Can Noisy CPU cooling fan be cause of blown power supply?

[Ame6545]

Hello,

My PENTIUM II 400Mhz computer couldn't get powered up a few days ago. I figured it was the power supply and took it out, cleaned out the inside with a little canned air and purchased a 300W ATX power supply to replace the old 235W.
The installation went fine, the system booted with no error messages. I noticed, though, that the CPU cooling fan or its motor was rather noisy. The fan was working at a seemingly constant speed.
About 30 minutes later, the computer stopped working and lost power again. I assume the new power supply got fried, too. There were no power surges in the electrical circuit, since I have three other computers connected in the house which were unaffected.

Could the CPU cooling fan or CPU itself cause the power supply to fail? How should I go about troubleshooting this problem without using up several more power supplies? HAs anyone had a similar experience?
Please give me some suggestions.

[mjc]

Some motherboards have a cut off feature that powers them down in case of CPU fan failure (it is a feature that has been around for a while and not much publicized but is also groing in use), also some power supplies have fault detection and will power down in the case of a short...and sometimes, yes, a problem with a fan can disable the power supply.

Basically, replace the the CPU fan because it,most likely, is the source of the problem (noise means that at least the bearings on the wayout if not totally gone already)...then plug in one of the power supplies and see itf it will boot, if not try a third supply...

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[josemavicente]

hey i have the same problem!!! had to replace everything coz whenever i boot in the morning, the computer makes a growling "rrrrr" noise which i thought came from powersupply./surge. now it might be clear that its the fan..... do you have the same problem?

i had to replace mother board several times (thanks to warranty) because of this problem. does the "rrrrrr" noise come from the fan itself? do all i need is a replacement fan?

------------------
Jayvee Fernandez
"Structure is the function of logic."

[classicsoftware]

If you want to make sure the CPU fan is the culprit.

1) Open the case

2) Locate the cpu fan

3) Stick your fingers in the fan and stop the blades from spinning.

If the noise goes away, it's the CPU fan. replacements are less than $20.00. Do it proto before you fry the CPU.

If the noise does not go away, there are several possibilites:

1) The Power supply is on the way out

2) There is a piece of dust or dirt in the power supply. Remove with canned air.

3) The hard drive is going bad.

4) There is piece of dirt or dust in the CD-ROM or floppy. (Clean with canned air).

Anyway, with the cover off of the case, you can more easily identify what device is causing the noise.

Good Luck to both of you

[josemavicente]

ok thanks. btw ... i posted a message on "how do you replace a cpu fan"
on the "how do i" forum...ho0w do you do it? no one has replied yet.

you jusrt need long nose pliers right and then just strap it tight around the processor and tuck it on the strap?

------------------
Jayvee Fernandez
"Structure is the function of logic."

[ranchdog]

classicsoftware....

3)stick your fingers in the fan and stop the blades from turning
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif


You might want to re-phrase that one just a little. I think I know
what you meant. But the next person may take you serious and place
some fingers in the fan while it's spinning 'bout 5K RPM.





------------------
....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
..........

[mjc]

Trust me...a fan that is spinning is not really a place to get your fingers.......as I learned the hard way a week ago, I was just moving the audio cable out of the way, because it was crossing the fan and looked too close for comfort, and my finger "kissed" the fan, no real damage (other than a busted nail and a little nick), but anyway OUCH!!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[Paleo Pete]

I fully agree on the fingers in fan issue, please never advise anyone to put their fingers into a fan of any kind.

Simpler troubleshooting: disconnect the power lead going to the fan. It only takes 5 seconds to find out if the noise is gone, SHUT IT BACK DOWN QUICK. Newer AMD CPUs and probably a lot of Intels can be fried in 10 seconds without the fan running. Your 400 should last 15-20 seconds, maybe more, but don't chance it. I never run any Pentium CPU more than 5 seconds without a fan, even a P-133, just long enough to find out if the fan is the noise or not is the max. (Mine turned out to be the secondary case fan.)

You can also put a pencil or ink pen into the fan blades to stop it while running, but definitely not a finger. And use the eraser end, not the business end...graphite dust in the works probably wouldn't be a good idea.

------------------
Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[classicsoftware]

OK Guys I Give.

DON'T use your finger. Use a no-metalic object and stop the fan from spinning. If the noise goes away it's the fan. They are cheap and the bearings often fail.

Sorry.

I REPEAT TO ALL NEVER STICK YOUR FINGERS INTO THE FAN!!!!

[PatrickA]

Hello!

I have a similar problem... but just a TAD different:

I get a high pitched whine... Im PRETTY SURE its coming from the power supply. But it could also be the hard drive. Even with the cover off and my ear close up I cant discern where its coming from. Im inclined to go w/power supply.

On a couple of occasions lately, I will power-on my computer and no booting will occur. When I hot boot, then the bios loads and everything boots up fine and dandy... but the whine is still there.

Has anyone had a similar problem? Any hints on troubleshooting this??? Any help would be MOST appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

-Patrick.



------------------
D'oh!

[ranchdog]

Fans whine and squeal.

Hard Drives growl and groan and clunk around.

Fans will give you the song of death pretty much continously
until they expire.

Hard Drive will sound funky when you power-up and then later
on when it is accessed by the O/S. It'll growl when system is
started up cold. Then clunk around like you just hit some bad
spots in the road with your Ford Pinto.

Cheers.



------------------
....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
..........