Will new fan solve 'always on fan' problem?

[daveyboy123]

Not strictly an overclocking question but I have just bought a laptop and the fan is pretty much always on and I have done all checks - updated BIOS, drivers, set power management to quiet, windows update not running, CPU below 2% etc.

BIOS diagnostics shows error fan not responding.

What are the chances that a new fan will help? Does the fan have any management stuff on it? I'm thinking if a fan is literally a cable and a fan and the smart stuff is elsewhere, how will a new one help when it already clearly 'goes round' and does fan things?

 

[Gray2233]

We've been seeing an odd number of posts lately asking oddly technical questions from first posters.

The last one was from Oxford too!

If it's a new laptop, the last thing you want to do is void the warranty by opening it up to change the fan, what is the exact spec of the PC?

 

[daveyboy123]

I just figured you guys would be the experts. Second hand Dell Inspiron 5410 out of warranty. Do fans just receive a signal supplied by motherboard and either work or not, or could a faulty fan lead to ‘always on’? Really sorry if not appropriate question

 

[Quartz]

What are the chances that a new fan will help?

Quite good. They’re cheaply available from eBay. Yes, it could be a faulty cable or liquid damage. You’ll only know when you open the thing up. You should open it up to inspect the fan before ordering because you might see other stuff that requires attention - take a close look at the battery for swelling - or possible upgrade options like more RAM or a M.2 drive.

 

[Joxeon]

If it’s an old laptop then the fan is possibly clogged with dust which is hampering cooling meaning the fan is running harder and for longer than it would normally, also the thermal paste of the cpu might have dried up and is not transferring heat away efficiently leading to the higher temps and the fan staying on.

 

[Gray2233]

Opening it up and giving it a good blast with air will probably do wonders if it's second hand.

That said, if you are going to do that a repaste and new fan are worthwhile.

 

[Tetras]

I just figured you guys would be the experts. Second hand Dell Inspiron 5410 out of warranty. Do fans just receive a signal supplied by motherboard and either work or not, or could a faulty fan lead to ‘always on’? Really sorry if not appropriate question

Zero-RPM is usually controlled by the BIOS (or VBIOS in the case of a graphics card), but if the fan was installed wrong, or there's a fault with it, then that is possible. There might be a way to control that via software, even your Windows power plans can change that behaviour sometimes, depending on the stuff the OEM installs by default. We're assuming that the fan is actually supposed to stop though, maybe it isn't?

 

[daveyboy123]

Thanks guys.

 

[X x X]

try new thermal paste

 

[daveyboy123]

I decided to have a look and noticed it was missing as screw in the bottom so someone else has had a go. I’ve returned it (eBay) and they didn’t complain.

Keep telling my boy to get a desktop but he’s not having any of it