Why Is My Gpu Fan Not Spinning? 6 Troubleshooting Tips

One of the most important parts of your computer is its graphics processing unit (GPU), which allows you to play games and use other demanding applications.

Although it is rare, Have you ever noticed that your computer fan is always on? Gamers may want to troubleshoot their GPU fans when they are not spinning properly. This can happen when there is a blockage or something else wrong with the fan itself.

You may have thought that it was just because your computer can’t handle the heat and has to cool itself down, but there’s a good chance it could be something else.

For example, when I first started playing GTA V games on my PC, my fans would always spin up whenever I booted up a game. It wasn’t until I started looking into why this happened that I realized it had nothing to do with heat!

In fact, if you’re getting ready to play a new game for the first time and you see your GPU fan spinning like crazy before even hitting the menu screen then chances are high that it doesn’t need to be doing so. Here are some reasons why:

1. You installed a new graphics card

You can easily check if this is the case by examining your computer BIOS. When you reset your computer, you should hear a beep that sounds different depending on whether or not there’s a GPU present in your machine.

In my example below, I hear two long beeps every time I boot up my computer:

This tells me that my motherboard is not detecting a GPU and I do not have one installed. If you used to have a GPU, but took it out for some reason, then you should check your motherboard’s documentation or website to see how to reset the BIOS so that it detects your old card again. If you don’t have a GPU, then the problem is probably not related to your computer’s fans.

2. You are using an outdated GPU driver

GPU drivers are often updated, especially if you’re playing new games or demanding applications that require higher performance from your graphics card. Maybe you didn’t realize that there was a newer driver available for download and it caused this problem. If you’re not running the latest GPU driver, then try updating.

This is a very common problem if you’re trying to play a new, demanding game on your PC. However, this is not related to the fan issue in most cases since it isn’t always spinning when you boot up a game.

In my case, for example, I was playing GTA V and Saint’s Row 3 when this happened.

However, it wasn’t spinning when I was playing any other game. This suggests that the issue is related to overheating due to a graphics driver compatibility problem, not general overheating or high CPU usage.

3. Your computer overheated

Ever since I started playing GTA V on my PC, it has been extremely hot lately and this can cause fans to spin up whenever you boot up a game. The heat is due to the graphics card’s 100% usage of both CPU and GPU power which causes them to get too hot and overheat your machine.

You may also notice that your computer will shut down by itself if it gets too warm for whatever reason. Before looking at any hardware issues such as fan problems, make sure that this isn’t the case first because it can be dangerous! Check out some tips on how to keep your PC cool here.

5. Something is stuck in the fan

This can be difficult to determine, especially when you aren’t looking at your machine right away. When something is stuck in your fan, its RPM will significantly increase since it’s being blocked by whatever prevents it from spinning freely.

For example, I have a USB flash drive that blocks one of my computer fan’s blades and causes it to spin whenever I boot up a game:

You could use this method or simply check if there are any objects or dust stuck around your GPU fans. If so, take them out carefully with tweezers or your hands. It helps if you have compressed air but make sure not to let anything fly inside!

If nothing is blocking the fan and you’re still getting a high RPM, then it may be your video card’s fault. You can try reseating the card and making sure that all the screws are tightened perfectly. If there is still a problem after doing these things, you might have to replace your GPU cooler altogether.

6. Computers always overheat when I play graphically demanding games

If this happens to you, maybe you should consider getting a better graphics card or improving the cooling in your computer case before anything else. Always check if overheating isn’t causing any issues first because it can cause serious problems such as memory damage on some occasions.

Some people don’t care about the cause of their computer over-heating and just want it to stop. One way to do this is by increasing the fan speed but be careful, you might get more noise than what you’re used to!

The only problem with this fix is that it won’t work for long since eventually, your fans will be spinning so fast that it will probably break.

What do I do if my fans spin up for no apparent reason?

There’s no harm in leaving them spinning but if you find that they are spinning more often than usual, make sure to check your computer for dust! You can buy compressed air at any hardware store, or simply blow out the dust by using a piece of paper.

It is also possible that there’s some kind of bad connection in your motherboard (or GPU) and this causes high RPM with no fan activity at all. If this is the case, then you might need to take your machine to an expert or contact the manufacturer to get it repaired or replaced.

You also might want to keep an eye on what kind of CPU cooler you’re running. If it’s getting old, then maybe its fins have bent outwards which may cause higher heat while active due to reduced surface area.

You can also check your computer’s BIOS to see if there are any fan speed settings that you can disable for quiet operation. If you can’t find any options, it’s not exactly recommended to leave your fans spinning without reason.

FAQ

My CPU is overheating but the fans aren’t spinning at all. What’s going on?

Check if there are any bent fins on the heatsink which might prevent air from flowing through. If the problem persists, you may need to take your machine in for professional service or contact the manufacturer if it’s still under warranty.

My GPU is overheating but fans are spinning at normal speed. What gives?

Either there’s something preventing your fan from spinning freely (dust stuck in the fan, etc.) or your GPU is getting old and needs to be replaced. Refer to question #1 for more details.

My PC keeps making that grinding noise even when there are no objects obstructing the fans! What do I do?

Whenever you install any kind of hardware component inside a computer case, you always have to tighten the screws perfectly in order for it to work properly. If there is anything wrong with your hardware installation, it might be a good idea to take your machine in for professional service or contact the manufacturer if it’s still under warranty.

I can’t find any BIOS settings related to fan speed and I don’t know what to do.

This isn’t necessarily a problem if your PC’s fans are spinning at the correct speed, but it would be better for them to spin slower (for quiet operation) rather than faster (if they’re not spinning at all). If you absolutely need silent computers and there is no other option, consider getting fans with higher static pressure.

Conclusion

Always check if overheating isn’t causing any issues first because it can cause serious problems such as memory damage on some occasions.

Also, pay attention to the amount of dust inside your computer case and make sure that there aren’t any bent fins or anything else which might interfere with the airflow. Thank you

Al Shariar Apon

I'm a digital content creators and tech-savvy enthusiast. In this website I would like to share my knowledge and Google productivity tools, tips, templates. Thank you.

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