Possible fan problems?

troyhanf · 06-30-2009, 07:48 PM

I wasn't quite sure which forum to put this under, so I decided to put it here.

While I'm on my computer, it will randomly (whether I'm just reading an article, or playing a computer game) kick what sounds like the fan, into overdrive. It almost sounds like an airplane starting to take off under my computer desk.

I was wondering if it actually is the fan? And what could possibly be causing it? And if it is fixable?

Any help is appreciated, and I thank you in advance.

makinu1der2 · 06-30-2009, 08:35 PM

Hello,

Start by posting the specs of the system.

Try cleaning the fans and vents with a can of compressed air.

See if you can determine which fan PSU or CPU.

**Tyree** · 06-30-2009, 08:49 PM

If the fan is connected to the Mobo, it is doing what the Mobo demands. I like to connect fans to the PSU.
Not knowing the specs of your PC limits the advice that we can offer.

Mcninjaguy · 06-30-2009, 09:17 PM

I've got 5 case fans in my computer and they run very steady connected directly to the PSU. I have never seen a motherboard that can control that many fans any way.

troyhanf · 06-30-2009, 10:38 PM

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.2GHz (2 CPU's), ~3.2GHz

Memory: 1022 MB RAM

That's what came up when I ran dxdiag.

It's a POS Compaq I got cheap at Staples. I was planning on getting a new system, but losing my job to the recession has put a damper on those plans :(

Mcninjaguy · 06-30-2009, 10:44 PM

You'll need to look inside the case and see how the wires for the fans are hooked up. You should then try to change it so its hooked up to the PSU.

troyhanf · 06-30-2009, 10:48 PM

Is that something that is done relatively easily?

I consider myself somewhat computer savvy when it comes to processes and software, but I'm the first to admit I don't know squat when it comes to wiring and hardware..

troyhanf · 07-02-2009, 12:31 PM

So do we agree that connecting the fan to the PSU rather than the MoBo will probably correct my problem?

Mcninjaguy · 07-02-2009, 02:08 PM

It should correct the problem. the fans will always run at a constant speed when connected to the PSU.

I think my nice current motherboard only has 1 case fan connection anyways

troyhanf · 07-03-2009, 10:37 PM

So I took my case apart tonight to look at the fans and where they were wired. It's fairly obvious they are connected to the mobo and not the PSU, but I'm not exactly sure how to go about rewiring it, and to be honest, I'm not sure I feel completely comfortable tearing it all apart to do it, when I don't know exactly what to do.

Also, if it was the mobo that was causing the fan to act the way it does, wouldn't it have started acting up a long time ago? It's only been in the last 2 weeks or so that it started, and the computer is over 2 years old..

Mcninjaguy · 07-04-2009, 01:55 AM

Do the fans have adapters on them?

Are they molex?

Or is it this connection?

troyhanf · 07-04-2009, 07:10 AM

There were 2 fans, one directly on the mobo (for the processor I assume), and then a more general fan on the back of my box (plus the PSU fan, so 3 all together that I counted). The 2 fans were wired together into 1 connection, and I don't remember exactly, as I don't have my box taken apart anymore, but I believe the connector was of the 2nd variety that you posted.

*edited to add*

The biggest reason I didn't do anything when I had the box taken apart, was that I couldn't tell how I would be able to connect the wires to the PSU. I didn't get the PSU taken all the way apart (I didn't have my tools available). However, I wasn't able to see any other of the connectors in the PSU. If I connec the fans to the PSU, am I going to have to hard wire them? Or should there be another connector slot in there somewhere?

Mcninjaguy · 07-04-2009, 02:25 PM

This is the adapter you'll need t hook up your Case fan to a molex connection

Rosewill 12" PWM Splitter Model RCW-FPS-401
$4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812119248

Please do not take apart the PSU. Why are you taking apart the PSU? Its simple you disconnect the wire that the fan is connected to the motherboard and connect it to a molex connection form the PSU with the adapter I listed.

troyhanf · 07-04-2009, 06:45 PM

That's all there is to it?

Awesome! Thanks a ton for your help Mc. I really appreciate it. If you have experience with building/upgrading, I just posted over here Building/Upgrading questions

and would love your input.

Thanks again!!

Mcninjaguy · 07-04-2009, 11:54 PM

I'm gonna post a build for $650 at your other post.

Your welcome!

