Caxis Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 One of my fans, which I believe is from the PSU, makes a squeaky sound sometimes. It started making the sound about 8 months ago. The squeaking usually lasts for about 8 seconds, but sometimes it goes on for a good 30-45 seconds. It also stops making the sound for a few minutes, and starts again. It goes on for 4-5 cycles every couple of hours. I'm just wondering what this could mean, I'm guessing the fan is faulty, or just makes the sound for whatever reason @_@. If it is one of the PSU fans, how easy are they to replace? Or should I just get a new one. If it's my CPU fan, that'll be a pain to change because it's atatched by these clamps. The CPU fan also has screws that would need a unique screwdriver (Lack of a better word/tool, really..) to unscrew, but I really don't think it's the CPU fan.. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClareJonsson Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Just replace it, fans are really cheap. [Assist-X] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade995 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 If it's the psu fan, replace the whole psu. You do not want to open up a psu. Even when the psu is unplugged the capacitors hold huge amounts of voltage. If it's any other fan, just replace it. Open up your computer and see where the noise is coming from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wisp Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 At first I thought you were talking about a fan/admirer. Anyway, I would just replace it if it's too irritating Hegemony-Spain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbestfreind Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 If it's the psu fan, replace the whole psu. You do not want to open up a psu. Even when the psu is unplugged the capacitors hold huge amounts of voltage. If it's any other fan, just replace it. Open up your computer and see where the noise is coming from. I second the motion... Special tool to remove the screws? The only tool that I would think you may need, aside from a Philips or flathead screwdriver would be a Torx wrench. In any case, replacing fans in a computer is easy, except for the PSU fan. You have a high risk of serious electric shock, or possibly death, by opening up and touching the capacitors. Even when you unplug the PSU, and "discharge it" by holding down the power button while it's unplugged, there can still be a massive amount of voltage left stored in it. Discharging it yourself is rarely a good choice, unless you have quite a bit of experience working with electrical components, and some decent equipment (which would cost you a lot more than a new PSU). I say go ahead and buy new fans for everything, especially if your computer is old. All new fans should only cost you maybe $50 USD, and that's if you have more than the default 1 fan, which you should, and with ones that include a few lights to look cool (rather useless if you have a closed case, but it would give you a reason to do a case mod). Plus, you may be able to install an extra fan or two, to increase cooling. [hide=Funny Quotes]So you sucker punched a kid in the back of the head? Good job.What scares me is that you're like 10 years old.-.- im not that freaking youngYou were a couple years ago.It's not racist if its true.Hmm... I wonder how one goes about throwing someone out a window in a mystic fashion :-k The mental image for that is freaking awesome.[/hide]- I dont need to "get a life." I'm a gamer - I have LOTS of lives! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caxis Posted October 25, 2008 Author Share Posted October 25, 2008 I want to replace the CPU Fan anyway, but I can't get it off. The screws are more like bolts, now that I think about it. I don't have any tools to remove the bolts, and all I can think of is trying to take the clamps off, but I'll probably have to take the bolts out anyway.. It seems like I'd need to get a new heatsink just to replace the fan v.v... All the parts (Except for the video card fan) are 3 years old, and I'm planning to build a new computer when PCi express 3.0 comes out. I don't really want to make any major changes to this computer.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbestfreind Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I want to replace the CPU Fan anyway, but I can't get it off. The screws are more like bolts, now that I think about it. I don't have any tools to remove the bolts, and all I can think of is trying to take the clamps off, but I'll probably have to take the bolts out anyway.. It seems like I'd need to get a new heatsink just to replace the fan v.v... All the parts (Except for the video card fan) are 3 years old, and I'm planning to build a new computer when PCi express 3.0 comes out. I don't really want to make any major changes to this computer.. Eh, a new heatsink and some fresh thermal compound can't hurt. Along with being cheap, everything is reusable. The heatsink can be taken off and put on the new cpu, and taking off and then re-installing the fans takes all of 5 minutes (maybe a bit more, if you have to drill holes in the case for new fan mounts). [hide=Funny Quotes]So you sucker punched a kid in the back of the head? Good job.What scares me is that you're like 10 years old.-.- im not that freaking youngYou were a couple years ago.It's not racist if its true.Hmm... I wonder how one goes about throwing someone out a window in a mystic fashion :-k The mental image for that is freaking awesome.