M17x fan issues

It seems like at least one of the fans in my M17x is rubbing up against something making a grinding/buzzing sound. It is very noticeable on start up where it grinds as it starts, but as it gets up to speed the fan makes a constant clicking/buzzing sound. I can't tell which fan it is for sure, but it is most audible when I hold my head next to the front left speaker grill. Therefore I am assuming it is the left video card fan.

Any way to access that or would I have to send it in?

Please tell me this is something I can just knock back into place

 

well my video shows you how to get to the GPU fan

I'll post it now

Mine does it a little bit when i start up

 

Hi beeflan,
You might want to check and see if the noise is actually coming from your hard drive. Remove your hard drive, power on the machine, and see if the noise is still there. The fans spin at max speed when the laptop posts, and then they throttle down. Moo has a guide that you can reference for fan removal. If you need any aditional help, I'd be glad to walk you through it.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

Same issue here, only in my case it's the fan on the right side. Same constant and annoying buzzing. My only hesitation is whether to get to the fan and try fixing/cleaning it or wait until it gets worse and get it replaced... Not sure what to do as I don't wanna create more problems by disassembling the beast and possibly voiding the warranty...

 

Im getting the same grinding/buzzing sound coming form the right gpu fan so i called alienware and they are sending me a replacement fan im going to follow Moo's GPU video and replace the fan, hopefully that will fix the noise.

Do any of you guys get a noise from both gpu fans when you change from boost performance to power saver mode? if look under my my m17x is can see both gpu fans like moving back and forth like not making a full rotation just moving a little and make a funny noise not very load it hardly noticeable only if you like pay attention to it you can here it.

 

i just had them send me a fan and i replaced it my self and the noise is gone yay

 

im having a noise from my gpu fan, but alienware are sending me a brand new laptop, i also have an intermittent (spelling) mediabar and plastic trims not fitting properly :\

 

This has also started happening to me but only on start up it makes the grinding noise but once it up the fans don't make much noise any way i could fix it? maybe there is something stuck in there like dust or a crumb? lol

 

Actually, there's nothing wrong with the grinding noise on startup (according to Dell) and I have it too (had it on both systems). As long as your temps are ok and the noise doesn't bother you too much during normal operation/gaming, --- relax. Nothing is wrong with your system.
But you can get it replaced and the replacement fan will most likely be a used one, so you'll end-up losing.

 

Any grinding/rattling noise is not normal and should be reported. A tech can be dispatched out to replace the fan exhibiting this behavior. To my knowledge, replacement fans are new and not pulls from returned systems.

I replaced my left GPU fan as it was rattling when the laptop was on my logitech stand (laptop is at a near 45 degree angle when on the stand). The replacement fan did the trick and all is well.

When starting up, the fans will kick in @ high for a brief moment. This is expected and should be thought of as a fan sanity check.

 

oh ok well thanks aikimox and batboy as long as it keeps running smoothly when im gaming ill be fine with it thanks

 

I meant the grinding noise at startup (only few sec on the post screen). I couldn't get rid of it and after the fan was replaced, the noise became more loud. It doesn't happen during normal operation or gaming. And I agree, if the fans have a constant grinding noise, it might be not long before they fail.

 

Agreed - grinding at startup still sounds (no pun intended) bad. Have them send out another set.

 

I have the grinding sound coming from my Right GPU fan. Dell told me if it's a GPU fan a tech would have to come out and replace it, CPU is a customer replace. I may just have them replace all three just to make sure. It drives me crazy after awhile. On one of my first start up's I heard a load grinding noise that lasted about 2 secs, then went away, than comes back as the fans start to increase speed than going away once at max speed.

Update:
A tech will be out in the next few days to replace both GPU fans, that's pretty good response from Dell

 

was there a specific process that you guys followed as far as getting a replacement fan? sorry this is the first time for me having an issues with my laptop.....also do you guys have a number you could recommend? do you have to send the old fan back to them?? thanks guys

 

Yep I had the same annoying fan grinding noise. I got my new system a few weeks back now and on day one the right GPU fan sounded like it was running on train tracks lol. It was fine at 1st until I loaded up a game and the fans kicked into high gear. Thats when I first heard the really annoying rattling sounds. It was like the fins of the fan were scrapping the edges each time the fan was spinning around.

I rang dell and they ended up replacing all 3 of my fans.

I must say that I have also noticed that the black coloured fans seem to be better, higher quality of something. I have noticed some machines come out with a silver one or one of each. I much prefer the black ones. My R1 came with one of each which I though was weird. The black ones I have never had any problems with however the grey silver GPU fans seem to be the ones that grind and rattle a lot.

Also I have noticed that in my New R2 it has a new looking CPU fan. Well the fins look different to the R1 and other R2 pictures I have seen on this forum.

Cheers.

 

My fans got changed last week because I noticed the mentioned sound from the left one. after replacement, I have the same sound now on the right side (the left sound is gone).
Looks like that you have be very lucky if you get silent fans....

 

I had both my GPU fans replaced to be safe, the left fan was making a clicking noise just enough to give my a headache. I called Alienware's Tech support at 1-866-243-9297, a tech came out two days later and replaced them, I will do it next time after I watched him. The CPU fan is in the middle and looks like a easy fix if need be.

