My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.

wrote:
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Hmmm,
Lubrication? And heat makes things expand. Those DC fans are not
terribly high quality.

"Tony Hwang" wrote in message
news:bRfvh.812804$1T2.69321@pd7urf2no...
wrote:
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Hmmm,
Lubrication? And heat makes things expand. Those DC fans are not
terribly high quality.

They need oil. On the computer fan, most can be lubricated by removing the
paper label right in the center. few drops of oil, and a piece of tape and
it's quiet.

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:42:07 -0700, Big Al wrote:



"Tony Hwang" wrote in message
news:bRfvh.812804$1T2.69321@pd7urf2no...
wrote:
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Hmmm,
Lubrication? And heat makes things expand. Those DC fans are not
terribly high quality.

They need oil. On the computer fan, most can be lubricated by removing the
paper label right in the center. few drops of oil, and a piece of tape and
it's quiet.

Bull****. They wear out and by the time howling has started, no lubrication
will quiet them. Just replace the worn out thing if you really want to
repair it.

My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Hmmm,
Lubrication? And heat makes things expand. Those DC fans are not
terribly high quality.

They need oil. On the computer fan, most can be lubricated by removing the
paper label right in the center. few drops of oil, and a piece of tape and
it's quiet.

Bull****. They wear out and by the time howling has started, no
lubrication
will quiet them. Just replace the worn out thing if you really want to
repair it.


I concur, never attempt to lubricate one of those small computer fans,
ESPECIALLY ONE INSIDE YOUR POWER SUPPLY! This could be an indicator that
the fan in the power supply is about to give it up. If that is the case
replace the power supply before the fan does die and the power supply tanks
and takes other more important and heat sensitive components with it.
But....... if the machine has always done this since new, and it is a fairly
new machine, it is quite possible that you have a thermostatically
controlled cooling fan in there and on boot up it does a self-test and fires
up at full speed. YMMV.

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:25:46 -0500, jackson wrote:
I concur, never attempt to lubricate one of those small computer fans,
ESPECIALLY ONE INSIDE YOUR POWER SUPPLY! This could be an indicator that
the fan in the power supply is about to give it up. If that is the case
replace the power supply before the fan does die and the power supply tanks
and takes other more important and heat sensitive components with it.

Unless you've previously replaced the power supply, chances are that putting
in a $5 fan will double its value. (like putting gas in a yugo)

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:25:46 -0500, "jackson"
wrote:

My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Hmmm,
Lubrication? And heat makes things expand. Those DC fans are not
terribly high quality.

They need oil. On the computer fan, most can be lubricated by removing the
paper label right in the center. few drops of oil, and a piece of tape and
it's quiet.

Bull****. They wear out and by the time howling has started, no
lubrication
will quiet them. Just replace the worn out thing if you really want to
repair it.


I concur, never attempt to lubricate one of those small computer fans,
ESPECIALLY ONE INSIDE YOUR POWER SUPPLY! This could be an indicator that
the fan in the power supply is about to give it up. If that is the case
replace the power supply before the fan does die and the power supply tanks
and takes other more important and heat sensitive components with it.
But....... if the machine has always done this since new, and it is a fairly
new machine, it is quite possible that you have a thermostatically
controlled cooling fan in there and on boot up it does a self-test and fires
up at full speed. YMMV.






I imagine any lubricate that may cause further damage to the
motherboard will void a warranty.

I replace the dang power supply. Noise is telling me the computer
needs attention - same with any other fan in the box.

--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:51:56 GMT, AZ Nomad
wrote:

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:42:07 -0700, Big Al wrote:



"Tony Hwang" wrote in message
news:bRfvh.812804$1T2.69321@pd7urf2no...
wrote:
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Hmmm,
Lubrication? And heat makes things expand. Those DC fans are not
terribly high quality.

They need oil. On the computer fan, most can be lubricated by removing the
paper label right in the center. few drops of oil, and a piece of tape and
it's quiet.

Bull****. They wear out and by the time howling has started, no lubrication
will quiet them. Just replace the worn out thing if you really want to
repair it.

No, it's not bull****. But it does require the proper lubricant.
Use a grease such as lubricate or wheel bearing grease with the oil
and it will last for years. Oil alone lasts a couple of months.

On Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:26:02 -0600, DK wrote:

No, it's not bull****. But it does require the proper lubricant.
Use a grease such as lubricate or wheel bearing grease with the oil
and it will last for years. Oil alone lasts a couple of months.

It is bull****. If you put axle grease on it then it will never turn again. By
the time a fan is howling, it has so much slop in the bearings that it is beyond
repair. You can't fix such a fan with any lubricant. Christ. Spend the
****ing two bucks and replace it! If your time is worth more than ten cents an
hour then it is a bargain.

wrote in message
...
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

Small motors typically have bushings instead of bearings. Bushings wear out
sooner. The axle is jigging around inside the bushing until the structure
warms up a bit -- could be the axle swelling from heat, or dirty lubricant
softening up, or something else a more knowledgeable person will point out
later.

I fix a lot of these for clients. Clean the gray gunk off the fan blades
with a can of compressed air. That usually solves the problem. If not,
replace the fan. They're less than 10 bucks, unless you go for the gaudy
ones with LEDs. Clean out all the rest of the dust in

If you want, you can try some light oil, but don't use much. You definitely
don't want oil inside your PC. In fact, don't use oil unless the fan blows
OUT of the case. I've always just replaced the fan, because I'd have to
charge more for half-measures.

I won't presume to advise you about your heater. Your barn might burn down,
and then I'd be sad.

My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

Small motors typically have bushings instead of bearings. Bushings wear
out sooner. The axle is jigging around inside the bushing until the
structure warms up a bit -- could be the axle swelling from heat, or dirty
lubricant softening up, or something else a more knowledgeable person will
point out later.

I fix a lot of these for clients. Clean the gray gunk off the fan blades
with a can of compressed air. That usually solves the problem. If not,
replace the fan. They're less than 10 bucks, unless you go for the gaudy
ones with LEDs. Clean out all the rest of the dust in

If you want, you can try some light oil, but don't use much. You
definitely don't want oil inside your PC. In fact, don't use oil unless
the fan blows OUT of the case. I've always just replaced the fan, because
I'd have to charge more for half-measures.

but the op stated the fan was IN his power supply. If that is the case, and
if the fan is indeed failing and not a temp controlled unit, I'd recommend
changing out the whole power supply rather then opening it up.


I won't presume to advise you about your heater. Your barn might burn
down, and then I'd be sad.

wrote in message
...
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Fan designers have two principal ways of increasing output. Increase
horsepower or increase r.p.m. Increasing speed is a lot cheaper than
horsepower, ergo, NOISE.

Ivan Vegvary

That's very simplistic. What about changing the fan pitch? The duct
shape? Load-dependent speed?



Ivan Vegvary wrote:
wrote in message
...
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Fan designers have two principal ways of increasing output. Increase
horsepower or increase r.p.m. Increasing speed is a lot cheaper than
horsepower, ergo, NOISE.

Ivan Vegvary

Check the internet, there is a whole specialized market producing products
with quiet fans, quiet power supplies, chip coolers and other products to
silently remove the heat. If your fan is too noisy, upgrades are available.
Many upper grade mother boards will control the fan speed according to the
temperature of the CPU chip.

"Stubby" wrote in message
. ..
That's very simplistic. What about changing the fan pitch? The duct
shape? Load-dependent speed?



Ivan Vegvary wrote:
wrote in message
...
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.
Fan designers have two principal ways of increasing output. Increase
horsepower or increase r.p.m. Increasing speed is a lot cheaper than
horsepower, ergo, NOISE.

Ivan Vegvary

EXT wrote:

Check the internet, there is a whole specialized market producing products
with quiet fans, quiet power supplies, chip coolers and other products to
silently remove the heat. If your fan is too noisy, upgrades are available.
Many upper grade mother boards will control the fan speed according to the
temperature of the CPU chip.

"Stubby" wrote in message
. ..

That's very simplistic. What about changing the fan pitch? The duct
shape? Load-dependent speed?



Ivan Vegvary wrote:

wrote in message
...

My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.

Fan designers have two principal ways of increasing output. Increase
horsepower or increase r.p.m. Increasing speed is a lot cheaper than
horsepower, ergo, NOISE.

Ivan Vegvary




You can also buy adhesive backed acoustic padding to line a computer
"tower" case with and a labrinth type "muffler" to screw over the fan
opening.

IME (A sample of one.) spending about $35 on buying both of those items
didn't do ****e to reduce the fan noise enough to satisfy SWMBO.

