Fix system fan failure

[Haswellbeast]

So, I finally decided to play with my grandma's old PC, a Dell Inspiron 570 (Athlon iiX2) and install Linux and give it the old system, new life treatment.

Right now, I have it in good condition, except for that the system fan header is broken, multiple fans tested, none of them spin when plugged in.

This isn't an issue in and of itself, as I ran a fan splitter from the CPU fan header to get my exhaust fan back. My problem now is that the stupid fan error (that cannot be turned off in bios) delays the system startup by like 30-45 seconds, (I know because when the fan header worked, it would be a lot quicker, and I'm assuming it diagnoses this issue every power on).

Do any of you guys have any solutions to maybe trick the header into thinking there is a working fan, if you do, please share, and thank you in advance for your help!

 

[hititnquitit]

Does the error code stop when a fan is connected? If so, cut off a dead fan header and see what happens with it connected.

 

[pioruns]

Alternatively, configure power button in Linux for suspend. That way, PC will be always sleeping when not in use. Only rebooted once in a while when user deliberately chooses Reboot from the menu.
Linux can sleep like that for months, I do that on my laptop, only reboot when new kernel update needs it.

 

[Tsumi]

Alternatively, if you just need an RPM signal to your motherboard to take care of the warning, you can get a cable like this: https://a.co/d/cg9mdwW

 

[Haswellbeast]

Alternatively, if you just need an RPM signal to your motherboard to take care of the warning, you can get a cable like this: https://a.co/d/cg9mdwW

Yep, thanks, I'm going to try this.

 

[pendragon1]

if the header is actually dead that isnt going to help.

 

[Wade88]

I've never encountered this problem but if I did I'd build another computer or if I built it recently a new motherboard. I wish the rgb bastards didn't conquer a couple of the fan ports i remember from past motherboards in favor of connectors for that stuff. I have to run 2 silverstone 1 to 8s to do it right in this rig and that seems stupid but it was also part of the campaign to make all my metric f***load of wires fit while closing that infernal little door on a 7000d behind the side panel. I hoard noctua fan extensions in a crown royal bag from 2008 along with my thermal goops, a bag with some isopropyl alcohol 99% industrial spec 300ml and a handful of cotton balls and a little goop spreader.

 

[Nobu]

if the header is actually dead that isnt going to help.

Depends on why it's dead and the specific circuitry used to control the fans. If it's a single IC and the whole thing is fried, then yeah it wont work. If just the power delivery side of the IC is dead, or it uses a separate IC for sense, then it might work. As well, if it ignores the rpm signal and just pulls it to ground it might work.