Another computer question...

[Scott Douglas]

Why is my cooling fan running so much these days?

Never used to hear it unless the processor was really being worked when working on photos.
I'm almost wondering if someone is using my computer when I'm not, but it is 'on'.

[flatbutt]

Are the vents dirty causing heat to build up?

[flipper35]

What he said. Dust build up inside, on the heat sink, in the vents...

[WolfeMacleod]

Blow out the dust.

[zakthor]

I recently 'repaired' my lenovo workstation laptop. Mostly quiet when new it was running fans almost constantly and hitting thermal limit from web browsing.

Initially had it opened and cleaned out fans and heatsinks (it was actually pretty clean) but problem persisted. Replaced entire 'heat sink assembly' including fans and machine is now like new. I suspect the heat pipe was broken from rough handling.

New assembly was $100, install was quite involved and cost < $80. Well worth it if it lets me delay getting a new laptop for another year or so.

[Scott Douglas]

Yeah it probably needs a good cleaning, just like my desk. (sigh)

[stomachmonkey]

How many browser tabs do you keep open?

Modern browsers are memory pigs.

Every window / tab eats resources.

[John Rogers]

I would say it is a slow failing of the goop that is between the CPU and its heat sink and needs replacement. As noted before, either blow or vacuum the animal hair and dust out then pull the heat sink and clean off the old stuff. Apply new goop the put the heat sink back on.
John

[stomachmonkey]

If you end up pulling the heat sink replace it with a water cooler.

I know we all like air cooled but liquid cooling is the way to go with desktop pcs.

Quieter than whisper quiet and keeps temps well under control.

I use NZXT Kraken coolers in my builds but the Corsair coolers are just fine as well and a bit more budget friendly.

They really are worth the expense.

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks guys. I opened it up and yes, it was really dusty. I should have taken a picture but I didn't want to expose my cameras to that much dust/dirt. I vacuumed it out, cleaned off the fan blades and it is now quieter than it's been in a long time.
My only experience with pulling a heat sink didn't go well. I ended up mistakenly taking the cpu chip out of its socket. That was the end of that computer as I couldn't get the chip back in. There's a s@@#$%load of pins on it. I have the processor chip sitting right in front of me here at my desk as a constant reminder of my limitations. I won't be making that mistake again.
I'll post a picture of it later.
Thanks again.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

....There's a s@@#$%load of pins on it.....

They only fit one way. If they don't just drop in, wrong orientation.

[Scott Douglas]

Hmmm, not sure if I knew that or noticed that it needed to be oriented correctly when trying to install it. That box is long gone though so water under the bridge so to speak. Still got the cpu though!

[Scott Douglas]

Says it's a Pentium 4, 1.7GHZ / 256 / 400 / 1.75V on the back.

[masraum]

There could be a process running OT that is heating things up. That's easy enough to check, far easier than taking your computer apart.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Says it's a Pentium 4, 1.7GHZ / 256 / 400 / 1.75V on the back.

Wow, OK, yeah, that sounds pretty old. Huh, I just checked, they only just stopped making "pentium" processors. Who'd a thunk that the pentium/pentium name would last that long?!? (about 30 years)

At least you got the noise down by cleaning.

I'm surprised that you couldn't get the proc back in. They are usually pretty easy to get in and out (once you flip the lever that locks them in place, and assuming that you know that they only go in one way...)

[Scott Douglas]

I checked the Task Manager and it didn't show anything running.
I think it was the fact the 'dust' was packed solid on the top of the heat sink right under the fan so no air was getting passed over the fins.

I mistakenly took that processor out thinking I was only removing the heat sink. Imagine my surprise when it came out attached to the heat sink and wouldn't go back in immediately afterwards without any rotating orientation wise. For what it's worth, it didn't come out all that easily either. I quickly realized I was going to need a new computer.

[Scott Douglas]

My computer has been on all day and I haven't heard the fan 'come on', like I did yesterday, at all.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I checked the Task Manager and it didn't show anything running.
I think it was the fact the 'dust' was packed solid on the top of the heat sink right under the fan so no air was getting passed over the fins.

I mistakenly took that processor out thinking I was only removing the heat sink. Imagine my surprise when it came out attached to the heat sink and wouldn't go back in immediately afterwards without any rotating orientation wise. For what it's worth, it didn't come out all that easily either. I quickly realized I was going to need a new computer.

Ouch!

You usually have to lift a lever to get them out and back in, and then put the lever down to lock the proc in place.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

My computer has been on all day and I haven't heard the fan 'come on', like I did yesterday, at all.

Outstanding!

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks. I'm a self-taught computer user and learned a lot, sometimes the hard way, when I got laid off back in '92. My sis-in-law's husband who is a computer nerd of sorts really got a kick out of what I'd try when I was learning how they worked. He said he'd never try what I did sometimes because he knew the consequences of a mis-step. My ignorance was bliss.

I'm a lot more cautious in my old age now.