I think its the PSU but something is really loud..

techguy · 03-11-2006 08:24PM #1

Hi,
I have recently bought a PC for server purposes. I began to install Ubuntu on it this evening and the computer is really loud..I think its the psu. I can't even work with it for a few minutes, I got a pain in my head. And it will be out of the question to leave it on all the time if its that loud...
Here's the spec of the usual problem hardware:
An ATX-3001-102 PSU
A The Gigabyte GA-71XE AMD K7 Athlon mainboard
An AMD 700mhz processor

The PC is fairly old and im nearly sure its the psu thats the problem. Is there anyway I can change the fan in it or the actual PSU, How much would that cost??

Thanks..

TonyM. · 03-11-2006 08:44PM

Clean all the dust out of it and try to get some oil down to the shaft it usually works.

It might be your hard drive is about to die they usually kick up a racket first
disconnect it and start up your computer if it kills the noise you know its the drive.

techguy · 03-11-2006 08:52PM

Actually I was wrong..its that fan thats connected to the processor.. I removed the psu moved it as far away as possible and powered up.. Im sure its the processor fan and it really small too.. What to do?? Also How do I remove the processor ot just the fan to get a bettr look at the fan?

Can I put a fan on the case and have some ducting to where the current fan is?

TonyM. · 03-11-2006 09:25PM

Pm me with your address and i will send you a fan.

challengemaster · 03-11-2006 09:32PM

hakko1872003 wrote:

Can I put a fan on the case and have some ducting to where the current fan is?

(assuming you mean take off the cpu fan)
are you serious?

if so step away from that pc and bring it to someone who knows what they're doing. the reason there's a fan on top of the cpu is so it doesnt overheat, and this would happen within a matter of seconds without a heatsink/fan/watercooling directally on the cpu. also, i dont think you've ever seen a motherboard with its cpu fan off the cpu, otherwise you'd know that you have to take off the fan to get to the cpu itself, and as you suggested "take off the cpu to get a good look @ the fan? " is utter nonsense, the fan/heatsink sits ontop of the cpu, with thermal compound in between the cpu and heatsink/fan. so in no way whatsoever would you need to touch your cpu unless you were spreading thermal paste on it.

TonyM. · 03-11-2006 09:38PM

We all started somewhere I offered a replacement hsf and paste and we can guide him through the process.

challengemaster · 03-11-2006 09:40PM

TonyM. wrote:

We all started somewhere I offered a replacement hsf and paste and we can guide him through the process.

true enough

i just didnt want to see him fry his cpu by doing something silly

techguy · 03-11-2006 10:59PM

Thanks guys..
looks like the processor just had a large heatsink then someone else decided to screw on a fan to the heatsink(look the screws are just goin in between the fans, or is this normal)? Like my other dell has ducting over the heatsink leading to a larger fan that is on the rear of the case.. could I do something like this. Or if I just change the fan on the heatsink will that suffice??

Here's what I have..

techguy · 03-11-2006 11:00PM

Oh and thanks TonyM.. and really sorry bout the size of the pics..first time putting up pics like that.Should of resized 'em oops..

hopeful · 03-11-2006 11:24PM

Just looking at that third picture...when you were footling with the fan the heatsink has come away from the processor...make sure you reseat it before turning the PC back on.

techguy · 03-11-2006 11:41PM

I know but thanks anyway..I had it just like that for the photo. everything is back the way it was now until I get hold of a proper solution..

hopeful · 04-11-2006 12:02AM

Cool....I was getting worried.

If you get stuck for a fan give me a shout as I've got a few that would be the same size.

techguy · 04-11-2006 12:08AM

thanks hopeful..my question is.is that fan thats there just bust..and a simple replacement will be quieter or what?

hopeful · 04-11-2006 12:13AM

When fans get old and tired they tend to get noisier. Sometimes just cleaning them or, as mentioned by another poster, putting a drop of oil on the shaft works wonders.
The smaller fans can be noisy even when new though as they have to spin pretty rapidly to get enough airflow.
Only way you are going to really know is to replace it.

techguy · 04-11-2006 01:29AM

this is really annoying me..I put some oil in the motor but doesn't make any difference..actually now it sounds maybe I put in too much! Anyway, I think the main problem is that the fan is screwed directly onto the heatsink without any bushings or anything and the whole heatsink is acting as a vibrator.. I really don't think that fan fan was fitted like that in the factory..

hopeful · 04-11-2006 02:20AM

You could try making a rubber gasket for the fan to sit on...might dampen any vibrations.

