Dust Inside Power supply Cooling Fan! Effecting Speakers, How To Solve?

[John_Jordan]

Hey

First of all, I have a packard Bell Imedia. I recently opened up the casing, as I was hearing alot of noise in the power supply cooling fan. Used a blower to get the dust out, and by accident abit flew into the cooling fan. When I turned it on, it started making wizzing/whirling sounds and the noise was alot worse than before. It seems to have calmed down now, but I am getting buzzing from the speakers which are connected to the back of the power unit.

I am not sure if its related, but my pc just froze as well (I have had it crash, but never freeze like this in 5 years of usage).

Anyway, is there anything else I can do apart from buying a new supply unit fan? Are they had to fix in?

Thanks guys

[ROF]

After you used compressed air(bad idea) did you allow time for the parts to dry out? Even if you don't visibly see the moisture compressed air contains a tremendous amount of it and it can cause other problems if used.

The best way to clean the inside of a power supply or anything inside the case is with a soft bristle brush. You can pick up an assortment of these brushes at any store that sells models or any hardware store. Never used compressed air. compressed air should be for external use only on keyboards or other such peripherals.

[John_Jordan]

After you used compressed air(bad idea) did you allow time for the parts to dry out? Even if you don't visibly see the moisture compressed air contains a tremendous amount of it and it can cause other problems if used.

The best way to clean the inside of a power supply or anything inside the case is with a soft bristle brush. You can pick up an assortment of these brushes at any store that sells models or any hardware store. Never used compressed air. compressed air should be for external use only on keyboards or other such peripherals.

Hey there!! Thanks for your response! I didnt actually used canned air, I used one of those power blowers you use for photography. You know the bulb blowers, the one I have is actually very powerful. Its lucky I didnt go and buy the canned air, after reading your comments. The speakers btw are plugged into the power supply, they arent speakers you can plug anywhere else which iis odd.

I will have to try and find a brush, or go and buy one and test it out. as I say, it was constantly making noise, but now it seems af its only the speakers making a buzzing sound.

[ROF]

Any whizzing or whirring sound that is audible to the human ear usually has an inner sound which is inaudible to humans. You may notice the sound coming from your speakers has a somewhat similiar wavelength as the audible sound you are experiencing. It's a humming sound which if the speakers are connected directly to this source or unshielded from this source you may experience feedback.

I can't begin to tell you the amount of monitors I've seen fried because some bright eyed person thought it would be good to blast some air into the vents while the monitor was on. In my opinion, they should really put a warning label on the compressed air cans letting people know of these dangers.

[John_Jordan]

hehe! Thinking of it, I have my 5.1 system hooked up to the pc as well! That was buzzing all the time I had it on! Its only the past day though, that the pc speakers have started buzzing (when the power supply fan started making awful noises)

BTW! It is possible that the pc freezing is due to a dodgy power supply fan? I have had it crash, but never freeze like this before, where it wont shutdown or restart itself.

[JerryB]

Hey

First of all, I have a packard Bell Imedia. I recently opened up the casing, as I was hearing alot of noise in the power supply cooling fan. Used a blower to get the dust out, and by accident abit flew into the cooling fan. When I turned it on, it started making wizzing/whirling sounds and the noise was alot worse than before. It seems to have calmed down now, but I am getting buzzing from the speakers which are connected to the back of the power unit.

I am not sure if its related, but my pc just froze as well (I have had it crash, but never freeze like this in 5 years of usage).

Anyway, is there anything else I can do apart from buying a new supply unit fan? Are they had to fix in?

Thanks guys

hi,
one always observe good electrical safty procedures....!! now...
this is my view....
first..... a noisy fan is because
a. bearings wearing out.... and/or
b. a lot of dust on the blades causing a unbalance operation..
note: a lot of times with worn bearings... or a shaft with alot of dust... fan can be noisy and then after wram up they quiet down a little bit...!!
note 1: some pc have variable temp control fans... and a lot of time they start out high volum speed and a little noisy untill temp stablizies..

I use a combination of a very thin brush to brush off the shaft and the blades...... and then use air blow out the junk...!!

compress air is not a problem just make sure you allow any condensation t dry off....!!

power supply fan... now with packard bell not sure..... generally though... they are not repairable...... you buy the whole powersupply.... but again.. not sure about packard bell.. i haven't seen one on this side of the pond in years... they mayve changed...

as far as your speaker sounds being cause by the fans..... unlikely unless the fan motor is going bad itself!!!!! and it producing electromagnetic noise.. which would be extremely rare/unusal....!!
I would think more likely some unshilded cables or speaker cable are to close to speaker cables...

issue of a dodgy fan.... mmm my self unlikely unless the motor is shorting out... generally a lot of times a power supply problem it self...however... there not enough info in your post yet to say that a problem.... generally freezing one looks at software issues first......

[John_Jordan]

My dad spoke to a computer store today that he knows, and they suggested the buzzing may be due to the sound card? The power supply fan, has been quiet for a day now, and all seems well!! So I guess they could be right? The sound is fine though, its only when I have no output that I hear the buzzing.

[ROF]

Does your sound card have a headphone jack or does your computer tower have a headphone jack that is attached to the soundcard? If so see if the sound feedback(which is what this is) is coming through the headphones as well.