I've noticed that one of my intake fans is making a really loud noise out of nowhere. I have three intake fans, and since yesterday, this one fan has been significantly louder than the others. I tried unplugging it and plugging it back in, but it remains the only problematic fan. I also cleaned it with compressed air and checked the BIOS settings, where the fan speed is set to auto. Currently, my CPU temperatures are around 43C, so the issue doesn't seem related to overheating. What could be causing this noise?
2 Answers
Try switching that fan to a different port on your motherboard. If it runs normally there, then the issue might be with the fan's circuitry. Conversely, plug a good fan into the original spot to see if that one spins faster. Sometimes, it's just the fan that's faulty!
It sounds like the bearings on that fan might be wearing out. Fans are relatively cheap, so it might be worth picking up a new one if that's the case.
I actually did switch the fan already before reading your reply, and you were spot on! The built-in circuitry must have been damaged. I replaced it with a fan from my spare parts, and now there’s no crazy noise!