CPU Fan Problems Causing Shutdowns

[slobS]

Hi everyone. I was hoping you guys could help me out!!!

Recently, my computer has been shutting down by itself during gameplay...but doesn't any other time. At first, I thought it could be a system failure, so I reformated my HD in hopes that that was the problem. I was wrong. :(

I also started to notice my computer making strange noises, like the fans slowing down so much that it would vibrate the ground. So, I decided to run ASUS Probe that comes with my MB and saw that my CPU fan would peak at about 3000 RPMs, and would sometimes stop completely!!! My fan doesn't just do this during idle, it does it during gameplay too! I thought it might be the power supply, so I checked the voltage on the system using the same tool....everything seems fine. I just thought it very strange how the CPU fan would fluctuate that much...I mean you can sit there and watch it. This fluctuation causes the computer to shutdown itself (don't know if it's the CPU temperature or because of some power supply problem), which worries me a lot! I NEED GAMES!!!

Anywho, would this be a problem with the CPU fan itself? or would it be the power supply?

Thanks a bunch!

[slobS]

What I more want to know is this fluctuation with the fan speed normal if the CPU fan is busted? or if it was busted, wouldn't it just stop all together?

[Wandrille]

do u clean out ur fan?

[slobS]

Yeah I did that yesterday...didn't seem to help any =(

Thanks for the reply.

My computer seems to freeze for about 3 seconds every 2 mins or so now...wtf! Arghh! This makes me mad because it was just fine a week ago...=(

[jlreich]

Sounds like it is the fan going bad and causing the CPU to overheat. Fans don't always just quit.

I could be the PSU but it's unlikely IMO. The only way to test it would be to either get or barrow a known good PSU, hook it up and see if the problem persist. Or test the PSU with a multimeter.

Also have a close look at the capacitors on your mobo just to make sure they are OK. Look at this thread for reference. http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25482

[slobS]

Thanks so much for the replies.

About 30 mins ago, I screwed the fan off the heatsink, dusted it off, and left the side of the case off so I could watch the fan...I turned on the PC and noticed that the fan was going VERY slow...enough where I can see the black letters AMD spinning around. For some reason, I decided to stop the fan with my finger, then let it go...then for some MESSED UP reason, it worked perfectly! It's now running at a constant 5720-5818 RPMs!!!

Im no computer genius, so wtf caused that to work?!

[jlreich]

Built up dirt/grime in the bearings. Seems you were able to free it up for now. But I would keep an eye on it and plan on replacing it sooner or later. ;)

[slobS]

Uhh dang...it started to do it again...so I opened up the side, stopped the fan, then let it go again...and worked fine. So this is probably something wrong with the fan itself? I just wanna make sure, because Im really short on money and don't wanna buy something if it's not the problem.

Thanks! :)

[saphalline]

It's definitely the fan. Replace it. Once a fan has problems, there's no turning back. I've never been able to "fix" a fan completely.

[slobS]

Thank you so much! Im happy it wasn't like a bad chip or something like that...whoohoo! $10 fix!!! :) :) :)