Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Dell fans (life expectancy)

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Petersfield, UK
    Posts
    1,755
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Dell fans (life expectancy)

    Hi.

    My dad has had a dell (P3 1ghz, 40gb, 256mb pc133, gf2 ultra) He uses for listening to music, lots of work, and internet-ness. The last couple of months i have noticed that there is sometimes a loud noise coming from it, varying in pitch. The computer runs 24\7 and is not overclocked in anyway.

    I think that the fan may pack up soon as its been running for: (hope the maths is right..)
    24x7=168
    168x52 = 8736
    8736x3 = 26,208hours

    The case hasnt ever been cleaned, so probably lots of dust. Im guessing that the life of a ball bearing fan (probably stock P3) is about 30,000hours.

    His computer is central to his business (runs own company) and if he goes it would be a major blow.

    Do people think that changing the fan is a good call?

    Will
    | XP1600-m | ASUS AN78X Deluxe | r9700 pro | 2x512mb pc37000 |

  2. #2
    TiG
    TiG is offline
    Walk a mile in other peoples shoes...
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Questioning it all
    Posts
    6,213
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    48 times in 43 posts
    Doesn't sound like a bad idea to change the fan, but why not do some checking first, open the beauty up and have a look at the fan, clean out the dust, (a can of air is a really good tip here and just remember you'll probably want a mask as i'm sure you'd rather not swallow 3 year old human skin

    I'd say that 30K hours is not anywhere near a fan bearing life, i'd say 100K hours is more appropriate tho i may be wrong.

    TiG
    -- Hexus Meets Rock! --

  3. #3
    Senior Member SilentDeath's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Posts
    4,745
    Thanks
    38
    Thanked
    16 times in 11 posts
    depends on the fan i think, recently saw one advertised with 30hour life, though it was obviosly misprinted and suppost to be 30k.
    if the fan does go it probably wouldnt damage anything as p3's have overheat protetion iirc.. just replace the fan..

  4. #4
    only the finest beef
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    1,175
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Maplin publish the life expectancy of their fans - check them out.

    Hope you get it sorted - my Dad's CPU fan went it made one heck of a noise!!

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Chesterfield
    Posts
    1,436
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    Why not just swap it, its gonna cost you like £5

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Richmond
    Posts
    217
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Not sure how your Dad's PIII 1Ghz Dell is set up. I'll guess its setup at least vaguely like my Precision 350 which I think is a standard way they do things at Dell...

    So - it has a passive heatsink with no fan directly on it, right? This probably has a shroud/duct over it directing the hot air to a case fan?

    Even if it does have a HS mounted fan, before you decide to change the fan take a look at the type of connector it mates to the mobo with! Mine was NOT the standard 3pin fan connector, but more like the type of audio connector found at the back of a CD-ROM.

    If this is your situation then when you buy your fan you'll either need to chop up the wires and solder up the old connector, or take the less tactful step of slicing up the connector on the mobo so the standard 3pin will fit! Worked for me...

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    New Orleans - baby!
    Posts
    340
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    open case up and see if you can tell where noise is coming from.

    measure faulty fan (probably 92mm, maybe 80mm)

    order a new fan

    unplug the computer... bring it outside, used compressed air to thoroughly clean everything. install new fan, make sure wires match...

    bring it back in, plug it in, power everything back up

    & reclean every 6 months

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    2,069
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked
    7 times in 3 posts
    If it crucial to his job/business I think that a £5 for a new fan should be no problem.
    Twigman

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Petersfield, UK
    Posts
    1,755
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Cheers guys, ill give it a go cleaing this weekend see if that improves it.

    else ill order a new fan

    Will
    | XP1600-m | ASUS AN78X Deluxe | r9700 pro | 2x512mb pc37000 |

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •