My 3 yr old Dell PC just began making a constant blower sound when powered up. What gives? Always quietb4?

Answer 1

Get a new fan. This is the time for you to decide weather you want to invest in a great cooling system, so that you can overclock your PC (if your BIOS allows). You can still use the fan if you choose, but the ball bearings that the fan spins on are worn out and that is what's causing the noise. It'll cost you like $15 to replace the fan (cheap one, usually the more it costs, the quieter) but you can continue to use this fan if you don't care about the noise. When the fan totally goes, though, make sure to get a new one, or else you'll fry your components. I would suggest you go to Newegg for really cheap parts. Here is the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010110573+1372526580&name=Case+Fan

If I were you I'd invest in the couple bucks more for a nice one. That will mean better cooling which equals less noise.

P.S. It is a fairly easy process to replace your fan, you can get someone else to do it, but they will charge you 5 to 10 times more than what the actual fan cost you. (assuming you got a nice fan) For instructions on how to replace your fan, go to:

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/pc/hardware/fan/replace.php

http://www.technibble.com/replacing-a-video-card-gpu-fan/

http://www.jsyte.com/tutorials/replacehsf

http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_cpu.htm

Also see:

http://reviews.ebay.com/Replacing-Dell-CPU-or-Case-Fan-Warnings_W0QQugidZ10000000001803287?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:LISTINGS:5

You may also want to try cleaning up your PC. I prefer using a vacuum to suck up all the crud, but you can use compressed air.

WARNING: If you use compressed air MAKE SURE that the computer is FULLY cooled down if not the COMPUTER WILL GET SEVERELY DAMAGED, because of the rapid heating and cooling, the same holds for after you use the compressed air. You can get compressed air at your local store for $3. (The air is really cold because of the difluoroethane they put inside of it, touch a compressed air can you'll see what I mean)

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Most likely this is an issue related to a cooling fan. The fans that wear out first are on the CPU heat sink or the VCU heat sink. They are generally easy to replace if you know where to go to order the new parts. If the fan in your power supply has worn out, it tends to be a bigger pain to fix because the connections are sometimes soldered to the circuit board to derive its power or the connection they use isn't standard. Once you determine which fan it is, just do a search for that particular piece. You'll find quite a few online stores out there who are well established and will help you out if you give them a call, provided you need their help. If it does indeed turn out to be the power supply, I'd recommend getting a new unit rather than mess with the electrical side of things.

Answer 3

The fan is going out. You can go to the closet computer store get a new one. All you have to do is find the model and replace it, or you can just call dell and get a fan for the model of your computer. They don't cost that much.

Answer 4

It sounds like your fan is working overtime; try vacuuming the inside of the case; also be sure to use compressed air to get stuff out of the little nooks and crannies. Be sure to protect your hand when using compressed air, as the can will get COLD.

Answer 5

Very likely you have major dirt/dust build up on fan blades and air passages.causing restricted air flow an less cooling capabilities. Good house keeping is needed for computers as well as the house.Check it out,look at the fan opening and see if its dirty....George

Answer 6

Most likely it needs to be cleaned. Over time the insides get dirty enough that the dut and stuff casue the fans to get noisy...

You can have it cleaned or you can take the case off yourself and use canned air to clean everything.

Answer 7

Power supply cooling system ( Fan ) bad works. If you can open it and clean it with vacume and clean all dust. then you can find a Mark on fan, remove it and you will see an hole on it , oil it and it's ready to run

Answer 8

Before you go replacing a fan, though, try cleaning it. Might just be dust inside the box.

Answer 9

Check and see if the cooling fan/mesh in front of it is filled with dust and crap. If so, unplug it, open the case and clean it out.

Other than that...

Good luck.

Answer 10

Dust is getting on the heatsinks....clean it up.