[Tris]

Ok well I survived

The fan and heatsink were coated in a nice warm layer of dust.. so that's obviously doing it no good.

Have cleared it all out and moved the machine from on the floor to up on the desk, hopefully that'll sort it

[Cew27]

nice one

[Tris]

I've had to resurrect this thread as, although it doesn't happen near as much, the problem is still there.

If the computer is put under load, the fan spins faster and becomes more noisy, which I assume is normal.

But a couple of time now I have heard an intermittent grinding noise coming from the fan, and I've got a feeling it's just not doing a very good job of keeping things cool.

When I removed the fan before to clean it out, I wrote down what was written on it:

AVC DA07020R12L

At the moment it's fine but I know the problem will come back if I ask alot from the computer (play games, full virus scans etc)

Should I replace the fan, if so, what with?

[Tris]

Help it just happened again!

Back of the computer feels really hot as well, I wonder if the fan is actually coming on at all? I can't hear it. Normally when it's working hard or getting hot, you can hear the fan spinning away

[Cew27]

replace the fan, unscrew it and disconnect it from the motherboard remembering where it goes in (put a little sticker somewhere to remind you) measure the size of it and tell us what connector it has and we can help you find a replacement

[Tris]

The number on it was AVC DA07020R12L

Can we not go by that?

[Cew27]

i think your looking for a 3 pin 14mm fan, is this a case fan or cpu fan ??

[Tris]

That number above was for the fan which blows towards the processor

I'm not sure whether the other fan my be at fault though? Or how to get access to it :S

[Tech Brian]

yes, u can get it in any computer shop, it good stuff to use, we used it when i worked for the NHS and it is so simple and easy.

[Tris]

Pardon