Fan Speed Changes?

On Fri, 17 Apr 2015 07:01:30 -0700 (PDT), Bob_Villa
wrote:

On Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 11:52:01 PM UTC-5, Ben Myers wrote:
On Wednesday, September 10, 2014 9:01:27 AM UTC-4, Bob_Villa wrote:
Our Vostro 230 (4+yrs) changes fan speed for short bursts when 1st started, then it's normal? It has been cleaned inside...and if it was CPU temp, it wouldn't stop (I would surmise). Thanks for anything!

Normal, if it is only one sustained burst. Typical of systems with LGA775 and newer Intel CPUs. Built into the POST to make sure the fan is running properly. Tries to rev the fan to the max RPM. The 4th wire on the newer CPU cooling fans provides something of a tachometer reading... Ben Myers

Update: I recently did some maintenance on this PC: Cleaned and re-applied compound on the CPU heatsink; Cleaned fans; new HDD and re-intall W7.

It will still hi rev the cabinet fan (not CPU) when you wake it? Other than that, it performs well. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
My old GX60 (sideways squirrel cage fan) had a Thermister in the discharge
airflow, not the usual tachometer. Dirt stuck on it would cause hi revs.

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 9:57:39 AM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:
On Fri, 17 Apr 2015 07:01:30 -0700 (PDT), Bob_Villa
wrote:

On Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 11:52:01 PM UTC-5, Ben Myers wrote:
On Wednesday, September 10, 2014 9:01:27 AM UTC-4, Bob_Villa wrote:
Our Vostro 230 (4+yrs) changes fan speed for short bursts when 1st started, then it's normal? It has been cleaned inside...and if it was CPU temp, it wouldn't stop (I would surmise). Thanks for anything!

Normal, if it is only one sustained burst. Typical of systems with LGA775 and newer Intel CPUs. Built into the POST to make sure the fan is running properly. Tries to rev the fan to the max RPM. The 4th wire on the newer CPU cooling fans provides something of a tachometer reading... Ben Myers

Update: I recently did some maintenance on this PC: Cleaned and re-applied compound on the CPU heatsink; Cleaned fans; new HDD and re-intall W7.

It will still hi rev the cabinet fan (not CPU) when you wake it? Other than that, it performs well. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
My old GX60 (sideways squirrel cage fan) had a Thermister in the discharge
airflow, not the usual tachometer. Dirt stuck on it would cause hi revs.

So a new fan or a standard fan (no thermister) should fix that...thnx!

On Fri, 17 Apr 2015 08:50:24 -0700 (PDT), Bob_Villa
wrote:

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 9:57:39 AM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:
On Fri, 17 Apr 2015 07:01:30 -0700 (PDT), Bob_Villa
wrote:

On Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 11:52:01 PM UTC-5, Ben Myers wrote:
On Wednesday, September 10, 2014 9:01:27 AM UTC-4, Bob_Villa wrote:
Our Vostro 230 (4+yrs) changes fan speed for short bursts when 1st started, then it's normal? It has been cleaned inside...and if it was CPU temp, it wouldn't stop (I would surmise). Thanks for anything!

Normal, if it is only one sustained burst. Typical of systems with LGA775 and newer Intel CPUs. Built into the POST to make sure the fan is running properly. Tries to rev the fan to the max RPM. The 4th wire on the newer CPU cooling fans provides something of a tachometer reading... Ben Myers

Update: I recently did some maintenance on this PC: Cleaned and re-applied compound on the CPU heatsink; Cleaned fans; new HDD and re-intall W7.

It will still hi rev the cabinet fan (not CPU) when you wake it? Other than that, it performs well. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
My old GX60 (sideways squirrel cage fan) had a Thermister in the discharge
airflow, not the usual tachometer. Dirt stuck on it would cause hi revs.

So a new fan or a standard fan (no thermister) should fix that...thnx!
You can not use a non-thermistor fan in place of one that had one.
Status would be fault. A soft brush fixed the 'dirt' part.

BTW, have you reviewed your BIOS settings for each fan?

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 12:41:12 PM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:

BTW, have you reviewed your BIOS settings for each fan?

I wasn't aware of any, but thanks I take a look!

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 12:41:12 PM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:

You can not use a non-thermistor fan in place of one that had one.
Status would be fault. A soft brush fixed the 'dirt' part.

