Mark Rogers wrote:
On 08/03/10 14:59, Brett Parker wrote:
Sounds very similar to the chipset fans on board on some ASUS motherboards, heatsink literally just a circle, fan screws with 2 screws opposite each other on to the heatsink?
Not quite; the screws are not opposite each other. But otherwise correct.
It means that repair is surely the only option.
I've "temporarily" repaired a fair number of them on the motherboard... but never found somewhere to get an actual replacement fan. There should be a sticker on the back of the fan, take that off and squirt lots of WD40 at it, then play with the fan until it loosens off, you can now apply some grease if you've got it, otherwise cover the hole back up, plonk it back in place, and you should be alright for at least a couple of months.
Thanks for the tips, I'll try and give this a go tonight.
Personally I wouldn't use WD-40 without replacing the lubricant you wash out with something else, it may get the fan working quite well initially but WD-40 is more solvent than lubricant so it washes out what little is left and then evaporates itself, leaving a mostly dry bearing. Bike shops sell a spray lubricant for chains etc which works quite well...something lithium, graphite or ptfe based would do the trick. Just watch where you get it and try to contain it just to the fan bearings because it may be conductive.
Can you put a photo up somewhere of the fan in question...I do have old gfx cards etc kicking about so might have something that fits.
Whether you can run fanless depends on the GPU. Things like old low spec GF4's etc were happy enough without one most of the time....as were the northbridges on those mainboards Brett was taking about (unless you were overclocked). You can also buy aftermarket GFX Heatsink Fan units that are mostly universal..but you might end up spending more than a cheap replacement card would be.