Maitenance store made us pay $70 to fix a clogged computer fan?
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Last response: in Components
mozaic4132
April 6, 2014 7:11:23 AM
So, my desktop has been a mess for over a year now. The computer would typically crash and freeze the screen. Randomly. This occured practically every session I turned the computer on and used it for a bit. When I would have to force it to turn off (hold the power button for 5 seconds) it'd give me a hard time to turn on. After that went on for several months, the computer finally just wouldn't turn on. Well, the power would be on (the light would go on) but you would hear no sound and there'd be no video projecting to the monitor. So, finally, we decided to take the computer into a specialist and have them take a look at it, and tell us the problem. We dropped it off, they told us that they would take a look at it then call is to tell us what was wrong with it. But instead, they fixed it without telling us. Now, they called us to tell us it was a clogged fan that prevented the processor from functioning. Is that an actual possibility? Oh, and it was priced $70. For future reference, could a clogged fan be the cause of this? And should that cost us $70?
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Shneiky
April 6, 2014 7:18:47 AM
A non functioning fan on the CPU cooler will, in 90% of the cases, cause such problems. All standard Intel coolers, or aftermarket small/medium coolers can not handle the heat from a CPU without a fan. The heat can cause CPU permanent failure or even meltdown, taking the motherboard with it.
Now, how much it costs - if they put a new heatsink with fan or put a new fan - that costs maybe 20$.
Thermal compound between the CPU and the heatsing - a buck probably.
+40/50$ for 2 hours of work.
70 in this case sounds justified
If they just brushed the fan - then that is not really worth 70.
Cheers and good luck.
Now, how much it costs - if they put a new heatsink with fan or put a new fan - that costs maybe 20$.
Thermal compound between the CPU and the heatsing - a buck probably.
+40/50$ for 2 hours of work.
70 in this case sounds justified
If they just brushed the fan - then that is not really worth 70.
Cheers and good luck.
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Where did you take this?
Some shops have a "Minimum Diagnostic Fee"
If the CPU fan was actually clogged to the point of not spinning, the BIOS would read 0 RPM from that fan and not turn on.
But for a shop to fix, and not get authorization from you before.....that's just wrong. I would not take it there again.
Some shops have a "Minimum Diagnostic Fee"
If the CPU fan was actually clogged to the point of not spinning, the BIOS would read 0 RPM from that fan and not turn on.
But for a shop to fix, and not get authorization from you before.....that's just wrong. I would not take it there again.
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aatje92
April 6, 2014 7:19:09 AM
Best solution
This moved along quick. Others have basically covered it
A clogged fan/heatsink can cause all kinds of issues. In fact heatsinks getting clogged are a very common issues for notebook users.
For a notebook opening the system will cost you something, but for a desktop unless they replaced at least a few fans with rather high quality ones, I can not see 70 dollars of cost.
It is important to know that the many repair shop may have a basic fee to even look at it. So if they charge 40-50 to look at a system and then end up replacing the cpu cooler it self(heat sink and fan) it may not actually be that hard to get a 70 dollar bill.
You can prevent this in the future by keeping the system cleaned by simply getting a can of compressed air(gas duster) to blowing out dust every 3 months to a year depending on your system use.
A clogged fan/heatsink can cause all kinds of issues. In fact heatsinks getting clogged are a very common issues for notebook users.
For a notebook opening the system will cost you something, but for a desktop unless they replaced at least a few fans with rather high quality ones, I can not see 70 dollars of cost.
It is important to know that the many repair shop may have a basic fee to even look at it. So if they charge 40-50 to look at a system and then end up replacing the cpu cooler it self(heat sink and fan) it may not actually be that hard to get a 70 dollar bill.
You can prevent this in the future by keeping the system cleaned by simply getting a can of compressed air(gas duster) to blowing out dust every 3 months to a year depending on your system use.
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rolli59
April 6, 2014 7:21:24 AM
A heavily clogged CPU fan would certainly cause boot problems but $70 to clean it? Sounds like daylight robbery to me, especially as de-clogging a fan can easily be done at home with a can of compressed air and some basic safety knowledge (I de-clog all fans and components in my system case every 3 months or so).
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Yes, if to much dust is building up in the CPU cooler it will prevent the fan to blow air over the fins of the cooler to dissipate the heat. In some cases I have seen the dust had collected that bad that it reached the fan itself and kept it from spinning.
When the CPU gets to hot, it will cause the computer to shut down to protect itself.
$70 is a normal hourly rate.
look at it this way if you call an electrician to fix a light switch, it will take him ten minutes to do the job nut he will still charge you for a full hour.
get a can of compressed air and clean you computer at least once or maybe twice a year. Hint: do it outside
When the CPU gets to hot, it will cause the computer to shut down to protect itself.
$70 is a normal hourly rate.
look at it this way if you call an electrician to fix a light switch, it will take him ten minutes to do the job nut he will still charge you for a full hour.
get a can of compressed air and clean you computer at least once or maybe twice a year. Hint: do it outside
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aatje92
April 6, 2014 7:39:11 AM
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