Cooling fans.

[John Roberts]

While rummaging in my PC I noticed that the cooling fan on the PSU- the power supply unit- was turning very slowly and every few seconds it was faltering but not actually stopping. Is this normal? The computer was only playing a track on a DVD at the time, so not working hard at all(?) and I'm wondering if the fan's speed was dependent on how hard the PSU was working at the time.

I'm asking because I'd like to replace the fan if you say it really is faulty rather than replace the whole PSU if it overheats eventually. So, what say you, is it faulty?

 

[UturnTony]

While rummaging in my PC I noticed that the cooling fan on the PSU- the power supply unit- was turning very slowly and every few seconds it was faltering but not actually stopping. Is this normal? The computer was only playing a track on a DVD at the time, so not working hard at all(?) and I'm wondering if the fan's speed was dependent on how hard the PSU was working at the time.

I'm asking because I'd like to replace the fan if you say it really is faulty rather than replace the whole PSU if it overheats eventually. So, what say you, is it faulty?

Get the PC. to do other tasks and monitor what the fan does. If it always does what it's doing now it's probably faulty. Thinking about it, I can imagine it varying it's speed but not almost stopping.
Bear in mind i'm no expert.

 

[John Roberts]

What sort of tasks should I give it?

 

[UturnTony]

What sort of tasks should I give it?

You could try running two or three videos at the same time whilst also running a CD.
Press control+alternate+delete bringing up a task screen then click on task manager.
On the next screen, you will be able to see what percentage of it's maximum the
processor is running at. This, will give you an indication of how hard you have got
it working.

You could of course task it to work out the meaning of life, the universe and
everything but, we already know the answer to that which is, 42.

 

[leedude03]

or download prime 95 (google it) that will torture test your cpu, ensure you download the correct version 32 or 64 bit.

 

[UturnTony]

Any luck John? Found anything out? Were these suggestions of any use? Feedback

 

[John Roberts]

ycfoif.

Oh dear, is that rude?

Fair comment about feedback (or the lack of)... I called at the computer shop in town yesterday and asked him about the sluggish fan, he agreed the speed was dependent on the load upon the PSU, but then wasn't so sure, then lost interest when someone reversed into the side of his parked car outside. He said that he could get a new fan- he said how much but I forget what exactly but it seemed reasonable- so I'll order one tomorrow.

Feedback: you're on, I promise.

 

[leedude03]

its sounds a bit like you maybe getting PSU and CPU mixed up, i doubt very much anyone would be changing a fan in a psu, but you would change one on a cpu.

Central processing unit CPU

Power supply unit PSU

and indeed your man is correct the cpu fan will ramp up with load on the cpu, but also so will the psu fan if its a thermally controled item.

you can depending on motherboard adjust the fan speed settings in the bios for the cpu.

 

[John Roberts]

No, the fan I'm on about is definitely on the PSU, it's a totally enclosed box with the connector for the mains supply plug on. I'm changing the fan because it's sluggish and because it's cheap to do so, apparently if the PSU does overheat it can possibly put out a higher voltage that could damage lots of the other components in the computer. So, for the sake of a few quid I'll change it.

 

[UturnTony]

Oh dear, is that rude?

Fair comment about feedback (or the lack of)... I called at the computer shop in town yesterday and asked him about the sluggish fan, he agreed the speed was dependent on the load upon the PSU, but then wasn't so sure, then lost interest when someone reversed into the side of his parked car outside. He said that he could get a new fan- he said how much but I forget what exactly but it seemed reasonable- so I'll order one tomorrow.

Feedback: you're on, I promise.

Your back, good

Rude, me? nooooo. perish the thought

I will wait with baited breath for the outcome.

 

[leedude03]

I am surprised, normally if i think a power supply was at fault i would bin it as they are relatively cheap in comparison to replacing a motherboard and cpu that could get damaged via a faulty psu.

 

[John Roberts]

... I will wait with baited breath for the outcome.

Oh, sorry, I forgot. I eventually got a fan from the computer shop guy after another couple of visits, charged me three quid for it. Got it home and noticed it was dusty in the corners and that it had been used before ... Still, three quid- it works- and it runs at a steady speed unlike the original, so all seems well.

Thank you for your replies folks.