Loud computer.

ultimodragon491 · 04-26-2008, 11:03 AM

Hi I recently bought an HP Pavilion Media Center m8120n desktop about 4 months ago. It ran very quietly until about a week ago when one of the fans just went super loud. Opened it up, cleaned it with vacuum, but no change at all. I'm suspecting it's the power supply, although I'm no computer expert by any means. If you must know, it's a Quadcore, 3gb, 640gb (320gb x 2). From what I can see, it has two CPU fans and a pwer supply fan.

Wasn't really sure what board to post this on. Any help is greatly appreciated.

**Terrister** · 04-26-2008, 04:35 PM

Is it still under warranty?

ultimodragon491 · 04-27-2008, 12:04 PM

Sorry. No. It was a refurbished model. 90-day warranty from purchase date.

Thanks for replying!

**Terrister** · 04-27-2008, 12:30 PM

Have you added any hardware to this computer?

ultimodragon491 · 04-27-2008, 09:14 PM

No, no new hardware. Here's what I have plugged in externally:

Wireless mouse and keyboard
HP 22" Monitor (Flat, Wide)
HP Photosmart C4200 Series printer
D-Link Wireless N Router
Cable modem

It was running quietly with all of these up until about a week ago when it went loud. I actually called HP for some advice. They said it might be a virus or something. I already scanned with Norton Internet Security 2008, and it was clean.

Thanks for the reply. Any more help is greatly appreciated.

**Terrister** · 04-28-2008, 08:12 AM

I have never heard of a virus making the power supply be loud. But if you wish, our security team can check you for malware. Please see the link below.

http://www.techsupportforum.com/secu...oval-help.html

ultimodragon491 · 04-28-2008, 03:30 PM

Never mind. It's not a virus problem. Opened up the case and stopped each fan one at a time to see which one was making the sound. Turned out to be the power supply fan. What's the best way(s) to fix this problem? I've heard it's dangerous to open up a power supply.

Is it necessary to buy a new one or can I just replace the fan somehow? Thank you.

**Terrister** · 04-28-2008, 03:37 PM

Very few are made to be worked on. Look for a part # on the power supply and do a google seach using that #.

If you do not find one, post the # here.

ultimodragon491 · 04-28-2008, 04:17 PM

Couldn't find much on Google. Here's the power supply's part # as is from the power supply label:

HP P/N 5188-2859

Not sure what you can do with this, but give it a shot. If it's a no-go, what type of power supply would you recommend in terms of quietness and reliability? Thank you.

**Terrister** · 04-29-2008, 07:19 PM

What country are you in. I have found some, but do not want to link to a shop 1/2 way around the world from you.

ultimodragon491 · 04-29-2008, 07:43 PM

Canada. Thanks a lot for thinking about shipping and stuff like that. Really appreciate it.

ultimodragon491 · 05-02-2008, 09:00 PM

Bump? No response in two days? Not upset. Just wondering.

04-26-2008, 11:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
ultimodragon491 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Loud computer. Hi I recently bought an HP Pavilion Media Center m8120n desktop about 4 months ago. It ran very quietly until about a week ago when one of the fans just went super loud. Opened it up, cleaned it with vacuum, but no change at all. I'm suspecting it's the power supply, although I'm no computer expert by any means. If you must know, it's a Quadcore, 3gb, 640gb (320gb x 2). From what I can see, it has two CPU fans and a pwer supply fan. Wasn't really sure what board to post this on. Any help is greatly appreciated.

04-26-2008, 04:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Loud computer. Is it still under warranty? __________________

04-27-2008, 12:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
ultimodragon491 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Loud computer. Sorry. No. It was a refurbished model. 90-day warranty from purchase date. Thanks for replying!

04-27-2008, 12:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Loud computer. Have you added any hardware to this computer? __________________

04-27-2008, 09:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
ultimodragon491 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Loud computer. No, no new hardware. Here's what I have plugged in externally: Wireless mouse and keyboard HP 22" Monitor (Flat, Wide) HP Photosmart C4200 Series printer D-Link Wireless N Router Cable modem It was running quietly with all of these up until about a week ago when it went loud. I actually called HP for some advice. They said it might be a virus or something. I already scanned with Norton Internet Security 2008, and it was clean. Thanks for the reply. Any more help is greatly appreciated.

04-28-2008, 08:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Loud computer. I have never heard of a virus making the power supply be loud. But if you wish, our security team can check you for malware. Please see the link below. http://www.techsupportforum.com/secu...oval-help.html __________________

04-28-2008, 03:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
ultimodragon491 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Loud computer. Never mind. It's not a virus problem. Opened up the case and stopped each fan one at a time to see which one was making the sound. Turned out to be the power supply fan. What's the best way(s) to fix this problem? I've heard it's dangerous to open up a power supply. Is it necessary to buy a new one or can I just replace the fan somehow? Thank you.

04-28-2008, 03:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Loud computer. Very few are made to be worked on. Look for a part # on the power supply and do a google seach using that #. If you do not find one, post the # here. __________________

04-28-2008, 04:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
ultimodragon491 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Loud computer. Couldn't find much on Google. Here's the power supply's part # as is from the power supply label: HP P/N 5188-2859 Not sure what you can do with this, but give it a shot. If it's a no-go, what type of power supply would you recommend in terms of quietness and reliability? Thank you.

04-29-2008, 07:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Loud computer. What country are you in. I have found some, but do not want to link to a shop 1/2 way around the world from you. __________________

04-29-2008, 07:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
ultimodragon491 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Loud computer. Canada. Thanks a lot for thinking about shipping and stuff like that. Really appreciate it.

05-02-2008, 09:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
ultimodragon491 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Loud computer. Bump? No response in two days? Not upset. Just wondering.