CPU Fan Running Fast

[bobross419]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Troubleshooting starter

1. Overview of the problem
   Recently I've noticed that my CPU fan has been really loud.
   
   
2. Full description of the problem and symptoms
   In the past this would only happen when I was playing a game that was really taxing to my system, then go away after I finished and let the CPU cool down a bit. For about the past 2 weeks I've noticed that the fan speed is picking up and staying up even while I'm simply browsing. I don't have any sort of AV scans or massive updates taking place in the background. I've used HWMonitor and Speedfan to check my fan speed and it stays consistently at 3500+rpm (Up to 38xx sometimes) at temps between 46C and 57C. These temp readings are taken from the Temp 2 reading which is attached to the Winbond W83697HF (I believe this is a sensor).
   
   
   
3. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
   This used to work just fine with the fan slowing down after the CPU cooled off a bit. I haven't installed any new hardware and the only software I've installed is a few games.
   
   
   
4. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
   This issue is consistent and repeatable. The fans will stay quite for a while after startup, but will increase in speed after a while (Quicker if I start taxing the CPU right away).
   
   
5. I already tried these steps:
   I've checked for processes that might be sucking CPU power. I've let the computer sit idle for an extended period of time.
   
   
6. My software:
   • O/S: Windows XP w/ SP3
   • Antivirus: N/A
   • Firewall: N/A
   
   
   
7. My hardware
   • Motherboard brand & model: Asrock 775Dual-VSTA
   • CPU model (and is it overclocked?) Intel Pentium 4 520 2.8Ghz
   • Video card(s) brand & model: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro
   • RAM modules brand & model: Corsair ValueSelect DDR1 400 (I think its called ValueSelect)
   • Power supply brand & model: Antec 380 or 430V
     
   
   
8. Other information that might be relevant
   Ask me and I'll do my best to provide more info.
   

 

[mpilchfamily]

Have you cleaned out the cooler. The CPU fan is adjust its speed based on the CPU temps. If the cooler is clogged with allot of dust it isn't able to coole the CPU as well thus causing the fan to ramp up.

 

[bobross419]

Nope, I haven't done that (really should have done that, my brain is fried doing week after week of Overtime).

I'll post up the results after I get home tonight and clean it out.

Thanks

 

[Sam25]

Yes, the same thing happened to my computer a few weeks ago. I cleaned out the system and then the fan was way quieter.

 

[bobross419]

I cleaned everything out and it seemed like it resolved the issue, but I told my fiance to keep an ear on things while I'm at work. She wasn't using the computer and it was sitting idle when the fan noise picked up again.

Temps on HWMonitor
Current: 41C
Min: 39C
Max: 42C

Fan Speed on HWMonitor
Current: 3443 RPM
Min: 2860 RPM
Max: 3515 RPM

HWMonitor had been running for a while prior to her looking at it (I left it up when I left the house this morning)...

Any other ideas? I made sure to clean the HSF area really well.

 

[Lemon law]

Three remaining possible things occur to me.

1. The thermal compound between the heat sink and fan has dried up.

2. Even though you are not doing anything and you think the system is idling, some piece of new rouge malware is running in the background. Use something like core temps
that will monitor % cpu loading. Or task manager will do the same.

3. Your CPU has developed a defect. I always benchmark when new and re running the same benchmark and getting a much lower score later might be confirmation.

 

[bobross419]

Well I got home and took a look at a few things... After a while the fan speed had slowed down. When I checked the temps HWMonitor was reading a temp of 46C and the fan was only running at ~3000 RPM.

I don't know enough about the specifics as to how the fan operates, but my guess is that it should speed up as the CPU heat increases to offset the temperature increase. Am I incorrect in my thinking? Is it more related to the CPU load?

If my 'guess' about the operation is correct could there be something else going on? Maybe a bad fan sensor or something?

@Lemon Law
In regards to point 2. I checked the Task Manager last night when things were acting up and the CPU load was minimal (No more than I expect for 2 Firefox instances, HWMonitor, and SpeedFan).

 

[RorinRune]

I would do One from lemon Law, check the thermal compound, that could result in you CPU heating up because the of the inefficiency of the heat transfer from the CPU to the heat sink.