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How to Troubleshoot Fan Issues

Nam Hoang
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Excess heat can cause the fans to run faster and continuously which can potentially damage internal components and reduce the performance of the PC. Your PC may contain one or more fans to keep the internal components cool. Under normal working conditions, it is normal for a PC to generate a fair amount of heat and become warm to touch depending on usage. Fans that continue to spin very fast and make abnormal or loud noise might indicate a problem.

Common causes for fans not working, abnormal or loud fan noise, overheating:

  • Fans or air vents that are obstructed
  • Dust accumulation on vents or fans
  • Not enough ventilation
  • Physical damage
  • Out-of-date BIOS and device drivers

 

Check and clean air vents

Blocked air vents can cause serious performance issues by restricting air flow, this can cause the processor, memory (RAM) and other hardware to overheat which may lead to a potential hardware failure. Excessive heat can also cause a significant decrease in performance as most processors automatically reduce the speed of the processor to help compensate for heat-related problems. If you notice the system fan running constantly and making an abnormal or loud noise, this might indicate the PC is not running as efficiently as possible, and/or clogged air vents.

It is important to keep dust from accumulating in your PC and ensure adequate ventilation to help reduce heat. Lint and dust accumulation prevents air from flowing around the cooling fins and causes the fan to work harder.

Your CyberPowerPC PC may contain several fans to keep the internal components cool

  • Desktop PCs have more than one fan - processor (CPU), dedicated or discrete video card (GPU), power supply (PSU) and one or more chassis (case) fans.
  • Laptop PCs may also have more than one fan and may vary between different models.

Caution: Turn off your PC and disconnect the power cable or AC adapter before using compressed air to clean your PC. Follow the instructions on the side of the compressed air can, using compressed air incorrectly can damage your PC. Caution: Do not try to blow the dust using your mouth. Moisture can cause irreparable damage to electronic and electrical components inside the PC.

Warning: Desktop power supply units (PSU) is also equipped with a fan. Do not attempt to open the power supply to clean the fans. Ensure to power off the PC and disconnect the power cables and use a compressed air canister to clean any dust or debris.

Cleaning the air vents on your CyberPowerPC system

  1. Turn off the PC.
  2. Check the air vents on the PC for dust or debris.
    Air vents may be located in various places depending on the PC model. Refer to the case manufacturer's user manual of your PC.
  3. Use a can of compressed air to remove dust or debris from the air vents, dust filters (if any) and cooling fan fins. Caution: It is recommended to use a can of compressed air only. Do not use vacuum cleaners or blowers. Vacuum cleaners and blowers cause static and may damage electronic and electrical components inside your PC.
  4. To prevent overheating problems, keep the PC in an upright position and on a hard or sturdy surface, and provide enough clearance around the air vents.

 

Provide proper ventilation

Proper ventilation is important for better air circulation both outside and inside the PC. Adequate ventilation can help the PC fans perform efficiently and also increase their lifespan. You can also consider placing the PC in a cooler room in your house or office which can help prevent the PC from overheating.

Guidelines to ensure adequate ventilation

  1. Desktop PC - Place the desktop PC on a flat and hard surface in an upright position. Provide sufficient clearance in the front and back of the PC (if your PC has air vents on the bottom or side, ensure to provide sufficient clearance on all sides).
  2. Laptop PC - Place the laptop PC on a flat and hard surface where the bottom and side air vents are not obstructed.

Caution: Placing a laptop on a mattress or other soft surfaces will block the air vents, and leaving it there for an extended period of time can lead to overheating issues very quickly.

 

Environmental Factors

Determine where the system is being used and whether the environment is causing the fans to have problems or fail.

  1. Is the system located on top of a table or desk?

    1. Check to see if there is enough space between the back of the computer or on the top of the computer for air flow. Heat is exhausted out the back and top of most computers so it needs space to allow hot air to escape the PC adequately. Tight rear space can cause dust to accumulate on the fan more rapidly and accumulation of heat in tight unventilated areas in the rear of the computer can cause the fan motors themselves to overheat.

