Getting a fan for my Dell computer

[anu]

I got a dell a couple of years ago and it's so noisy it's really doing my head in - I swear it's also getting worse. I've decided I want a new fan, one that's as quiet as possible.

Thing is - I don't know the first thing about computer hardware etc. What's the risk of me ruining my computer by trying to do this myself?

Also, my copmuter is unfortunately at uni at the moment, so I can't check the copmuter to find out exactly what I need for it right now. Just if you could help though -
What kind of details do I need to know about my computer/fan before doing this?
Cost?
Chances I'll mess up somehow?
Recommendations?

Thanks!

PS>I got my external hard drive from you guys and would just like to also say thanks for the speedy delivery etc.

[anu]

Also I'm thinking of getting new RAM for my computer too, but that's probably for another post

[teknokid]

firstly, aslong as your careful, its pretty hard to muck up your computer, especially just changing a fan.
If you measure how big it is, we can make recomendations.
as for ram, we need the model number or download a program called cpu-z and tell us what that tells you.

[anu]

ok, thanks, I thought it wouldn't be that difficult/likely to hurt my computer - especially seeing as it's an upgrade

I get back to uni on the 11th, so I'll post another message then

[anu]

Okay, here are thedetails, please reply!

By the way, I was told Dell sometimes have their own hardware that isn't compatible with others - is this true and will it be a problem to me?

Okay, I hope this is everything.

Fan - whats the proper way of measuring it? I measured 70mm*95mm though, if that's correct.

For my Ram upgrade, from cpu-z:

Pentium 4 2.8GHz
DDR 256MB 166.3MHz
Dual Channels
FSB:DRAM 4:5
tCL 2.5
tRCD 3
tRP 3
tRAS 7

MEMORY
SLOT1: DDR 128 MB; PC3200 (200MHz) Nanya Technology
SLOT2: DDR 128 MB; PC3200 (200MHz) Nanya Technology


Thanks so much for the help

[JDowdall]

hmmm well thats good considering fans usually come in 60mm 80mm and 92 mm and are usually square but that could be dell muckin with it and choosin rare components that are annoyin 2 upgrade

[ad1974]

From personal experience most of the contents of the Dell boxes are non-standard.

Might be worth running a search against your actual model number, to see if an improved fan is available (from Dell or others) before you buy anything. I learnt from my mistakes with upgrades on Dell pc's.

What is the actual Dell model you have eg. Dimension, XPS etc. ?

[anu]

I'll check when I get back home for the computer model, just to let you know, somehow I messed up with checking the size of the fan somehow - it's actually an 80mm*80mm fan!

Any ideas?

[Nox]

I was about to say, i can't ever remember seeing a rectangular fan!! but you never know with dell/compaq/etc

you should be able to replace it with pretty much any 80mm x 80mm fan but where is it inside the case and what does the power cable connect to?

If its on the cpu and connects to the motherboard it will probably be sending data about its speed/its working back to the computer and without this they may not turn on.

If its attached to the case and connected to a wire from the psu, you can pretty much put anything on there.

Nox

[anu]

I currently don't have internet at home, so I'm writing this away from my university

IIRC its attached to the case and connected to a wire from the psu,

As I mentioned, all I'm bothered about is it being effective and very very quiet, while if possible not being ripped off!

What had confused me was there was something that looked like a fan attached to my motherboard directly through some sort of plastic case and was visible from the back of the computer case, but I must have just been being slow and looking at something else. Seeing as the other thing that looked like a fan was exactly 80*80, I assume that's what it is.

[anu]

From personal experience most of the contents of the Dell boxes are non-standard.

Might be worth running a search against your actual model number, to see if an improved fan is available (from Dell or others) before you buy anything. I learnt from my mistakes with upgrades on Dell pc's.

What is the actual Dell model you have eg. Dimension, XPS etc. ?
Sorry for the stupid questions, but how can I find that out, it was a few years ago.

I'm fairly sure it's a dell dimension, not sure of the model, am doing some internet searches to try and find out.

I bought it early 2005 if that helps

[anu]

After doing a search, the dell dimension 4600 seems like a match to my computer

What do you guys reckon I could do with that?

[Nox]

What had confused me was there was something that looked like a fan attached to my motherboard directly through some sort of plastic case and was visible from the back of the computer case, but I must have just been being slow and looking at something else. Seeing as the other thing that looked like a fan was exactly 80*80, I assume that's what it is.

Thats pretty normal on dell/compaq etc - they duct air everywhere to with those plastic things :)

Nox

[anu]

sorry about messing you about here, slight errors (i managed to get home to look at my pc)

It's a DELL DIMENSION 3000 - not 4600!

Okay, hte thing with the fan: Check out this

http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/mclays/images/d4700.jpg

This is a bit like my computer

looking at the bottom right picture, the fan at the top left of the case is 80x80. But, having a listen, I swear, the fan making the noise is the one with the green plastic thing behind it - does that make sense? That fan was quite weird to measure too, so I may have got the 70x95 measurement wrong

Any ideas?

[teknokid]

before you replace it, try cleaning it, and also check theres nothing rubbing against the blades etc.

[anu]

Yep, done that - it's always been a bit loud