Excessive fan noise when running Steam client

[Bob]

ISSUE
Since the Octoer 11th update when the Steam client is running it causes my computer to repeatedly run the fans at high RPM.

OS
Windows 10

STEPS

Start Steam

RESULTS
The fans run at high RPM for a moment before slowing down again. This repeats every 5-10 seconds until the Steam client is exited.

EXPECTED
Steam runs in the background with no change to the fan speed

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

How is your CPU usage?
& How many SteamWebhelper processes do you have running compaired to what Steam windows are opened?

[Bob]

With no Steam windows open straight after opening Steam I have the following processes:

Steam Client Bootstrapper (32 bit) is using 0.1 - 0.5% CPU and 46 - 47MB RAM
Steam Client Service (32 bit) is using 0% CPU and 5.2MB RAM
3 Steam Client WebHelper (32 bit) processes each using 0% CPU and 5 -10MB RAM

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

(more or) les confirmed,

(off-topic)

I too have more Steam Webhelper processes running then i am used to. Should be 1 more then # of Steam windows opened unless infinte page (Broadcasting, Friends Activity) is/are opened and scrolled far down.

With this thread fresh in mind, a thread on the issue of not loading Steam Web pages (on the Steam Community forum) made me check the # of Webhelper processes on my machine although i do not seem to suffer either of both issues.

1st check : 4 Steam Webheklper [rocesses despite of having only the main window opened and not having visited infinite pages. This was with reasonably freshly updated Steam Beta (~1½ hour ago) without reboot of the computer.

2nd check :

• Powered down computer for about 10 minutes.
  
• After restart of computer & Steam (Steam not auto-starting at power-up) 3 Steam Webhelper processes with only main Steam window opened on the library page.
  
• Scrolling down on the Friends Activity feed i got a 4th and 5th Webhelper at 100+ and 200+ Mb of memory use.
  
• No exsessive CPU usage visible.

I'm gonna check that with non-beta version now. Results in a few minutes.

My Desktop

Windows 10 Home (x64) Creator ed., v 1703 build 15063.674

Steam Client Beta

Oct 13th, 2017, at 16:26:02
Steam API: v017
Steam Package versions: 1507938604

[Edit] Also in Release version but that is the same update as for Beta i see.
3 steam WebHelpers with only main winfow opened on the library page. Both immediatly after reversion as well after reboot of computer.

Steam Client Release version

Oct 13th, 2017, at 16:28:02
Steam API: v017
Steam Package versions: 1507938604

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

However, to get back to the title of this thread, i totally forgot fan noise itself might be an matter of dust clinging to it. Be carefull cleaning the fan as the blades can bend out of shape. And while you're at it you might want to apply new cooling paste between chip and radiator.

[Bob]

Thanks for the input. I don't think this issue is actually anything to do with the temperatures or air flow. I cleaned out all my fans and it has not made any difference. I installed HWMonitor to get a bit more information.

When I launch Steam there is no change measured by any of the temperature sensors but the extra fan noise starts. I even let the computer cool down before restarting it and everything was running approximately 10 degrees C cooler and I still got the extra fan noise.

The fans which are makeing the extra noise are the case fans (which do not have speed sensors on them). The CPU and GPU fans do not change speed.

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

That fan is a lot harder to clean. Dust might creep into it's ball-bearing socket and/or perhaps the ball-bearers themselves might become worn out.

[Bob]

Even is there is wear or dirt on the fans it does not explain why the fans have this cycle of increasing and decreasing speed only when Steam is running.

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

Yes, sidetracks was all i got for you didn't i?

[Miggles]

I'm actually getting the exact same issue since a few days ago. Whenever I open the steam client, or any game that requires steam to be open, my fans start up for a second, then wind down, then start up again, and repeat until I exit steam. I've tried opening other games such as League and Overwatch and don't have this issue. I've also tried cleaning my fans, so I'm guessing it's an issue with just the steam client. It's really annoying so I hope this gets fixed soon

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

Originally posted by Miggles:

[ - - ]
my fans start up for a second,

[ - - ]

Like Bob in the title-post, you use the word "fans", plural. Could you confirm for you it's also only the adaptor fan?

And how many WebHelper processes do you have running compaired to the amount of Steam windows you have opened? (although that may be a different issue)

[Miggles]

I don't know what an adapter fan is, but it does sound like it's only one fan. MSI Afterburner shows that the GPU fan speed is stable when the issue is happening, and SpeedFan shows the same for the CPU fan. So I'm assuming that just leaves the adapter fan as the culprit.

When I have just the steam client open, with no other steam windows, task manager shows three Steam Client WebHelper services.

[Bumbefly (we/All)]

So that's a "Yes, confirmed".

A tipical computer has 3 fans, You know to find the chipfans for CPU and GPU, so that leaves the adaptor fan in the back of your computer. Where net-electricity comes in and is adapted to weaker current & reverted to the wiring for the various hardware that are installed.

[ScottishChiddy]

I too was nice the 13/14th have been getting a repeatable fan noise every 3-5 seconds when client is running. I have an Alienware aurora r2. 20gb ram gtx970.

Can confirm it’s both case fans. When client isn’t running it’s fine soon as it launches fans start there party

[henryg]

Can anyone confirm if this is still happening with the very latest (Oct 15) beta build? We made a purely speculative change that I am hoping will have reduced the number of fan wakeups that people are reporting.

[Bob]

I've updated to the Oct 15 build and it has been running nice and quietly for the past 10 minutes. Thank you very much :)