Fan wobble

[Rjb82]

I have a 7950 Windforce, and ive been noticing the fan speeds aren't always consistent.

The card is less than a year old, and runs ~65% (3300rpm) most of the time.

ive been noticing that the fan rpm drops to ~3k rpm for no reason, and sometimes jumps around up to 3800rpm.

I looked in my case and grabbed a flashlight, i had it aimed at the fan, and noticed the reflection off the sticker on the rotor was making a design on the board, and it was moving. you can ever so slightly see the fan wobbling. If i put my finger or something on it, even just a light touch, the fan soars up to 3800rpm, and stays there for a few seconds. as it starts to wobble the rpm drops, and settles somewhere between 3krpm-3300rpm.

Any suggestions?

It's doing this on 2/3 of the fans. (far left and middle) far right (near pci-e connector) has ZERO wobble.

[Operatr]

The card is heat managed, they will spin up and down depending on how much work it is doing. There are programs that can lock the fan speed at maximum or some other speed.

[Gator-hex]

Fans don't last forever, eventually they wear down the spindle and bearings they sit on.

I think lying the card on it's back with fans facing up makes them last longer.

If it's out of warranty you can just strap an new fan on with cable ties (similar spin speed and size to the original).

[Operatr]

Might also consider aftermarket heat sinks from somewhere like Arctic Cooling if they are available for your GPU, they are better and quieter than stock, though I remember them being fatter than standard coolers, so be careful

[Rjb82]

I figured out this was partially due to turbulence from another nearby fan. it's not as bad now. Rpm more closely follows what it should. but i still think there is a problem with the fans. The 2 fans in question are harder to spin when stopped than the 3rd.

[DrG]

Try oiling the fan.