Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with fan

How can I cool my laptop?

Chionophilia — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:55:09 -0800

How can I get a 12v fan to run off of a USB port? Alternately, how can I make my laptop not overheat and die? Hello, Metafilter,

I've got a laptop that's really prone to overheating; if you do anything intense for longer than ~20m, it heats up to about 100C and shuts down. I picked up a USB-based cooler that's basically a piece of aluminum with two weak fans screwed into the back; it helps a bit, but not very much.

What I wanted to do was to find a way to replace the cooler's fans with more powerful ones; I have an old and quite dead PC lying about that I've scavenged the CPU fan from, and thought that might do the trick. Tragically, though, the USB port doesn't have enough power to start the fan.

Do any of you know how or what I could do to get this fan to work? Alternately, are there other (cheap/free) ways to cool a laptop?

Help me clean my damn fan

misanthropicsarah — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:30:05 -0800

How do I clean my fan? Seriously, I read the manual that came with it, and the manual is lying. We have two Honeywell Dual Action Air Circulators (HT-9700). They are teh awesome. However, they're pretty dirty inside and need to be cleaned.

I read the manual. Of course the manual that came with it was not for the model that we have. It said something about screws in the back. Well, there are no screws in the back of the grills of either fan.

I tried prying the thing off, but that was just going to break it, so I stopped.

I know I could vacuum some of the gunk out and use canned air too, but Philly dirt is greasy, and it really needs to be wiped off inside. How do I get the freaking grills off?!?!?!?!

I am so embarassed to be asking this.

window fan + lightning storm - will sparks fly?

MesoFilter — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:48:31 -0800

Is it okay to use a window fan during a thunderstorm? I leave my window fans running all the time, even during thunderstorms. Frequently I'm not home and not even really aware that a storm will be coming, or it happens while I'm sleeping.

I'm on the 6h floor of a 6 story apartment building. Do I have anything to worry about with window fans & thunder storms?

The rebirth of cool

Blazecock Pileon — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:22:51 -0800

I've got a Socket 479 CPU with a fan that is making a lot of noise. Will a Socket 478 CPU fan/heatsink work on a Socket 479 CPU? For example, would this guy work?

In addition to fixing the noise issue, I'm looking to quieten the computer. I have a Pentium M 2.1 GHz processor in there. Would a straight copper heatsink be sufficient?

Will I need to buy more thermal paste or can I use what is already on there?

Thanks for your advice.

Fixing fan noise and lowering overall computer noise...

Blazecock Pileon — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:12:23 -0800

Homebrew PC is making a lot of noise — advice on how I should fix this? My homebrew is making a lot more noise than it usually does.

1. I suspect that it is one or more of the three fans: One fan for the case, one for the power supply, and one for the CPU.

2. In the course of repairing this, I would also like to dampen as much noise as possible — it was making a fair amount of noise before this issue started, and I use this machine as a video jukebox.

I don't have a lot of spare parts, unfortunately, and the nearest parts shop is about a two-hour trip.

Question A. Is there a safe, easy and inexpensive way to figure out where the noise is coming from, without buying one of each part?

(I can't seem to unplug the case and CPU fans without the computer throwing up error messages on boot-up, and I don't know how to disable the power supply fan.)

Question B. Once I replace the bad part, how can I dampen noise coming from the case?

This is a micro-ATX case. If you have a recommendation for a replacement case that is built to reduce noise as much as possible, I'd appreciate your advice there, too.

How to write a fan letter

LiquidKarma — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:19:16 -0800

How do you write a fan letter pretending to be Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana? My co workers has a daughter with Down Syndrome who is in love with Hannah Montana. She recently told me about a bunch of fan letters that her daughter wrote to Hannah that she was hanging onto. I offered to write a letter back to her daughter pretending to be Miley Cyrus. Due to her illegible writing I'm not even sure of the questions she asked. Where can I find some good information that isn't just stuff you would find on her official site? Also, I've never written a fan letter to anyone before so I have no idea of the response one would get. Any thoughts?

Help me make my computer quiet again, please!

