"I can't believe my GPU fans not spinning!" If you've ever had this happen to your computer, don't worry. You're not alone. There are many potential causes and fixes that will be discussed in the following article.
The graphics card is a crucial component for any PC gamer or professional graphic designer because it's where all of the processing takes place. When your graphics card is running at full capacity, your processor can get very hot which requires a lot more airflow than usual through the fan vents on top of the case to cool it down.
This increased airflow needs to go out through the back of your case as well as up and out from under it so there's enough room for air to come in from the front. If your computer is on a carpet or if there's anything blocking that airflow, you're going to have graphics card issues.
In this article, we'll go through some of the main causes for GPU fans not spinning and how to fix them so they start working again!
Most graphic card fans are spinning when the graphics card is running. When this fan stops, it usually means that there’s a problem with the graphics card. There can be many reasons why your GPU’s not working properly and you may need to get professional help for some issues.
There can be many reasons why your GPU’s not working properly and you may need to get professional help for some issues. There could be a problem with the graphics card itself, or there might just be an issue related to dusting. The most common reason of all is that the fan has failed due to excessive wear and tear because it was never replaced when needed. In this case, replacing the fan should solve your problems in almost every instance as long as airflow isn't being blocked by other components or insulation material nearby."
If you have brand new PC Build and the graphics card’s cooling fans are not spinning, you might be experiencing one of these problems:
Check PCI Power Cable maybe it is not connected to your graphics card, or it is not connected to the power supply that's why your GPU fan not spinning.
The graphics card fan not spinning may be due to the lack of power. Check if your GPU has a SATA connector, and then check with other devices like hard drives for example. If you do find that there is no connection between any device or cables in it, this could mean that there was an issue during the installation of cables from one end to another (or when they were cut). The open parts need to be covered by cable clamps which ensure more protection against electricity leakage. That Could Be Preventing Your Graphics Card's Fans From Spinning
You have to check all the power cables connected to your graphics card. If the power cable isn't connected properly, it could be preventing the fans from spinning.
There are two types of power cable acks to this. One is the power cable itself, and one is the pins on the graphics card. If you're using an old or cheap computer case that breathes air out of a back ventilation slot through a grill near your graphics box, then dust buildup in those grills can prevent proper airflow -- which will stop fans from spinning.
The solution for preventing GPU fans not spinning may be easy if you just clean up some obstructions!
If you turned the computer on and the fan did not turn, then it is possible there is a problem with your power supply. Check to make sure that your motherboard isn't broken too.
The first thing you need to do before proceeding is to make sure your power supply is still functional. To check this, plug it into a different outlet and see if the fan turns on. If there's no response from the PSU then unplug every power cable from both the motherboard and graphics card(s) (if any). Plugin one of those cables back into each device just to make sure they're not broken too - but leave all other connections disconnected.
If this fixes the problem then proceed with checking for loose wires or signs that something inside your PSU might have shorted out (like liquid damage). In some cases, an older GPU might be incompatible with new motherboards or vice versa so double-check compatibility as well
In the unlikely event that your power supply is functioning and you're still not getting any response from your graphics card, then it's time to check in on your motherboard. This can be done by following a few steps:
If the above steps don't work, then it might be time to change the graphics card and see if that fixes things.
You can either order a new one online (as they're typically cheaper than buying from an electronics store), or find someone locally who has what you need in stock!
If you decide to buy a GPU on Amazon, make sure that you only get ones made by reputable manufacturers like EVGA, ASUS, or Gigabyte, as these are known for their reliability.
The first thing you should try is to update your graphics card drivers. The most recent versions of graphics cards come with accompanying software that can fix many common issues, and we recommend updating these as soon as possible. Visit the manufacturer’s website for instructions on how to do this.
If your driver is the latest version then try to reinstall it, it may help you.
You have two options to test your graphics card:
For A, you can download and run FurMark which is a popular GPU stress testing tool that will put the load on your video memory until it breaks or crashes (you’ll see an error message if this happens). It may take some time for this to happen so be patient while running it in the background of another task such as gaming with something else open at the same time.
If after 15 minutes Furmark hasn't crashed then restart your computer because there's likely nothing wrong and just needed more power from your CPU. You should also measure how much heat was created during this process with the stress test by using a temperature reading tool like CoreTemp and compare it to your GPU's stock cooling.
For B, you can compile Visual Studio Code source files in Windows which will load the CPU more than FurMark would on its own. Open up VS Code as Administrator (right-click on the shortcut) and then click "yes" when prompted with a UAC dialog box saying that you have to write permissions needed for compilation.
