Fans stay on after computer shuts down...


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Ok, I've had this computer for around three years now, and it's worked pretty good the entire time (barring the one hiccup a month after I built it where a power supply went bad and fried my processor, memory, and motherboard -- all got RMA'd), but lately whenever I power the computer down the fans (all the case fans, the power supply fan, and the processor fan) stay on, and they don't stop until I flip the switch on the power supply or remove the cord.

I've looked around the internet for similar cases, and about 80% of them were fixed with a new power supply, while the other 20% suggested they RMA the motherboard. The thing is all the cases were from around 2005 -2006, and I really haven't been able to find anything more recent.

So here I am, asking here if it sounds like a motherboard issue, a power supply issue, or some other issue I haven't thought about.

Almost forgot the computer specs:

Intel Core2Duo E6750 @ 2.66 ghz (stock)

Asus P5W-DH Deluxe Motherboard

4 gigs OZC Gold DDR2 800 Memory (stock)

XFX GeForce 260 XXX Black Edition (stock)

Sony DVD Burner

1TB Seagate HDD

500GB Western Digital HDD

Also need to mention that the computer starts up and runs without a hitch. The only problem is the fans not shutting down after a shutdown.

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Do you need directions? Change the PSU and see if that works. If not, RMA the mobo, if you still have warranty.

Something's not right with the electric source. Try a UPS and you'll not risk frying your pc again.

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Thing is I don't have another PSU to test it out with, and would like to be a little more sure about it before I shell out $100 that I really don't have to buy a new one.

And I don't think the mobo is under warranty anymore, so if it's that I'll have to buy a new one -- Once again something I'd like to be a little more sure of before I shell out the cash.

@Richard Hammond Yeah I'm sure. I've tested it a few times. Even when I plug the cord back into the power supply all the fans and stuff come back on, but the computer doesn't boot up until I press the power button.

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I would have thought that your bios was set to go to sleep when you press the power button as well (I think S3 power sleeps but the fans run and S5 goes quiet with no fans), but if your sure thats not it, I would then look at your power connection to the motherboard. With the newer 20 + 4 pin setups of the new supplies (to accommodate both older and newer boards), its possible your 4 pin is not set properly. For most I have seen the 4 pin must be put on first so the 20 pin can hold it down, if you get it backwards the 4 pin can come loose. Its also possible you have a grounded mobo, if you put a screw where one is not meant to go (even if it lines up with a hole on the case) it can cause a direct short. A good rule of thumb is if the boards hole does not have a ring or star of solder on the top around the hole, then it is not meant to be used as a ground to the case and you should not put a screw or standoff there. And if your case has non-removable standoffs there (an actual metal bump from the case and the board doesn't have solder at that hole you would have to put some electrical tape there to prevent the short. Why engineers design boards with holes that line up but are not meant to have a screw is beyond me. I suppose their just stupid engineers. Stupid politicians, stupid doctors, stupid lawers, why not engineers too.

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yeah i'd confirm in the BIOS and windows that you aren't putting it to sleep by accident.

also blasting the dust with an air can might help.

could also be a psu or a motherboard problem. i'd say the motherboard is more likely as it's telling the PSU to keep the fans on for some reason.

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I would have thought that your bios was set to go to sleep when you press the power button as well (I think S3 power sleeps but the fans run and S5 goes quiet with no fans), but if your sure thats not it, I would then look at your power connection to the motherboard. With the newer 20 + 4 pin setups of the new supplies (to accommodate both older and newer boards), its possible your 4 pin is not set properly. For most I have seen the 4 pin must be put on first so the 20 pin can hold it down, if you get it backwards the 4 pin can come loose. Its also possible you have a grounded mobo, if you put a screw where one is not meant to go (even if it lines up with a hole on the case) it can cause a direct short. A good rule of thumb is if the boards hole does not have a ring or star of solder on the top around the hole, then it is not meant to be used as a ground to the case and you should not put a screw or standoff there. And if your case has non-removable standoffs there (an actual metal bump from the case and the board doesn't have solder at that hole you would have to put some electrical tape there to prevent the short. Why engineers design boards with holes that line up but are not meant to have a screw is beyond me. I suppose their just stupid engineers. Stupid politicians, stupid doctors, stupid lawers, why not engineers too.

yeah i'd confirm in the BIOS and windows that you aren't putting it to sleep by accident.also blasting the dust with an air can might help.could also be a psu or a motherboard problem. i'd say the motherboard is more likely as it's telling the PSU to keep the fans on for some reason.

