I have an ROG Flow 16, and its fans sometimes become extremely loud while vibrating enough to shake the entire laptop. The problem comes and goes, and performance seems unaffected, but the noise is really annoying. I looked inside for anything obviously obstructing the fans but didn't find anything. What could be causing this, and what should I try before replacing a fan?
2 Answers
Dust buildup can sometimes throw a fan off balance, so cleaning the fan and vents with compressed air is worth trying first. If cleaning doesn’t help, the bearing may need lubrication or the fan may simply need to be replaced. Opening the fan housing to add grease can be risky, so replacement is usually the more reliable fix.
This sounds more like a worn fan bearing or an imbalanced fan blade than a software problem. The vibration may only happen at certain fan speeds, which would explain why it comes and goes. Check carefully for dust or anything touching the blades. If the fans are clear and the noise continues, replacing the affected fan is probably safer than letting it deteriorate further.
How would I safely lubricate the fan if cleaning doesn’t fix it?