Once VS Code asks you to "Create a new project?" click on the "yes" button to create your default folder and then right-click inside of it again. Now, open up the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) from there type in "Build", press Enter, select the Windows option under Mode > C++ Build when prompted for Build Configuration; once that's selected just make sure build configurations are set to Release by pressing Ctrl+Shift+.
Sometimes just restarting your PC can fix a GPU’s fan not spinning
Oftentimes, just restarting the computer will solve this problem. Restart instructions vary based on the manufacturer of your system and graphics card. If you have an NVIDIA-based system, for example, press CTRL+ALT+DEL or hold down the power button until it shuts off then turn it back on; if you're using an AMD Radeon HD 2000 series video card (or newer), hit Control+Escape to shut down Windows cleanly without any additional prompts. After rebooted open FurMark in Administrator mode again and see if that fixed the issue.
The main reason your GPU fans not spinning is that there is a lot of dust buildup in and around the fans. This can be due to your graphics card being in a dusty environment or you are not taking care of it properly.
If you are in a dusty environment, use an anti-static brush to clean your case and components.
Try blowing some compressed air into the fans on your graphics card. This will help remove any dust that has accumulated inside.
If you have been using your graphics card for a long time, it’s possible that the fan bearings are worn and need to be oiled.
To lubricate your GPU fans properly, use a small amount of light machine or baby oil on either side of the bearing axle.
Do not allow any excess oils to enter into the inside area where there is electrical wiring because this can cause an electric short-circuit in your system which would lead to damage or even fire.
So how do I know if my hands should grease my pc game processor fans?
You want to find out by touching them with three fingers: one finger at each end and one more between those two fingers.
If the bearings are too loose, you will feel a lot of play when your three fingers touch them; if there is no friction at all, then it’s time to lubricate.
The dust that has accumulated inside can also cause the fan not to spin: if this happens, please clean out any debris from inside and outside of both sides of the bearing axle with compressed air or canned air spray because those areas should be free from any dirt so they can rotate smoothly without sticking.
If your fan is spinning slowly, it’s time to change the bearings.
It will be much easier if you have a little experience working with small screws and tools because this job requires that we take apart the pc game processor fan so as to replace the bearing axle; for those of you who are newbies, I recommend asking someone more experienced or taking it in-person to an authorized service center.
In any case, there are two types of fans: one type needs to be removed from its base using a screwdriver before changing the bearings (as shown in the picture), while another stays on top by unscrewing four screws. If need be, just google “pc game processor fan removal” and follow these instructions for the type of fan you have.
You have to change the fan in your GPU.
The way you changed the fan depends on how many fans are installed in your graphics card and what type they are (CPU, GPU). You will have more access to the area when there are two fans and less if only one. The most difficult ones can require an expert opinion before taking apart your PC so make sure you do not damage anything else while trying to remove any obstructions blocking airflow from reaching critical areas like CPU heatsink/fan which usually means all components other than RAM, GPU, and CPU.
Question: I have a GPU with three fans and it is still not spinning
Answer: Three GPUs usually means you will need to remove the video card from your PC. You should also take out all cables connecting components in order to avoid damaging any more of them once they are removed. Take care when removing RAM because there may be some clips holding it in place that can break if pulled too hard, but do not pull so hard on these just make sure that they come off cleanly so as not to create further obstruction while installing new parts.
If this did fix the problem then congratulations - you deserve an hour-long nap! Otherwise, the issue might lie elsewhere such as faulty power supply or other unseen damage; try looking around for anything else malfunctioning before continuing to troubleshoot.
Question: Why is my GPU fan not spinning?
Answer: In order to fix this, you need to make sure that the motherboard has power and then remove all other components off of it before removing the old video card. Once removed, plug in your new graphics processor, install RAM if necessary, and then any cables or screws needed from one component to another. Insert a CD/DVD into the drive and turn on the power again; hopefully, your PC should start up as normal! However, if after doing these steps nothing still happens - there might be something wrong with either the power supply or some unseen damage that's preventing booting.
The quick and dirty way to check if your GPU fan is spinning is by looking at the temperature of the card. If it’s not running hot, then you have a problem with something else on that system or in software settings. But before we move on from this topic entirely, there are some things you can do to improve heat dissipation so as not to cause any problems with overheating and shutting down cards too early (or sometimes never). These steps include:
That about wraps this blog post up! I hope some of these tips helped out. I'll be back next week with another article on GPU fans spinning too quickly - stay tuned! 🙂