Dell Dimension 3000 PC Desktop Logo
Posted on Apr 20, 2009
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Dell Dimension 3000 CPU Fan does not run

The CPU fan in my Dimension 3000 stopped running, shortly after I vacuumed out the dust from inside the computer. I purchased an off the shelf fan that powers directly off the power dongles, and have been running OK, except that the Dim 3K has a fan monitor on the fan, and gives an error each time you turn the computer on. I purchased a "new" fan on eBay of the same model that came outta my computer (I say "new" becuase the fan I bought actually is even older than the original that came in my computer). I installed it, and it does not run. Weird. So I bench test the "new" fan, and it runs fine when powered directly off the power supply - AS IT TURNS OUT, SO DOES MY ORIGINAL FAN!!! So, conclusion, the problem is not the fan, it is the fan power coming from the motherboard. So the question is, other than the socket where the CPU fan plugs into the mother board, is there a fuse or other connector, or a software switch I can set, that controls the power to the fan?

  • rmosebar1 Apr 20, 2009

    I cannot seem to find any setting in the BIOS for the fan, I have looked pretty hard. It's not that big a deal, getting an error on reboot. My only concern is that the original fan is rated at 120 CFM, while the highest off the shelf model I could find was 82 CFM. Now when I feel the CPU heatsink (with my off the shelf fan running off the power supply), it feels cool to the touch. So I think I will ignore the error message at boot up, and hope for the best. Thanx!

  • Anonymous May 11, 2010

    You can turn the fan monitor off in the BIOS, or at least disable the error message. There is no way to repair the faulty connector in all likelihood. There MAY be an unused connector on the board for an optional case fan. If so you could plug your processor fan into that. I would be comfortable running a fan directly off the power supply, exactly what you did.

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  • Master 433 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 26, 2009
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I agree with both of you. As long as you are not experiencing any heat event (shutting down and rebooting) just ignore the error message. If the fan is on and running at a fair speed, you shouldn't have and problems.
Now should you start to have heat problems, don't boot the computer until you have a larger CPU fan in place...and too you may be able to add an additional fan to the system for reassurance. the added noise is worth the security of not having a CPU meltdown.
Those large 120 are very quiet and move air, if you can find a place to hang it.
Good luck, hope this helps. please leave rating -thank you kindly

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Buddy
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