Can I temporarily stop my CPU fan for a second or two to identify noise?

camelopardis · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:16

I'm really pleased with my new build in a Fractal Design R3 case, but theres an annoying hum from one of the fans.

Can I temporarily stop fans (incl. the CPU fan) just for a second or two with my finger, or would that cause damage?

sypher365 · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:28

Should be ok if just stopping for a sec, I use the centre point to add small amount of resistance and slow a fan down can normally tell if it's the one humming from that.

Grimley · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:47

Put a glove on if you don't want to cut your finger! I did that one time when I wanted to stop a case fan.

cjgardens · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:48

Ye you can stop them with out a problem. Just watch your finger lol

Schizo · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:50

put your finger in the fan and then start your pc.

less risk of hurting your finger.

cjgardens · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:52

schizo said:
put your finger in the fan and then start your pc.

less risk of hurting your finger.

Good point never thought of that and i stop my fans all the time to find which one is making the noise so i can get better to make it quieter

bifday2k · 24 Mar 2011 at 18:32

Or just unplug the fans from the headers, then boot up, it will be more then fine aslong as u don't load up the pc.

setter · 24 Mar 2011 at 18:46

^ this, i once ran my q9550 with a passive TRUE black cooler, cpu was at stock.

pumaz · 24 Mar 2011 at 20:26

Man-up and use your finger it's a plastic fan not a circular saw!!!

I do this all the time with case, GPU and CPU fans never had a problem and it's the simplest and quickest way of identifying a noise

mikeyholt · 24 Mar 2011 at 20:44

Just don't do it bare fingered while it's running...

z10m · 24 Mar 2011 at 21:03

You can unplag fan from the motherboard while in windows.
I've done that many times.

SouthEastBlue · 24 Mar 2011 at 21:24

Computer fans don't tend to run fast enough to hurt your fingers anyway, I've always just poked a digit into them if I need to stop the fan and I've never been bruised, cut or anything else.

Gundog48 · 24 Mar 2011 at 21:28

No problem at all, just use speedfan instead so you don't get the motor noise from the fan or burn the motor out. Alternatively, you can just unplug the ones you can't controll

Jokester · 24 Mar 2011 at 21:29

Don't stick your finger in the blades anyway, just put it on the hub. But yeah, just unplugging the fan is the easiest way.

If you force the fan to stop with a finger you might need to give it a push to start it again.

z10m · 24 Mar 2011 at 21:31

SouthEastBlue said:
Computer fans don't tend to run fast enough to hurt your fingers anyway, I've always just poked a digit into them if I need to stop the fan and I've never been bruised, cut or anything else.

Trust me 120mm fan can easily cut your finger. Did that to myself few times.

arknor · 24 Mar 2011 at 21:38

z10m said:
Trust me 120mm fan can easily cut your finger. Did that to myself few times.

most cpu fans are only around 1200-2000rpm though.

its not like back in the day when you had some 80mm delta fan and if you put a finger wrong it stings like hell and plastic blades snap off and go flying

camelopardis · 25 Mar 2011 at 10:04

thanks for all the answers!

koolpc · 25 Mar 2011 at 10:06

Stopped the CPU fan many times over the years with no issues. Just press the middle portion and all ok.

My CPU fan runs around 500rpm! PC is as cool as a cucumber. Never run a fan higher than around that figure as i like peace and quiet!! Got a 640 Quad and temps are awesome too. (I don't live in a fridge either!!)

edscdk · 25 Mar 2011 at 10:11

its dangerous to stop the fan with your finger, you need to use your penis

BubbySoup · 25 Mar 2011 at 10:30

edscdk said:
its dangerous to stop the fan with your finger, you need to use your penis

Very juvenile, but I lol'd anyway