Opened case and vacuumed it out, now fan is making horrible noise!

[TopekaMan]

Computer: Gateway DX4831
Windows 7 Home Premium

Last night I had to move my desktop computer so I decided to open it up and vacuum out all of the dust in the six year old box. It was pretty bad in there and I had a vacuum cleaner going while I hit the computer with compressed air and I thought that I got as much of it out that I could (I stuck the nozzle of the vacuum into the case and was careful, but I may have touched the cooling fan blades when I did that), but when I turned it on the fan immediately started making a loud constant noise that didn't stop even after the computer was finished booting. I shut it down and opened up the case to see if I accidentally moved a wire or something like that, and there were three small dust bunnies stuck in the heat right behind the fan blades, but nothing was touching it. I pulled out the dust with tweezers and hit it with compressed air a few more times, but when I booted it up the noise was still there.

So, is it easy to replace the fan in a desktop? It looks like it would be. Should I go ahead and buy a new fan to install (I found one for $20 online) or should I remove the original one and take a closer look at it? The fan isn't wobbling and it just sounds like there's something that's rubbing on the fan blades, so removing it could allow me to clean out whatever may be touching the blades, but I want to hear someone else's opinion before I take it out.

 

[oscer1]

Hi taking fan out should be fine clean it check for cracks on fan blades if all look good put back in and see if noise still their if so then maybe fan bearings need some oil.

 

[TopekaMan]

Thanks for the quick reply! Also, beautiful German Shorthair you've got.

 

[oscer1]

Thanks for the quick reply! Also, beautiful German Shorthair you've got.

Thanks he is a eighteen months old

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Indeed no harm in removing the existing fan it might need cleaning on the back of it.

But yes you're best off taking it off and taking it with you for a replacement fan so it is the same size
Also makes it easier to clean the heatsink too with the fan removed.

 

[Megahertz07]

We are supposing that it's a case fan, not the CPU fan, right?
If it's the case fan you can run the computer without it, just leave the side open.
As Thrash suggested, take it off, exam it closer and take it to the shop to get a similar one.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

When you were blowing with compressed air to dislodge the dust, did the air spin the fan blades any? If so, there is a good chance you overspun the blades and damaged the bearings. The only fix for that is replacement of the fan.

When blowing out a computer with compressed air, you need to keep the pressure low to avoid damaging any components inside the computer (canned compressed gas designed for cleaning keyboards, etc. or an electric blower, such as the DataVac ED500, are safer than an air compressor). Fans should be blocked from spinning to avoid damaging the bearings.

A vacuum cleaner can cause damage from ESD (Electro Static Discharge) and should not be used for cleaning a computer (this is very controversial but I feel it is better to be safe than sorry). It is better to take the computer outside and use low pressure air only to blow out the dust. The more often you clean the computer, the easier and less messy it will be to clean it.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

So, is it easy to replace the fan in a desktop? It looks like it would be. Should I go ahead and buy a new fan to install (I found one for $20 online) or should I

This fan is very important.
So you should check not about size but also more on 500 watts, (500 is just a figure, but you need to take into consideration on the watts)
If you want to know do post what are install and hardware currently, so as this forum may assist you the correct watts to get.
And the pricing is one factor to avoid more damages on the hardware.
It is your decision, and if need, we are here to provide you.

Try not to get it Online, as there is no guarantee and the product may not be reliable.

Your decision.

Watts has very little to do with the rating of a fan (and certainly not a figure anywhere close to 500!). What's important is diameter, speed, and number of terminals on the fan cable. The speed of the fan in rpm should be on the fan label. The diameter is the distance across the blades in millimeters and will be a figure such as 80mm, 90mm, 120mm, etc. Most fans have three or four terminals on the cable that comes out of the fan.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

We are supposing that it's a case fan, not the CPU fan, right?
If it's the case fan you can run the computer without it, just leave the side open.
As Thrash suggested, take it off, exam it closer and take it to the shop to get a similar one.

I do not recommend running a computer with a missing fan, even if the case side is open. While unlikely to cause damage when done for short periods of time, why take chances?

Taking the fan to a shop, such as Fry's or Best Buy, is a good idea. Even though many of their sales people aren't as knowledgeable as they would like you to believe, they should know enough to be able to get you a suitable replacement for something as simple as a fan.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yep 500w is a very large number

It's also a good Idea to take a couple of picture of where the fan is connected to the mother board so you don't forget
Pictures make it easier to remember

 

[Eric3742]

Watts has very little to do with the rating of a fan (and certainly not a figure anywhere close to 500!). What's important is diameter, speed, and number of terminals on the fan cable. The speed of the fan in rpm should be on the fan label. The diameter is the distance across the blades in millimeters and will be a figure such as 80mm, 90mm, 120mm, etc. Most fans have three or four terminals on the cable that comes out of the fan.

Hi Lady Fitzgerald
Thanks.
I know.
Bad habit of mine, as not able to focus correctly, most of the time.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...It's also a good Idea to take a couple of picture of where the fan is connected to the mother board so you don't forget
Pictures make it easier to remember

Excellent advice!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Watts has very little to do with the rating of a fan (and certainly not a figure anywhere close to 500!). What's important is diameter, speed, and number of terminals on the fan cable. The speed of the fan in rpm should be on the fan label. The diameter is the distance across the blades in millimeters and will be a figure such as 80mm, 90mm, 120mm, etc. Most fans have three or four terminals on the cable that comes out of the fan.

Hi Lady Fitzgerald
Thanks.
I know.
Bad habit of mine, as not able to focus correctly, most of the time.

I have ADHD so I know where you are coming from on focusing.

 

[Eric3742]

Watts has very little to do with the rating of a fan (and certainly not a figure anywhere close to 500!). What's important is diameter, speed, and number of terminals on the fan cable. The speed of the fan in rpm should be on the fan label. The diameter is the distance across the blades in millimeters and will be a figure such as 80mm, 90mm, 120mm, etc. Most fans have three or four terminals on the cable that comes out of the fan.

Hi Lady Fitzgerald
Thanks.
I know.
Bad habit of mine, as not able to focus correctly, most of the time.

I have ADHD so I know where you are coming from on focusing.

It happen about 14 years ago, terrible.
Still on medication, long term as doctor did not want to answer.
And poor &or slow in proper response.