Fan Problem

The most obvious symptom is that the fan dies a few seconds after turning on, and then my PC won't start. However, if I "help" the fan by giving a little twirl with my finger, and maintaining this procedure throughout the start-up procedure until I log on, after I log on the fan just about keeps going of its own accord after that, with CPU temp usually in the 50s C (case temperature (what's that ?) in low 40s C) [according to motherboard monitor 5]

MBM5 gives the fan speed as either 0 or 337500 rpm, which I don't beleive. Can anyone explain ?

After a few hours or days the fan speeds spontaneously rises to what must be maximum speed, and it starts whirring. I do not what triggers this (CPU temp above 60C ??), and the CPU temp drops to 36-37C

If my PC should attempt to start up with fan running at full speed, which it sometimes does, it does not start and the hard disk light doesn't operate: the only solution is power off at wall, because PC on button doesn't work.

Has anyone an explanation of this problem, and can anyone offer solution(s) ?

Dumb_Question
4.September.2011

Compaq S5160 DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz). Windows XP/SP3

 

You have to get a new heat sink fan, simple as that as it will completely fail eventually. Use Speccy to find out your motherboard model or your CPU socket size(I believe it's a 775) and source the appropriate heatsink for the machine. Should be around $20. Also get some thermal compound. The following video should be close to your setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OB1hxxKdec

 

Thanks for your answer although it's not what I wanted to hear...whenever I take things apart I'm lucky if I can get them back together as they were originally in their non-working state, let alone repair them !!

and...

you mean I replaced my psu because of a faulty cpu fan ??? (OK so my psu might have been on the way out as well...)

Thanks again, augiedoggie.

Dumb_Question
4.September.2011

Compaq S5160 DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz). Windows XP/SP3

 

It seems like you may have but as you said, it may have been on its way out as your machine has to be older than 5 years and OEM power supplies are usually 'just good enough' when sold and the capacitors deteriorate over time.

Hehehe at breaking things. Take your time and don't force anything ever. Good luck.

 

Good vidio. To nit-pick. To take the prosessor out, you have a plastic arm you pull up next to the socket the CPU goes into. He shows it later on pushing it down to install it.

On the paste, as the fan was going south, the heat paste might of gotten bad from overheating. On why you need to replace it. He didn't mention, but so you know. Usually less is better. You want enough to cover the CPU top where it meets with the heat sink. Get too much on it and squiches over to the board. You can transfer heat to the CPU's board. Not a good thing.

As your 1st time doing it. Do your best at 1st. Take it back apart to see how the paste squished for an inital run. Clean the paste off and re-do. See how you did on the 1st try.

Did a little research on the board and if I have the right board. You asked-> (case temperature (what's that ?) in low 40s C) [according to motherboard monitor 5]

That board has 2 temp sensors. One for the CPU and one for the mother board temp. I:E: Case temp.

 

Hi,

The guys are correct. The fan bearing were defective and binding. When the fan was on high speed it had enought power to turn. When it went to low speed it did not have enough power to overcome the bad bearing so stopped.

Jim

 

Hi,
Thanks for your answers and tips. I'm afraid I still haven't watched the video yet. My PC is ~10 years old
locodave - I figured that there are only 2 temperature sensors, because MBM5 give sensor 3 temperature as 0 ! What I meant to ask is where is the case temperture being monitored ? Surely it isn't metal case whichcontains the motherboard, psu, and disc drives ? To touch that doesn't feel more than 25C.

(motherboard is MSI 6577, I think it's a v2.1)

Dumb_Question
5.September.2011

Compaq S5160 DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz). Windows XP/SP3

 

Computer still functioning.

I haven't loaded speccy, but from
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...peId=12454&objectID=c00189654#c00189654_S5000I selected S5160UK, my model, got to
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c00019945
which tells my motherboard is an MSI MS-6577 v2.1 (HP name Xenon 4), with processor socket type mPGA478. I shall look for a compatible fan.

Dumb_Question
18.September.2011

Compaq S5160 DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz). Windows XP/SP3

 

If that is a socket 478 with a celeron/p4 you may not have a CPU fan. Is the fan just attached to the back of the case? It should have a part number/sticker on it.

 

I'm pretty sure (as sure as I can be) the heatsink and fan assembly are mounted on top of the processor which sits in the mb. The specification on the HP website (refs given earlier) is for a celeron in an mPGA478, or as I have read, a 478 socket, which also can accept a p4 processor. So the fan is not mounted on the processor, it's on the processor heatsink.

The order is (I assume) mb - processor - heatsink (about 50 mm deep x 75 mm square) - fan [an AVC Vital Components L3363 I think](9 bladed, approx. 50 mm dia).

Re start up:
I have noticed that when I turn on my PC from the off state (pressing the 'on' button on the front of the PC) it more often than not doesn't boot and screen remains off. When this happens, the fan has ALWAYS started and is spinning at what must be close to full speed. I have to repeat this procedure a number of times until the PC successfully boots. In that case the fan turns idly or stops turning unless I help it until XP is running when it continues by itself. Thus the fan problem seems to be CORRELATED with START-UP problem

Compaq S5160 DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz). Windows XP/SP3

 

I've watched the video. General procedure seems straightforward in principle, but me executing it successfully ?? Execute might be the most appropriate word !

Also, I've had a look on a few websites for replacement fans. It seems that most places sell only the fan/heatsink assembly. Is it necessary to buy but both ? There's nothing wrong with the heatsink, it's a piece of metal that is undamaged.

Notwithstanding that, does anyone know whether the fan on my PC can be replaced without removing the heatsink ? As I referred to above, I am frightened to remove the whole assembly. I would send a picture only it's too big and I can't find my zip utility.

Another strange thing I have noticed is that the last few times I have tried to turn my PC on, the fan has started up immediately, going fast, but the PC appears dead. It tries the floppy disc and the CD, but not the hard disc (judging by the lights that come on) My BIOS is configured to try the drives in that order, floopy, CD drive, hard drive, I'd tell it it to try a USB after that, but there doesn't seem to the option.

It's only when the fan doesn't start the PC starts normally !

Dumb_Question
23.September.2011

Compaq Presario S5160 DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz). MSI MS-6577 v2.1 1.5GB RAM Windows XP/SP3

 

Latest update....

I have been unable to find a fan only replacement.

AND

I got a message today when attempting to reboot (why I tried to restart the machine is another story...) after I manually powered down (after system restart hung at the "Windows is shutting down" stage and sometime after that (10s of minutes) the screen went all black and then there was nothing for it but to power down) which included the following text in white on a black screen (like the MS-DOS window) "CPU fan failure have your system serviced immediately" and some other stuff which I didn't catch - the message was only on the screen for a a couple of seconds.

THis was the first time I'd seen ANY message upon failure to boot, and subsequent attempts resulted in the "usual" results - surprisingly after having left it about 1hr it booted (again without the fan starting, as previously)

Just evidence to confirm your thoughts augie !

Dumb_Question
28.January.2012

Compaq Presario S5160UK (DT261A Celeron 2.7GHz) - MSI MS-6577 v2.1 (030) - 1.5GB RAM - XP/SP3