    2. Check to see that nothing is blocking airflow from the bottom or the front of the PC. Cold air is pulled in from the front and bottom of most computers so ensure that it isn't blocked by anything and has adequate space for airflow

    3. Check to make sure front ventilation such as mesh or grates is not covered in dust preventing airflow to the computers. To solve this, use a compressed air can to unclog the vents.

  2. Is the system located in a desk or other enclosure or is it sitting on the floor? Move the system to a location with better airflow. Have a computer elevated such as on a desk or table will reduce the accumulation of dust inside and around the computer.

  3. Is the location where the PC's based having any Heating or Air Conditioning issues that might make any heat issue worse? Resolve those issues before restarting this guide.

 

Update BIOS and device drivers

CyberPowerPC recommends updating the device drivers and BIOS as part of your scheduled update cycle. Device drivers and BIOS updates may contain feature enhancements or changes that will help keep your system software current and compatible with other system modules (hardware and software) as well as increased stability.

It is recommended that you installing the following device drivers to ensure optimal performance of fans in your PC.

  • BIOS
  • Chipset driver
  • Thermal chipset driver
  • Video card (GPU) driver

To learn how to download and install a device driver on your CyberPowerPC PC, refer to the CyberPowerPC knowledge-base article How do I update the device drivers on a CyberPowerPC PC?

 

Download and install Microsoft Windows Updates

Windows updates can support your Windows operating system in many ways. Windows updates can solve specific problems, provide protection from malicious attacks, or even add new features to the operating system.

How to install Windows Updates in Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows 8 or 8.1?

  1. Right-click Start and click Settings.
  2. In the Settings panel, click Update & Security.
  3. In the left panel, select Windows Update.
  4. On the right panel, click Check for updates.
  5. Restart the PC after downloading and installing the updates.

 

Limit startup programs

Many applications or software run in the system tray, or also called notification area. These applications usually launch during startup and stay running in the background but remain hidden. Preventing these applications from launching during startup will not only improve the performance of your PC but also help the fans run slower comparatively due to lesser load on the processor (CPU).

Warning: It is recommended that you do not disable the anti-virus or anti-malware program or application from loading during startup. Disabling the anti-virus or anti-malware program may make your PC vulnerable to malware infection.
Note: You must log in as a user with administrator rights on your PC to disable startup programs.

How to disable startup programs in Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or 8

  1. Close all open windows.
  2. Press CTRL + Shift + ESC key together on the keyboard.
  3. In the Task Manager window, click the Startup tab.
  4. Select the program or application that you want to disable from loading during startup.
  5. Right-click and select Disable.
  6. Repeat Step 4 & 5 for all the programs or applications that you want to disable from loading during startup.
  7. Restart your PC.

 

Scan your PC for malware

Malware (virus, spyware, trojans, etc.,) can cause a PC fan to run constantly due to an overload on the processor (CPU), this, in turn, causes the fans to run constantly and fast. Spyware and other types of malware are a big cause of many PC problems. If you suspect your PC has been infected, there is a chance that malicious software may be running in the background and slowing down your PC.

It is recommended that you scan your PC with an anti-virus or anti-malware program. Windows 10 PC comes built-in with Windows Defender which provides basic protection against malware. Most CyberPowerPC PCs also come with basic anti-virus software pre-installed like McAfee but may require a subscription. There are many anti-virus or anti-malware programs (free to use and subscription based) that you may use like McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, Trend Micro, etc., use the one installed on your PC to run a thorough or deep scan.

Note: Installing more than one anti-virus or anti-malware software on the PC does not give you better protection, instead it will only slow down your PC further. It is recommended to install one anti-virus or anti-malware software and update it regularly for active protection against malware.

To learn more, refer to the CyberPowerPC knowledge base article Protect Your Computer or Remove Malware in Microsoft Windows.

 

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