JDHarper — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:28:25 -0800

Where can I find a new fan for my Fujitsu T4215 laptop? I have a Fujitsu T4215, and its fan is dying noisily.

I tried taking it apart and putting some Arctic Silver on the CPU, which helped reduce the heat, and I blew the dust out of the fan, but the laptop is still making fan noise constantly after it's been on for more than an hour. I need to replace the fan.

This is where I need help: I can't find a replacement fan for this thing. I've searched ebay and google to no avail; I can find fans for other series of laptop, and I can find other parts for this laptop, but I haven't found a fan for this laptop.

Can someone help me find the part that I need?

I need my ventilation to suck

jclovebrew — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:28:25 -0800

Do over-the-oven microwaves with exhaust inherently suck? (no pun intended) I moved into a house that has one of these and this is my first experience with one. It is connected to a duct and vents to the outside. The problem is that it hardly moves any air at all. Last night I cooked a beef fillet and the kitchen area filled with smoke. I like cooking and roasting coffee often, so this is a problem that I need to address ASAP. From some cursory googling, many people seem to think the microwave exhausts are inherently crappy - that is, they will never move as much air as a proper hood. Is this really true? What are your experiences?

I have no problem replacing the whole thing with a proper hood then just doing a counter-top microwave, but if I can get away with an over-the-oven version that works effectively, I'd prefer that due to the space savings.

Help me find a replacement fan for my VGA heatsink

parttimeninja — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:16:27 -0800

Help me find a replacement fan for my VGA heatsink. The base of the fan is mounted onto the copper plate with 3 screws (in the shape of a 'Y') instead of the typical rectangular shape with 4 screws. This is an after-market heatsink for the 9800pro so I couldn't find any place that still sells it. The size of the fan is approx 2.12in which is about 53mm which is not typical either.

"You never take advice. Someday, you'll pay the price, I know."

TheSecretDecoderRing — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:18:04 -0800

How can I watch hockey on TV more "actively"? I know everyone says how you have to see a game in person to really enjoy it, but that's not an option for me geographically, and even then, it's not like I could go to every game. I do get some HD games on Versus and the regional cable channel though, which is nice.

I've been a fan of the sport for several years, but while I follow my team as much as I can, I'm more of a "passive" viewer of games on TV, and don't find games involving other teams as interesting as I used to (although I guess that goes for a lot of people these days).

So, I'd like to develop a better idea of what to look for in terms of player positioning, preset plays, offensive/defensive strategies, etc. What sorts of little "game within the game" things do diehard fans notice? What made things click for you as a hockey viewer, and help you go beyond just following the puck around? Or what have you done to successfully help an acquaintance find the game more captivating? General or specific, I'll take whatever I can.

Help me design a tall skinny flat window box fan

Aquaman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:50:56 -0800

Help me design a tall skinny flat window box fan! I've got an idea for a box fan that consists of about a half dozen small PC-type fan enclosures mounted into a tall (3'-4' high), skinny (4" wide), flat (thickness of the fan enclosures) window box.

This insert would go into a side-sliding Milgard window, opened to the security stop (about 4" to the left). I'd like to put an in-line switch on the wire, and run it to a nearby outlet.

Here's where I need help: any suggestions for make and model of fan? And how can I wire these all together to run off of a standard 110v AC outlet? Thanks for your advice!

Take me out to the ballgame

eatdonuts — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:21:30 -0800

Mets Fans! My accountant just saved me $10,000 with the IRS. I would very much like to thank him in a way he can accept with a small gift. He's a huge Mets fan, is there a book or something I can send to show my appreciation? I'm not a sports fan at all and I won't be taking him out to dinner or some event (my husband might object, heh.)

TechFilter: Help me find a replacement fan for my Arctic Cooling heatsink.

judge.mentok.the.mindtaker — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:05:24 -0800

TechFilter: Help me find a replacement fan for my Arctic Cooling heatsink. I went for the Freezer 64 Pro AC heatsink for my AM2 mobo, and boy was it great, except for the somewhat incompatible mounting bracket for my AMB board. A combination of that, and someones wild dog in my room caused the heatsink to drop off the case. I've since rectified the mounting issues, but the fall has damaged the bearing in my fan, making it unbearably loud.

