Optiplex GX 280: noisy Alpha variable-speed fan.

Question

Hi,

I just got a new GX 280 and noticed that the motherboard fan is very loud. Moreover, the fan is variable speed, which is very annoying, because the fan's RPM constantly follow the CPU utilization and it exhibits distinct "whyning". Is there a way to make the fan run at constant speed? Is replacing the loud Alpha fan with a quieter model an option?

Thank you,

Oleg.

thenew3 · Answer

I had received a batch of 24 GX280 systems and over half of them had this problem.

I worked with Dell's tech support and they thought it was the fans. I told them it was not the fans.

Then after making several complaints to the sales dept, and getting my case escalated, I finally worked with a tier two support specialist.

In the end, the problem is a poorly designed or poorly manufactured heatsink. The heatsink mounting plate is not cut correctly so it does not make good contact with the CPU and thus doesn't transfer the heat from the CPU properly. So CPU heats up quickly and causes the firmware to speed up the fan to try to cool it.

I've received 24 new heatsinks (Dell part # W4254) or what they claim to be "performance heatsink" and this solves the problems. Makes the machine nearly silent even when burned in under 100% cpu load for over 24 hours.

Dell's QA team called me last week to find out what the solution to this problems was. Apparently they are now getting a lot of calls from angry GX280 customers with the same problem. I think they should pay me for finding the cause and solution for them. :)

Anyways, try to give their tech support a call, and request a replacement heatsink. When you get it, use some rubbing alcohol to clean off the thermal compound on the top of the CPU before you install the new heatsink.

ltfields · Answer

The same 'Performance heatsink' worked on the 2 GX280s we got in.  If you even went to the screensaver before, they would start whyning, but now I can peg the CPU and it's extremely quiet.  I hope tech support gets alerted quickly to this trend...

DELL-Les · Answer

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

"Dell is currently investigating this issue. Some instances of this symptom have been resolved by properly reseating the Mainstream heatsink in the correct orientation. By design, the Mainstream heatsink is cut asymmetrically to ensure it will fit into the retention module in only the proper orientation. To reinforce this, a graphic of the system fan and a directional arrow is etched into the top of the heatsink. To install the heatsink correctly orient the heat sink so that the directional arrow is facing the installed chassis fan. Be certain that the edges of the heatsink are properly inserted under the retention module features.

If, after reseating your heatsink, you continue to experience this symptom please contact technical support for further assistance. Replacing the heatsink with a Performance Heatsink is not the recommended solution for this issue."

robinhood42 · Answer

I hope you have time to answer my question. I recently purchased a Dell Dimension 8400. I've read all these posts about the fan and the heatsink problem. My Dell fan does make a noise, but how do I know if it is just regular fan noise or something else. I don't want to keep running it if there is a problem, it will only overheat. Are all 8400 Dells affected, and how do I find out if my particular one is a potential problem? Please advice me as to what to do. Thank You.

robinhood42 · Answer

Thank you for the help. :smileyhappy: Since it is a low hum, I'll just leave things alone. I really don't feel like taking off the pc case and touching anything. I know you have to be careful and I don't want to ruin the motherboard. I can't hear the fan across the room, so I guess everything is ok. But I hear everyone complaining about the same thing. I wonder if Dell will contact everyone with an 8400 and let them know what is going on? I'd never have known if I didn't come to the community forum.   I know what you are talking about with Seti now. I've heard a great deal about it on Art Bell's radio show Coast to Coast. I don't know if you've even listened to the show before, but it's on the radio late at night and they talk mostly about UFOs and the paranormal. If I every do go to the Seti website, do you think I'll have problems with my pc? Just wondering because UFOs fascinate me. I just never knew the URL of the site.

ltfields · Answer

Robinhood42, what does the fan sound like under no load (i.e. just sitting in Windows without running any programs whatsoever?), and what does the fan sound like under load (i.e. running an intensive game like Doom 3 or a computational application like Seti@Home?).  The original problems in this thread were the heatsinks not getting good contact to the processor, and so when Seti@Home or other CPU intensive apps were run, the fan would spin up to maximum speed, and for me it sounded like my wife's hairdryer.  Let us know what your symptoms are...

robinhood42 · Answer

Well, to me it sounds like a low hum. I don't do any gaming at all. I just use Windows and programs that I bought like Print Shop Pro, Label Factory Deluxe, Ms Works, Ms Word. That is as far as it goes. I do upload pictures, but nothing intensive.

