Graphics card fan making an awful noise

Hi all :wave

I've finally run into a problem I can't figure out a solution to:

I purchased a BFG Tech GeForce 6200, along with a 512MB stick of RAM for this computer a little over a year and a half ago, installed both myself, and have never run into any problems until now.

The fan on the graphics card began making a chattering sound about a month ago - this sound isn't constant, and only seems to happen whenever the fan sounds like it's changing speeds, so I, like an idiot, decided to ignore it.

The GPU temperature has never varied since the noise began (I use Everest for monitoring), so I thought I could leave finding a solution until my final exams were done. That was, evidently, a bad idea

When I went to play a game a couple of hours ago, the fan made a horrible screeching sound, then returned to its normal hum. I immediately shut down the game, and checked the GPU temperature - it still was at 48C, which is what it has always gone up to in the summer when playing games. It quickly returned, like always, to 39C.

What I'm wondering is should I print off what I need for studying and avoid using the computer until after my exams are done? I'd rather fix it now, but as I'm not a computer expert, and because of a considerable lack of time, I can't really do anything about it right now.

If worse came to worse, is there somewhere I could take the card to have it repaired? I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and know there's a multitude of independent and chain electronics stores around, but none which I've had experience with.

 

It could just be that dust has clogged up the inlet and is choking the fan a bit and making it strain. I would turn off and unplug your PC Power Cord, remove the side cover and gently vacuum around the fun and see if you can get any crud out. Did you place it in there yourself? Because it would be better to remove it from the PC and then give it a good vacuum while holding the fan with your finger to stop it spinning (over spinning can damage the bearings in the fan).

 

Hi Bold Eagle :wave Thanks for the quick reply!

I installed the graphics card myself - it was the scariest thing I've ever done I have since taken the card out once, though, so I'm not as afraid of killing it anymore :-D

Would I be better off using the small, battery-operated handheld vacuum I've got that I only use for cleaning off the keyboard? I wouldn't ask, except that the only other vacuum we've got is the central vacuum system that came with the house, which has an idiotic amount of suction power.

 

I would use a can of air. Vacuum could cause static electricity.

E

 

Hi Fred_G :wave

Is there a certain distance I should hold the can away from the card when I'm cleaning it?

 

Hold the air outlet 2-4 inches from the fan. It may be a good idea to uplug the fan wire from the video card as when a fan spins backward, it can actually generate electricity and pump back into the video card, which may damage it. Most (if not all) video card fans can be easily unplugged from the main card and the white connector is usually keyed so it's impossible to put back on backwards. If the fan actually dies, you can buy 3rd party fan kits for under $25. Replacing the fan is actually quite easy. However, if the fan does die completely, it may be a good time to look into upgrading to a more powerful card
Here's some compatible fans:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150076&Tpk=vga+fan+6200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835119084 (this is a fan only- no heat sink)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835110103 (I hvae used these and they work fine for older cards that don't get too hot)

 

Hi dlb :wave

Thank you for letting me know about the distance for the air outlet. I'll try cleaning it and hope that solves the problem.

I'll look into replacing the fan if it continues to act up, but I can't upgrade to a better card (much as I'd like to), because the Power Supply Unit in this computer is only good enough to handle the current card. Also, this computer can only have 1GB of RAM, so I'm thinking that more upgrades to it might be better put towards saving up for a new machine.

 

Thta's probably a good idea. It's refreshing to hear some common sense when it comes to upgrades I deal with so many people who are attached to these aging PCs but they want to play Crysis on 'em. They'll pay $50 or $60 for a new game and expect it to run on a 6 year old PC that's worth about what they paid for the game, and they just don't ever seem to grasp the concept that the PC just won't do it, no matter what. But they still want to buy a $200 AGP card, 3x512mb PC100 SDRAM, and try to get an Athlon XP 2200+ installed. When all of this is well over $300, and for about $100-$150 more they could get all new gear.... don't mind me.... rolleyes I'm bitter and rambling Sorry :innocent

 

:-D I know what you mean about Crysis - lots of my friends insist their machines'll run it, but they're usually worse of than me, as most of their computers are 8+ year-old hand-me-downs from their parents. I know mine won't, so I don't even try to run it - this machine is a 6 year-old HP a430n, by the way.

I'll let you know if the cleaning works - it'll have to wait until late Friday though, as I'm supposed to be studying for yet another exam rolleyes Would I be wise to just print off what I need for studying and leave the computer off until I can work on it?

 

Well I would still suggest you take the card out to clean it then. Once you have unplugged all power from your PC press the "on button" once and this will discharge any residual current form your system. I prefer vacuum when you pull parts out as blowing can often push crud into more obscure places allowing it to persist and or accumulate over time. Either be careful with which ever method you use (there is a running debate for blowing or sucking when cleaning amongst geeks).

 

Thanks for letting me know about pressing the "on button" to get rid of residual current - I'll give a progress update on Friday after I clean the card. For now, I think I'll leave the machine off - I printed off everything I need for studying.

Would a combination of the vacuum and the can of air be a good idea?

 

You decide, just look twice at everything, place it on a clean sheet of A4 while having a good long look before you start then hold the fan with a fingertip and use some air to remove the crud. I always take digi pics of before and after for reference in case something goes wrong but your card looks very straight forward:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...=BFG+Tech+GeForce+6200+BFGR62256OC+Video+Card

 

Is the cleaning still fairly straight forward as my card has this fan on it:

http://www.copystars.com/images_products/45532_small.jpg

Sorry I couldn't find a better image - this type of fan seems rather uncommon on similar cards being sold online. Are the two white plastic knobs on either side of the fan assembly covering the screws I would use to remove the fan if it needs to be replaced?

 

Use a pencil or pen to hold the fan still, and clean away. The fan is attached to the heatsink, so you might be better off just replacing the heatsink and fan.

E

 

Agree with Fred, try cleaning it firstly but is noise continues then the bearings are probably shot and you will need to replace it. If that is the case you will need to refresh the Thermal Interface Material (TIM). We can discuss this further if you think the bearings are deteriorating and the fan is on the way out. If you look at that pic too, blowing may just wedge crud in even more difficult places to reach, Vacuum fanboy here personally.

 

It was a big chunk of dust/who knows what wedged underneath the fan! Once I got that out and started the computer up, the fan now sounds like it always used to :cool No more squeaking!

I used a can of air on the card itself, and the small vacuum on the fan and heatsink (I held the fan to keep it from moving).

I've tested several of my games, and the fan's been getting the GPU's temperature back to normal far quicker. Looks like all systems are go :dood

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

Glad you got it fixed for cheap! :-D

E