Most power supply units include two fans, and both turn on at different times, depending on the PSU’s performance. Each fan is vital for the unit’s function and keeping the case cooler, which helps improve the life of your other components.
If your PSU fan isn’t spinning, there’s probably nothing to worry about. However, you might want to troubleshoot it a bit if you think it should be on and isn’t – just to be sure.
Why Isn’t My PSU Fan Spinning?
Most of the time, the fans in a modern power supply unit don’t actually spin. ThePSU is efficientenough at managing its temperature that it just isn’t necessary. Most models have the fans kick in when a certain amount of power is moving through the unit. Since they don’t operate at full blast most of the time, they don’t require a fan.
Many people expect that the PSU fan will operate almost all the time, like other fans on the computer. However, it’s very common to notice that it’s shut off and think that something is wrong when it’s working as intended.
So how do you know whether your PSU fan isn’t working because it isn’t needed or if it isn’t working because of a problem with the hardware or software? There’s no easy way to know. Your best bet is to listen to hear whether it spins when you push yourcomputer to use more power.
If your PSU starts drawing more power, there is a chance the fans will kick in to help direct heat away from the unit.Play a game with high-level graphicsand full draw distance, shadows, grass, and lights if you may. That makes the computer work harder and causes the fans to kick in.
How Do I Know if My PSU Is Broken?
Since the fans not kicking in could mean thePSU is damaged, there are afew signs to lookfor that might indicate a problem.
If you’re noticing any of those issues, you might want towork over your PSUand determine whether it needs to be fixed or replaced. You don’t necessarily want to attempt to repair your PSU with tools if there is a problem. It’s often better to just replace it, especially if it’s old – but usually, the PSU fan not spinning doesn’t mean there’s a problem.
How Does the PSU Fan Work?
Your PSU fan works depending on what its load is. The load is how much of its potential power it’s using. Generally, the fan kicks in at a certain percentage, depending on your settings.
Eco or quiet modes keep the fans off for longer and don’t kick in until a higher percentage. A more aggressive fan curve will kick the fans on sooner – but it isn’t necessarily necessary. All the modes available should work fine, as long as you have adequate cooling through the case.
Check whether your PSU lets you make changes if you want to change your fan curve. Some do, and some don’t. Check the software the manufacturer recommends to adjust the PSU as needed.
How to Fix My PSU Fan Not Spinning?
