Computer fan question

andrewsw16

I have a desktop PC running Windows 7. It sounds like the cpu fan is cycling on and off about 1/second. It is bugging me and I can't help but believe that isn't good for the system. Is there some way I can get in, maybe through Control Panel, and diagnose the problem or maybe control the fan? I seem to recall in earlier days there was a cpu temperature control thermostat that controlled the fan.

Thanks guys.

HandLoad

When is last time you opened the access panels and cleaned out the fan and cooling fins? If never, you are cooking your confuser to death!

HandLoad

At least blow it out with compressed air GENTLY!

p3skyking

http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download/standard

Download Speccy. Filehippo or Piriform are both good, Piriform runs a little faster.
It will tell you the temps your fans are cooling, plus a lot of other stuff.

andrewsw16

Yeah it is a bit dusty. Hasn't been blown out in years. It is a Dell Optiplex 740. I just opened it up and narrowed down the problem. The fan that is cycling appears to be internal to the power supply and not mounted to the case or over the cpu chip. I'll try blowing out the case. and especially the power supply. tomorrow.

beneteau

When you blow it out, I would remove the shroud over the CPU fan and make sure the blades on the fan get a good cleaning.