The AC heatsink/fan combos are mounted with like rubber grommets instead of screws, so I am not sure what the correct fan is to purchase to swap out with the existing one. I'd rather not have to buy a whole new heatsink. I've built my own PC's all my life, so some assembly required is OK.

Memorializing fans in-medium

calistasm — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:10:56 -0800

In-medium tributes: Can you think of instances where fans/players have died and been memorialized in some way in a show or game (if you can think of other forms where this has happened go right ahead)? Examples would be Leyla Harrison (X-Files) or Dak "Caylee" Krause (World of Warcraft).

Cubs fan gift ideas under $100

I_Love_Bananas — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:23:45 -0800

Best Cubs gift for my boss under $100 Help me find the best, coolest gift for my Cubs-fan boss. Points for something he can display in his office.

It cannot be over $100 and I'd prefer no shipping hassles (large artwork or posters probably won't work). Thanks!

In or out? This sucks, that blows

Spyder's Game — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:11:30 -0800

Regular Floor Fan Filter: My wife swears that it's best to use a fan to "suck the hot air out of the room" first before turning the fan around to draw in the cooler evening air. I say the only hot air in the room is...well, help us figure this out! We have a very hot second story loft that never cools off from the air conditioning that cools the first floor so nicely. We keep the shades and windows closed during the day, and at night (as the outside world starts to cool off) I've been putting a fan in front of the screen door to our roof patio, hoping to draw in the cooler evening air into that hot room.

On more than one occasion, I've gone up there to see the fan facing TOWARDS the door blowing air (supposedly) out of the screen door. My wife's logic is that she's blowing the hot air out of the room, then will reverse the fan later, and draw the cooler night air into the room. This seems silly to me, and I promised I'd poll the hive mind to see if one or the other of us is "more right."

My logic is that if the floor fan faces OUT (blowing the air inside the room OUTSIDE), then you are taking the coolest air in the room (the air from the floor - which, let's be honest, isn't very cool, but at least cooler than the air eight feet above it) and blowing it out the door.

The fan is not huge, but it should be able to pull (or push) a little air around. Any thoughts? Who has it right?

Generally I try not to admit anymore that I actually used to read fanfiction, but here I'll make an exception.

Quidam — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:05:44 -0800

Is there a term for the type of person that tends to becomes an obsessive fan of a particular book, movie, TV show, etc.? Sometimes obscure, sometimes not so obscure? You know what I'm talking about? People that find a book/movie/TV show and have read/watched it a zillion times, and are a part of the online fan club, and the online forums, and have been to the fan convention, and read or write the fanfiction, and generally just get way, way, way more excited about it than the average person. My roommate is like this with all things Anne of Green Gables. I had one friend who was like this with the X Files and Roswell, and another who was like this with CSI and Harry Potter. There was a short-lived TV show on CBS called Christy that I'm like this about, among others.

I guess you could just call it an obsessive fan, but I feel like it attracts a certain type of personality. Like, for example, if I find a new TV show that I really like, you can bet your butt I'm gonna be on the website and all the fan websites and I'm going to be looking for spoilers and I'm going to be generally doing everything I can to get as much information on my hands as possible about it. But I also know tons of people who might be really big fans of, say, Grey's Anatomy or what have you, and might never miss an episode, but it would never occur to them to do anything other than just watch the show. Actually, they would probably think it would be totally weird to do anything else.

I ask because it was just recently that I found out I had this in common with my roommate, and it's spawned tons of "oh my gosh, you did that TOO?" conversations, and generally created a bond between us of "I am so glad you understand what I'm talking about, because most people I know totally don't."

So. Maybe this is totally unanswerable, but is there a name for that? That type of person that has a propensity towards this behavior? Anyone know what the heck I'm talking about?

Please make my computer quieter

number9dream — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:48:39 -0800

How do I know what kind/size of fan/heatsink will fit in my computer? I'm trying to make my computer run more quietly, and to that end I want to install a new cpu fan. However I am somewhat mystified by the vast range of choices available.

