3 computer problems Options

[*mipadi*]

I have some questions for the technically-inclined. I'm having some trouble with my homebuilt PC; maybe some of you can lend a hand?

1. My northbridge/southbridge fan is not functioning properly. It makes a really sick-sounding grinding noise sometimes. It's supposed to run at at least 1200RPM; using my motherboard's utility, I have noticed it range from as low as 600 RPM to as high as 18,000 RPM. When it's functioning properly, it's steady at 8880 RPM; when it's making the grinding noise, it spends the majority of its time at 1100 RPM, but it skips all around, from the low end of 600 to the high end of 18,000 (it's unpredictable). It makes such a loud noise that I have to turn the computer off to sleep at night, and I'm afraid that there is something wrong with it. It sometimes stops making the grinding noise if I restart, but sometimes it keeps doing it for hours on end. I've taken it apart and I see that there is some wear and tear, so it could be off-balance and rubbing against something, but I am not convinced this is the reason. Any ideas?

2. Sometimes when I turn the computer on, it randomly freezes. This happens most often at the Windows login screen, and sometimes once I log in and start launching some apps, but it also happens if I am viewing the BIOS, so I don't think it's a Windows error. Any ideas?

3. Sometimes when I boot up or reboot, I get the following motherboard error: "Computer failed VGA test" and the computer won't show anything on the monitor. I have my BIOS set to the PCI-express card, which is what my GFX card it. It seems to happen randomly. Any ideas?

[*kryogenix*]

Is your motherboard an Asus? Because the computer we built at school had errors like that. I think it was a failed ram test, and we had to replace the ram.

I think your motherboard is the root of your problems. Maybe it's a CMOS problem?

[medic]

With your first problem, I would go with wear and tear myself. I had the same problem and then my fan flew apart and such, but it was on the XPS so one call and someone came and fixed it.

Your second problem, I would say maybe flash your bios or update your chipset drivers and such. I don't know if this will work or not, but I have never had such a problem with any of my pcs.

All together, id say if you have a motherboard laying around, which I drought - try a new one. If the problem persists, then we know it was not the motherboard. This is one reason I don't build PCs, I like to have warranties to back my product. One of my friends fans wen't out on his home built pc and the hard drive died, and well - he was screwed. If you purchased a extended warranty on the mobo try calling the manufacture and see if anyone else has had this problem with the make and model.

[*mipadi*]

Well, at any rate, I bought a new fan because, hey, it's only $10 with S&H. I hear the heatsink on the one I got isn't too great, but I don't need it; I just going to disassemble it and take out the fan, anyway.