shuttle (PC) help .............

[London Calling]

It is now making an appaling noise, aka a moped stuggling up a hill on a cold winter night, we've noticed that despite its spec its really slow, we pose questions b4 and got great help.

Its now never quiet, but this is the worst ever.

Any sensible top tips.

LC

 

[clippedgull]

Sounds like the fan/s are in overdrive.

Has it got sufficient ventilation?

What's your CPU load like?

 

[tedebear]

Vacuum out the dust quick!

 

[London Calling]

Sounds like the fan/s are in overdrive.

Has it got sufficient ventilation?

What's your CPU load like?

Its on the table so ventilation good, the CPU bit, how do I check that?

 

[medicine man]

Had similar probs with ours last year- moped? Ours was a 747.
Not really that computer savvy meself, but turns out it was the fans.
First the case fan, which either blows air through or sucks air through the case- these are usually fairly cheap- the one that was in the pc when we bought it certainly was. After a few years of spinning really fast, the bearings tend to wear a bit causing a very slight 'wobble' which at speed is very noisy. Replaced this, and a quieter pc- but still not quiet enough.
Turns out the heatsink fan (the one perched above the processor) was probably abut the same age as the case fan, so replaced that too- bingo!
Because pc's love being cold, the inefficiency of the fan was causing the processor to get too hot, and thus slow the computer.

There you go short answer, change the fans- it helped me, and your symptoms seem to be similar.

And a good dusting also helps.

 

[sten_super]

There you go short answer, change the fans- it helped me, and your symptoms seem to be similar.

And a good dusting also helps.

I'm not sure whether it will be necessary to replace the fans, just cleaning them should do. Although if the fans are old, it is true that they may be worn out.

Vacuum out the dust quick!

Good god! You should never ever vacuum the inside of a pc! Hoovers often create static charge which can pretty much completely destroy your pc. The best thing to use is cans of clean 'air' which you can buy from PC World, etc. They aren't cheap, but they do the job without any danger of breaking the computer. With the PC off and unplugged from the mainsn spray the air through the case fan, see if the fan is moving, and whether it is making any noise (it shouldn't). Then take the CPU fan off the CPU (usually requires undoing a few screws if it's a few years old) and blow air through that to remove dust. Then you should be good to go.

 

[London Calling]

I'm not sure whether it will be necessary to replace the fans, just cleaning them should do. Although if the fans are old, it is true that they may be worn out.



Good god! You should never ever vacuum the inside of a pc! Hoovers often create static charge which can pretty much completely destroy your pc. The best thing to use is cans of clean 'air' which you can buy from PC World, etc. They aren't cheap, but they do the job without any danger of breaking the computer. With the PC off and unplugged from the mainsn spray the air through the case fan, see if the fan is moving, and whether it is making any noise (it shouldn't). Then take the CPU fan off the CPU (usually requires undoing a few screws if it's a few years old) and blow air through that to remove dust. Then you should be good to go.

I apologise for my caution here, but this will mean removing the casing?

And back to the fans are these easy to obtain, exact parts etc?

LC and cheers

 

[Mr C]

Don't remove the CPU fan unless you really have to - it is very easy to mess up the thermal material that sits between the CPU itself and the heatsink/fan.

 

[medicine man]

Don't remove the CPU fan unless you really have to - it is very easy to mess up the thermal material that sits between the CPU itself and the heatsink/fan.

Really?
How about not touching it.
Me- no experience, but changed it no prob.

 

[London Calling]

This what gets me about PC's and the laRGE AMOUNT OF STUFF i HAVE STORED ON THE HARD DRIVE, there are always two opposing viewpoints on what you can do!!! eeeek.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr C
Don't remove the CPU fan unless you really have to - it is very easy to mess up the thermal material that sits between the CPU itself and the heatsink/fan.

Really?
How about not touching it.
Me- no experience, but changed it no prob.

T
__________________

 

[Mr C]

This what gets me about PC's and the laRGE AMOUNT OF STUFF i HAVE STORED ON THE HARD DRIVE, there are always two opposing viewpoints on what you can do!!! eeeek.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr C
Don't remove the CPU fan unless you really have to - it is very easy to mess up the thermal material that sits between the CPU itself and the heatsink/fan.

Really?
How about not touching it.
Me- no experience, but changed it no prob.

T
__________________

Ok the deal is that you can remove it and then replace it without any problems (as in medicine man's case) but the thermal compound layer which transfers heat between the CPU and the heatsink can be easily damaged and not function quite as well as it should. I've had cases where that layer is damaged - the computer still works but the processor runs a little hotter than it should.

So yeah, it can be done, you might be ok. I guess I was just commenting from a "paranoid must have everything done 100% right position"

 

[tedebear]

Good god! You should never ever vacuum the inside of a pc! Hoovers often create static charge which can pretty much completely destroy your pc. The best thing to use is cans of clean 'air' which you can buy from PC World, etc. They aren't cheap, but they do the job without any danger of breaking the computer. With the PC off and unplugged from the mainsn spray the air through the case fan, see if the fan is moving, and whether it is making any noise (it shouldn't). Then take the CPU fan off the CPU (usually requires undoing a few screws if it's a few years old) and blow air through that to remove dust. Then you should be good to go.

I didn't say the inside silly! I always vacuum my computer - all the little vents and orifices - keeps the dust from getting into the fans and helping them last longer!

 

[London Calling]

Ok the deal is that you can remove it and then replace it without any problems (as in medicine man's case) but the thermal compound layer which transfers heat between the CPU and the heatsink can be easily damaged and not function quite as well as it should. I've had cases where that layer is damaged - the computer still works but the processor runs a little hotter than it should.

So yeah, it can be done, you might be ok. I guess I was just commenting from a "paranoid must have everything done 100% right position"

Cheers.

For all the suggestions.