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How To Increase CPU Fan Speed (Step-By-Step Laptop Guide)

by Andrew White

Preventing your computer from overheating can be challenging, especially if you always play games or use heavy programs. Thankfully, computers and laptops have CPU fans installed to cool your system when they overheat.  

In addition, most modern laptops and computer mothers are equipped with pulse-width modulation controllers and are used to control the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the internal cooling fans.  

If your device often overheats, increasing your CPU fan speed can help. This is because it will increase internal airflow and allow your system to cool down. In this article, we will guide you through how to increase CPU fan speed and understand the normal range of CPU fan speeds.  

What Exactly Is A CPU Fan? 

A CPU fan is a computer component that is responsible for dissipating heat produced by the processor. CPUs generate heat from the internal electrical energy, and the more power it uses, the warmer it gets. If the CPU overheats, it can make it inefficient and eventually melt, making it inoperable. The CPU fan works with the heat sink to prevent such matter.  

A heat sink is a metallic PC component that directly sits on the CPU, attracting the heat away from the processor to its cooler, aluminum, fin-like structure. The CPU fan is attached to the heat sink, pulling air through the fins. The fan then dissipates the heat drawn to the heat sink, indirectly cooling the CPU.  

amd cpu fan

How Important Is A CPU Fan? 

Computers hardware operation produces heat, but too much heat can affect your system and slow down processes. This is where the CPU fan comes in. It protects your CPU from overheating, ensuring that it will run efficiently.  

The CPU fan is a vital component of your computer that keeps the CPU cool and workable. Because of excessive heat and pressure, the CPU tends to become very hot, and when this happens, the CPU fan cools it down and makes it capable of working correctly. It is attached to the inner part of your CPU and starts working as soon as the CPU starts.  

What Is The Normal Range Of CPU Fan Speeds? 

The normal range of CPU fan speeds mainly depends on the kind of PC cooling solution you have. For example, if you are using a stock CPU fan, the recommended speed range is at 70% of RPM or above.

However, for gamers and users who run heavy programs, the ideal fan speed is at 100% of RPM, especially when the CPU temperature reaches. But if the temperature is only around 50C to 55C, a typical fan speed should be around 50% RPM. 

If you want to manipulate your CPU fan speed more or under its ideal speed range, be very careful as its speed is a double-edged sword. Here’s what could happen if you try to run it beyond the normal range:  

CPU Fan Speed Runs at High RPM 

Running your fan at a higher RPM than the regular speed can help cool your CPU’s temperature, increase its lifespan, and open overclocking possibilities. However, it will make a loud noise and use more power from your device. Furthermore, it will require you to clean your fan frequently and reduces its lifespan.  

CPU Fan Speed Runs At Low RPM 

If you put your fan’s speed at a lower RPM, the fan will remain quiet and make no noise. While this could be tempting, especially if you need to concentrate and don’t want to get distracted, lowering the speed can be detrimental to your CPU. It will overheat and shorten its lifespan, and your system will be inefficient because of high temperatures.  

black and red cpu fan

How To Increase CPU Fan Speed? (Step-By-Step Guide) 

There are various ways available that can help increase the speed of your CPU fan. Whether you own a desktop, a regular laptop, or a gaming laptop, below are some methods you can try to keep your CPU cool.  

Increasing CPU Fan Speed On Windows 10 

Here’s how to increase the CPU fan speed on Windows 10:  

  1. 1
    Open Control Panel on your computer or laptop by clicking Windows + S and typing Control Panel.  
  2. 2
    On the Control Panel window, click Hardware and Sound > Power Options.  
  3. 3
    On the Power options page, click Change Advanced Power Settings, and a new dialogue box will appear.  
  4. 4
    On the dialog box, look for Processor Power Management and click the + symbol beside it to open the sub-menu.  
  5. 5
    From the sub-menu, click System Cooling Policy. Next, click the + sign beside it to expand the menu.  If you are using a laptop, there will be two options, On battery and Plugged in. Select Active for both options. If you own a desktop, just select Active on the menu. Once done, click Apply, then Ok. Turning the system cooling policy active increases the speed of your CPU fan.  

