Orpington Astronomical Society

Random Rambling Ruminations => PC Helpline => Topic started by: Fay on Apr 29, 2010, 08:05:49

Title: Overactive Fan
Post by: Fay on Apr 29, 2010, 08:05:49
The fan in my desktop blows at full pelt 70% of the time. I am typing this & it is revving hard!!!! Not as though I am playing games on it. Have you any idea's as to why this is Mac?

It has been like this for quite a while now

Thanks
Title: Re: Overactive Fan
Post by: mickw on Apr 29, 2010, 08:39:05
Either you are trying to run every application on your PC at the same time or it's full of dust/fluff

Take lid off and you will see it, probably in/around the fans and in the vanes of the cpu heat sink.
I use a soft bristled brush to flick  a bulk of the dust off then use an Air Duster to blast the rest of the stuff off.

Best done in the garden unless you love housework.
Title: Re: Overactive Fan
Post by: Fay on Apr 29, 2010, 09:23:53
I have just had the side off Mick & cannot see an obvious amount of dust. It is going at full pelt even doing this. Where is the cpu heatsink? Behind the fan?
Title: Re: Overactive Fan
Post by: Fay on Apr 29, 2010, 09:25:03
CPU in task manager, System Idle is 98, is that significant?
Title: Re: Overactive Fan
Post by: mickw on Apr 29, 2010, 12:20:13
QuoteWhere is the cpu heatsink? Behind the fan?
Yep, it will have a lot of fins on it.

QuoteSystem Idle is 98, is that significant?
Don't know  :oops:

The blades of the CPU fan and the case fan should look clean and relatively shiny, if they have a coating of muck on them they are not doing a proper job of cooling
Title: Re: Overactive Fan
Post by: Mac on Apr 29, 2010, 13:16:26
QuoteCPU in task manager, System Idle is 98, is that significant?

yup it means that your pc is doing nothing for 98% of the time which is normal.
download this and have a look at what is running, its a tad better then task manager.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx)

if you find one of your SVCHOST processes is running a lot when your actally doing nothing,
chances are you have some sort of spyware / malware running although not always.

Also as Mick said , just check that your cooling fins are clear and that the CPU has adequate cooling.

Mac.


Title: Re: Overactive Fan
Post by: Fay on Apr 29, 2010, 14:53:32
Can't get the help file to open, so dont know what I am looking for at the moment. I think it is going to be hoovers at dawn!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Overactive Fan
Post by: Fay on Apr 29, 2010, 15:58:54
Clever boys!!!!!!!

Had a good brush & hoover & all seems well now!!!!!!!!!! Thanks :lol: :lol: