The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Far Left Fan making grinding noises

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Sepharite, Nov 20, 2009.

  1. Sepharite

    Sepharite Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Whenever I'm viewing the smallest things, like images or even streaming on youtube. The far left fan goes into gear -- but it sounds like it's hitting a wire, making a loud and obnoxious grinding sound.

    And recently my computer would go at 100% CPU Usage, requiring me to restart a couple of times until it became neutral.

    Any ideas other than opening the computer?

    I'm using an Inspiron 1520. It's 2 years old.
     
  2. Wes of StarArmy

    Wes of StarArmy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I remember reading a post where one guy said his laptop had a dent in the fan casing which would scrape against the tips of the fan blades. It might be worthwhile to open up the laptop and just take a look and see if you can see what's going on in there. Just be careful not the damage the sensitive internal parts (or yourself) when you do.
     
  3. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    sounds like the casing and not a wire.
     
  4. Sepharite

    Sepharite Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I suppose I am forced to open it. Can someone link me to a good tutorial on how to open it? I googled and I get random forums :S

    Thanks for the replies.
     
  5. Sepharite

    Sepharite Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
  6. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

    Reputations:
    2,962
    Messages:
    8,231
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    216
    First of all, the machine going to 100% CPU usage is a software problem. That in and of itself has nothing to do with the fan.

    If this has been happening a lot, your fan is obviously going to be working harder than it needs to, and you may have a lot of dust built up, rather than a "true" mechanical problem with the system.

    I'd try blasting some compressed air through the cooling solution if you don't want to take the thing apart. That may or may not solve the problem with the fan.
     
  7. Wes of StarArmy

    Wes of StarArmy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    That's a good point. The fan is overworking and loud because the CPU is maxed...so find the root cause of the CPU usage. I recommend downloading and running Microsoft Process Explorer to track down the process hogging your resources.
     
  8. Sepharite

    Sepharite Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    The CPU problem seemed to have fixed itself. Now my CPU rarely goes over 50%, however, my fan is STILL loud as hell. Here's an audio sample of what it sounds like: http://www.4shared.com/file/157729398/894b25c9/Fan.html (You can stream the audio file).

    What do you think it could be?

    I blew compressed air into the fan for around a minute, and of course, no progress.
     
  9. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Just gotta open it up now.
     
  10. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

    Reputations:
    2,962
    Messages:
    8,231
    Likes Received:
    63
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Agreed. Either you've got something lodged in there that won't be cleaned out by compressed air, or the fan actually does need to be replaced.