Arctic Freezer 7 not spinning unless ASUS QFan is turned on?

[illustrious]

Hi Guys

I just installed an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 rev.2 in my desktop, but after connecting it to the 4pin CPU fan connector. As I boot my computer up the fan starts only for a split second before stopping completely.

However, If I turn on my ASUS motherboard's QFan in the BIOS it would do the same thing (starting to spin for a split second before stopping) but after a few more seconds it would start spinning normally.

Also, I always get the CPU fan error in POST after booting up the computer, and from my win7 hw monitor wouldnt display my fan speed

everything else is working fine in my computer.

I'm puzzled by what's going on here. If you guys have any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated!

thanks

 

[Noworldorder]

Too many variables to make an exact determination from here, but a couple of experiments will narrow the possibilities:

There are quite a few reports of the 92mm fan shipped with the AF7 failing.
Try going into BIOS and turning off the PWM fan feature (sorry but I forget where it is). This will allow the fan to receive full, steady voltage. If the fan still doesn't start normally, you probably have a bad fan. If the fan does start normally, you still could have a bad fan but at least your system will function.

There may be a bad wire in the fan loom also, so, if you have an extra fan/molex connector (Some MOBOs ship with one), try plugging the CPU fan directly into a PSU rail (and, of course, plug some fan, any fan, into the CPU fan connector so the BIOS will be happy). If you can accomplish this and the fan still will not start normally, the fan is bad.

You could also try switching the chassis fan with the CPU fan and seeing if the CPU fan will now start normally, if it does....hmmm....something is set wrong in your BIOS.

 

[geekapproved]

I doubt the fan is bad if it works fine when Qfan is turned on.

You obviously have a bios setting wrong somewhere.

 

[rubix_1011]

You likely have the CPU fan plugged into a regular MB fan header instead of the CPU fan 3-pin header. It should be pretty close to the CPU socket.

 

[illustrious]

Hey guys

thanks for the replies. So I tried connecting the Arctic fan to the PSU directly, and the same thing happens: during boot it would move for a split second before stopping completely.

I want to also add that when I try to push the fan with my finger toward its rotation direction it would start spinning slowly then works normally. do you think I have a defective fan?

 

[Noworldorder]

If, while plugged into the PSU rail, it would only spin when pushed, the fan is definitely defective.
Bad commutator most likely, but a faulty bearing could be to blame.
Can you still return it? If so, Noctua, Siverstone, Zaward, and Aerocool all make nice fans. Stick with Fluid Dynamic or SSO bearings and you can't go wrong.
Cheers!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Check the manual with regard to what Q-Fan does and it's available settings. This may help.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=152256

If it's a PWM fan, ya gonna wanna make sure the BIOS is in PWM mode as described in that forum link. Don't want to be using voltage control on a PWM fan.

 

[Noworldorder]

Check the manual with regard to what Q-Fan does and it's available settings. This may help.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=152256

If it's a PWM fan, ya gonna wanna make sure the BIOS is in PWM mode as described in that forum link. Don't want to be using voltage control on a PWM fan.

I doubt it's the Q-fan control. The OP plugged it into the PSU rail and it still would not spin freely.

 

[mavroxur]

I doubt it's the Q-fan control. The OP plugged it into the PSU rail and it still would not spin freely.

^ +1


If OP plugged it directly into a PSU molex, and the fan still doesn't work, it's probably the fan.

 

[illustrious]

Thanks for the input guys

i'll just try to return it, I bought it from amazon so it shouldnt be too hard to get a refund.

 

[illustrious]

Best answer selected by illustrious.

 

[ruhell]

Check if the fan has come "loose" from the engine. Squeeze the fan towards the engine and see if it clicks in place (happened to me, excact same symptoms)