Hey folks! I just built my first gaming PC with some powerful components like the RTX 4080 Super and Ryzen 9 9800X3D. I had a local shop assemble it to avoid any mishaps. Everything's working really well, but I'm facing a peculiar issue: the CPU fan is stuck at around 2170 RPM, even when the PC is idle after booting. I've tried adjusting the fan curve using MSI Center, but it won't budge. Interestingly, I can manage the SYS fans without any hassle. I haven't yet checked the BIOS fan settings. The shop mentioned they saw the CPU fan spinning fast but thought that was okay. I want efficient cooling for gaming, not when I'm just browsing! Has anyone experienced this problem before?
5 Answers
Are you certain you’re monitoring the CPU fan and not a pump speed? Sometimes they can look similar on the software. Just double-check to make sure!
Have you looked at the BIOS settings? Your CPU fan could be plugged into the AIO Pump header, which runs it at a constant 100%.
I haven’t checked the BIOS yet. Could there be settings that are locking the fan speed?
This is a common issue when someone else assembles your PC. You should check the motherboard's fan headers to see where everything is connected. It’s likely the settings are still set to default, which can be way too aggressive. I have my setup dialed back to 40%. Oh, and uninstall MSI Center; it's not great for this. BIOS is more reliable for fan control.
Thanks for that advice! I was hesitant to build it myself due to worries about damaging parts, but I see now that I’m facing issues from not knowing the configurations. I might just stick to the BIOS for tweaks!
Make sure your fan is plugged into the CPU_FAN header on your motherboard. If it's not, it could run at full speed without any control.
If you’re using MSI afterburner to tweak fans, remember you can only adjust GPU fan curves there. You need to set CPU fan control from BIOS instead!
Actually, I’m using the MSI Center app, which is super clunky. There’s a section for CPU fan settings, but it just won't change.
Haha, I get your point. I'm not clueless about PCs; I have the readings right in front of me. It’s definitely the CPU fan!