CPU fan question

audiobliss

I have an Arctic Cool Freezer 7 Pro cooling my CPU, and it's always done a good job. At idle and small demand, it'll spin about 400-500rpm. When I check the speed after gaming, it's usually no more than around 700rpm. Well, I noticed some case temps going up slightly and the CPU fan speed was getting up to 800rpm after gaming, so I thought I'd clean it out. I got a can of compressed air and cleaned out all the fans, vents, fins, etc as best as I could and started her up again. Now, at idle, the CPU fan is spinning at 1044rpm. I'm not sure I've ever seen it spin that fast.

What's going on?? Why did it go up after I cleaned it out? And why is it that fast just browsing the internet? I'm just kind of confused here on this one...

disneyjoe7

I thinking a heat sensor which is controlling the CPU fan speed is still a bit cold as the air is most likely a refrigerate. I don't think you have anything to worry about, at least right now.

MacLeod

I agree with Joe, I don't think anything is too wrong. Check out the Cooler Master Hyper 212+. You can get them on Newegg for $30 which is a steal cause they're pretty much the best CPU cooler on the market without getting into water cooling.

I know you weren't asking for a replacement, but guys like us are always looking for an excuse to upgrade.

Serendipity

I think everything is fine. According to my BIOS, the CPU fans vary a lot and it depends on a variety of factors.

You should be okay.

dudeinaroom

well if it was a result of the air cooling(as a refrigerant would do) the fans would spin slower as their is less heat to get rid of.

I'd say it has more to do with ambient temps. It's getting warmer out. All winter my cpu, while browsing the internet, would sit at 28 degrees C. Now that we have had temps constantly over 50 out side my cpu at idle is at 34 degrees C.

Just keep an eye on it. If you can keep an eye on your temps and if you see 60 C. I'd start to worry.

Best of luck,
Ted

Sherardp

Actually I had this happen on one of my older rigs and believe it or not dust can cause this easily. Most CPU fans will spin around 1000 or more rpm's. At 700 or so, I'm surprised the bios didn't shutdown the PC. In some cases it will, easiest way to tell if your CPU fan is doing it's job is go in the bios and go into PC health status. I have dual fans on my CPU both running at 1500 rpm. Also in the bios of newer mobo's you can control fan speed, etc good for overclockers.

audiobliss

Thanks for the input, folks. I guess I'm not really worried about it, just moreso really curious as to why it jumped up like that.

At any rate, I'm really excited about my computer, as I'm upgrading it this summer. I've already upped the RAM (going to up it some more, I think), am currently RMA'ing a DOA 1TB HD ( but ), and JUST placed an order for a GTX260 (moving up from a 7900GS!)!!! New case for better airflow will be next on the agenda, then I can delve into OC'ing this Q6600 finally!

audiobliss

MacLeod wrote: »

I know you weren't asking for a replacement, but guys like us are always looking for an excuse to upgrade.

And, thanks, Mac. That's the last thing I need! I had to work REALLY hard (friends did, too) to talk myself out of splurging on a 5850!

ViperZ

audiobliss wrote: »

And, thanks, Mac. That's the last thing I need! I had to work REALLY hard (friends did, too) to talk myself out of splurging on a 5850!

I see a Zalman cooler in your future =P.

audiobliss

Just got the GTX260 delivered and installed today! Had to remove a few things and rearrange the HD's to make room for it in my current case. Now I just can't wait to bring the upgrades all together with a new case!

And man, this GPU is rocking! Certainly a huge upgrade from my 7900GS. I'm loving it!

MacLeod

Yeah, that GTX260 is a very solid card. Should handle pretty much anything at max graphics with only a few exceptions.

Sherardp

Nice card bro. I'm running a GTX 275 now and loving it. After reading this thread, I took down my PC, fired up the air compressor got the case all blown out. Fans, my Dark Knight heatsink, all nice and looking new again.

audiobliss

MacLeod wrote: »

Yeah, that GTX260 is a very solid card. Should handle pretty much anything at max graphics with only a few exceptions.

Thanks! It was hard talking myself down from a 5850 (or even a GTX 470 ), but I really don't need anything more than this. However, if they still had GTX275's still available, I definitely would have gone for that.

Sherardp wrote: »

Nice card bro. I'm running a GTX 275 now and loving it. After reading this thread, I took down my PC, fired up the air compressor got the case all blown out. Fans, my Dark Knight heatsink, all nice and looking new again.

Very nice! I'm envious of that 275! I bet you feel better now that the comp's all cleaned out, too. Just like washing/waxing the car makes everything better!

Sherardp

Agreed, feels and looks fresh. I've had the 275 for awhile now. It's a bit overkill for what I do with this rig but it's nice to have. I'm thinking of upgrading my current SSD to a Intel160 gb. I have an Intel 80gb in there now and its awesome.

audiobliss

I'd love to be able to go with SSD's, but it will be quite a while before they come down in price enough for that to be possible!

Unless, of course...I were to come across a used SSD in good shape...:D

SivaNevets

my coolermaster hyper 7 r getting very noisy after 3 yrs of use. swtiching to zipang (super quite, and decent cooling) soon

MacLeod

audiobliss wrote: »

However, if they still had GTX275's still available, I definitely would have gone for that.

You pass on a 5850 but would go for a GTX275??? You goober! A 275 aint really that much faster than a 260 where the 5850 just stomps on both of those cards for the same price as the 275!

Trust me, I know these things. I dont have a life so I sit around and read benchmark reviews all day.

audiobliss

MacLeod wrote: »

You pass on a 5850 but would go for a GTX275??? You goober! A 275 aint really that much faster than a 260 where the 5850 just stomps on both of those cards for the same price as the 275!

Trust me, I know these things. I dont have a life so I sit around and read benchmark reviews all day.

I had a lot of homework to do, so I read up on benchmarks a lot, too!

However, I didn't delve into prices that much. If the 5850 and GTX275 are the same price, then...well phoo. Doesn't matter anyways. Can't afford more than the 260. And it's being great to me so far!