Is my computer dieing?

Thizzle

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2008

It's going buzz buz like a bumblebee and it sounds like it's trying to grind through something.

Tatile

Tatile

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

Stygian Disciples of Tenebrasus

N/Me

Have you cleaned it lately? That could be a fan covered in dust.

Thizzle

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2008

I think that was it. I opened it up and then cleaned the fans and the video card fan was the one making the noise.

Tatile

Tatile

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

Stygian Disciples of Tenebrasus

N/Me

Is it gone yet? If not that fan might be a tad injured.

Lorinda

Lorinda

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2006

The Netherlands

If one has cats of dogs in the house.
Cleaning you PC fans once a year is not a bad idea.
Also a PC fan doenst last very long.
That is why they are rahter cheap.

Replacing them every 2 - 3 years (most systems dont last that long, getting old, slow etc) is a good idea.

Baratus

Baratus

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Elizabethtown, NC

Deathkings of The Dark Citadel

D/Me

Once a year is WAY too long. I open mine up once a month (usually the first weekend) and spray out everything. After a month, it needs it. I'd recommend no more than three-month intervals on cleanings though. It can really extend the life of your PC.

isamu kurosawa

isamu kurosawa

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

United Kingdom

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baratus
Once a year is WAY too long. I open mine up once a month (usually the first weekend) and spray out everything. After a month, it needs it. I'd recommend no more than three-month intervals on cleanings though. It can really extend the life of your PC.
Depends entirely on the air flow and location of your system. I have known people to have to clearn theirs once a fortnight due to thick dust build-up whereas my own rarely needs cleaning and when it does its never too bad.

The envoronment you work in plays a large role in how well your system runs.

Sir Seifus Halbred

Sir Seifus Halbred

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2006

Is it just making that noise or is it shutting down as well? This could be a sign of a failing hard drive. When did you first notice this?

By the way this belongs here:

Tech's Corner-Hardware

Baratus

Baratus

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Elizabethtown, NC

Deathkings of The Dark Citadel

D/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by isamu kurosawa
Depends entirely on the air flow and location of your system. I have known people to have to clearn theirs once a fortnight due to thick dust build-up whereas my own rarely needs cleaning and when it does its never too bad.

The envoronment you work in plays a large role in how well your system runs.
True, but over my years as an IT and an IS professional, I have discovered this to be true no matter what the environment. If you smoke around your machine you should probably do it once a week, or that tar will bond with the dust in the air and form this dark-brown or black substance that REALLY clogs up heatsinks and fans!

If you run an air purifier in your home however, it can go for a longer period without cleaning, assuming the purifier is kept in good working order and it removes dust fairly well. HEPA filters for your home AC unit can also prolong the cleaning period, but most people just buy the cheap junk you get at Walmart and those are nowhere near as good at filtering out dust.

Either way, I stand by my comment of one to three months on average. In bad situations you'll need to clean more often and in good ones less often. They key is doing it at all! Oh and I would look into a replacement for the fan that was buzzing, it's probably not long for this world if it was that bad.

gremlin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2006

GWAR

Me/Mo

My Brothers computer need a regular clean about once a month, that's what you get for having 4 dogs that have access to the computer room and a tower that's close to the floor.

In an attempt to solve the problem I found this product Shopshield computer dust covers.
http://www.computerdust.com/

They make covers for computers that work in dusty environments tents warehouses etc.
Havnt tried them out yet but they claim an initiaal increase of 1 degree C when running.
But Since there is practically no dust buildup this means an overall lower working temperature after prolonged use.

Anyway its all on the website.
Cost for a tower cover is around $15

edited
If anyone has first hand experience of this product can they give an opinion good or bad.

KZaske

KZaske

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2006

Boise Idaho

Druids Of Old (DOO)

R/Mo

Please note, on some mother boards a buzzing sound can be the result of installing the nForce drivers to enable temp/fan driver level control on a GeForce video card.