PSU (Power Supply Unit) is an important part of a computer system. The computer motherboard works on DC voltage. The work of the Power Supply Unit is to convert the AC voltage into the DC voltage. If the PSU stops working, the computer does not boot. In this article, we will talk about what you can do if your computer power supply fan is not working or spinning on startup.
My computer power supply fan is not working or spinning on startup
Use the following suggestions if your power supply fan is not working or spinning on startup on your Windows 11/10 computer.
- Does the PSU fan spin on startup?
- Check the PSU fan cable
- Test the PSU
- Replace the PSU or contact support
Power Supply Fan not spinning on startup
1] Does the PSU fan spin on startup?
Some users reported that their Power Supply Unit fan spins on startup but stops after some time. Others reported that the PSU fan does not spin even on startup. What issue are you facing? It can be normal if your PSU fan spins on startup and stops after some time.
Some Power Supply Units are programmed to spin the fan when the computer draws power over a specific amount, say 15% (this can differ for the computers or PSUs of different brands). If the computer draws power less than this defined value, the PSU fan does not spin. This programming is done to reduce the PSU fan noise. This does not interrupt the normal operation of a computer. The fans can also spin automatically if the Power Supply Unit starts getting heated. This protects the PSU from overheating. The fans stop automatically when the normal temperature is maintained.
You can check this manually. To do so, open a GPU-intensive program, such as a high-definition or heavy graphics video game. This will cause the GPU temperature to rise, and your computer will draw more power. Now, see if your PSU fan starts spinning. If the fans start spinning, your Power Supply Unit is not faulty, and you need not bother about this anymore.
If your PSU fan stays off, you need to follow other troubleshooting fixes.
2] Check the PSU fan cable
The cable connecting your PSU fan to your PSU might be damaged or not plugged in correctly. Turn off your computer completely and disconnect the power cord to prevent electric shock. Wait for a few minutes, and then check if your PSU has such a cable. If yes, disconnect and reconnect the cable. Now, check if the problem persists.
3] Test the PSU
You can also test your Power Supply Unit. This will let you know whether your PSU is working fine or not. There are different ways to test the Power Supply Unit, like the Jumper Wire method, using a Multimeter, etc. Moreover, devices allow you to test your Power Supply Unit. Such devices are called Power Supply testers.
4] Replace the PSU or contact support
Your Power Supply Unit might be faulty, or its fan might be faulty. If another fan is available, you can connect it to your Power Supply Unit and see if the fan rotates. If so, you need to replace your PSU fan.
We suggest you contact the support of your PSU manufacturer or computer manufacturer for further assistance on this issue.
Why won’t my computer start but the fans spin?
Usually, this issue is related to faulty RAM. If you have installed more than one RAM stick, remove all of them and insert only one RAM stick. Boot your computer with only one RAM stick at a time. This will let you know if the RAM is the problem. Other hardware issues can also cause this problem. We suggest you contact a professional computer repair technician.
Can a faulty PSU still work?
It depends on the PSU’s damage or fault. A faulty PSU can work but causes several issues on a computer, like random shutdowns, Blue Screen errors, etc. If you notice the signs of a faulty PSU, it is suggested that you replace it as early as possible because supplying incorrect voltage could damage the motherboard or motherboard components.
