LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware
User Name
Password
Linux - Hardware This forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 07-01-2006, 08:52 AM   #1
blackzone
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Posts: 256

Rep: Reputation: 30
Is computer cooling fan mandatory?


The power fan and CPU fan is doing fine.

But the cooling fan which is used on the inside of the computer(mother board, harddrive...) isn't working

Is that mandatory? Since the fan comes with the case it's a bit hard for me to change it.
 
Old 07-01-2006, 09:57 AM   #2
johnson_steve
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Location: BrewCity, USA (Milwaukee, WI)
Distribution: Xubuntu 9.10, Gentoo 2.6.27 (AMD64), Darwin 9.0.0 (arm)
Posts: 1,152

Rep: Reputation: 46
some computers don't need fans at all, but if your case came with a fan you probably need it. cases are designed with airflow in mind so if the fan breaks everything gets out of wack. without a case fan the heat from your cpu has nowhere to go; it just recirculates in the case this will cause problems. a case fan is cheap and very simple to put in (4 screws & 2 wires, I usually pull them out of old AT power supplies so they are free for me.) so if you think you know more about cooling your case then the guy who designed it go ahead and melt your cpu.

Last edited by johnson_steve; 07-01-2006 at 09:58 AM.
 
Old 07-01-2006, 10:03 AM   #3
cs-cam
Senior Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Location: Australia
Distribution: Gentoo
Posts: 3,545

Rep: Reputation: 57
Grab an app to monitor the temperature. My case came with some gay case fans with lights that were hardwired in. I dealt for a while but it's in my room and now it's on all the time hosting stuff I took the fans out and haven't replaced them yet. My Athlon X2 used to idle at around 29C and without the fans it has jumped massively to around 39C but that is still plenty low enough that I'm not concerned.

Check the temps yourself and make educated decisions rather than asking questions when nobody (including yourself) knows enough to give an answer worth reading.
 
Old 07-01-2006, 01:26 PM   #4
johnson_steve
Senior Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Location: BrewCity, USA (Milwaukee, WI)
Distribution: Xubuntu 9.10, Gentoo 2.6.27 (AMD64), Darwin 9.0.0 (arm)
Posts: 1,152

Rep: Reputation: 46
If you decide to just keep an eye on the temp be sure to find out what normal operating temps are for your specific cpu; they vary wildly! my p4 desktop will do an emergency thermal shutdown at 60C but my powerbook hit 78C last night and the fan hadn't even turned on yet. My point was I was able to rip a fan out of a power supply that had been sitting in my dad's basement for at least a decade and put it in my desktop just fine. I soldered mine in but even if the bad fan was hardwired in all you need is a knife and some electrical tape. it just takes 12v. the whole thing didn't cost anything and took like 20min. I've had a cpu melt for lack of cooling before, and that sucks a lot more then just putting a new fan in. even if you do you should keep an eye on the temp.

Last edited by johnson_steve; 07-01-2006 at 01:29 PM.
 
Old 07-01-2006, 05:38 PM   #5
kencaz
Senior Member
 
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Distribution: Mandriva Slackware FreeBSD
Posts: 1,468

Rep: Reputation: 48
I would say depending on your ambient temp it is certainly needed. At least take one side cover off to let the heat escape until you can replace the fan.

KC
 
Old 07-01-2006, 06:29 PM   #6
blackzone
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2004
Posts: 256

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 30
Fan is attached to the case so I dont' know any easy way to replace it.

CPU is at 47 degree. Should still be runnable.

For the other part I have no idea. Hope it won't burn.

ps. arh, I see 4 screws attached to the system fan... maybe it's not that hard to change...

Last edited by blackzone; 07-01-2006 at 06:31 PM.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
/proc/acpi/fan is empty and the fan always work akasa Linux - Laptop and Netbook 1 04-08-2006 01:02 PM
laptop cooling fan doesnt like me institutionhead Linux - General 2 10-19-2004 03:08 AM
Cooling fan is not working. nmrman VectorLinux 1 10-01-2004 10:57 PM
fan/cooling problem on Averatec 3150P legalbeagle Linux - Laptop and Netbook 3 09-06-2004 02:27 PM
HP Pavilion ze4400 cooling fan jhayden Linux - Laptop and Netbook 3 07-07-2004 10:44 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:26 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration