Dimension 4400 CPU Fan

Question

Hi all   I have searched everywhere and can find nothing about my fan.   Basically its working fine, except it has suddenly sped up very fast and is loud.   There is no dirt in it, there is nothing jamming it.  Its not making any strange noises, and the PC is running fine.  Cool air is rushing out the back!  The room I have my PC is not particularly hot, in fact its winter so its kinda cold in here!   But its loud - occassionally it slows down (maybe for 1 minute in 5 hours!!!).  It sounds like a CD drive spinning (and no its not the CD drive!).   I saw in some posts Dell had issues with their fans, well this PC was bought about 2001, so I doubt there is any warranty, unless you guys know something else?   Help, my flatmates are going to kill me as I have to have the music up to drown the sound of the fan.   Dimension 4400 Win XP (sp2) P4 1.7 1Gb FX6600GT SB Live 5.1

SR45 · Answer

I replaced my fan using Dell's spare parts dept for very little cost if you think it needs replacement. I did not have the same problem as you, but did hear a strange rough noise coming from mine. Can't think of any other reason for the glitch you are having. In the US the number is 1 800 372-3355 If you are in the UK or some where else, don't know that number I'm afraid to say. Someone should know

Dim 4400 ( 3 Years 8 Months, going strong )
2.6 Ghz 400 FSB
1 Gb 2100 DDR Memory
20 Gb hard drive 7,200
Windows XP Home - SP-2
Leadtek 6600 GT
48xCDRW
17 LCD ( 1703 FP )
250 watt power supply

jrwou1 · Answer

Open the case and make sure that the heat sink is still securely fastened to the cpu.

SR45 · Answer

Home and Small Business Customer Care number I found in my manual is # 0870 906 0010 UK. They may have a local phone number for parts, not sure, or at least can direct you to the right place, I hope

Hope the number I gave you is valid. Took it right out of the Dell Owners Manual, but its 4 years old

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs You can also use this link for contacting Dell in the UK for tech support and maybe they can direct you to another phone number.... Worth a try

Click on link, put in your Service Tag Number in the number # 1 box, than click on the down arrow and find Contact Us. Click on contact us and click GO. See what happens

Message Edited by SR45 on 01-20-2006 02:03 PM

mmaliniak · Answer

Hi I cant find a fan for sale thru Dell UK. I opened the case up and its all fine in their.  The sink is well and truly fixed over the CPU!   :mansad:

jrwou1 · Answer

Here's one I found on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-GX260-GX270-4550-8300-400SC-Fan-and-Shroud-2X585_W0QQitemZ6841836756QQcategoryZ80149QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Even though the seller doesn't list the D4400 it is the same case as the one the other Dells listed and they ship worldwide.

mmaliniak · Answer

Thanks guys, I guess the overwhelming opinion is to get a new fan. Think I may as well update the case, MBO, and CPU - was planning to anyway, this kinda validates the desire!   Thanks for the info!   Glad to see I am not the only person with a 4400!

SR45 · Answer

Realy like my Dim 4400 system.  Very reliable except the fan had to be replaced, and the cdrw under warranty.

brian6103 · Answer

My fan has been making a strange noise for awhile so I decided to replace it.  Now that I have a new fan in the fan runs constantly.  Any ideas on what could cause this?

shesagordie · Answer

brian6103   Did you install a Dell replacement or an aftermarket unit?   Bev.

brian6103 · Answer

An aftermarket one.  It's a Dynex Ball Bearing case fan.  I'm not incredibly savvy with this stuff, so bare with me.  I assume the fan is supposed to come on when a certain temperature is reached?  Is it possible that whatever sensor triggers the fan was intergrated in the original fan?

jrwou1 · Answer

The case fan should run constantly, but should vary its speed. The original fan has a built-in thermal sensor (the small blue chip sticking out of the center of the fan) that causes the fan to speed up as the air being drawn out of the case heats up. Since you installed an aftermarket fan, you should also be getting a fan failure message when you boot up. You can call Dell spare parts for a replacement fan.

Dell Spare Parts Phone: 1-800-372-3355,
Select menu item 5 to speak to a representative
Hours: Monday thru Friday 7am to 7pm CST

shesagordie · Answer

brian6103   When the system boots up, the case/processor fan will run and continue running until the system is shutdown, this is normal behaviour.  During this time the fan speed will fluctuate, according to the demands of the system.   Dell's case/processor fan's are proprietary units and need to be replaced with the same fan, to avoid receiving a 'Fan failure' error message at every boot up.   Bev.

ryaske · Answer

Hey guys, I believe you are seeing a fan failure because you are substituting a two-wire fan (without tach output). Our case fans are interestingly 90MM with a tach output, plugged into the CPU fan 1 port on the motherboard (rare). So, if you can find a three-wire 90MM fan with a Motherboard plug, you can replace it with that. Unplugging this fan, and using one that plugs into the PSU pigtails will cause a failure warning because the seen tach signal is 0. Your computer will stay alive though because this fan is likely turning at 100%, or using a built in transistor to vary speed (like the OEM fan), still keeping the CPU at a good temp

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Dimension 4400 CPU Fan

Was this post helpful?