks like it just uses a standard 80mm case fan on top of that heatsink. That should run you a couple bucks and you can pick one up locally at just about any place that sells computer parts.

All you have to do is unscrew the fan and put in a different. No need to even remove the heatsink.

[center]Official TGC President elect.
Pwning newbs since 2002.
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Phaelax
DBPro Master
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Posted: 15th Jul 2011 01:36
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If you look for my PC cleaning thread a few weeks ago, I noted that my BIOS keeps track of how long my PC has been powered up and running. Which came out to be about the entire 3.5 years or so that I've owned it without anything failing.

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Dark Java Dude 64
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Posted: 15th Jul 2011 09:04
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The thing i see failing after only a few years non stop use is the HDD. Unless you sleep the computer when not in use, thats ok.


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PAGAN_old
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Posted: 16th Jul 2011 20:18
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besides, changing the heat paste and cleaning he heatsink, another thing you could do is oil the motor. They do tend to start failing after a long while but from my own experience, most failing fans are an easy fix by oiling the motor. Also dont be rash, it might take a day to have the oil to sink in to all parts of the motor

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them
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Phaelax
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Posted: 18th Jul 2011 01:02
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I'd just buy a new fan in that case

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Destrugter 1
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Posted: 18th Jul 2011 01:12
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Sorry, forgot to update everyone. I put in a return request on CoolerMaster's website. They're currently deciding if they should replace my fan (they better! It didn't live up to their word).

My name is Brian.
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