PSU Fan Not Spinning.....

W

Waters

New Member
just recently i decided to take a peak behind my computer and realized my PSU fan isnt running!!! i tried using a pencil and spin it, nothing...can i replace just the fan or shuld i buy a new PSU. Also can thjis cause my video card to overheat?Cause my screen just put all these lines of color on my screen randomly and i have tor estart
 
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Depends on what kind of PSU it is. If it's an Antec SmartPower, then it may not turn until things get really hot. If it's not a SmartPower, then you usually have to replace the whole PSU.
Tom
 
if the heat generated by your psu isnt being blown out by the fan it could raise the temp inside your pc witch inturn could affect your graphic card
 
yeah, like they said, I have an antec smart power supply and the back fan hasn't turned on once yet. Only the inside fan runs. Which i guess is a good thing cause it means the PSU isn't running hot.
 
Waters said:
just recently i decided to take a peak behind my computer and realized my PSU fan isnt running!!! i tried using a pencil and spin it, nothing...can i replace just the fan or shuld i buy a new PSU. Also can thjis cause my video card to overheat?Cause my screen just put all these lines of color on my screen randomly and i have tor estart
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Forgot to ask if you have a case fan. Do you?
Tom
 
you can replace the fan only just cut the wires and splice them... but you can also die! The PSU holds BIG voltages even while being off
 
b00gi mAM said:
you can replace the fan only just cut the wires and splice them... but you can also die! The PSU holds BIG voltages even while being off
Click to expand...
This is why most are riveted shut, not screwed together.
Okay, 2 case fans on the side. Both blowing in, I assume? Same size? CFM?
If we're talking about the pic crapping out, we could also be missing a graphics card fan, or overheating RAM, or Northbridge, or Southbridge chips without cooling....
Tom
 
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OvenMaster said:
This is why most are riveted shut, not screwed together.
Okay, 2 case fans on the side. Both blowing in, I assume? Same size? CFM?
If we're talking about the pic crapping out, we could also be missing a graphics card fan, or overheating RAM, or Northbridge, or Southbridge chips without cooling....
Tom
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they both blowing air out it seems, both same size fans, i do not have a fan on my video card though. My rams temp when restarting my comp is usually 103Farenheit my CPU is at umm 120 Farenheit :eek: . I checked my BIOS and it says my CPU fans running(knew that), but Power Fan and Chasis(i dont believe i have a chasis fan yet) aint.
 
Blowing OUT? No wonder you're having a problem.

You should have the same number of fans blowing out, as well as an equal number of fans blowing in, or air grilles for intake air. For instance, on my box, I have the PSU fan blowing OUT to the rear. I have a case fan blowing OUT, blowing to the rear. I have a duct on the side connected to the CPU fan, sucking IN. I also have a grille at the front of the PC, for air to be pulled IN.
Two intakes, two exhausts.

You need:
1. PSU fan blowing OUT.
2. 1 case fan on the rear, blowing OUT.
3. 1 case fan on the side, blowing IN.
4. 1 case fan on the front, hopefully, blowing IN. If you do not have a grille on the front of your case, then have the other case fan blowing IN as well.
What you seem to have been doing is trying to blow hot case air out, but not letting enough cooler room air in.
Tom
 
OvenMaster said:
Blowing OUT? No wonder you're having a problem.

You should have the same number of fans blowing out, as well as an equal number of fans blowing in, or air grilles for intake air. For instance, on my box, I have the PSU fan blowing OUT to the rear. I have a case fan blowing OUT, blowing to the rear. I have a duct on the side connected to the CPU fan, sucking IN. I also have a grille at the front of the PC, for air to be pulled IN.
Two intakes, two exhausts.

You need:
1. PSU fan blowing OUT.
2. 1 case fan on the rear, blowing OUT.
3. 1 case fan on the side, blowing IN.
4. 1 case fan on the front, hopefully, blowing IN. If you do not have a grille on the front of your case, then have the other case fan blowing IN as well.
What you seem to have been doing is trying to blow hot case air out, but not letting enough cooler room air in.
Tom
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ovenmaster, well the PSU Fan On The Back isnt running(not sure if there is another inside it), also on the side of my case theres 2 fans blowing out and i think they need to blow out because my CPU fan is facing that way, so should i just change one of those fans on the side to bring in air and leave one to push the air out? Also i am goin to add a rear fan, should i make that bring in or bring out air? I am also adding http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=120565&CatId=494 i think that will help cool down the video card will it not? ALSO OvenMaster to keep in mind, my computer is sort of in a confined space. We have a desktop and the computer sits on this stand and it sticks out a bit, but middle to rear of the whole case is inside this decent size surrounded area. Ill show u pics when i get home.
 
OVenmaster here is a picture...i have a few quesitons though, i just opened my case and it feels like airs blowing inside the computer too when i put my hand inside the case and close to the side fans they are blowing air in and when i have my hand on the outside of my case its blowing air out it feels like. Is there anyway to clean up this huge ass wad of wires?




