Packard Bell Hoover!

[Pozzouk]

Hi Guys,

 

I probably should know better but i have a Packard Bell IMEDIA MC 2470 stack type pc sat in my kitchen that i inherited minus the hard drive - so when my old pc's mother board blew i swapped the HD over running xp home and off it went ok-ish.

 

The problem is that the fan runs at all sorts of speeds often for no apparent reason, or speeds up and down just to write an email. I have given it a clean and run "SIW" but i can only tell the temperature of the HD.

 

From what i can tell it is not possible to remove the fan from these babies, and in any case i suspect it is a software issue or some configuration i'm dumb on.

 

Any ideas welcome - sooooooooooo annoying but it works fine-ish!

 

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - sounds like a darned grass strimmer! :confused:

[Synapse]

Packard Bell fans do get noisy. The only cure is replacement. I can't find too much info about your system so it is difficult to advise on a new fan.

 

Its probably a Pentium 4, I'm guessing on a Socket 775, although that needs confirming.

 

Have a look at ebuyer, a heatsink and fan will cost you £15 or so plus postage. Quickfind code 176157 is a good one.Its quite large so you would need to check for space in your unit.

[Pozzouk]

Cheers Synapse, will look into the replacement possibilities now you mention it - and as you suggest it is a 775 Pentium D for the record. However i'm far from convinced that replacement is the cure. The problem seems to be the sheer speed the thing is running at! This morning i had a listen from start up and from initial boot up to the appearance of the desk top icons the fan went through 7 - 8 different speeds settling in a firm seventh gear - then if one asks for a web page it's back into 8th gear!!!!

 

If i use a tool like "SIW" it will only show me the temperature of the hard drive - not the processor, so seeing as i don't have a system disc and it is not the original drive I'm wondering if there is some requirement of some system drivers to control the fan speed?????

 

ATB Pozzouk.

[Synapse]

You shouldn't need to use software to control a fan on a system like yours.

 

You could try removing the heatsink/fan, giving it a clean and refitting it with new heatsink paste. Cheap and cheerful, and it may be that the old paste has dried up and lost its ability to transfer heat.

[Pozzouk]

I like the sound of your cheap option and have to say the ebuyer details you provided were excellent - very helpful and may well go that road over the weekend. However, i did have a go at removing the fan and cooler sometime back when it first drove me up the wall and got the impression that it was not possible to remove. When i couldn't work out how the thing came out checked online and was told that it was not possible to remove - i thought this unlikely but just left as not broke best not try fixing.

 

Thanx for info,

ATB Pozzouk.

Edited January 14, 2011 by Pozzouk

[RandyL]

Hi.

This may be way off base but I thought I might mention it anyway.

 

Did you put your old hard drive in the inherited computer and it worked without reinstalling Windows?

[Pozzouk]

You got it in one Randyl - i have always suspected that it could have something to do with the problem as the previous owners of the PC told me that they never noticed the fan before it was handed over. So i just whacked in my existing hard drive - seems to work fine except for the fan issue!

 

Any ideas appreciated,

Pozzouk.

[RandyL]

OK. Putting in a hard drive with Windows on it already and booting into Windows from it may sometimes work but it rarely will work right.

 

Here is what I think your best options are:

 

1. Use the disks that came with your inherited computer to reinstall Windows on your old drive. Use the full format to wipe the drive and install. This will undoubtably work and will probably get you all the correct drivers as well. Update Windows immediately after.

 

2. If you don't have the disks buy a full Windows set. Make sure your system can handle Vista or 7 if you choose not to use XP.

 

Although you may eventually get around this other ways it will not be easy if possible at all. Besides Microsoft takes a dim view of the method you used. However if you employ method 1 or 2 you will be completely legal and a good chance it will solve your issue.

[Pozzouk]

Cheers Randyl,

 

I have to say i was a tad amazed when i transplanted my old drive into the Packard Bell that it seemed to work absolutely fine except for the fan overrun - hence i could do without wiping my whole system in the hope that the fan may run slower.

 

Also, from what i gather the original drive came with XP pre installed and has since taken a trip through the crusher! That is why i was hoping that the problem fan was somehow controlled by system drivers - but from what i'm hearing that is not the case.

 

Curiously enough, while i type the fan has just changed speed five times up and down in about ten seconds and then settles back for a while, say maybe five minutes and then off it will go again.

 

Ultimately i may well whack in a bigger hard drive and go for W7, although i gather that could be a problem because i have three PC's to update - like my XP disk has configured half a dozen drives in its time........."my pc's only" that is - honest.

 

Regards

Pozzouk.

[RandyL]

I seriously doubt that an old computer can handle Windows 7. You better run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

[Pozzouk]

Thanx for that link Randyl - seems like i passed with flying colours, ironically all except for the size of the hard drive (a once massive 80gig) ;o)) Which i would definitely replace with a minimum 500gig if i was upgrading to W7.

