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Resolved Question

CPU fan doesn't spin unless system restarted multiple times.

Oct 9, 2016 3:23PM PDT

I have recently been having issues with my cpu fan. When i turn my computer on it doesn't spin and after a while the system just shuts itself down without warning because of this.

However, i have found a temporary solution but i need to find a permanent fix. Currently if i boot the system up multiple times (usually around 4 or 5), the fan will start to spin and there will be no problems from then on until i turn the computer on the next day where i have to go through the same process.

Do i need a new cpu fan or could it be something software, OS or BIOS related?

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

JamesMc19 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Solution Found
Oct 19, 2016 8:53AM PDT

I simply had to buy a new CPU fan, thank you all for your help Happy

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Good to see you fixed it.
Oct 19, 2016 9:02AM PDT

Dafydd.

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Answer
Short on details.
Oct 9, 2016 3:29PM PDT

Make, model, OS etc.
Last time you used canned air and thermal paste?
Dafydd.

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Details
Oct 9, 2016 3:56PM PDT

Ah yes, my apologies.

The fan came with the cpu, the cpu is an AMD fx 6300.
The motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3P.
The OS is windows 10.

Im not sure how relevant all the other specs are but i'll leave them at the bottom.

The last time i used canned air was 2 days ago. I regularly use canned air but i haven't changed the thermal paste before, i have ordered some in to do so as i want to try all these options before purchasing a new heatsink.

HDD: 1TB Seagate Barracuda Hard Drive 3.5" SATA III - ST1000DM003
RAM: Ballistix Sport 8GB (2x4GB) 1600MHz CL9 DDR3
GPU: Radeon R9 270x
PSU: EVGA 500W

Please ask if there is any more information that you need.

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Still no age of the machine.
Oct 9, 2016 4:02PM PDT

Tell how you use canned air.
Dafydd.

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More Details
Oct 9, 2016 4:14PM PDT

The computer is just over 2 years old.

I start of by spraying the fans. Starting with the cpu fan i place a key between the blades so the fan doesnt move and spray the blades and inside the heatsink itself.

Then once i have done that to all of the fans i just spray all the dust out the back of the tower.

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Good practice.
Oct 9, 2016 4:19PM PDT

Renewing thermal paste is cheap. That should take heat out of the equation. Another test, take the side panel off and point a fan at it.
Dafydd.

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Heat
Oct 11, 2016 2:05PM PDT

I have cleaned the computer out today; i renewed the thermal paste and used compressed air.

I have noticed a performance increase but the problem with the cpu fan still persists.

I think that it is unlikely that this is a heat issue.

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At 2 years you are in the time frame of
Oct 9, 2016 4:24PM PDT

BAD CAPS (google that.) It's something I can visually inspect for.

To learn more, Google that and "bad caps hard starting PC."
This hard starting is also due to failing power supplies but let's get the inspection done first.

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Bad Caps
Oct 11, 2016 2:10PM PDT

I have checked all of the capacitors and they don't appear to be faulty.

In terms of the PSU, i think that this isn't the issue either simply because the computer would have problems outside booting if it was the power supply such as randomly turning off. Although i did read something that suggests the restarting could be due to the fan needing enough power and thus needs charging a few times before it will properly spin.

I have also noticed that the fan tries to spin but appears to be getting stuck/struggles to spin.

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Did you clean the fan blades?
Oct 11, 2016 2:32PM PDT

I fixed one where the the crud inside the fan housing stopped the blades spinning.
Dafydd.

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Cleaning the fan
Oct 11, 2016 2:40PM PDT

I did clean the fan blades. The could be some dust left inside the circuit of the fan but i'm being cautious of that as i don't want to try and force the fan off to clean in there.

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As Bob said it could be PSU.
Oct 11, 2016 2:48PM PDT

Have you made any fan setting changes in BIOS?
Dafydd.

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BIOS Changes
Oct 11, 2016 3:08PM PDT

I did make one change in the BIOS to the fan speed, changed it from auto to normal.

