CPU Fan Error

comcom · 18 Nov 2021

Hi, I cleaned the fans in my PC and then I switch on the PC I see this [CPU Fan Error! Press F1 to Resume] (this screenshot is similar to what I see https://i.imgur.com/uiKD57s.png ) I pressed F1 and I can continue to load into Windows 10

During cleaning I accidentally slightly wriggled the coolermaster metal fins (beside the black fan) on the CPU.

Fan noise now is nosier than before cleaning.

Q1. What shall I do now? Are my fans still operating correctly? If I switch off my PC now will I be able to switch on my PC next time?

Q2. Is the black fan beside the metal fins operating correctly?

Q3. The back fan (white fan) seems rotating slow or is that normal? If I remember correctly the white fan used to spin faster and produce bigger wind.

Q4. I have accidentally slightly wriggled the coolermaster metal fins during cleaning of the fan, would the CPU thermal paste still be in good condition? I am afraid the thermal paste is detached when I wriggle and cause CPU temperature to rise.

Video Gif of my two fan now Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Thanks

MaloK · 18 Nov 2021

Hi,

Sometimes fans are simply done and you wont be able to resuscitate a dead sleeve fan.

If there is any fan friction noise. You must address this problem first. Take a solid screw driver push the point anywhere on the casing of the fan you want to check and put your ear on the knob of the handle you will ear the sound produced by the fan more directly. check all fans that way you will find quick the one "grinding".

Once found you need to discover if the fan is grinding it's bearing / sleeves or the fan blades are rubbing somewhere.

If it's the bearings you need to replace the fan. If it's rubbing somewhere you need to fix that.

For the CPU cooling paste if it's not too old it should stick back. If it's very old maybe not.

When you clean the fan blades never hold the casing of the fan but hold it by the Blade hub instead and try to never touch the fan case while cleaning the blades.

If you are a smoker you need 99 degrees alcohol and a ton of q-tips.

Helmut · 18 Nov 2021

Worn Fan bearings, it needs replacing. Looks to be a standard size.

You can also give the heatsink fins a better clean with the fan removed.

I use a small stiff bristle paintbrush, no solvents.

A warning like that implies it is the CPU/heatsink fan, that is assuming it is connected to the appropriate MOBO connector.

comcom · 20 Nov 2021

MaloK said:

Hi,

Sometimes fans are simply done and you wont be able to resuscitate a dead sleeve fan.

If there is any fan friction noise. You must address this problem first. Take a solid screw driver push the point anywhere on the casing of the fan you want to check and put your ear on the knob of the handle you will ear the sound produced by the fan more directly. check all fans that way you will find quick the one "grinding".

Once found you need to discover if the fan is grinding it's bearing / sleeves or the fan blades are rubbing somewhere.

If it's the bearings you need to replace the fan. If it's rubbing somewhere you need to fix that.

For the CPU cooling paste if it's not too old it should stick back. If it's very old maybe not.

When you clean the fan blades never hold the casing of the fan but hold it by the Blade hub instead and try to never touch the fan case while cleaning the blades.

If you are a smoker you need 99 degrees alcohol and a ton of q-tips.

The noise happens at random times and last for about 5mins then disappear and maybe quiet for a few hours and noise appear again for about 5mins. Is this kind of pattern a faulty bearing?

I did not hold the blade while cleaning, I used the cotton q-tips to wipe the blade, could it be my movement destroyed the bearings?

Fan was normal quiet before I cleaned the fan, so I am sure it is the cleaning movement that causes the fan noise, my mistake to clean the fan by touching it, I think next time I should use a can of air to blow away the fan dust to ensure my fan will not be destroyed while cleaning, is a can of air safer to clean the fan since nothing touches the fan?

Thanks

- - - Updated - - -

The back fan in the case now is Arctic F12. Can I replace it with Arctic F12 PWM? It is hard to get without PWM version, can my motherboard accept Arctic F12 PWM? If I leave everything as default is it the Arctic F12 PWM will be at highest speed?

I do not want to mess with BIOS, I do not know anything about PWM, getting PWM version because no stock for normal non PWM version.

Ghot · 20 Nov 2021

comcom said:

The noise happens at random times and last for about 5mins then disappear and maybe quiet for a few hours and noise appear again for about 5mins. Is this kind of pattern a faulty bearing?

I did not hold the blade while cleaning, I used the cotton q-tips to wipe the blade, could it be my movement destroyed the bearings?

Fan was normal quiet before I cleaned the fan, so I am sure it is the cleaning movement that causes the fan noise, my mistake to clean the fan by touching it, I think next time I should use a can of air to blow away the fan dust to ensure my fan will not be destroyed while cleaning, is a can of air safer to clean the fan since nothing touches the fan?

Thanks

- - - Updated - - -

The back fan in the case now is Arctic F12. Can I replace it with Arctic F12 PWM? It is hard to get without PWM version, can my motherboard accept Arctic F12 PWM? If I leave everything as default is it the Arctic F12 PWM will be at highest speed?

I do not want to mess with BIOS, I do not know anything about PWM, getting PWM version because no stock for normal non PWM version.

Rear case fan.. Amazon.com

And these are the fan(s) you want for the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. You can use two if you want...
COOLER MASTER R4-BMBS-20PK-R0 Blade Master 120mm Case Fan - Newegg.com

I use two on my CPU cooler...

The Cooler Master Blade Master fans are hard to find and over priced.
Here's a better option (better even than the Blade Master), for the CPU cooler...

Amazon.com

comcom · 20 Nov 2021

Can I use PWM fan? What is the purpose of PWM fan? If you have paid for a fan that allows full speed, why reduce the speed, isn't the higher speed the cooler and better for PC?

Ghot · 20 Nov 2021

comcom said:

Can I use PWM fan? What is the purpose of PWM fan?

On the CPU cooler you want PWM fans (variable speed). That way they only run as fast as they need to.
Makes for a quieter computer. If we knew what motherboard you have, I could show you where to change the BIOS settings to how you like.

BUT... by default, they should already be set close to optimum.

PWM stands for Pulse Width Modulation, which means... variable speed.

In your video, I see you have an ASUS motherboard. So your BIOS fan settings should look like this.
So you would set the CPU fan like in this pic...

Me... I just set the CPU Q-Fan control to "disabled" so the CPU fans run at 100%
But I still use 4 pin PWM fans (for the CPU), so if I ever want to set the fans to speed up or slow down because of temperature... I can.

AddRAM · 20 Nov 2021

comcom said:

Can I use PWM fan? What is the purpose of PWM fan? If you have paid for a fan that allows full speed, why reduce the speed, isn't the higher speed the cooler and better for PC?

A PWM fan will go up and down in RPM, if you set it up like that. I use software to control my Thermaltake fans on the X299, I have 5 profiles set up.
Right now all the fans on the Z170 are controlled by the Bios.
It doesn`t matter how fast or slow your fans blow, it`s all about room temp.
If you are gaming then of course you wanna turn your fans up to get rid of that heat.

comcom · 20 Nov 2021

My motherboard P7P55D-E PRO - Support

- - - Updated - - -

If I unplug my non pwm fan now, and plug in a new pwm fan, the new pwm fan connector will be at the exact same connector on the motherboard correct? Then if I do not go into the BIOS to change anything does it mean I will be using the new pwm at highest speed by default?

Paul Black · 20 Nov 2021

Hello @comcom,

You might find this interesting for background information => Pulse Width Modulation

I hope this helps.