[/hide]- I dont need to "get a life." I'm a gamer - I have LOTS of lives! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClareJonsson Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I want to replace the CPU Fan anyway, but I can't get it off. The screws are more like bolts, now that I think about it. I don't have any tools to remove the bolts, and all I can think of is trying to take the clamps off, but I'll probably have to take the bolts out anyway.. It seems like I'd need to get a new heatsink just to replace the fan v.v... All the parts (Except for the video card fan) are 3 years old, and I'm planning to build a new computer when PCi express 3.0 comes out. I don't really want to make any major changes to this computer.. Eh, a new heatsink and some fresh thermal compound can't hurt. Along with being cheap, everything is reusable. The heatsink can be taken off and put on the new cpu, and taking off and then re-installing the fans takes all of 5 minutes (maybe a bit more, if you have to drill holes in the case for new fan mounts). Agreed, you generally do not replace just the Fan on the CPU, you usually replace the whole assembly including the Heat sink. This means you will have to clean all the old heat sink compound off the surface of the CPU and apply new compound. And for gods sake don't plaster the CPU with the stuff, you only need a small amount, a small blob in the centre of the CPU is sufficient. [Assist-X] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbestfreind Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 And for gods sake don't plaster the CPU with the stuff, you only need a small amount, a small blob in the centre of the CPU is sufficient. I was told to use the "grain of rice" method, which is just putting a drop the size of a grain of rice down (maybe a little bit bigger, but not much). Apparently if you use too much, you allow air pockets to form, which reduces the ability of the heatsink to cool the CPU, and excess dripping off causes short circuits. To supplement the cheapness thing, I found two heatsinks that looked good, and cost around $30. This one, and this one. This should do for now, if you do build a new computer, go with one of the more expensive ($60+), as they can cool down the cpu better, which is why they cost more. [hide=Funny Quotes]So you sucker punched a kid in the back of the head? Good job.What scares me is that you're like 10 years old.-.- im not that freaking youngYou were a couple years ago.It's not racist if its true.Hmm... I wonder how one goes about throwing someone out a window in a mystic fashion :-k The mental image for that is freaking awesome.[/hide]- I dont need to "get a life." I'm a gamer - I have LOTS of lives! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bufoman Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Well, I personally would take the fan off and soak it in rubbing alcohol, and then apply a drop of WD40... I actually did that before, opened up the PSU and everything. But you really need to know what you are doing, if you don't you might end up looking like that cat in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation after it chewed on the Christmas tree light cord... Seriously, I was really tempting the grim reaper back then... Actually I dont think it is that dangerous so long as you properly discharge the thing. To do so you need to take a modular power cable, clip off the hot (and neutral to be safe) pin, and plug it into the PSU. This works if you have a ground. Now dont be quoting me here, or taking this advice to heart, I am no expert, and would hate for you to go Snap Crackle and Pop on me. Clan Moderator from December 15th 2006- August 20th 2007Founder of: Terran Gamers, formerly known as Militos Deci Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caxis Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 Well, I bought a new fan to replace my CPU fan, but it ended up being much more complicated. My dad would know more since he's an electrician, so he might be able to replace the PSU fan. It doesn't bother me, I just want to know if it's a sign of impending failure or something :?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bufoman Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Oh, you want to know about how to apply thermal paste? Here you go, watch this: Clan Moderator from December 15th 2006- August 20th 2007Founder of: Terran Gamers, formerly known as Militos Deci Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caxis Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 Oh, you want to know about how to apply thermal paste? Here you go, watch this: Oh, I know how to apply thermal paste, the complicated part was taking the fan off the heatsink. Which is the only thing I wanted to replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. V. Devnull Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Slightly out-of-context, but still valid... <<<Quote Snip>>> ... and would hate for you to go Snap Crackle and Pop on me.I will most definitely agree with that. I'd hate to see "Fried Tip.It'er" on the menu also. :( ~D. V. "Death = Not allowed" Devnull and normally with a cool mind.(Warning: This user can be VERY confusing to some people... And talks in 3rd person for the timebeing due to how insane they are... Sometimes even to themself.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now