 

thank you guys....

 

My right GPU fan has a weird noise sometimes also especially under load but other than that, its sounds fine. I think its just the design. Nothing that really effects gaming or anything like that.

 

Did i already mention that i also have a grim fan on the right?

I'm just too lazy to call dell for replacement

 

Does anyone have more information on the "black" fans? I ordered a replacement (black/silver) for the right GPU fan and it makes as much, if not more, noise than the original.

The same grinding/rubbing noise others have described.

I'm wondering if there's some sort of trick to seating the fan properly to alleviate at least some of the noise. I can't even have that machine running if I want to watch TV as it is loud enough to be distracting.

It seems to me that the fins of the fan are rubbing on something and not an issue with bad bearings. I suspect that either the flimsy metal cover or how tightly screwed down the fan is the culprit. Has anyone used the fan without that metal cover? It doesn't seem to do anything for the functioning of the fan itself.

Do you think it's possible that the fact that the GPU card screws into the heatsink fan may be torquing the metal of the fan just enough to warp it out of place?

 

Call support back and have another set sent out. The replacements you received are not working properly if you are still hearing contact noise.

 

I have a problem with the fans on m17x r2 (just got it few days back).

At boot the speed is fine, but after windows loads within seconds they are just at lets say 40% speed running (all 3 of them).

I downgraded / upgraded bios still nothing...

I also started in safe mode and it does the same.

Power drain also (for more than 4 minutes), still nothing.

Any sugestion is highly appreciated.

Thank you

 

By the way, performance and everything else is just fine

Temps while the fans run continuously:

CPU: 35 degrees Celsius

GPU 1: 36

GPU 2: 31

There is no heat from anywhere...

 

I played now, F1 2010 and the GPU1, GPU2 temps were somewhere between 51/51. CPU was 53

I have Everest installed and it shows the temps on the screen.

 

My fans are always running in low speed too. You'd have to get it pretty chilly for them to be off from what I understand.

 

I had a nasty sounding 'grinding' noise coming from my left GPU fan last week. Immediately turned the computer off and starting dismantling it.

Turned out there was a very tiny copper filing or wire (not sure which) that was twisted up and stuck in the top of the fan. This wire could have been scraping the bottom of the graphics card. Removed it as carefully as I could and checked for other debris.

You should never have a fan running that is making a 'grinding' noise. This is usually the sign that it has something trapped in it, something like a bearing is wearing out, the fan is dirty, or getting ready to burn out.

None of those things are good for your computer.

 

I have been through 6 fan replacements on my m17x r2. Every time it's a different Fan. Is there anything after market that is higher quality than these crappy grindy, rattly fans dells keeps sending me.

 

How many fans are in an R2? I thought there were only 3?

 

Sorry if it has already been covered but:

I've done a lot of time maintenance to 80x80 or 120x120 fans. This on my desktop, as well as my vid cards till i went liquid cooled. On all the fans, there is a round sticker, it states the specs. of the fan and the brand.

Now carefully lifting the sticker in order to put it back again later, you will notice a small plastic/rubber cap underneath. lift it and you'l get access ti the motor shaft. Put a drop of light oil, like the one used for shawing machines or tailoring machines, and put the cap and stiker back.

If some oil spills out when you put the cap back on, clean it with some alcool before you put back the sticker or it will be a mess.

Now try the fan, you wont believe how silent it will work.

If you have any old fan at hand, do a try, cost almost nothing.

If it has been already covered, i apologize, as i apologize for my english

Xaba

 

yep this is a good idea

 

It's the sticker! LOL
It's the sticker underneaths the video card. After looking at the left fan, and not finding any real stress marks, I started to think, 'what element would undergo a change when the fan is turned on?' So I look at the side of the video card that was facing the fan and sure enough, there's a little square sticker, placed there by the video manufacturer. It was slightly curved up toward the fan and placed right near the blades. Also, I bet since the fans create a suction force, it pulls the tip of the sticker towards it, creating the noise. LOL. So how much money has Alienware lost because of this.

 

Calling Alienware to let them know. . .

 

Hello everybody!

My m17x CPU fan has a problem.

A week ago a Dell technician came to replace my motherboard. Obviously, during the replacement, he replaced also the coincell battery, so all the bios settings were lost.

Now the problem is that the cpu fan is always on: the only way to stop it is to turn off my computer.

I think that's because the cpu fan settings are stored in the bios settings, but I can't find anything to edit this settings (I searched in Windows and in the bios menu).

Does anybody know the solution to my problem? =(

Sorry for the bad english.

 

^^What revision do you have? Also it might be because he forgot to add some thermal paste on your CPU therefore it stays hot resulting to the fan going insane might want to take a look at your temps. There's no option in BIOS to change the fan settings on m17x R1/R2.

 

My m17x is R2.

He replaced also the thermal paste, but in another day.

In the first, he replaced the motherboard, but he broke the left gpu fan.

In the second, he replaced the fan and the cpu thermal paste.

And I don't think that is because of temperatures: they are always around 35°C

I've also called the Dell support but they don't know how to solve my problem =(


Here are temperatures:


I don't know why, but hwmonitor says that my cpu is an 820QM.
My cpu is a 740QM.