CPU fan still running loud after cleaning.
- Thread starter js98
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ihog
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- May 22, 2012
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There's probably a reason why it's running so fast. Check your CPU temps.
If you want to reduce the RPM, try this: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
Might not work. Also, might not be advisable if your temps aren't good.
If you want to reduce the RPM, try this: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
Might not work. Also, might not be advisable if your temps aren't good.
volcanoscout
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- Jan 5, 2014
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Chances are, it is running at 100% or close to. Even if you're running a discrete GPU, it's sharing a heatsink and fan with the CPU, so when you load it, as in gaming, the fan is going to ramp up to accomodate the increased heat produced. You may have an option in your BIOS to turn it down or select a less aggressive fan profile, but I don't think that it would be a good idea - laptops in general are a challenge to properly cool, and even with fan or fans maxed, you usually have to accept a higher temperature level than you would accept in a desktop.
If your BIOS gives you the option (probably not), you can try reducing your voltages to the minimum required to run your current performance levels while maintaining system stability, but you probably won't have much margin to play with. You could also consider replacing the thermal paste on your heatsink/s - manufacturers generally don't do a very good job with paste application in my experience. I would expect you could drop your temps a good 8C-10C, which would reduce your fan RPM requirements.
If your BIOS gives you the option (probably not), you can try reducing your voltages to the minimum required to run your current performance levels while maintaining system stability, but you probably won't have much margin to play with. You could also consider replacing the thermal paste on your heatsink/s - manufacturers generally don't do a very good job with paste application in my experience. I would expect you could drop your temps a good 8C-10C, which would reduce your fan RPM requirements.
volcanoscout
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Just read your reply to ihog. Repasting is still something to consider, but personally I wouldn't turn the fan down - anything over mid-50s, I'd keep it maxed out. The tiny fans in laptops have an easier time holding the temp down or minimizing the rise rate than they do trying to cool down an already hot CPU and/or GPU while the system is actively in use.
volcanoscout
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Some are quieter than others, particularly if they have separate sinks and fans for the CPU and GPU, but I don't think I've ever heard even a purpose-built gaming rig that I would call quiet, just quieter than others. If you click on my avatar, you'll see my laptop - it's a gaming rig, but a small one so it has a shared cooler/fan setup. As soon as the GPU engages at anything over minimal levels (as in, anything besides word processing and internet surfing) the fan ramps up steeply. And that's also with what I consider an expert thermal paste application 
volcanoscout :
Some are quieter than others, particularly if they have separate sinks and fans for the CPU and GPU, but I don't think I've ever heard even a purpose-built gaming rig that I would call quiet, just quieter than others. If you click on my avatar, you'll see my laptop - it's a gaming rig, but a small one so it has a shared cooler/fan setup. As soon as the GPU engages at anything over minimal levels (as in, anything besides word processing and internet surfing) the fan ramps up steeply. And that's also with what I consider an expert thermal paste application
Thanks for the info. It's kind of embarrassing to play around friends with Intel HD graphics because theirs' are a lot quieter than mine but i guess i'll just have to stick with it
volcanoscout
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For most users, the easiest answer is to isolate the noise, i.e. headphones. You can also try propping up the backside of the laptop 1/4-1/2 inch to increase airflow access - the built-in standoff from surface is the minimum required, not necessarily the optimal one. Again this is in my experience so YMMV, that works as well as a cooling pad, but a pad could work too. The fans on a cooling pad kind of defeat the purpose though, if you're trying to reduce the db level.
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