I'm 100% sure I'm not putting it to sleep. I've shut my computer down the same way for as long as I can remember (Start, Shutdown). It just started doing this like 2 days ago (I shut it down, went to bed while it was still shutting down, and came back the next morning to find all my fans still on).

Also I used only the holes with the ring around it, so I'm pretty sure it's not a short.

How are the fans connected? Are they to motherboard headers or directly off the PSU?

The case fans are directly off the PSU, the cpu fan off the mobo.

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i think then the cheapest thing to do next is to take it to a computer repair shop explain the problem and suggest they test with a different PSU. ofc then they'll probably put a cheap PSU in there to replace the old one if that fixes it and charge you a premium for it.

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i think then the cheapest thing to do next is to take it to a computer repair shop explain the problem and suggest they test with a different PSU. ofc then they'll probably put a cheap PSU in there to replace the old one if that fixes it and charge you a premium for it.

Believe me, I wish I could... problem is the computer repair shops where I live are ran by idiots that hardly know anything about computers. I honestly know more than 90% of them. (about 80% of the "computer" trouble around here is spyware, and the number one "fix" for it is to buy a new computer.) The good shops are around 1-2 hours away, and I just don't have the time to go to one.

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I had a similar problem with a 650w Corsair PSU I bought online.

When I would shut the computer down, everything would shut off except the fans, but only for 3-4 seconds, and then they would shut off completely.

I had a few other issues that were related to the Power Supply (random reboots, system would actually sound as if it were revving up to start whenever I turned it on, complete with electrical hesitations and all :laugh:)

Needless to say, I switched to a stronger 750w PSU, although i'm sure that made no difference running an average rig, and all was good.

I would bet money on it being a faulty PSU, but if it IS the motherboard, sorry in advance lol

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Well, I just gave the computer power, and all the fans came on again, and I noticed a faint whining noise coming from the PSU, so I'm betting on that being the case. I'm planning on ordering This to replace it.

Thanks everyone for the help, and I'll keep you posted on if it solves it or not.

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Test your computer with a cheap psu and see if it changes anything.

I wouldn't throw $100 without eliminating all causes.

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If you can go into BIOS, press the power button and your PC shuts off completely, it's a software issue.

If it stays on, then it's either a BIOS setting (unlikely), or a hardware fault. Either PSU or mainboard.

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Do they all stay on or does the CPU one go off?

The all stay on.

If you can go into BIOS, press the power button and your PC shuts off completely, it's a software issue.If it stays on, then it's either a BIOS setting (unlikely), or a hardware fault. Either PSU or mainboard.

I'll look into that...

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You know, I have had issues before where I installed something that would not allow the pc to shutdown completly and I would have to hold the power button in for five seconds to force a shutdown. there is an event log somewhere I can't remember, that will show you whats closing and what was the last thing to try and close. If it stops the pc from shutting down completely it can seem like a hardware problem when its actually software. I wouldn't buy a new power supply just yet. Look in your event viewer for any hints to what might be preventing shutdown.

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Thanks for the help everyone.

I ended up buying the Corsair PSU I linked earlier (I'm paranoid when it comes to them... had one go bad and fry my entire system a month after I bought it) and the problem has went away. I'm relieved I caught it before it could do any damage.

Thanks again for the help everyone.

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Thanks for the help everyone.

I ended up buying the Corsair PSU I linked earlier (I'm paranoid when it comes to them... had one go bad and fry my entire system a month after I bought it) and the problem has went away. I'm relieved I caught it before it could do any damage.

Thanks again for the help everyone.

My favourite company is SilverStone - never had an issue, but Seasonic is considered the best.

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My favourite company is SilverStone - never had an issue, but Seasonic is considered the best.

2nd best actually :)

PC Power & Cooling is widely considered the best there is...and unfortunately their prices illustrate it. $550 = 1200W

They've been doing it the longest, and actually downclock their wattage ratings (910W is actually 1000W+).

I cant remember who told me (it was either Frazell Thomas, or chconline) that PCP&C has Seasonic make their "cheaper" basic units.

The bad thing is PCP&C come with so many cables its like a giant bowl of black spaghetti. They wont do modular PSUs because they say the point of the plug would be a weak point, allowing for fluctation, and it would hurt the testing every unit goes through before boxing up

OCZ bought them a couple of years ago, but they remain a separate entity so as to not let their reputation & reliability be compromised.

This year is the 1st time in the last 10 years that Maximum PC's Dream Machine did not have a PCP&C unit. This time they went with 2 smaller units(antec I think)

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