[nsisman]

I acquired an older Compaq 1.8 Athlon desktop for free with a problem that just started. The internal fan on the cpu doesn't seem right now (not enough noise).

The CPU fan ( old one and the replacement one that I bought ) starts up on boot up on what I say is a high speed (you can hear it ) but then after about 5 seconds drops to almost stopped (maybe like a car idling).

I don't think it's the fan as I replaced it.

Every now and again it will cut in and then back out again. I think it needs to run all the time at high speed doesn't it ?

The wife uses this machine but it just runs for maybe 10 minutes and then shuts itself off and reboots.

So my question is what controls the fan ( I presume the motherboard ?) and would this mean the motherboard is bad ?

Is there some kind of test software to check it out ?

Thanks
Neil

[Skibum]

There are usually multiple fan headers on a motherboard, with one specific to the CPU. Are you connected to the right header? It is possible that the temp reading of the CPU is bad and the fan is thinking it is not needed at that time.

Have you monitored temps?

[nsisman]

Ski,

Found a temp monitoring program called hmonitor for this MB and ran it for a few minutes. It appears to be within the ranges they specify for this board.

I also took the case outside and vacuumed it out (carefully) and then blew it out as well (compressor - gently).

I will watch it for a while and see what it does now...could a lot of dust mess it up like that ?

Neil

[nsisman]

I think I just answered my own question - dust matters !

Been up and running for almost 20 minutes now - couldn't go 3 minutes before !

Thanks Ski for your help !

Neil

[Shawn]

Glad it's working. I recall the days when I couldn't go for three minutes either.

This post has been edited by Shawn: 30 April 2007 - 11:03 PM