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8 Posts

14845

October 27th, 2008 18:00

CPU fan problem

Hi,

I have a Dell Dimension 8400 desktop. When i press the on button to boot it up, all i get is the CPU fan building up speed like an aircraft engine. However this is intermittent as occasionally it will boot up ok. Any suggestions please.

 

Thanks

12 Elder

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46K Posts

October 27th, 2008 18:00

asimof

Have you cleaned the dust buildup, from the fan, heatsink cooling fins, the air intakes in the front panel and from inside of the case recently?

Bev.


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8 Posts

October 27th, 2008 19:00

HI,

Yes i have used an air blower to remove all dust from around the cpu and from within the case. Still the same.

12 Elder

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46K Posts

October 27th, 2008 19:00

asimof

Have you checked the front air intakes under the lift up front panel and the heatsink cooling fins under the green plastic shroud?

Bev.


===================================================
Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

2K Posts

October 27th, 2008 22:00

Fast fan from a cold start can't possibly be dust buildup.

 

What you have is motherboard capacitor failure. It prevents booting, prevents BIOS from loading the fan control constant.  After several tries, it may relent and boot.  Eventually it won't.  Be prepared to replace the motherboard, or the entire system.

2 Intern

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159 Posts

October 28th, 2008 03:00

If you have capacitor problems and are handy with a soldering iron make an online search, such as "replace dell motherboard capacitors".  Apparently, this is a relatively common problem as there are sites that will sell you the proper capacitors, tell you how to replace them, and some will even replace them for you for a fee.  One site is http://thecapking.com/index.html.  Pictures of bad caps can be seen at  http://www.monkey.org/~blandoon/gfx/caps/.

 

Fortunately, I have not had this problem, so have no personal experience.

 

Jim

8 Posts

October 28th, 2008 17:00

Hi,

I have looked over all the capacitors, and all look perfect. Any other ideas as to what it could be.

Thanks

2K Posts

October 28th, 2008 19:00

Failed capacitors do not necessarily present themselves visually.

8 Posts

October 29th, 2008 17:00

Hi,

So i will try removing all cards and memory,  and see what happens from their. Are their any other test i should be doing aswell??

 

Thanks

2K Posts

October 29th, 2008 17:00

Removing peripherals is the last test before MB replacement.  Memory seldom kills power, but anything can happen.

2K Posts

October 29th, 2008 18:00

If you have disconnected everything except the motherboard, that is the only possible remaining source of the problem.  Besides the processor itself, which has a much lower failure rate than Dell motherboards, and is VERY expensive to replace on speculation.

8 Posts

October 29th, 2008 18:00

Hi,

I have removed ALL cards and memory, and disconected the DVD/CD and HDD drives. The problem continues, and their are no post beeps or diag lights.

 

Advice please.

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