Nuh,

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Contact Dell and have the fan replaced.

It isn't actually the fan at fault, or that has been my experience. We have had two computers that experienced this.

Open the case and remove the heatsink. Look at the thermal paste on the bottom. Does it look very globbed up around the edges and unevenly spread in the center? If so, the thermal paste is the culprit in that there is not a solid contact between the processor and the heatsink. This causes the computer to speed the fan up because the processor is overheating.

Dell replaced my heatsink and motherboard when I called about this issue.

So what was the final outcome on this?  I have purchased about 40 Optiplex 280's and have had this issue on two of them. 

Hey,

I support over a 1000 gx280s on my network.

I hear about the GX280 loud fan problems daily. Users usually say: “it sounds like its going to take off”!

If the computer runs fine with no problems only a loud fan the techs will remove the heat sink and remove all the heat sink thermal paste then reapply the heat sink thermal paste with a name brand nothing to fancy. (Not Artic silver to $$$ but would work) Dell would never recommend this.

If the computer has a loud fan and sits at black screen it’s almost always a bad memory module.

 

After spending countless hours with a Dell Rep about this problem he told me that the problem lies within a poor design of the heatsink that has 6 bars on it. All of the heat stays in the center; they have a replacement heatsink with only 4 bars on it that we received that work alot better. If you are interested in this part let me know I will post you the part # its alot easier to give them the number than trying to explain it over the phone. They will just end up sending you the same heatskink you already have.

 

You can also enter the part number in warranty parts direct online if you are certified in optiplex machines.

 

I'd be interested.. what's the part #?

I cannot believe how loud those things are when they kick in full speed....

Here was my situation:

GX280, 3.2Ghz, Minitower
Had a loud fan that would get louder with increased CPU usage.  (And stayed loud)
 - Google Earth + Virus Scanner + Spyware Scanner would really get it going.
I had the heatsink with 4 posts...

Called tech support...
1st - They replaced the motherboard...  No difference.
(I waited about 2 months before calling back.)
2nd - They replaced the heatsink / fan with the following:
  - Performance heatsink (part # W4254) and a fan shroud assembly 

I have had the PC continually running for 2 weeks with no more loud fan noise!

One other note, anything over 3.2Ghz apparently gets the performance heatsink by default.  (At least that is what tech support said.)