I just thought, I do run two games. They are children's games, Dora the Explorer. You have to use the CDs to play the game, and they are not intense games. They are for young children. I have a 15 month old and I bought them for him. They are nothing you need a joystick or anything else for, just the mouse. Right now the fan doesn't sound anything like a hairdryer. It's more of a low steady hum. Is this just a problem with intense games?

Years ago when I had another computer I bought the Myst game, and The Seventh Guest. I had constant problems with them locking up. That's when I decided I wasn't going to do any gaming, except for simple ones like Dora. I also have the Carmen Sandiego games that I like, but I never had any luck on any computer that I owned. Carmen would freeze, and cause problems. I have no plans on installing them on this computer. I don't even know where the disks are now. I appreciate your help. Thank you.

robinhood42 · Answer

P.S. What is Seti@home? I've never heard of it.

ltfields · Answer

If there was a recall style problem, I'm sure they would contact Dell 8400 owners, so you should be fine.  As for the SETI stuff, it only runs when your computer is on and idling, if your kids are playing the Dora the Explorer game it will pause itself and sit in the background waiting for the computer to become idle again.  There are many good causes in addition to SETI that you can look into.  I ran SETI for a while then switched to Folding @home which does research into DNA and Proteins: http://folding.stanford.edu/.  Theres also a good one run by Stanford that works on the Genome: http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/genome/.

ltfields · Answer

http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/   It's a distributed computing application wherin people volunteer spare computer time to search for Extra-terrestrial signals gathered by the SETI organization.  It's one of many programs out there that are used to do centuries worth of mathmatical modeling in a few years by spreading the load out among thousands of home computers instead of trying to use one supercomputer.  The individual clients get a chunk of data and perform a lot of math computations upon it.  This work is often Computer intensive, which is why many IT folks use the software to 'burn in' or test new equipment coming in.  If it just sounds like a low hum, I don't think you have anything to worry about.  Before I got the heatsinks swapped out, my desktop could be heard from almost 30 feet away with 3 rows of cubicles in the way.

ltfields · Answer

No, Dora and other programs will run as normal.  When they start up, the SETI client will see that the system is busy and the SETI program will pause itself so that it doesn't interrupt your game.

robinhood42 · Answer

Does this mean I'm going to have trouble with Dora the Explorer? I hope not. What can I do to make it run without pausing?

robinhood42 · Answer

Oh I see. Thanks.

dgaud · Answer

Would this issue be related to my problem:

Brand new Optiplex GX280 w/XP. In the middle of the XP setup screens it freezes, so I shut down the PC. When I turn it on, the PC won't boot up. No DELL splash screen, no BIOS, etc. just a VERY LOUD fan noise. I shut it down again and waited about an hour, then tried again and the PC boot up succesfully, but it froze again at another XP setup screen. After a shut-down / turn on cycle the same thing no boot up, no screen, only the loud fan noise. This happened several times until I finished the XP setup screens and it happened after that in a regular XP session. I tried booting it up w/o keyboard, mouse, etc. but no change. At some point I think I heard two short beeps from the motherboard. Please let me know what you think. Thanks,

kumble · Answer

Hi all,

i found same problem in GX280SMTS. the sound increases when you execute programs. replaced FAN, HEATSINK ,MOTHERBOARD and CPU also. but the problem is very confusing to fix. is it because heat sink is overheating? is it because of FAN ?

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Optiplex GX 280: noisy Alpha variable-speed fan.

Was this post helpful?