 

While i have your ear, do you by any chance have a link that might deal with issues surrounding multiple installs of windows seven on here or elsewhere? - i'm not looking for a scam but i gather that some versions of seven allow for more than one PC.

 

In the mean time i have ordered a new fan and sink as suggested.

 

Cheers

Pozzouk.

[Pozzouk]

Perhaps one of you tech guy's can help out here? - I have been into the BIOS and found that my CPU is running at an average of 58C while the fan is running at around 3800rpm in an attempt to keep the thing cooled!

 

The question is - is 58 centigrade hi or low?????????

 

Pozzouk.

[Synapse]

From memory, Pentium D's ain't that good on cooling, I think there are 90 and 130W versions, neither being anywhere near efficient with heat.

 

Is that temp at idle? I guess 50 degrees at idle should be about right, and 75 degrees when used more heavily.

 

Don't know about the fan speed, it should be lower at idle though.

[Pozzouk]

Thanx Synapse,

 

Not sure about the Wattage but i found the 58C and the 3800 fan speed in the BIOS, so presumably that is when the PC is doing nothing and has only been on a minute or two. I'm wondering if there is a freebie program about that might be capable of showing the info while the system is actually running Windows? As it sure seemed a lot of heat on boot up.

[Armageddon]

Speccy will show the temp of the cpu Speccy - System Information - Free Download and its free

[Dalo Harkin]

I use Core Temp

 

It shows the core temps and when active will also record the highest temp the CPU hits.

It gives some detailed info per core too which is useful on multi CPU/Core system

 

Pentium D are well reknowned for being hot, 50 is fine, as already mentioned if the PC is quite old the thermal paste tends to crack and become inefficient..

[Pozzouk]

Cheers Guy's

 

I'll get right onto those two download recommends and see how they work out - as it happens i got a tube of thermal paste yesterday so will run tests before and after refitting the heat sync and fan.

 

However, when i tried to get the sync off a few months back that it wasn't keen on being removed - do i get tough or is there a trick to removing these babies?

[Pozzouk]

Quick update,

 

Seems like "Speccy" is happy to show everything on my machine except the CPU temperature! - like it shows the temperature of the hard disc and motherboard no problem........growl.

 

As for "Core Temp Gadget" it refuses to run on here - I presume that the gadget is for AMD only? As i get a dialog box telling me that "The Intel processor is not supported - This program will not run" should be handy for interogating my AMD pwered Laptop that i have long expected to catch light as it runs so hot!!!!

 

Getting there - thanx guy's for all help so far.

[Dalo Harkin]

Hi, Use real temp http://www.mediafire.com/?n99nq4kn95u6i6a

 

If it is a socket 775 then there are 4 pins one at each corner of cooler, they turn in 1/4 marks, should have a notch on the end for a screwdriver (some you can use your fingers)

turn each one 1/4 turn anti clockwise. The pins basically go through the holes in the MOBO and have retainers

[Pozzouk]

For some reason i can't get your latest offering (real temp) to run - getting the message - "The processor detected is not supported" - "Genuine Intel ® Pentium ® D CPU 2.80GHz"

 

With luck i will get the system apart later today so as to replace thermal paste but really do want to find the temperature first.

 

Cheers for help so far.

[Pozzouk]

Just an update for those that may be interested - dismantled said PC and thoroughly cleaned - Jeez that cooler was stuffed like solid felt with dust - new thermal paste and reassembled.

 

As for the fan it still runs as if it were trying to power a cross channel hovercraft and still wants to run at around 5-6th gear out of eight even when the system is idling along - however it does seem to change gear a lot less often.

 

The point is, if the thing would just run at around say speed setting 3 all would be fine - but hey it is a tad better than when i started with you guy's help and i'm a lot closer to kicking it into touch and building from scratch!

 

Have just had a look at Dalo's loft ladder ;o)) and realized maybe building a water-cooled neon floodlit machine is the road to take.

 

BUT......i just wish i could find a way of checking the CPU temp on this thing other than in the BIOS.

 

Any ideas more than welcome

 

Pozzouk.

[Dalo Harkin]

He he yeah nearly fell off that a few times :)

 

There is no reason as to why the programs we have suggested won't work, is it definately a socket 775 Pentium D and not a Pentium 4 version?

 

In regards to the fan, are there no options in the BIOS for lower and higher limit, normally the fan would stay at one speed until the CPU reaches a certain temperature and then it would speed up.

[Pozzouk]

Definitely, Definitely an Intel Pentium 775 D 2.80GHz.

 

And as for the BIOS - all i can see is that it runs at 58c - maybe i've missed something as i was expecting to see some auto configuration or the ability to set as required like you say - Maybe there is a stone unturned but i can't see it for love nor money...........off to have another look.....growl.

[Dalo Harkin]

Does the Cooler have a 3 or 4 pin fan connector?

[Pozzouk]

Does the Cooler have a 3 or 4 pin fan connector?

 

 

It's a Four pin plug for the CPU cooler fan connected with a red, blue, yellow and black wires.

Cheers

Pozzouk.