BTW, have you reviewed your BIOS settings for each fan?

BIOS by default "reports" fan errors. I suppose one could put in a standard fan and set it to "do not report"?

On Fri, 17 Apr 2015 14:36:11 -0700 (PDT), Bob_Villa
wrote:

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 12:41:12 PM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:

You can not use a non-thermistor fan in place of one that had one.
Status would be fault. A soft brush fixed the 'dirt' part.

BTW, have you reviewed your BIOS settings for each fan?

BIOS by default "reports" fan errors. I suppose one could put in a standard fan and set it to "do not report"?
I was thinking more of speed control settings, but no errors would permit
non-dell fans AT RISK of silent failure.

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 5:36:12 PM UTC-4, Bob_Villa wrote:
On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 12:41:12 PM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:

You can not use a non-thermistor fan in place of one that had one.
Status would be fault. A soft brush fixed the 'dirt' part.

BTW, have you reviewed your BIOS settings for each fan?

BIOS by default "reports" fan errors. I suppose one could put in a standard fan and set it to "do not report"?

Bob,

I would also look closely at the capacitors on the motherboard. If they are swollen, leaky, or burst, that would cause odd issues.

AFAIK, the Vostro 230 uses a very much standard cooling fan. Different way to mount than an Intel stock fan, but the same standard 4-wire connection. Try a different cooling fan. And keep the BIOS setting to report fan errors. It is there to protect the system... Ben Myers

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 7:11:00 PM UTC-5, Ben Myers wrote:
On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 5:36:12 PM UTC-4, Bob_Villa wrote:
On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 12:41:12 PM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:

You can not use a non-thermistor fan in place of one that had one.
Status would be fault. A soft brush fixed the 'dirt' part.

BTW, have you reviewed your BIOS settings for each fan?

BIOS by default "reports" fan errors. I suppose one could put in a standard fan and set it to "do not report"?

Bob,

I would also look closely at the capacitors on the motherboard. If they are swollen, leaky, or burst, that would cause odd issues.

AFAIK, the Vostro 230 uses a very much standard cooling fan. Different way to mount than an Intel stock fan, but the same standard 4-wire connection. Try a different cooling fan. And keep the BIOS setting to report fan errors. It is there to protect the system... Ben Myers

Thanks Ben!

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 9:18:37 PM UTC-5, Bob_Villa wrote:
On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 7:11:00 PM UTC-5, Ben Myers wrote:
On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 5:36:12 PM UTC-4, Bob_Villa wrote:
On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 12:41:12 PM UTC-5, Steve Urbach wrote:

You can not use a non-thermistor fan in place of one that had one.
Status would be fault. A soft brush fixed the 'dirt' part.

BTW, have you reviewed your BIOS settings for each fan?

BIOS by default "reports" fan errors. I suppose one could put in a standard fan and set it to "do not report"?

Bob,

I would also look closely at the capacitors on the motherboard. If they are swollen, leaky, or burst, that would cause odd issues.

AFAIK, the Vostro 230 uses a very much standard cooling fan. Different way to mount than an Intel stock fan, but the same standard 4-wire connection. Try a different cooling fan. And keep the BIOS setting to report fan errors. It is there to protect the system... Ben Myers

Thanks Ben!

I'm glad this PC was ordered from the business side...it came with 32-bit and I re-installed with 64-bit and it didn't ask for activation.

On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 7:11:00 PM UTC-5, Ben Myers wrote:
On Friday, April 17, 2015 at 5:36:12 PM UTC-4, Bob_Villa wrote:

BIOS by default "reports" fan errors. I suppose one could put in a standard fan and set it to "do not report"?

Bob,

I would also look closely at the capacitors on the motherboard. If they are swollen, leaky, or burst, that would cause odd issues.

AFAIK, the Vostro 230 uses a very much standard cooling fan. Different way to mount than an Intel stock fan, but the same standard 4-wire connection. Try a different cooling fan. And keep the BIOS setting to report fan errors. It is there to protect the system... Ben Myers

The caps look good...eBay has many fans showing for a Vostro 230 (non-slim) but none have 4-pin (except 4-pin Molex). I guess it's no big deal, it revs and is quiet for the most part.