CPU Fan Noise (Even with less than 10% of utilization)

So I've had my Sager NP9150 since last summer in 2012. The fan noise was NEVER a problem. Ever since the past two weeks though it sounds like the fan is running at 70%-90% speed without any games running. I'll simply be sitting here with a few tabs in Chrome and my media player open and I can hear it across the room. The CPU utilization reads 3%-13% all the time, but the fan is still cranking nearly full speed. It gets really annoying and like i said, has never done this before. Anyone know what could be the problem?

SPECS:
CPU: Intel i7 3610QM
GPU: AMD 7970m
RAM: 12GB
OS: Windows 7 Home Edition

 

Download HWinfo64 and report back if any temps seem out of normal.

CPU and GPU temps should be under 50 degrees C

You should try cleaning out the vents with compressed air while the laptop is turned off. Also open up the bottom panel and spray the insides out with the compressed air. Make sure you hold the fans in place so they don't over-spin when you spray them.

Just out of good habit, when you open up any panels, make sure the laptop is off and you remove the battery.

 

Took a screenshot to make it easier for you guys to read. Looks like my CPU cores are at a constant mid 60's even with a 2% CPU load....... Let me also note you that i haven't OC'd or UC'd anything. Everything is stock clocks.

 

Do you run the Steam Client?

I have found with recent drivers and/or EC the GPU fan runs at nearly full speed when the Steam Client is open.

There is also a bug where the fan doesn't spin down when you finish gaming (or close the Steam Client) etc.

You have to open the Nvidia control panel on the spinning 3D logo page for a second or two and the fan then stops.

A complete PITA.

EDIT: Ah you're on AMD anyway.

 

The only possible explanation I can think of is that the CPU's heatsink somehow came a little loose (since you say temps were fine before). If I were you I'd open the back to do a repaste and make sure the heatsinks are nicely snug.

The screenshots you posted don't show us CPU utilization (from the performance tab), but HWinfo screenie shows ~60% util on some core threads, so it's no idle. Make sure it's idle at near 0% util and check temperatures. There might something in the background hogging CPU resources.

 

I've never noticed a problem with Steam.

Do you play on a level surface? Maybe it's not able to get enough air. Also have you tried using the compressed air or seeing if there's just clogging anything?

 

I also forgot to mention in the middle window where it shows Core0, Core1, Core2, and Core3, and displays the clock speed with the green and yellow bars, they are constantly switching from 3092 MHz to 1995 MHz randomly... Also I see you can run a report in HWinfo, should I submit one?

Yes i do run steam client but it isn't the GPU fan, it's the fan behind the power button which i believe is the CPU fan.

I have the task manager open and it shows 2% CPU usage... Not sure if utilization is something different which i don't think it is. lol I do carry it to classes in my backpack but I always turn it off before transporting it, but it might have came loose which would be very weird imo. Is there a guide somewhere on here that explains how to open the laptop and such? I bet it's pretty self explainatory but I feel more comfortable working with guides. I've had to fix some old xboxes when they had RROD issues by reflowing the board and applying new thermal paste. Other than that, i've had little experience working on electronics like this.

Also, how exactly would I ensure that it's at 0%? Is there a program to kill unnecessary processes? I'm somewhat "tech savvy" but not too much where I open laptops or do OC'ing and stuff like that.

I play on the Cooler Master NotePal X2 all the time. If not then yes i'm always on a level surface. I looked into the fan vent with an LED flashlight and couldn't see anything that could be clogging it. I might try getting some nice thermal paste and reapplying it to the heatsink.

 

cleaning fans out is a must every 2-3 months as the confined space does get clogged up with dust quite a bit and you cant really see it so a can of compressed air is a must.

as mentioned after gaming there is a glitch that the fans will keep spinning high revs. opening a monitoring tool and then closing it a couple of seconds later stops my fans and they go back to almost silent.

lots of monitoring software in my sig below.

 

Are you running on the high performance power plan?

 

I shall try cleaning it out with some compressed air since i have never cleaned anything physical on this laptop yet...

Yes

 

The high performance plan does not let the CPU clock down or sleep as much so will raise your idle power consumption, try switching to balanced.

 

would it really raise my core temps to an avg of 60% at idle though?

EDIT! 60 degrees!!!! lol

 

It's never truly idle in high performance.

Also no 60% if you take the true measure of temperature (kelvin)

Worth trying to run it at balanced.

 

i could try running it on balanced. see how it does.

 

Worth a shot, costs nothing and always has a large impact on my battery life.