GPU FAN moves a bit forward and backward, not starting up.

shiftylorenz

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Feb 18, 2017
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I own an RX480 and a 600W Chieftech GPS-600a8 PSU.
One of the two fans do not start up. but moves a bit forward and backward, then it loops like this.
However, if I give it a hand-push it starts up and opperates normally. The problem occurs not every time but in 45% of the cases. What is this error?
 


Upon startup, full voltage is usually supplied to fans to "get them spinning" and then throttle back in response to temperature. SAnd while your PSU has no impact here, the make and model of your card may. Back in 2008, MSI introduce a technology called Zero Frozr. in which the fans turn off when temps were low to lower noise. Other manufacturers starting incorporating this feature with the 9xx series. At the same time, MSI introduced a new feature called Hybrid Frozr, which allows control both of fans independently. In automatic mode, one fan is controlled by the GPU temp while the other is controlled by temps measured by a number of ICs spread around the PCB. So, under moderte loads, the GPU may be warm enough to turn the GPU fan on but not enough to turn the PCD controlled fan on.

I dunno if this feature was ever brought to your RX480 you have, but just to "rule this out", I'd run Furmark and see if the heavy load is enough to spike. Your card is not "old" by any means so I doubt it is bearing wear, perhaps the bearing or shaft just wasn't right from the get go ... but from the symptoms you describe the fan does not appear to be getting enough voltage, intentionally or not, to get the fan going from a dead stop. Might try taking off the shroud, cleaning everything and then comparing the voltage from the two fan headers. using a volt meter. If all else fails adjusting the fan curve via Afterburner to set a higher minimum speed would be worth trying

 
Take the shroud off and identify where the fan wires plug in. They typically have 4 pin connector (blue-black yellow green) to which the 12 volt connectors are yellow and black. Now normally, these 12v wires will always deliver 12 volts. The green wire senses the rpm and the blue wire is the pulsed control signal.

The way that PWM works is that it turns the voltage on and off lengthening the time off the off period to slow the fan down. By "always" using 12 volts, it's supposed to be able to start the fan. But your fan isn't starting which suggests that's it's not getting enough "oomph" (aka voltage) to overcome inertia and move the fan from a dead stop. Removing, inspecting and cleaning the terminals may help ... also inspect for damaged wires.

Typically there is a single 4 pin connector to the PCB which then splits and has two 4 pin connectors, going to each fan. Disconnect the offending fan at this point which should give you a few inches of wire hanging down from the card when reinstalled to as to access the pins.

But I agree with the above, if it's new RMA it.
 

shiftylorenz

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Feb 18, 2017
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I downloaded Gaming App from MSI, disabled Zero Frozr and it now starts every single time and runs every time, not shutting down, it's silent but it works forever.

I will try it a lot more times, and if the problem appears one more single time I will RMA it next week.
Thank you for your answers :) !
 

shiftylorenz

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Feb 18, 2017
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I use FurMark! :)
I will see if it can go for 10-15 minutes and post results here tomorrow.
(I am going to unselect current solution and if it gets solved or I need to RMA it I will pick you again :))
 


There was a wave of these types of questions with the 970s when users would install the cards, boot it up and no fans were running. Consumers just weren't used to "passive cooling". MSI introduced Zero Frozr in 2008 which meant that fan noise was 0 dbA (and fan speed was zero rpm) when the card wasn't hot enough to require it. In 2014, they introduced HybridFrozr which meant from idle, as the card got warmer, one fan went on and if it got warmer still, then the 2nd fan turned on.

Here's how MSI's Hybrid Frozr works:

Like the ASUS card, the GTX 970 Gaming 4G features a semi-passive mode, which it calls Zero Frozr. It's something MSI first brought to the market in 2008 (it's keen to clarify that it hasn't copied the ASUS Strix cards here). The temperature cut-off points are similar to the ASUS card – between 60 and 65°C, the fans will spin up; once the GPU drops to about 50°C, they're no longer needed. This carries benefits for noise production, efficiency and fan lifespan.

Another feature is called Hybrid Frozr, and this refers to the ability to control both fans independently. Enabling this functionality is a six-pin fan header on the PCB. In automatic mode, one fan is controlled by the GPU temperature while the other is controlled by temeprature measurement ICs dotted around the PCB. MSI claims it can result in a 1.9dB(A) noise reduction, and also offers users the ability to control the two fans independently using its Gaming App.

Now I do not know if the MSI 480 is equipped with this feature ... with the 480s power / temp needs being so much greater than the nVidia counterparts, perhaps it was not deemed appropriate since it runs so much hotter. However, as you can see above, if that card is so equipped, you will be able to determine this with the MSI Gaming App. If you see the option in the app, you can turn it off.

If the option is not there, the the card is not equipped with this functionality and your only option would be to return it.





 

shiftylorenz

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Feb 18, 2017
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wtf MSI, my motherboard which I got 5~ weeks ago had an error in it's CPU slot could not return it, now my Video card has one too...
I tought MSI is a clever choice for gamers

Anyways, going to RMA the card next week Monday and wait for the results.
 

adiec

Honorable


keep us updated because that would be a very strange OS problem. never known one . can't even imagine a driver problem only spinning one fan! interesting that it works fine under linux
 

shiftylorenz

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Feb 18, 2017
34
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530
I had an nVidia shitty GPU before this, might be some drivers that DDU did not remove properly or some fan controlling error. But under Linux 100% working (for 2 days, but will try for a week).
E: Will keep you updated :DDD Tomorrow is the reinstall-windows-day.
 

shiftylorenz

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Feb 18, 2017
34
0
530
This is some crazy shit. Just tried to install windows from USB, got the serial number from the box and so on. But when the USB booted up it started installing. Everything went fine until it restarted before unpacking or something like that. GRUB2 had an error, disk not found or something like that. I fixed it with an Ubuntu livecd. Now the same windows is on my computer what was before. Interesting, but will try to install Windows again next week. :( (The card still works under linux perfectly :))
 

shiftylorenz

Prominent
Feb 18, 2017
34
0
530
fuck msi and their shitty hardware. will return their card if relubricating it does not work. wanted to buy MSI motherboard again, now I want ASUS or something else because every single item I order from them has some kind of error. strange :)
 

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