Bad bearing on CPU cooler

[lolpc]

Hi all, for the past couple of months I've heard a small rattling from my CPU cooler (I suspect a bad bearing, as it still rattles after a thorough cleaning). For the last two-three week or so, the noise has gone from a mild rattle to a much louder rattle (I can hear it throughout my apartment). The cooler is a Cooler Master V8: http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/v8/ . My temps are still normal, when browsing, watching movies etc. it sits around 27-50C, and while gaming (BF4, ArmA 3 and Squad mainly) it sits just below 70C, so the temps aren't a big issue.

My question is though, besides the annoying sounds, will it be safe to use it until next month when I can afford a new cooler? I've preordered Battlefield 1, so I'm expecting to use it quite a bit for the next two weeks.

 

[superninja12]

i dont know what the issue is maybe the fan isn't attached probably.

i recommend you to use an intel stock cooler (assuming you got an intel cpu), safe easy and reliable and super cheap.
if not keep an eye on your temperatures because if it breaks and u dont notice it you can fry your cpu within milliseconds.

 

[lolpc]

i dont know what the issue is maybe the fan isn't attached probably.

i recommend you to use an intel stock cooler (assuming you got an intel cpu), safe easy and reliable and super cheap.
if not keep an eye on your temperatures because if it breaks and u dont notice it you can fry your cpu within milliseconds.

I'm almost entirely sure it's a bearing, as I completely disassembled/reassembled it when cleaning it. I don't have a stock Intel cooler, as I gave it away a couple of years ago. I just want to make sure, that I don't break or damage my PC, if I use it in its current condition. But if it is a bad bearing, what are the chances that it'll completely break down? A couple of friends of mine said a bad bearing isn't a big deal, but the rattling sounds are freaking me out a little bit 😛

 

[neblogai]

It is easier just to grease the fan. Of course, first you should check if fan taken out of the cooler still makes the noise. If it does- check youtube how to grease it. It is quite simple.

 

[lolpc]

I failed to mention something earlier, when I turn on the PC after it's been off for a while, the rattling sometimes isn't there, it only comes when I've used it for a while, and some lucky days it doesn't come at all. But when the rattling starts, it doesn't stop until I've turned it off for an hour or two. Does that indicate anything?

Sorry for being a noob, but I have very little knowledge about these things. It was a miracle that I managed to put the PC together at all a couple of years ago 😀

 

[synphul]

I used to use that cooler on my core 2 duo, worked great. Honestly I'd just look into buying a new fan for it, no reason to pitch the whole cooler unless you'd rather have a new one. No way to know how long the fan will continue to run, I'd keep an eye on it. Maybe consider using a program like realtemp to keep an eye on cpu temps and turn the pc off when you're not going to be on it. That way it's not sitting there running without a fan and you don't realize it.

You might want to check out something like one of these, decent build quality and performance (both airflow and static pressure) as well as fairly quiet.

Cougar vortex 120mm pwm.
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/TG9KHx/cougar-case-fan-cfv12hpb

Lepa 120mm pwm (they also come in red).
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/6DrG3C/lepa-case-fan-lpbol12pbl

This one is similar to the original fan but it's not pwm. They don't seem to sell the stock cooler fan on its own unless maybe some obscure source has it. The original is pwm, this sickleflow isn't.
http://pcpartpicker.com/product/Pwdqqs/cooler-master-case-fan-r4l2r20agr2

 

[panathas]

The fact that sometimes the rattling stops, means that there is still some oil/lubricant left inside the fan shaft. So the fan has still some life time left, but once the lubricant evaporates completely the bearing will make contact with the fan shaft and the fan will brake. The moment that happens you risk damaging your CPU/motherboard. Be careful and monitor the rattling sound all the time. If all of a sudden it gets a lot louder, turn your system off immediately.