CoolerMaster Fans

seekermeister · 29 Jan 2011

I've never had a problem with noisy fans, until I got my HAF922 case, with CM fans. I cured one by cleaning it, but now I got a noisy fan on the CM CPU HSF, and it is not dirty enough to throw it out of balance. Oddly, it seems to occur when I leave the patio door ajar, and the room temperature gets on the chilly side. I fiddled with it yesterday, and quietened it by heating up the room and moving the fan around, but that did not help today.

I can probably quieten it again somehow, but instead of making that a routine chore, I'm going to replace it, unless someone can suggest a sure long term fix?

the jimmy · 29 Jan 2011

seekermeister said:

I can probably quieten it again somehow, but instead of making that a routine chore, I'm going to replace it, unless someone can suggest a sure long term fix?

I suppose you've checked that there aren't any wires touching the blades, I know by cleaning the fans you should be careful, I've had one that was louder after cleaning, I guess I wasn't careful. I've also noticed that some fans will get louder or quieter depending if they're in a vertical or horizonal postion.

seekermeister · 29 Jan 2011

No, nothing touching it (except the heatsink). I think that the problem is aggravated by the fact that the little wire clips that are used to mount it with, do not hold it as firmly as screws do, and that the fan resting on the thin little fins of the heatsink causes them to vibrate easily. I would get a Noctua fan to replace it, but with them being round, instead of the usual square, I doubt that wire clip would hold it.

linnemeyerhere · 29 Jan 2011

Noctua makes a standard square style fan as well.

seekermeister · 29 Jan 2011

Yes, you are correct. I'm a bit surprised, but after ebaying for one, the cheapest that I found was $22 shipped. I already knew that they were expensive, but somehow knowing and doing aren't the same thing. I'm going to fiddle some more, but if I can't lick it, I will break down and get the Noctua. Thanks.

linnemeyerhere · 29 Jan 2011

I know this sounds stupid but try wrapping a rubber band around the bottom and top of the whole assembly. This will keep great tension on the cooler and fans and if this works then shop for a small package of long zip ties and then wrap two around and zip them up for a long term solution.

essenbe · 29 Jan 2011

Although you didn't say, it sounds like you have the CM TX3. If that is the case, the new ones have plastic brackets instead of the wires. The brackets screw on to the fan and slide onto the cooler. If that is what you have, try contacting Cooler Master and getting some clips. They should work on any fan. Both of my fans were DOA. I'm running with no fans @ 29°C.
Go figure!

seekermeister · 29 Jan 2011

You must run at a fairly cool room temperature to run at that temp with no fans. The only time I get that cool is with the patio door cracked one fan running to the HSF, and the side panel off. Actually, I can get cooler than that, with that configuration. Normally it idles at probably ~35C.

essenbe · 29 Jan 2011

Actually I can't explain it. I found that it was not working by accident. It is probably around 70°F in this room. I just orderd 2 more fans and a fan controller.