CPU Fan still making noise after being replaced

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lucio_mansilla

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Hi! I have a computer that i bought two and a half years ago. Its an Intel Pentium G3250 3.2 GHZ and the mobo is an Asrock H81M-VG4 R2.0.

A few months ago i started to hear a loud grinding noise on startup that would stop after a minute or two.
I cleaned up the entire computer, dettaching both case fans and the cpu fan. I cleaned all of them properly, using a brush to clean the heatsink and isopropyl alcohol for the plastic part. I also dusted the mobo with compressed air.
I reattached everything (remembering to apply the thermal phaste, and removing any remains of it first, everything by the book) and the noise was still there as if i no cleaning ever happened.

So i called the store who sold me the computer and they told me to bring them the cpu and its fan. I did, and after a couple of days they gave me a new fan. I took it home, and after a day of use IT STARTED MAKING THE SAME NOISE.
The guy at the store told me that he tested my old fan and it didn't make any noise. He also told me that the one that he gave me didn't make any noise either.

Do you have any idea what can cause a cpu fan make a grinding noise other than being uncleaned?

Thanks in advance!
 
Solution
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best way is just turn the pc off but leave it plugged in...
the psu will then feed the leds on the motherboard. when they go out the psu should be empty of charge.

then just open the psu case and replace the fan with something similar or better. i dont recommend you just oil it and use it.

but saying that the best thing to do is rma it if your still in warranty... if its a decent psu the warranty should be for 3-5 years.
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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Apr 16, 2015
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There are many potential 'noise' culprits, and, based on what you've said - the culprit probably isn't the CPU fan.

Can you post your full spec?

GPU fans, case fans.... even PSUs can have issues - along with a cable getting in the way of a CPU fan etc.

If it were me, I'd rmove everything from the case. Assemble only the basics (CPU+Mobo+1xRAM+relevant power connectors) and see if the noise persists.
If so, you should be able to isolate the noise outside the case a little easier.

If not, turn off & reattach components one by one (GPU, then case fan1, case fan2 etc) until the issue reoccurs.
 
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lucio_mansilla

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i disconnected the case fans and the noise persisted. There are no more fans except the cpu fan. I dont have a GPU installed or anything. All i have is the ram and the HDD (and of course the cpu and the psu) connected to the mobo. Its a very basic, cheap computer. I dont play video games, only use it to watch movies and check emails. I use it 8 -12 hours a day, then I turn it off at night. The only other possibility is the psu. But why would the noise stop after a few minutes?
 
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HEXiT

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Mar 13, 2011
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sounds like he just put a drop of oil into the bearing and gave you back your old fan.
start the pc up with the case open... when you start hearing the noise. lightly apply pressure with your finger to the centre hub of the fan, to slow it down to a stop. if the noise stops then its the fan. the only solution will be to replace the entire hsf (heatsync and fan) if its a stock 1as they cant easily be disassembled for repair.
 
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lucio_mansilla

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i'm positive he gave me a different one, although he told me it was one he was using in another computer. I called him and he told me this fan never made any sound, neither did the old one which he was now using in a different computer. I don't think he lied to me. I'm gonna buy a new one and replace it again, but is there something in the mobo that might make the fan speed up at the beginnig? Is that something that you might have come across in your experience fixing computers? I don't do this for a living, but like i wrote in a previous message is a very basic computer, no gpu or any other card, everything is on board, all i have is mobo+cpu+1 ram+hdd+psu+2 case fans (that aren't the ones making the noise, i already checked).

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
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HEXiT

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wait till you hear it grinding again then stop the fan with your finger like i suggested earlier. if the noise stops its the cpu fan. if not do the same to the rest of the fans in the case
you only have to stop it for a second. so dont keep your finger on it for to long.
 
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lucio_mansilla

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i did what you said and the fan didnt stop, so i didnt want to press any harder fearing something might brake. The thing is, there are only four fans:

-2 case fans (already unplugged them from the mobo and the noise still happened so it wasnt them)
-The cpu fan
-The psu fan

I was able to take a look at the cpu fan when the noise was happening and i didnt notice anything strange, i mean it wasnt going any faster or slower, and i dont think it was the one making the noise.

Is it possible that the psu fan is making the noise? The psu is a Sentey 450 watts. If that is the problem, would it be fixable by opening it and cleaning it? or will i have to buy a new one? I bought the computer brand new in october of 2015. It's less than two years old.


 
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HEXiT

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the cooler has enough surface area to allow you to turn the pc on for a few seconds without the cpu fan being attached to the power and it wont harm the cpu.
turn the pc on for a couple of seconds. listen. then power off.
if the noise is gone then its the cpu if its still making noise then its likely the psu...

even if you dont do this you can take the side off. boot the pc. then move your ear in line with the fan. then move your head down to the psu and see if you can pinpoint it with the Doppler shift.

basically you should hear a change in pitch as you move your head around and help you locate the noise.
if you cant hear anything different, ask some 1 else to listen.
 
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lucio_mansilla

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it was the psu!!

i ended up just stoping the fan with a pencil, for a second. The noise went away, but as soon as i took the pencil away it came back.

I'm gonna choose your answer as the solution, HEXiT. But before this thread is closed, i have a couple of questions about what should i do. Should i open the psu and clean it ? I've seen videos, they all say you should be carefull. Is there a way to discharge the capacitors? Should i replace the psu? What should i use to lubricate the axis or whatever it needs to be done so the noise goes away?

I appreciate all your help. Thanks in advance!
 
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HEXiT

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Mar 13, 2011
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51,965
best way is just turn the pc off but leave it plugged in...
the psu will then feed the leds on the motherboard. when they go out the psu should be empty of charge.

then just open the psu case and replace the fan with something similar or better. i dont recommend you just oil it and use it.

but saying that the best thing to do is rma it if your still in warranty... if its a decent psu the warranty should be for 3-5 years.
 
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