Member Avatar for jems

My computer is Gateway P-6860FX. This problem started in the beginning of July. Sometimes I hear a loud noise. I believe it is the fan. It appears to be coming from the left side. Suddenly, the fan becomes very loud. Is this a problem?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by edgaaa

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Both replies are useful. is right that a failing fan can lead to bigger problems, and is correct that monitoring the system helps — here is a focused, safe way to find the source and decide what to do next.

  1. Backup any important data now if the noise is sudden or accompanied by instability.
  2. Power down and unplug. Open the left side panel and visually inspect fans (PSU grill, CPU shroud, case and GPU). Look for bent blades, loose screws, or cables brushing a fan.
  3. With the PC powered off, spin each fan by hand to feel for roughness or wobble. Rough/gritty movement usually means bearing wear.
  4. To localize the sound while running, use a cardboard tube (paper-towel roll) as a simple stethoscope: press one end to the chassis and move the open end to your ear to pinpoint which fan is loud.
  5. If the PSU fan is the culprit, do not open the PSU. Replace the PSU or have a qualified tech do it. If a case/CPU/GPU fan is bad, it can usually be replaced easily.

What the noises typically mean: grinding/grating = bearing failure; repetitive ticking = something hitting blades; a whoosh that suddenly spikes = airflow restriction or fan ramping under load. For cleaning, avoid household vacuuming (risk of static). Use short bursts of compressed air and keep the fan from freewheeling while you blow. A drop of light machine oil on a sleeve-bearing fan can be a temporary quiet fix, but replacement is the long-term solution.

When replacing fans, match diameter and thickness, and check 3-pin vs 4-pin connectors and airflow direction. Anti-vibration mounts or rubber washers often remove annoying resonance. If unsure or if the PSU is noisy, professional service is the safest path.

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Member Avatar for rch1231

YES. It could be several things but if the fan on the power supply of processor go out you could burn out the processor.

Check to see if there are any cables or wires that might be getting in the path of the CPU fan.
Run the system with the case off for a while and see if you can narrow the noise down to exactly where and/or what is causing it.

Member Avatar for edgaaa

Hi,

I'm recommending you to download cpu-z or pc wizzard programs and check your system temperatures, if cpu temperature would be to high, that will mean that your cpu fan is a problem, if main board temperature is too high than normal, then it would be caused by motherboard cooling system. And don't hurry to open your pc, cause you can clean the fan by using a vacuum cleaner. If not, you'll need to open it. Write me back if it helped.

Here are the links to download these programs: http://download.cnet.com/CPU-Z/3000-2086_4-10050423.html (CPU-z) and http://pc-wizard.en.softonic.com/download#pathbar (for pc wizard)

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