Although, in modern times the processors have been made extremely efficient, they also tend to generate a lot of energy in form of heat especially if the usage is high. That’s the reason why all processors need something to cool them down. In most PCs it is a small fan that provides the cooling effect to the processor. There may be times when due to the external climate the processor temperature may reach above the one specified in the system manual. The PC can slow down due to processor overheating or even run erratically. It might be due to failure of the fan either because there is dust preventing it from functioning smoothly or the fan motor needs replacement.

It is easy to recognize that the fan has failed because there is a slight sound in the processor when the fan is running. Even a fan which has loose bearings begins making a characteristic sound making the casing vibrates.

It is not always necessary to replace the fan because sometimes it is the dust that covers the fan blades and does not allow it to function smoothly. You could simply get the fan cleaned by opening the casing and spraying it with a cleaner. If the fan has failed then simply replace it with a new one. Often it occurs that the moment you replace the fan you will notice that the processor is no longer getting heated up and the system no longer lose its usual speed.