- Jul 8, 2012
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I have an Intel Core i7-950 3.06 GHz Processor, about 2 1/2 years old, installed on an ASUS motherboard, also 2 1/2 years old.
The i7 has of course the standard primary cooling fan on top, with their smaller stock auxiliary fan mounted horizontally off of it, in that clear curved plastic housing.
The auxiliary fan began making a weird noise, and actually it's not a recent problem. Been doing it on and off for nearly a year.
I narrowed it down to what I know it isn't..... it is NOT the fan's bearing, and it is NOT due to overheating. I run Open Hardware Monitor, and neither CPU fan has ever run excessively, and my motherboard never goes out of operating temps, it maxes in the mid 60s C when under load, even when gaming.
I finally figured out from moving things that it's the actual mounting of the aux. fan causing the noise. The aux. fan on an i7 slides on and off of a little "track"(that's what I call it) next to the primary fan. When the aux. fan is running, and the noise starts, all I have to do is merely slide the fan while it's plugged in, up or down the track a tiny fraction of a millimeter, or even just touch it, and the adjustment is enough to make the noise stop immediately. Slide or touch it again, the noise starts again. So it's purely a structural thing with the mount. Otherwise, the fan functions perfectly.
It can run totally quietly for a month, then suddenly start again, do it every three days then stop, or do it for a week straight before going quiet...
My theory is that as the PC overall warms up, and the normal vibration caused by the fan spinning, is enough to gradually move the fan just enough up or down on its mounting to start the noise?
My question is, how do you remedy this? We're talking about plastic touching plastic, and a tiny, tiny change in position, so maybe just some kind of rubber noise deadening cushioning in between?
Thanks again.
The i7 has of course the standard primary cooling fan on top, with their smaller stock auxiliary fan mounted horizontally off of it, in that clear curved plastic housing.
The auxiliary fan began making a weird noise, and actually it's not a recent problem. Been doing it on and off for nearly a year.
I narrowed it down to what I know it isn't..... it is NOT the fan's bearing, and it is NOT due to overheating. I run Open Hardware Monitor, and neither CPU fan has ever run excessively, and my motherboard never goes out of operating temps, it maxes in the mid 60s C when under load, even when gaming.
I finally figured out from moving things that it's the actual mounting of the aux. fan causing the noise. The aux. fan on an i7 slides on and off of a little "track"(that's what I call it) next to the primary fan. When the aux. fan is running, and the noise starts, all I have to do is merely slide the fan while it's plugged in, up or down the track a tiny fraction of a millimeter, or even just touch it, and the adjustment is enough to make the noise stop immediately. Slide or touch it again, the noise starts again. So it's purely a structural thing with the mount. Otherwise, the fan functions perfectly.
It can run totally quietly for a month, then suddenly start again, do it every three days then stop, or do it for a week straight before going quiet...
My theory is that as the PC overall warms up, and the normal vibration caused by the fan spinning, is enough to gradually move the fan just enough up or down on its mounting to start the noise?
My question is, how do you remedy this? We're talking about plastic touching plastic, and a tiny, tiny change in position, so maybe just some kind of rubber noise deadening cushioning in between?
Thanks again.
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