Grinding noise from fans

[Thund]

Hi all, I've bought an HP Victus 15 in november 2022. Everything was fine until like a month of so, when I started a videogame and the laptop started making a grinding noise. I rebooted and everything went back to fine for a while.

Except two weeks ago the grinding noise came back worse than before. it starts up at random times, sometimes when I'm playing, sometimes when I'm not even in front of my laptop.

I've cleaned it and today when I opened it to clean it better I've discovered that the culprit is the fan on the left. What's the problem? From a quick glance (without disassembling the fans) it doesn't seem to be anything dislodged/not tightened enough, but I haven't disassembled the fan unit in order to avoid any damage. 

Also I regularly monitor the temperatures and according to the omen gaming hub they go between 30° and 90° (celsius) depending on what I'm doing, so I think the fan is still doing its job.

I'm a bit worried it's something that could cause some long lasting damage to the machine, so please help me understanding what the problem is and how to proceed from there.

Thank you in advance.

[Raj_05]

Hi @Thund,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like the grinding noise from your HP Victus 15 is likely due to an issue with the fan itself. Here's a breakdown of what could be happening and steps you can take to address it.

Possible Causes:

1. Dust and Debris: Even though you've cleaned the fan, dust or small debris might still be affecting its operation. Sometimes particles can get lodged in hard-to-reach areas.
2. Fan Bearings: The grinding noise is often a sign that the fan bearings are wearing out. This can cause the fan blades to wobble or rub against the fan housing.
3. Misalignment or Obstruction: Something might be obstructing the fan or causing it to misalign, leading to the grinding noise.
4. Fan Blade Damage: The fan blades themselves might be damaged or bent, which can cause noise and affect performance.

What You Can Do:

1. Thorough Cleaning: Ensure that the fan and cooling area are completely clean. Use compressed air to blow out any remaining dust and check for any debris that might have been missed.
2. Check for Obstructions: Carefully inspect the fan for any objects or wires that might be obstructing its movement. Make sure nothing is touching or rubbing against the fan blades.
3. Inspect the Fan Blades: If you're comfortable with it, you might want to disassemble the fan carefully to check for any damage or wear on the blades and bearings.
4. Replace the Fan: If the fan bearings are indeed worn out or if there's noticeable damage to the fan, replacing the fan might be the best solution. This can prevent potential long-term damage to your laptop.
5. Monitor Temperatures: Continue to monitor the laptop's temperatures. If the noise is accompanied by overheating or performance issues, it might indicate a more serious problem.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[Thund]

Hi @Alden4,

thank you so much for your reply!

I did check the fan for any kind of problem but without disassembling it, I'm a bit scared to remove it but I might try if it gets worse.

Temperature from the laptop usually ranges from around 45° to 100°, depending what I'm doing. It doesn't seem linked to the noise tho, it can happen even in the lower 50° and I didn't notice any performance issue.

Is this a problem that requires immediate attention? it's been silent the whole weekend and started making noise again monday afternoon, I can't spot any pattern to its behaviour. 

If I have to indeed replace the fans, where should I buy them? I checked my local hp website and they don't seem to be for sale. Also the laptop is still under warranty, does that matter for getting a new one?

Thank you in advance

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Thund,

Thank you for your response, 

I'm sending a private message to assist you with the next action.

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

Alden4

HP Support