Buying her a new computer did.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:37:33 -0600,
wrote:

My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.

Dont' know about these two but some bearings are oil-impregnated.
When they get warm, oil seeps out of the metal. Obviously, that takes
a little time. When the motor stops and they cool off, the oil is
sucked back in. Clever, huh?

Regarding the computer fan, some newer PCs can regulate the fan speed
in relation to heat. On startup, they go to full speed as a test.
You'll notice this more with laptop computers than desktop
computers.

On the other hand, as they wear out, they'll make more noise when
cold. There is no way to oil a computer fan motor - it's all molded
into one non serviceable plastic chunk. You can order a replacement
fan but it's probably more expensive than a new power supply - which
is not very expensive, whcih is why they wear out quickly.

-rev



On Jan 29, 12:37 am, wrote:
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.

The Reverend Natural Light wrote:
You can order a replacement
fan but it's probably more expensive than a new power supply - which
is not very expensive, whcih is why they wear out quickly.

I don't know where you're buying your power supplies, but a decent Antec
one is at least $70, and you can easily spend more.

In my experience the good ones do not "wear out quickly". I have a
computer that I bought in '97 that is still running happily with the
original power supply.

Chris

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:39:44 -0600, Chris Friesen wrote:


The Reverend Natural Light wrote:
You can order a replacement
fan but it's probably more expensive than a new power supply - which
is not very expensive, whcih is why they wear out quickly.

I don't know where you're buying your power supplies, but a decent Antec
one is at least $70, and you can easily spend more.

You can get a decent power supply for far less. Even antec's
can be had for $30, for example
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...AFFIL=FRG&NR=1

That $20 supply is still a huge improvement over the typical $5 power supply
most people are running.

AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:39:44 -0600, Chris Friesen wrote:

I don't know where you're buying your power supplies, but a decent Antec
one is at least $70, and you can easily spend more.

You can get a decent power supply for far less. Even antec's
can be had for $30, for example
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...AFFIL=FRG&NR=1

Look at the next one up from that...the SP-450 is $65.77.

Chris

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:16:09 -0600, Chris Friesen wrote:


AZ Nomad wrote:
On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:39:44 -0600, Chris Friesen wrote:

I don't know where you're buying your power supplies, but a decent Antec
one is at least $70, and you can easily spend more.

You can get a decent power supply for far less. Even antec's
can be had for $30, for example
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...AFFIL=FRG&NR=1

Look at the next one up from that...the SP-450 is $65.77.

Chris

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:37:33 -0600, wrote:


My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

Your computer has the finest power supply that seven dollars will buy
you. That leaves about forty cents for the fan. I recomend you splurge
and get a $30 replacement power supply and the howling will end.

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:37:33 -0600,
wrote:

My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.

Buy a new one. Oil is just a temporary fix. Try www.mouser.com

On Jan 28, 10:37 pm, wrote:
My computer power supply fan is terribly noisy when I first turn it
on. After a few minutes it quiets down and is fine till the next time
I turn on the computer. Then I go in my barn and turn on an electric
heater and the fan in there is just as noisy, but it too quiets down
once the thing is running for a few minutes. Why do these small fan
motors do that? If a bearing was bad, I dont think they would quiet
down. I just learn to live with the noise as long as the motors run.

G.T.

Here's everything I know (almost) about heater and computer fans and,
perhaps, all you need to know:

1. When you buy a computer or a computer power supply try to make sure
that it has a safety label on it (e.g., UL, CSA, TUV). The same thing
goes for electric heaters with a fan.

2. If your power supply fan starts making a lot of noise (I've never
had that happen, BTW), replace the power supply or the power supply
fan (if it's no longer under warranty).

3. If you use an electric heater a lot, and it's one of those cheap
ones, replace it every year and also replace the socket it plugs into.
If you have a more expensive heater, like a 220-V heater for instance,
that you use a lot, I don't know what to tell you. I would contact the
manufacturer for advice. I would guess a high-quality fan ought to be
good for at 30,000 or 40,000 hours of operation. I would check the
power plug once in awhile, by the way, to make sure it's not getting
hot.

4. If you want an extra quiet computer and the standard power supply
fan is to noisy, buy a more expensive power supply that has a built-in
temperature sensor and a variable speed fan. Also, put larger fans
inside the case of your computer. Make sure they are blowing air in
the correct direction.