SeanW · 04-11-2006 02:29AM

if that's an 8CM fan I have something you might find useful, a thermaltake gel vibration absorber. Got 2 in a pack but only needed one.

L31mr0d · 04-11-2006 12:41PM

just as a quick note, you might already know this, but make sure the fan is blowing down ONTO the HS, not pulling away. I made this mistake by accident before, and after 10 minutes the computer shut down, not knowing what could be wrong I stuck my hand in to feel the temp of the HS, causing a few blistered finger tips in the process.

Also like was said, you might need a good silent 8cm fan, the Sflex ones on OCuk are supposed to be the best around for silence/performance, but you'll pay for them. BTW, is it an 8cm fan? Looks maybe like a 6cm or 4cm from the pics, that or you have huge hands

Also check in the BIOS to see if the CPU fan is thermally controlled, the ramping up and down of the fans rpm can lead to no end of headaches. Alternatively but it on a fan controller to allow you to adjust the rpm to a level which gives you the best noise/temperature balance.

Gurgle · 04-11-2006 12:53PM

hakko1872003 wrote:

Can I put a fan on the case and have some ducting to where the current fan is?

Yes, that would work if done properly. Make sure you keep a Heat-sink on the CPU but it doesn't matter where the fan is actually located so long as it pulls / pushes a good supply of air through the heatsink vanes. The fan is only attached to the heatsink for convenience. This actually lowers the effectiveness of the fan (as its wasting energy against the heatsink) and causes more noise than the fan would make by itself.

techguy · 04-11-2006 07:51PM

I must check out a few things like the operation of the fan in the BIOS and the fan is blowing on the HS (Nearly sure it is). SeanW I must invest in some of those packs where did you get them? Where do they go? Also is there anyway of fixing the fan to HS without putting the srews through the fins?
EDIT: I can feel A cool (pun Ha Ha) project coming on to build an ultra quiet webserver that can be left in the office and not be noticed.. How much does it generally cost to make a PC pretty quiet? Case and all.. Any good links off hand that I could sift through??

Thanks lads, ye've been so helpful!!

TonyM. · 05-11-2006 10:00PM

If you want to isolate the fan just buy some rubber tap washers from your local hardware shop I use them under all my fans also cable ties are often
better than screws when it comes to vibration .

gline · 07-11-2006 03:28PM

L31mr0d wrote:

just as a quick note, you might already know this, but make sure the fan is blowing down ONTO the HS, not pulling away.

.

not true for all setups, some run cooler with air being pulled away from cpu, im actually surprised you had that severe of a problem, usually temps are pretty even no matter which way the fan is facing unless if is a radiator we are talking about

if tested this on numerous rigs, like the dual xeon rig in my sig by swapping the fans and the temps were only 3degrees cooler with the fan pulling air away from the heatsink.

L31mr0d · 07-11-2006 05:04PM

gline wrote:

not true for all setups, some run cooler with air being pulled away from cpu, im actually surprised you had that severe of a problem, usually temps are pretty even no matter which way the fan is facing unless if is a radiator we are talking about

if tested this on numerous rigs, like the dual xeon rig in my sig by swapping the fans and the temps were only 3degrees cooler with the fan pulling air away from the heatsink.

I was building a few computers for gaming in college, and the one with the fan not blowing onto the HS was the only one that would keep shutting down. When I changed the orientation of the fan it solved the problem. It was an Athlon 2200 afair.

gline · 08-11-2006 08:34AM

L31mr0d wrote:

I was building a few computers for gaming in college, and the one with the fan not blowing onto the HS was the only one that would keep shutting down. When I changed the orientation of the fan it solved the problem. It was an Athlon 2200 afair.

ive tested it on socket 603 (xeon), 754 and 939 and it didnt seem to make any significant change at all, except on the xeon it was hotter when blowing the air down on the hsf as the mobo heats up aswell because you are blowing how air down onto it

techguy · 09-11-2006 05:38PM

I will try the cable ties and rubber washers at this weekend and see how I get on.. In the long run I will probably figure out ducting and a larger fan on the side of the case..

I think its the PSU but something is really loud..

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