Cooling fan overrun

[nikdangr]

Hello,

My CPU is currently at about idle load and my case sounds like a turboprop getting ready for takeoff.

If I restart, it gets quiet, but if I so much as go online it spins up and if I get a stream (Pandora, say) it act's like I napalmed the inside of the case.

I've opened it up and blown everthing clean including filters, but the fans are still going wild (bad pun).

Do thermostats go bad and where would I find it, or should I be looking at something else?

 

[saaiello]

Have you checked your temps? Go to www.cpuid.com and download HWMonitior that will tell you all your vital temps post back with all the temps.

 

[moody89]

What CPU and Motherboard are you using? Are you certain that the option for automatic fan speed adjustment is enabled in the BIOS? You'll have to have a nose around for it.

Temperature sensors do go bad from time to time. I had this trouble on older system of mine which reported my CPU temperatures to be 70C plus even when I first turned the computer on. Obviously any small rise in temperature would make throttling kick in and eventually the system would just restart.

You can use software such as CPUID's HWMonitor to keep an eye on your temperatures and see if you notice any patterns when doing the things you describe above. It could be that for some reason your system is overheating and this is causing the fan to work overtime to keep things cool. Or like you mentioned it could be a dodgy sensor.

 

[nikdangr]

Good grief!

It's showing 152F for the graphics card and 100F for the CPU.

Now what?

 

[nikdangr]

Time out. The second reading may not be the CPU. I just jumped to that conclusion. It actually says "Assembly" as a subset to "ST316002 3AS", whatever that is.

 

[moody89]

152 Farenheit = 67 Celsius
100 Farenheit = 38 Celsius

I'm assuming the Assembly reading your getting is the temperature of your Chassis or Case. These temps aren't excessively hot however. A reading for the CPU temp would be handy. Are these at load or while idle?

 

[nikdangr]

Those readings are at idle. The HMWMonitor isn't showing a CPU reading.

Would the GPU really be that warm normally with no load to speak of?

More info in case it help:

GeForce 8600GTS

OLD Pentium D

Window XP

 

[moody89]

Those temps aren't actually that bad for that card. I wouldn't be too worried about those. My guess is you may not have the most efficient airflow in your case. What case are you using and what options does it give you for installing fans etc.? This is a good guide to the basics of case airflow:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=42853

Your issue of the CPU fan working at a maximum could be down to a setting in the BIOS. In some BIOS vendors I have seen an option to set a target CPU temperature etc. If this option is set to a very low value, then obviously your fans would work overtime to try and achieve this value even though it may be unrealistic in a given situation. Maximising your case airflow could help with this or you can check/alter the setting in your BIOS. If you're worried about your CPU temps, remove the heatsink and fan unit and clean off any thermal paste. Apply a new coat of thermal paste (Google or Youtube for instructions) and re-seat the heatsink and fan unit ensuring you have good, solid contact. It's often best to work in opposite corners to ensure maximum contact.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[nikdangr]

Thanks to you and all the rest for your excellent and knowledgeable input. I'll dig around in the BIOS and see if something got screwed up. I will not look TOO hard however, as I'm reluctant to part with a dandy excuse to go shopping sooner for something that I WAS resigned to buying later (reference my other thread on the virtues of the ATI 5870 vs 5850)