I would have changed more settings but i haven't been given many to tinker with, is there anything in particular i should look for that could help?

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Fan Speeds
Oct 11, 2016 3:34PM PDT

Considering that the cpu fan is a 4 pin header. Should i do as the site suggests and make it PWM?

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Research more.
Oct 11, 2016 3:40PM PDT

I did say this might be off target but it's getting a bit confusing now. Wait 'till Bob chimes in for more ideas.
Dafydd.

Post was last edited on October 11, 2016 3:47 PM PDT

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Research
Oct 11, 2016 3:49PM PDT

Ok, i will look into it a bit more. Thank you for all the help.

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Could be looking at fan replacement.
Oct 11, 2016 3:53PM PDT

But hard to say. Wait for other ideas just in case.
Dafydd.

PS. Try resetting BIOS to defaults?
Mod edit to include info.

Post was last edited on October 11, 2016 4:00 PM PDT

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Sorry no.
Oct 11, 2016 6:42PM PDT

A PSU has electrolytic caps that perform better when warmed up.

For PSU sizing we use the TDP of the parts.
GPU 180W
CPU 95W
Drives 20W each.


The PSU is a 500W single rail so it should be fine UNLESS there are age factors such as a hot PC and years old.

You will encounter clients that will tell you "it's not this." Go along with them and replace what they think it is.

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PSU
Oct 11, 2016 7:44PM PDT

So would you say that there is a high possibility that it could be the PSU?

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I'm missing what age this is.
Oct 11, 2016 7:47PM PDT

Even so these AMD systems do seem to do this at 2 or so years. Sometimes it's the PSU, other times the motherboard. The one thing I learned is to never declare what it is till we fix it.

Here's my old friend's tech advice.

"When you're not sure what part it is, replace the cheapest one first."

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More information
Oct 11, 2016 7:59PM PDT

The machine is currently 2 years old.

What i'm thinking of doing i just replacing the fan for now since that seems to be the only issue.

My system can sometimes be slow in places but i think that's a separate issue, could be a throttling cpu, bad RAM stick or HDD problems but it doesn't seem to be too bad at the moment, just occasional spikes such as a 1 second FPS drop to about 30 in a game then goes back to 60, this can happen every few minutes.

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AMD CPU
Oct 11, 2016 8:11PM PDT

You may have the throttling or control function AMD C1E turned on in the BIOS. If you don't fear burning the CPU up, turn that off.

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AMD CPU
Oct 11, 2016 8:23PM PDT

I've also heard that turning off cool n quiet can help too. Are they similar functions?

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Yes
Oct 12, 2016 9:19AM PDT

One is for AMD, the other for Intel cpu's. You do it in the BIOS.

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Slow system
Oct 12, 2016 9:42AM PDT

Ah ok thank you.

My system being slow has been driving me mad, i cant put my finger on what it is. I have performed all kinds of clean up utilities. I cant tell if its my cpu, hard drive or something else. I performed a mem test and they seem to be in working order.

I've been thinking about doing a windows repair to see if that helps in any way.

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Answer
Fan
Oct 11, 2016 8:11PM PDT

If the only thing that does not work is the cpu fan....replace the fan there cheap.

The next time it does not start give the fan a little nudge with your finger or some plastic object.

If no help reseat the fan plug on the mobo.

If no help back to replace the fan.

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Fan
Oct 11, 2016 8:25PM PDT

I've tried helping it spin before, no luck. I think i'm just going to go ahead and buy a new fan, i haven't upgraded to an after market yet so i probably should.

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do not turn off BIOS cooling control
Oct 12, 2016 9:21AM PDT

until you have replaced that fan. You might also consider hooking the fan direct to a power feed from the PSU instead of the CPU_FAN plug on the motherboard, that way it will run on it's fastest setting all the time, which is the safest if gaming, especially if BIOS control of CPU is turned off.