My processor is a Pentium 4 2.4 GHz, installed in an Asus P4P8X motherboard, the manual for which includes the phrase 'socket 478'. I don't really know what this means, although from looking at various fans on the internet it seems that this is important.

The fan/heatsink that I'm currently using is the one that came with the processor. The fan is 70mm, and due to the proximity of something that the motherboard manual is calling the 'north bridge' it doesn't seem like anything much larger will fit.

I don't use my computer for gaming or any other resource-intensive activity, mainly just web surfing, listening to music, watching dvds, and word processing. My current fan is keeping things cool enough (I think - at least I don't have any indication that it's not), I just want something that doesn't sound like a small jet engine next to my desk.

My questions are:
1. How do I know if a given fan/heatsink combo will fit on my motherboard?
2. Any specific recommendations?

Testing a Hunter attic fan controller?

notsnot — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:27:37 -0800

How do I test a Hunter attic fan controller? I want to be thorough before I climb in the attic. My mom's old (1980 ish) attic fan won't go at any speed beyond low. I pulled the controller, put in a regular light switch, and it still ran at the same low speed. I told her it was probably the motor (pain in the ass - tiny attic in a 1.5-story house), but she asked if I could test the controller itself. Not thinking much, I agreed to do so.

I got it home, and figured, hey just test the resistance at various settings on the knob. I get no resistance whatsoever across the terminals no matter what setting I put the knob to. Then I recalled, hey, the cover plate said "solid state" which means, well, if there's one thing I can't wax lengthy about, it's electricity. I suppose to test it I'd have to have 110V across the terminals, and a load (i.e. the fan motor) on the neutral leg of the controller? I'm not sure how to set this up in a test situation, without effing up my own house electric, and I'm not sure how the hell the fan changes speed.

The Hunter web site doesn't even list attic fans. I guess they aren't cool any more.

MacBook fan trouble

alitorbati — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:40:10 -0800

Why does my 13" MacBook's fan start running full speed when watching online video from sites such as youtube? Is there anything I can do about it?

Please help us avoid mold in the attic.

trillian — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:57:54 -0800

We just bought a house, and the bathroom fan currently vents into the attic. I know this isn't good, and I have done a bunch of googling, but I still have questions. Like: who should do the work -- a roofer, a handyman, someone else? Is it better to vent through the roof or through the wall, as our handyman suggests? Any other things I should know?

Has fan response ever saved a TV show?

forallmankind — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:29:38 -0800

Has fan response ever saved a TV show? When cult TV shows are cancelled, oftentimes the fans try to get their show renewed through petitions, mailing drives etc. - has there been any cases where networks have responded to these fans by renewing a show they'd just cancelled?

Bonus question: do networks have a contingency plan for when this happens? For example, according to Wikipedia the cancellation of Carnivale generated 50 000 emails in one weekend - that must have been a royal pain in the a$$.

cool me off

thinkingwoman — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:22:50 -0800

recommend the most powerful fan you know! i need to move cool air from one room (with a/c) into another (without a/c). can't install a ceiling fan, and don't want to invest in a swamp cooler.

the space is small, so i think a good, strong fan in the doorway would do the trick--but not a box fan, which would block the doorway and is really loud.

i am thinking of one of those tower fans. are they any good? even a standup floor fan would be fine, as long as it's powerful and, preferably, quiet.

I don't want to notch my hearing!

vansly — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:42:05 -0800

How do I make a piece of test equipment quieter? The person at the workbench next to me just got a new piece of test equipment (Aeroflex IFR 2975). It is placed on top of a shelf that sits between our two benches. The fan on this thing if very loud.

Is there a way, without modifying the equipment, to deaden the noise from this fan? I think the majority of the noise is air noise, with only a little bit of the noise coming from the actual workings of the fan itself.

fan on laptop won't turn off!

Ollie — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 07:56:57 -0800

Why is the fan on my Toshiba laptop almost continually blowing? The computer doesn't seem particularly hot, and the constant on/off noise is annoying. Anybody know how to fix this?