100_0333.jpg
 
Good grief.
First of all, on your fans are molded or printed arrow markings showing both the direction of blade rotation and air flow. Take each one out and look for these markings on the fans. You'll find them sooner or later. Reinstall them and make sure the arrows are pointing IN to the case.
Those flat IDE cables should ideally be gently folded so that they're flat against panels, but I don't see any way to do that with the motherboard connectors so close to the drives. My own personal suggestion is to replace 'em with sets of short round cables. Those flat cables you have are blocking airflow something horrible, especially for that fan on the right.
All the power supply cables should be neatly tied up in bundles, out of the way of airflow from fan to exhaust. Don't use wire ties! Use plastic zip ties, or rubber bands. Also, try to minimize any blockage of airflow to the rear of your PSU.
Regards from Tom
 
Waters said:
ovenmaster, well the PSU Fan On The Back isnt running(not sure if there is another inside it), also on the side of my case theres 2 fans blowing out and i think they need to blow out because my CPU fan is facing that way, so should i just change one of those fans on the side to bring in air and leave one to push the air out? Also i am goin to add a rear fan, should i make that bring in or bring out air? I am also adding http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=120565&CatId=494 i think that will help cool down the video card will it not? ALSO OvenMaster to keep in mind, my computer is sort of in a confined space. We have a desktop and the computer sits on this stand and it sticks out a bit, but middle to rear of the whole case is inside this decent size surrounded area. Ill show u pics when i get home.
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Check to see if your PSU is an Antec SmartPower. The fan you see on the outside rarely runs unless the PSU gets very hot. SmartPowers have internal fans that always run, even at a slow speed. If it is not a SmartPower, then make sure there is another fan inside the PSU. Look with a bright light. If when the PC is running you feel NO warm air coming out, then your PSU fan is dead.
A rear case fan should blow air OUT.
The PC card fan should blow air OUT.
Your CPU fan MUST blow towards the heatsink.
Make the two side fans blow IN.
Do not have the side fans blow in on one, and blow out on the other. All you'll do is recirculate hot air, especially if it's in a confined space.
What you need to remember is that cool air has to come in, be moved over your motherboard, and then be moved out the rear, all in a continuous flow from lower front to upper back. Or in your case, from lower side to upper back.
Tom
 
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OvenMaster said:
Good grief.
First of all, on your fans are molded or printed arrow markings showing both the direction of blade rotation and air flow. Take each one out and look for these markings on the fans. You'll find them sooner or later. Reinstall them and make sure the arrows are pointing IN to the case.
Those flat IDE cables should ideally be gently folded so that they're flat against panels, but I don't see any way to do that with the motherboard connectors so close to the drives. My own personal suggestion is to replace 'em with sets of short round cables. Those flat cables you have are blocking airflow something horrible, especially for that fan on the right.
All the power supply cables should be neatly tied up in bundles, out of the way of airflow from fan to exhaust. Don't use wire ties! Use plastic zip ties, or rubber bands. Also, try to minimize any blockage of airflow to the rear of your PSU.
Regards from Tom
Click to expand...

how do i replace my cables with sets of short round cables? Tie them like u said or get a new PSU? Also u say that fans should be blowing towards my heatsink, but it would be more conveinent to put fans at the rear, but i think what your thinking is that the rear is the PSU lets out heat to the bak and that bringing air in is just recirculating. Am i correct? I agree with everything ur saying. Also i was wondering i was thinkin about gettin another fan that goes inside the computer, i wasnt sure wat i shuld get

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=664350&Sku=ULT31050

or
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=120565&CatId=494

also my side fans are pretty loud in the morning sometimes, like vibrating loud its relaly nasty and i was wondering is this is because its just starting up or should i get new fans.

I am lookin to spend as little as i can, i have about 120 to spend. Im thinkin a new PSU will serv better get one with cable sleeves. also i wanted to get a fan taht blows air out it takes up a slot in the front of the PC. What are your opinions, i truly don't know why i wanna add so much cooling, but my video is just killing me, i mean i watched a music video on my comp and there were green lines on it blinking faster and faster and its just so annoying, i think cooling will partiallly solve the problem, and i wanna add fans just because u kno what ur talkin about and i think it will benefit me alot
 
You most likely have an Antec Smartpower PSU. Don't worry about the outside fan not spinning. Don't get a new psu, the one you have is very high quality, and you don't need one with cable sleeves. Get round IDE cables to replace the ones you have (the wide flat ones, called ribbon cables). they are about $6 a piece. you probably need two. All you have to do is unplug the old ones, making sure you remember what goes where, and plug in the new ones. As far as fans go, do you have any spaces for fans in the back? if so, get exhaust fans to fit there. Make sure the lower fans are intake.
 
Chris Chan said:
You don't always need soldering skills to replace a fan. Some have removable terminals.
Click to expand...

True... installed a connector in my PSU last time I had to change the fan, as a matter of fact, so I won't have to solder on that bad boy anymore.

I go through fans on a regular basis.
 
Ovenmaster after 10mins of looking at my case, the side fans are pointing out, so my plan is to

1.Flip Both Side Fans(So itll blow air in)
2. Put a fan on the back that blows out
3. Get 2 IDE Cables
4. Insert a fan card that blows air out
 
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