How to tell if the CPU/heat sink fan is working

[morowe]

Hi,

I have suffered from faulty ram (which was dealt with very well by pc specialist) and have, thanks to the default package size, had to replace 8 stick of ram.

In a previous post i highlighted problems i have with the clips that hold the fan on the heat sink over the CPU. To install one of the sticks the fan needed to be removed and then replaced which i had a lot of difficulty doing! It all seemed to eventually click into place but I'm not convinced its working. I think i may have unplugged it by accident in my attempt to fit it back on. I think this because i have a fan indicator on the front showing one less fan, but its a NXZT Phantom case so graphically represents which ones which and i cant tell/remember which ones were lit up before.

So my basic question is can I/ how can I check that it is working? is it best to just open it up and turn it on? Should it always spin or only when its heating up? That may sound like a rediculous question but i want to be extra careful because i cant really afford to replace anything.

Thanks for any contributions!

 

[keynes]

Have you try running prime95? If the temps go too high I'd assume the cpu cooler is not fitted properly.

 

[morowe]

Im just worried trying to overheat it is a bad idea to check the fan isn't working... because if it isn't working i run the risk of damaging the CPU..

 

[keynes]

You could always stop prime95 when the CPU temps go above 70'C , but I have never try it on a CPU that had a cooler not fitted properly. You could also do some gaming and check the temps, no idea what motherboard you have but ASUS Suite would allow you to record the temps of your CPU and also modify the fan speed to check it is working well.

 

[morowe]

I have a Asus rampage extreme IV motherboard . Yer I guess it'd take a while to do any serious damage and hopefully the comp should shutdown before then.

 

[mishra]

Best thing to do, is to download this software: HWmonitor (just Google it - it's free).
It will tell you temp of your CPU and speed of the fan (assuming you have it connected directly to CPU1 fan connector on your motherboard). CPU fan and any other fans *should* operate at all times. Depending on your temp they will either spin quicker or slower - but they should spin all the time.

If for any reason this software is not telling you speed of fans or your fan is not working - you will notice it by extreme temps of your CPU - if that happens IMMEDIATELY switch off your PC and investigate why fan is not working.

Truth is, you can temporarily run your CPU without a fan, but with radiator attached! for some time... but you CANNOT do any gaming, or any performance hungry operations. So, to put it in perspective if your fan dies you will not toast your CPU immediately, it will take some time. If you are feeling confident you can check your BIOS, there should be a setting that will alarm you with sound if CPU fan is not spinning. Also most computers will switch off if your CPU temp will reach critical point (set in BIOS) - do check in your BIOS this.
It is very unlikely for a new fan to go faulty... it's more likely not properly connected cable or something silly like that.

 

[Corfate]

Your fan controller won't pick up the fan as its connected to the mobo CPU fan header, not the fan controller as the others say, download the software. However, I'd just open the case panel and see if it's spinning (it should always be spinning)

 

[mishra]

Your fan controller won't pick up the fan as its connected to the mobo CPU fan header, not the fan controller

I know this might not be the case, but I thought most of fan controllers allow connecting fans to both controller and mobo at same time. So CPU fan is controlled by mobo, but you have an override knob on the fan controller when necessary. But I really do not want to confuse you even more "morowe" - as Corfate said, open the case and have a quick look. If it spins then all is well

 

[Corfate]

I know this might not be the case, but I thought most of fan controllers allow connecting fans to both controller and mobo at same time. So CPU fan is controlled by mobo, but you have an override knob on the fan controller when necessary. But I really do not want to confuse you even more "morowe" - as Corfate said, open the case and have a quick look. If it spins then all is well

Ooh, if thats true, im very interested

 

[mishra]

I only mentioned that as my fan controller (Zalman ZM-MFC1 - which is rather cheap and on low end of fan controllers) comes with 6 knobs. However, two of these can be connected to mobo which makes them both controlled by motherboard and also by the knob if wanted. Always assumed that's the case with all fan controllers - and due to my being kind a cheap one, I can only connect 2x fans only like that

 

[Buzz]

Your fan controller has normal fan connectors and 2 of them just have PWM extension cables added to them. I dont think they actually effect the fan as far as I can see they only check the RPM of the fan if the motherboard needs to know them. It

 

[mishra]

I think you are 100% right. Just ran Prime95 for 2 hrs ... and the speed of fans did not change a bit from 784rpm to anything higher Temp raised from 35C to 51C but rpm stayed all the same throughout this time. Obviously twisting knob changes rpm.

So that controller-mobo connection is only to tell whats the speed of fans rather than control it ... eh, you learn everyday cheers for claryfing.

So unless this temp diff was not big enough to send signal to speed up the fan.. or simply saying it will never happen as it's not designed to