| Sometimes, a problem with your computer can be a | | | | is one connected with the power supply, one cooling |
| small, but annoying thing. In this case, computer fan | | | | the inside of the case, and one specifically cooling the |
| glitches come to mind. | | | | CPU. When the problem is noise, the first step is |
| A computer fan is any fan inside a computer case. | | | | isolating the fan that has the problem. The only other |
| Their purpose is cooling. They might work by drawing | | | | mechanical component inside the case that might be |
| cooler outside air into the case, or they may expel | | | | making noise is the hard drive itself. This is, of course, a |
| heated air from the inside. They might also blow air | | | | totally separate problem. So, it is important to |
| across a heat sink. Regardless, the cooling of the | | | | determine that the source of the noise is a fan, and |
| components of a computer is essential. Computers do | | | | then determine exactly which one. One suggestion is |
| not generate massive amounts of heat, but the | | | | to stick the end of a paper clip into the fan blades for |
| increasingly rapid processing units do generate some, | | | | a few seconds stopping the rotation. If the noise stops |
| and unless cooling takes place, trouble will surely follow. | | | | as well, you have your culprit. Normally, however, you |
| A heat sink is an environment or object with a lower | | | | can locate the problem with just your ears. |
| heat capacity than the surrounding area or adjacent | | | | The fans can be oiled. WD-40 is not recommended |
| component. Heat will be drawn from the targeted area | | | | here because it is designed to remove moisture, and |
| into the heat sink by thermal transfer. This is the | | | | that is not the problem. Any light weight oil is good. A |
| concept of Thermal Equilibrium. It is why a window | | | | popular choice is 3 in 1 oil, although many experts tend |
| pane will feel cold to the touch. What actually happens | | | | to prefer sewing machine oil. If the oil works, you still |
| is that heat flows from your finger to the cooler glass. | | | | should be aware that most likely this is only a |
| The fans inside the computer blow air over the heat | | | | temporary fix. The noise was trying to tell you |
| sink to dissipate the heat. | | | | something about the condition of the fan, and silencing |
| Fan problems can be divided into two groups. First, | | | | it did not address that condition. In the end, replacement |
| they cease to run, and second they can make | | | | of the fan is going to be the permanent solution. The |
| excessive noise. The problems are related. A | | | | fans seem like minor little mechanical asides in the vast |
| computer fan is just a normal simple fan that runs on | | | | overall picture of hard drives and micro processors, but |
| bearings. When the bearing begins to go bad, or the | | | | cooling is essential. You should give serious attention to |
| fan gets out of alignment, it makes noise. When the | | | | the proper operation of fans. The true fan problems |
| bearings go bad, it stops running. | | | | are what happen to your computer when they do not |
| There can be several fans inside the computer. There | | | | work properly. |