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    Weird grumbling fan noise from Alienware 17 R3

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Bagpuss69, Dec 2, 2015.

  1. Bagpuss69

    Bagpuss69 Notebook Guru

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    When my 17 R3 is under load, the fans are making a very weird noise when not running at full speed.
    It's almost like a grumbling noise, as if the fan is unbalanced. It only happens when the fan is running from about 30-70%. It's worse around the middle of the range, getting quieter at lower and higher speed.

    Does anyone else's machine do this?

    EDIT:
    I've now made a recording. Hear it here.
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2015
    Bagpuss69, Dec 2, 2015
    #1
  2. CountingCrows

    CountingCrows Notebook Geek

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    Bearing of the fan is broken.
     
    CountingCrows, Dec 2, 2015
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  3. Bagpuss69

    Bagpuss69 Notebook Guru

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    Thanks for replying. I suspected as much, but just wanted to be sure.
    I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get a Dell laptop that doesn't have a problem of some kind. This Alienware was a goodwill replacement gesture after 4 failed XPS 15's. Oh well.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
    Bagpuss69, Dec 3, 2015
    #3
  4. Durendal

    Durendal Notebook Guru

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    Well, I think that you can't buy now notebook that will not break somehow... Just read about other manufacturers. Quality is not so good as 10 years ago. But Dell has one advantage. You call, next day you have new fan module. You don't need to send notebook for two weeks and pray if it will return in one piece.

    This sound is from CPU or GPU fan? What about temps?
     
    Durendal, Dec 3, 2015
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  5. juggar

    juggar Notebook Consultant

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    That startup noise of the fan, is that normal? its almost like a light "click".

    I had it on my AW 15 R1 and im wondering if it will be on the 17 R2 I will be receiving soon.
     
    juggar, Dec 3, 2015
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  6. rinneh

    rinneh Notebook Prophet

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    arent you hearing the mechanical harddrive?
     
    rinneh, Dec 3, 2015
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  7. Bagpuss69

    Bagpuss69 Notebook Guru

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    That's very true. My new fan module will be with me tomorrow, as will an engineer to fit it. I went with the 3 year next day service, so it's all good.

    It's definitely the CPU fan, as you can test them individually in the diagnostics.
    I'm thinking it's not normal, hence the reason I'm getting the fan replaced.
    Definitely not, as I don't have mechanical hard drive. I replaced it with a 1TB 2.5" SSD.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
    Bagpuss69, Dec 3, 2015
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  8. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    hopefully, that will do it. If not, let me know.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Dec 3, 2015
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  9. Durendal

    Durendal Notebook Guru

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    The click on startup of fans is normal. It was discussed several times and lots of videos were shown. But after fan start, there should be no clicks, scratches or what so ever.
     
    Durendal, Dec 4, 2015
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  10. Bagpuss69

    Bagpuss69 Notebook Guru

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    Fan now replaced, and all is good again.
    I'd been wondering if the fan wasn't giving optimal CPU cooling, which is why my machine routinely bluescreened when running OC3.
    Sadly, OC3 is still unstable. The machine crashes every time when the Windows desktop appears. A bit disappointing in a machine which has manufacturer sanctioned overclocks.

    Also, the engineer who came to look at my machine didn't really have a clue about what he was doing. I had to show him the service manual on my iPad in order for him to remove the palm rest successfully. I know that this a new machine, but you would have thought he would have received training on the machine, or at least looked at the service manual before coming to do the job. Very disappointing.
     
    Bagpuss69, Dec 4, 2015
    #10
  11. T2050

    T2050 Notebook Deity

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    These machine the fans are problematic. I had a unit arrive to me with fan like that brand new out of the box.
     
    T2050, Dec 5, 2015
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  12. juggar

    juggar Notebook Consultant

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    This has been the norm for some time, a few years ago I had an M14x that needed a fan replaced. They sent out the tech who was from a third party company that does warranty work like this for Dell, HP, lenovo.. etc...

    He came well equipped for the job like a professional should but he had never taken apart any kind of alienware and was new to it so I had to actually sit there and tell him what to do as I had done it before on the M14x. I was scared the entire time that something would break.

    My touchpad needs to be replaced and they are sending someone out, I asked if they could just send me the parts and i'd do it (saving them lots of $$) but they wouldn't allow it. I maintain servers and support a huge network at my job, i'm quite qualified but that's how it goes I guess....
     
    juggar, Dec 6, 2015
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  13. sad_alien

    sad_alien Notebook Enthusiast

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    sad_alien, Jan 9, 2016
    #13