Extremely loud GPU fan

[Bionic Apple]

Everytime I boot up my computer the GPU fan goes out of control and is extremely loud. I mean as loud as a Xbox 360 at full load. However, whenever the nVidia driver is loaded, the fan is fine. For most people this isn't an issue because the driver-less state only lasts for about 10 seconds. I, on the other hand, am a Linux enthusiast and install many distributions. To install a linux distro means 45 minutes at minimum for no video drivers. That is pretty long for the GPU fan to be running at high capacity! However, even that is assuming I don't install a distro from scratch, like Arch or Gentoo!

Here are my specifications:

[*]--Dell Dimension 8400 (I know! 🙁)

[*]--nVidia 7900 OC GT/GTO - BFG Tech*

[*]--Windows XP, Ubuntu 8.04, (many previously installed distros)

I am asking now because I really want to start trying out Arch Linux and Gentoo. I've ran Arch in a virtual machine for practice, but of course that is not the real thing.

*A replacement for a faulty 7900 GT around March. I am mentioning this because not only was it a free replacement with free shipping, but the BFG headquarters is only about 50 miles from my house! As a result the time it took from the old one being taken out to the new one being put in was about 2 days. So, if this is a unfixable flaw, it isn't a huge deal.

 

[MichaelD]

Maybe I'm not understanding you.

Are you looking for a fix for the fan speed b/c there's no driver loaded while you're compiling your Linux distro?

How often are you loading/compiling? 😕 I would think that would be a one-time deal that you would just have to deal with while in the "loading process." Kind of like having to deal with an eye-crushing 680x400 resolution before you load the video card's driver.

 

[Keysplayr]

That is weird. The fan spinning up to 100% at boot is normal. Kind of like a test, but it's only supposed to last a few seconds, then calm down to default speed. That might be a function of the cards bios. Have you tried to flash the bios in the past? Or have you not messed with it at all?

 

[grimlykindo]

Yes this is normal- my 8800gts does the same thing - it will always default to 100% fan with no drivers. Don't worry - it won't hurt your card

 

[Bionic Apple]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Maybe I'm not understanding you.

Are you looking for a fix for the fan speed b/c there's no driver loaded while you're compiling your Linux distro?

How often are you loading/compiling? 😕 I would think that would be a one-time deal that you would just have to deal with while in the "loading process." Kind of like having to deal with an eye-crushing 680x400 resolution before you load the video card's driver.

The fan simply goes at full speed before a OS loads the necessary drivers. If I am not installing an OS, it lasts for about 15 seconds from the moment I push the power to the end of the Linux/Windows loading screen. Normally compiling/installing would be a one-time deal, but I like distro hopping.

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
That is weird. The fan spinning up to 100% at boot is normal. Kind of like a test, but it's only supposed to last a few seconds, then calm down to default speed. That might be a function of the cards bios. Have you tried to flash the bios in the past? Or have you not messed with it at all?

I flashed my motherboard, but I haven't even messed with the graphics card. I haven't even overclocked past it's factory overclock.

Originally posted by: grimlykindo
Yes this is normal- my 8800gts does the same thing - it will always default to 100% fan with no drivers. Don't worry - it won't hurt your card

That's good to hear! But, I would still like a second opinion just to make sure.

 

[BassBomb]

There is probably a way to mod the bios to force less than 100% when not in driver
But I would not reccomend that

 

[Bionic Apple]

Ya, I am not going to mod my graphics card any time soon. Anyway, here is the GPU-Z information: picture. Perhaps that will help.

 

[Denithor]

Well...it's perfectly normal behavior. My 8800GT, 8800GS, 8800GS, and 9600GT all do exactly the same thing, run max fan at boot and then settle down 10-15 seconds later once drivers load. Yes, two 8800GS in different boxes (F@H GPU client).

Now, as I see it, your problem is that you don't want to deal with the sound for 45 minutes on a somewhat frequent occasion during linux installations, correct?

Three possible solutions for you.

1) Buy some earplugs. 😉 Or just turn up your stereo.
2) Buy a cheap fanless GPU to plunk in for installation work.
3) Mod BIOS to reduce the "stock" fanspeed so it's quieter at boot.

 

[Bionic Apple]

Denithor, that post is exactly what I wanted to hear. I am planning to install Arch Linux, so it might be 1-2 hours before I download a nVidia driver. I don't know if I want to buy the cheap GPU (only $10!) or just block the sound out. Hmmm... I'll think about it. Well, I have one more question then.

How much more power does a graphics card need at full fan speed?

 

[ss284]

Fans take relatively little power. Buy yourself a cheap passive card; what you're asking for is impossible unless you mod the bios, which you dont want to do.

 

[jesterb84]

Even if you are wiling to mod the BIOS, it is not possible for some cards. I am in the same situation as Bionic Apple. My 9600GT spins at 100% full speed and does not spin down until drivers are loaded in Windows. If you are running without specific drivers (i.e. Linux Live CD) or don't have them installed yet, the card fan remains at 100%. I have downloaded nvflash and NiBiTor, modded my BIOS to change fan speeds to 50% (instead of 100%) and reflashed and still, no change. Maybe I missed a setting in NiBiTor?

Anyhow, I read somewhere you can plug the GPU fan into a mobo fan header much like a regular fan. I haven't tried that but will see if I can do that. I think modding the BIOS should be pretty safe if you made a backup and know how to flash blind (or have a secondary PCI video card ready) as nvflash can dump your current BIOS to a file. As long as you don't overclock or set fan speed to 0%, should be relatively safe.