fan problem

[nightfishing]

I added a couple of fans to my box (one 80mm and one little tiny fan on the HS for my Vid Card.)

Now when I stsrt up my box, for the first time each day, one fan has hard time getting started (whines a bit).

By the time Windows has booted all is well and the fan never makes a peep throughout the day.

It is hard to troubleshoot, because it will not happen if I power down and then back up, only for the first boot of the day.

I swapped fans around a few times but haven't been able to pin down which fan is making the noise or why.

Do I need more juice? (350w)

Any ideas?

[crjdriver]

Just a guess but I would think it is the fan on the video card. Why not open the case and when you first boot-up put your finger [carefully] on each fan housing. You will feel the bad one it will be vibrating more than the others.

[cfp]

Your fan problem is common, especially fans that have brass sleeve bearings instead of ball-bearings.

You will require either a new fan or you can try to lubricate your current ones. If you decide to lubricate get some wd-40 or light machine oil(sewing machine oil will work). A hobby knife and a small screwdriver 1/8" slotted. Solvent (I use isopropol alcohol)

On the rear of most fans will be a paper or plastic sticker. Remove this dust/oil seal with a hobby knife. Inside you will see a split plastic retaining washer or a push on spring clip. Using the screwdriver carefully remove this washer without damaging it. Remove the fan blade from the front noting any other washers and rubber or plastic O rings and where they are located on the shaft. Brush and wipe any dust from the fan rotor. Clean the metal shaft of rust or old oil with solvent. Let dry. Taking the stationary part of the fan, clean the brass sleeve bearing with solvent and let dry. Lubicate the metal shaft and brass sleeve. Reassemble the Fan.

Note: Its probably a lot easier to purchase a new fan. I have to do this because my employers won't buy ANYTHING!

Cam

[Jenni]

I agree that it is probably the fan on the video card. How did you attach it? Because if you're like me, it's on there "however it would go". I had one on mine with wire ties through the holes on the card once, and I managed to get the fan in a "bind" where it didn't want to spin up quietly that way. When I figured it out, I loosened it up a little and everything was fine then.

[nightfishing]

The fan on the vid card had a peel-and-stick pad on the back and seems to hold pretty well.

I agree that it is most likely that fan, due to the fact that the others are all easily accessable! (lol).

I will unplug it and see if the problem goes away and then try to lube it up and see if it helps.

Still don't understand why it only happens after long periods of inactivity, though.

[Jenni]

It could just be a noisy fan. One of the fans in my brother's computer is that way, sounds awful when you boot it up, but runs fine after that.

[nightfishing]

...also they are all ball-bearing fans (4 Sunon's and the Vid is a GlobalWin)

[nightfishing]

Still not sure what to do.

The fan runs fine all day; just makes a terribly sound while booting up in the morning.

Ran for 20 hours, yesterday, without a peep.

Do I live with it or RMA it?

Any other options?

[theENiGMA]

I would say that lubing it would be the best idea. If you don't want to go through all of the stuff posted by cfp, you could just put a little oil in the casing under the sticker. I do this all the time, and I've never had to do a fan more than once. Taking it apart would be a much more corrective way to do, but I don't usually want to take the time. I am impatient (speaking of which, where is that #$&^*%! CD-ROM I ordered for my linux box a week ago). Oh well!
-KEiTH