(HELP!!) Can dust slow down a PC fan?

Short answer : Yes.

Your scenario sounds like the fan was stuck and opening the case nudged it back into life. Dust and fluff can find their way into bearings and form a gummy substance when the combine with oil and grease.

Are you sure that some debris hadn’t jammed the fan?
 
Terminal_Boy said:
Short answer : Yes.

Your scenario sounds like the fan was stuck and opening the case nudged it back into life. Dust and fluff can find their way into bearings and form a gummy substance when the combine with oil and grease.

Are you sure that some debris hadn’t jammed the fan?
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Thank you for your response. I don't know what this could be but it just seems a really coincidence that as soon as a open my front and took the dusty filter off, it stopped. Do you think I should be worried?
 
Do not clean the filter for a month and see if it happens again. If it does, you have found the issue. If not, you may have solved it inadvertently anyway.
 
Avalez said:
Thank you for your response. I don't know what this could be but it just seems a really coincidence that as soon as a open my front and took the dusty filter off, it stopped. Do you think I should be worried?
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Nope, just keep an eye on it.

Might be worth having HWInfo or similar installed to monitor temps during gaming.
 
Dust gathering into fan certainly changes aerodynamics and increases drag.
Also dust clogged filters have increased impedance slowing down airflow and loading fan close to it more.
 
Like Terminal Boy said, dust can create resistance, but even if fan blades were completely covered in dust it would only be a fraction of resistance needed to stop a fan from starting. Same applies to dirty filters. What case and case fans do you have?
 
I have a question, is it possible to over volt a fan? Would that cause the grinding problem I have?
Like plugging in a fan to pin connecter that put out more than it requires or will it just take what it needs?
 
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