06-30-2009, 07:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
troyhanf Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 OS: Vista	Possible fan problems? I wasn't quite sure which forum to put this under, so I decided to put it here. While I'm on my computer, it will randomly (whether I'm just reading an article, or playing a computer game) kick what sounds like the fan, into overdrive. It almost sounds like an airplane starting to take off under my computer desk. I was wondering if it actually is the fan? And what could possibly be causing it? And if it is fixable? Any help is appreciated, and I thank you in advance.

06-30-2009, 08:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
makinu1der2 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 2,040 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1,Win XP SP3,Ubuntu 9.04,Sabayon 4,Windows 7 RC1 x64 My System	Re: Possible fan problems? Hello, Start by posting the specs of the system. Try cleaning the fans and vents with a can of compressed air. See if you can determine which fan PSU or CPU. __________________ "The dumbest people I know are those who know it all."

06-30-2009, 08:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,702 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Possible fan problems? If the fan is connected to the Mobo, it is doing what the Mobo demands. I like to connect fans to the PSU. Not knowing the specs of your PC limits the advice that we can offer. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

06-30-2009, 09:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Possible fan problems? I've got 5 case fans in my computer and they run very steady connected directly to the PSU. I have never seen a motherboard that can control that many fans any way.

06-30-2009, 10:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
troyhanf Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 OS: Vista	Re: Possible fan problems? Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.2GHz (2 CPU's), ~3.2GHz Memory: 1022 MB RAM That's what came up when I ran dxdiag. It's a POS Compaq I got cheap at Staples. I was planning on getting a new system, but losing my job to the recession has put a damper on those plans :(

06-30-2009, 10:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Possible fan problems? You'll need to look inside the case and see how the wires for the fans are hooked up. You should then try to change it so its hooked up to the PSU.

06-30-2009, 10:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
troyhanf Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 OS: Vista	Re: Possible fan problems? Is that something that is done relatively easily? I consider myself somewhat computer savvy when it comes to processes and software, but I'm the first to admit I don't know squat when it comes to wiring and hardware..

07-02-2009, 12:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
troyhanf Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 OS: Vista	Re: Possible fan problems? So do we agree that connecting the fan to the PSU rather than the MoBo will probably correct my problem?

07-02-2009, 02:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Possible fan problems? It should correct the problem. the fans will always run at a constant speed when connected to the PSU. I think my nice current motherboard only has 1 case fan connection anyways

07-03-2009, 10:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
troyhanf Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 OS: Vista	Re: Possible fan problems? So I took my case apart tonight to look at the fans and where they were wired. It's fairly obvious they are connected to the mobo and not the PSU, but I'm not exactly sure how to go about rewiring it, and to be honest, I'm not sure I feel completely comfortable tearing it all apart to do it, when I don't know exactly what to do. Also, if it was the mobo that was causing the fan to act the way it does, wouldn't it have started acting up a long time ago? It's only been in the last 2 weeks or so that it started, and the computer is over 2 years old..

07-04-2009, 01:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Possible fan problems? Do the fans have adapters on them? Are they molex? Or is it this connection?

07-04-2009, 07:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
troyhanf Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 OS: Vista	Re: Possible fan problems? There were 2 fans, one directly on the mobo (for the processor I assume), and then a more general fan on the back of my box (plus the PSU fan, so 3 all together that I counted). The 2 fans were wired together into 1 connection, and I don't remember exactly, as I don't have my box taken apart anymore, but I believe the connector was of the 2nd variety that you posted. edited to add The biggest reason I didn't do anything when I had the box taken apart, was that I couldn't tell how I would be able to connect the wires to the PSU. I didn't get the PSU taken all the way apart (I didn't have my tools available). However, I wasn't able to see any other of the connectors in the PSU. If I connec the fans to the PSU, am I going to have to hard wire them? Or should there be another connector slot in there somewhere? Last edited by troyhanf; 07-04-2009 at 07:13 AM.

07-04-2009, 02:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Possible fan problems? This is the adapter you'll need t hook up your Case fan to a molex connection Rosewill 12" PWM Splitter Model RCW-FPS-401 $4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812119248 Please do not take apart the PSU. Why are you taking apart the PSU? Its simple you disconnect the wire that the fan is connected to the motherboard and connect it to a molex connection form the PSU with the adapter I listed.

07-04-2009, 06:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
troyhanf Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 OS: Vista	Re: Possible fan problems? That's all there is to it? Awesome! Thanks a ton for your help Mc. I really appreciate it. If you have experience with building/upgrading, I just posted over here Building/Upgrading questions and would love your input. Thanks again!!

07-04-2009, 11:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mcninjaguy Temporarily Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,422 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Possible fan problems? I'm gonna post a build for $650 at your other post. Your welcome!