When constructing your PC, you’ll frequently encounter one problem or another. One of the problems is your GPU fans not rotating, albeit it might also happen later. Techpotamus can you help to find a solution for this problem “Why are Graphics card fans not spinning”? Keep reading.
The frustrating problem of your GPU fan, not spinning can happen for a number of reasons. As a result, there are various approaches to solving this problem, some of which are quick and simple and others that are a little more complicated.
Few things are more annoying than building a brand-new PC only to discover that a part isn’t functioning properly, possibly rendering the entire device useless. It can be even more annoying if the problem is as simple as the GPU fan not functioning.
Important:
Some GPU fans are not meant to run continuously. These GPUs have a function known as passive cooling, sometimes known as 0 RPM Mode, which lets the heatsink cool the GPU when it isn’t under a lot of stress.
The majority of contemporary GPUs feature a set point at which the fans should halt operating. It often falls between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius.
There is probably an issue if you try to run a game and the GPU fan isn’t spinning.
Fortunately, fixing the problem usually just requires the simplest and most obvious remedy. You must be able to precisely analyze your issue in order to know exactly how to address the GPU fan not spinning.
Software Bugs And Fixes
A software bug or other comparable problem has a wide range of potential outcomes. There are a couple of great approaches to diagnosing and resolving your issue.
Stress Test
You can easily force your GPU fan or fans to start spinning if they aren’t already set up to do so automatically. The simplest option is to play a demanding game and see whether the fan turns on.
Installing and using a benchmarking program, such as MSI Afterburner, is a preferable solution. The most accurate benchmarking tools will specify the RPM, or revolutions per minute, at which your fan is spinning under various stress conditions.
Modern graphics cards have automatically adjustable fan speeds and, as long as the GPU isn’t overclocked, they generally function flawlessly. If you decide to fiddle with it, we strongly suggest that you set your fan’s RPM appropriately to accommodate the rise in temperature that occurs with overclocked GPUs.
You can always install a utility like the aforementioned MSI Afterburner or something more specialized, like SpeedFan, and alter the temperature manually if the factory fan speed settings are insufficient.
Check Your Drivers
It’s conceivable that you’ve been looking in the wrong place if the fan still won’t spin after you’ve run stress tests or manually changed the fan speed.
You might need to upgrade your GPU driver to resolve the problem. This is unlikely, though, as the majority of contemporary graphics cards come with software that is responsible for checking for new drivers and installing them due to the constantly evolving and adapting nature of GPUs.
It’s also possible that you accidentally disabled your fan’s default settings, which would prevent the driver from working properly. However, this is typically a manufacturing problem.
It might be a good idea to reinstall the drivers after making sure you have the most recent versions in order to ensure their accuracy.
Restart Your PC
Have you tried turning it off and on again, to paraphrase Roy from “The IT Crowd”?
You’d be amazed by how many computer-related issues can be resolved with a system restart, however, the precise figures will only ever be anecdotal.
We’ll only touch on a few of the many advantages of a reset here. For instance, when you restart your computer, the RAM is completely erased.
The RAM can slow down your processes while it is active, but because of how it works, it loses all data when the power is turned off. This is due to the fact that a memory leak can occasionally happen when an app uses RAM but does not properly flush it when it ends, leaving it still assigned to that task.
Memory that wasn’t being used but was reserved as though it were is released when you restart the computer.
Your internet connection may possibly be fixed by restarting. The manufacturer’s software will now have a second attempt if it is unable to connect to the server. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, you most likely have a network connectivity issue, which is an entirely different issue.
Hardware Issues
These, sadly, are increasingly common and more difficult to handle. You’ll need to open your case and fiddle with the GPU or other parts to fix them. Let’s get right to work.
Power Connectors May Not Be Connected
Although this is not a groundbreaking point, it is one that is simple to ignore because of how small the wires are. It might be challenging to determine whether they are connected with the naked eye, especially if you don’t know what to look for.
You should be aware of whether your GPU needs a PCIe cable or whether it can draw power directly from a PCIe channel before testing for this. When you open your computer and discover that the graphics card isn’t linked by a cable, it can be unsettling. Make sure you are aware of whether your GPU even needs the power cable before moving further with it.
It’s also crucial to be aware that your GPU or another component may have overloaded your PSU as a result of a recent update (power supply unit). Because of this, it might not be able to adequately power all the components.
There is no need for you to be aware of the precise amount of power your PC consumes, so don’t worry if you are unsure.
Simply use a component detection program, such as CPU-Z, and a power consumption calculator to determine the precise amount of power your PC requires. If it appears that your PC is receiving enough power, you can move on to the following potential problem.
If you have already verified that all of the cables in your computer are connected correctly and that your GPU fan is still not operating, it might be a good idea to plug it into another computer (which you are confident is operating correctly) and see if the problem still exists.
Dusty Fan
Sometimes the fan will ultimately stop spinning as a result of slow dust collection.
Cleaning it is the simplest answer, but it may not be such an easy prospect. Fortunately, if this is the problem, reviving the fan won’t require much effort.
Give the fan a thorough cleaning if you want to avoid this problem in the long run. When it comes to cleaning, there are two main methods: using compressed air and a cotton swab.
Utilizing compressed air initially appears to be a risk-free technique. Despite its high effectiveness, there are frequently small pockets that you miss, either because they are hard to access or because you overlooked that area.
The method of choice in the past was cotton swabbing, which is excellent for getting into small spaces. However, having to clean every component individually—not just on the motherboard, but on the GPU as well—is also tiresome.
We suggest using compressed air, but you should also be prepared with cotton swabs to ensure you can reach the difficult-to-reach areas in your case.
Oil The GPU’s Fan Bearings
A fan’s bearings may begin to grind or even stop spinning entirely as it ages, which is another effect. Use a lightweight machine oil as a fix for this; the difference will be evident right away.
Due to its accessibility, WD-40 is frequently used in these circumstances, but you should never use it. It will only exacerbate the situation and possibly permanently harm the bearings, making your GPU fan useless.
Only one option remains if none of the earlier suggestions have worked for you.
Change The Fan
After applying a lot of solutions you end up removing the graphic card from the PC to identify it thoroughly and replace the fan if nothing else has worked. This is the most difficult option, thus it should only be used as a last resort.
The GPU must first be taken out of the case before you can carefully remove the fan. Inexperienced users have an easy time harming the GPU. Do this very carefully, but don’t be deterred.
You can insert the new fan after removing the old one. Make sure to purchase a fan specifically for your graphics card when replacing the fan on your GPU. The good news is that fans can typically be adapted to a variety of GPUs, but they will likely need to be from the same series.
Checking that your PSU has the proper power cable is another thing to watch out for when purchasing a new fan. It probably does, but you need to be certain, especially if you want to improve your fan.
The most likely cause of your fan’s malfunction is aging. If so, you might want to think about purchasing a brand-new GPU. The majority of today’s mid-range graphics cards easily outperform the top cards from five years ago.