Grinding Noise

[Kulag]

Sometimes when I boot up my system, I hear a grinding noise that usually continues for about 5 min after boot. I checked inside the case, but there doesn't appear to be anything rubbing. (eg, wires against fans) Any suggestions?

[ktkendall]

The only real suspects are harddrives or fans, and in your case I suspect a fan going bad. I would pull the cover off and boot up so that you can actually get inside there when the noise is happening and then you should be able to pinpoint it..

[Kulag]

Yeah, unfortunatly, I might have to try that for the next few days since it isn't very reproduceable.

[blue60007]

Try leaving the case fans (only, NOT the CPU fan) unplugged while start it up and leave it running. If it goes away, there's your problem.

[Kulag]

Ok, it occured again, and it seems to be the CPU fan. I can't see anything touching it, and it's not extremely dusty. I can try blowing the dust out, and see over the next week or so whether it has any effect, but...

BTW, it's the HSF that came with my 3 GHz S775 Prescott. I'm not sure of the model number.

[nicolaus corelius]

"the beauty of mechanical problems is that if the smoke is coming from the harddrive you know the source of the problem, unless it just elected a new pope"

[ktkendall]

Sometimes the bearings go bad on those fans and that causes weird noises..

[blue60007]

Yeah, you might be able to get a replacement from Intel, or it might just need oiling.

[Kulag]

Oil in a CPU fan does NOT sound good. :) I know, but it just doesn't connect for me.

If it is a defective fan, shouldn't I replace it with a better one?

[blue60007]

I think it's sleeve bearing fans (sleeve right? or is it ball?) that can go dry and squeak/grind. I think you just have to peal that sticker (you'll have to remove the fan to get to the other side) and put a tiny drop of oil in there (like sewing machine oil I think), and replace the sticker.

[Kulag]

How can I tell which mine is? Or is this the step I take anyway?