Increasing CPU Fan Speed On Laptop Using BIOS/UEFI 

If you’re not using a previous version of Windows or just feeling a little adventurous, you can try increasing the speed of your fan using BIOS/UEFI. Below are the steps on how to increase the CPU fan speed in BIOS or UEFI:  

  1. 1
    Restart or boot up your computer if your PC is using BIOS. While in the booting process, press and hold the Delete or F12 key.  
  2. 2
    On the other hand, if you’re using UEFI, press Windows + I to open Settings. In Settings, go to Update & security > Recovery > Advanced Startup > Restart Now >  Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware settings > Click Restart. 
  3. 3
    Once you have entered BIOS, use your arrow keys to locate the Fan Speed Control options. The location of this setting may vary depending on the device, but generally, you can find it at Monitor > Status > Fan Speed Control. This section should have the RPM setting for your CPU.  
  4. 4
    Next, select the fan you want to increase the speed; once you're done adjusting, press Enter. 
  5. 5
    Repeat the previous step for all the fans if you wish to increase their speed as well.  
  6. 6
    Then, press Esc repeatedly until you’re on the Exit menu. Finally, choose Save Changes and Reset to save your fan speed changes, and your computer will restart.  

Increase CPU Fan Speed Using Third-Party Software 

If the methods above are pretty complicated for you, or you want to have more control over your CPU fan, downloading third-party software is for you. Follow the steps below to increase fan speed using third-party software:  

  1. 1
    One of the most common fan control software is Speedfan. Download it from its official website and install it on your system. Of course, you can also use other software.  
  2. 2
    Once you’ve installed it, open the software and spend some time getting to know the application. The application may seem like it’s complicated to use, but don’t worry, just take your time, and you’ll get comfortable with it.  
  3. 3
    Speedfan offers a lot of built-in features. However, some of it may not be available in your system. Therefore, it is best to only focus on those components that are installed in your system and ignore the others.  
  4. 4
    You have two options to control the software: Manual or Automatic. If you are pretty confident with the app and don’t want to control it manually, you can press the Automatic Fan Speed, automatically controlling the CPU fan. However, you can always control it manually by pressing Configure > Advanced.  
  5. 5
    Next, find your CPU among the list and set it to Manual.  
  6. 6
    Repeat the steps above if you wish to control all your fans and make sure that everything is set to Manual. Next, click Ok and go back to the main page of Speedfan.
  7. 7
    You’re all set! Simply use your arrow keys to increase or decrease the fan speed.  

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Does HWMonitor control fan speed? 

HWMonitor is a hardware monitoring software that provides your computer’s primary health sensors such as temperatures, voltages, fan speed, etc. However, it does not allow you to control any of the sensors or the fan speed.  

What causes the computer fan to speed up? 

Sensors are installed on your motherboard that triggers when your CPU or GPU generates heat. When they are activated, the fan speed increases, cooling down your CPU. Their only purpose is to maintain the ideal computer temperature.  

What causes the computer fan to run loud? 

Your computer fan runs loud because your computer is generating a lot of heat, pushing your fan to work more so it can eliminate the hot air from your computer. In some cases, loud computer fans can be caused by dust and dirt build-up in your PC, harming your computer’s performance.  

Related: Troubleshooting A GPU Fan Not Spinning

Can I use a hardware fan controller manually to adjust CPU fan speed? 

Yes, you can. There are external hardware controllers you can buy, such as Thermaltake Commander F6 or Corsair iCUE Nexus. Sometimes, third-party software like Speedfan doesn’t work on some motherboards, and your only option to control it is through an external hardware fan controller.  

Conclusion

Learning how to increase your CPU fan speed is helpful, especially if you like gaming, as it will keep your computer cool.  However, be careful when you’re lowering its speed as it might overheat your device and damage it.  

Related: Here's How To Tell If A CPU Is Bad