Replace a Noisy Chipset or Video Card Fan
Small fans, such as those found on the Northbridge of chipsets and on video cards, are notorious for getting noisy, sometimes only a few weeks after
they have been installed in the computer. Instead of replacing the whole HSF (Heatsink and fan), you can quickly and simply replace the fan on the heatsink
with only twisty ties (the kind to tie garbage bags together) and a new or salvaged fan of roughly the same size.
Pre-install
Before you get around to replacing the fan, you need to figure out what size replacement fan you'll need in millimeters (mm). Most often, they are 40 - 60 mm fans. You can
find all of these fans at Directron or other respected HSF stores for about $5. You can also salvage the fans
from old equipment, as I did, from old external hard drives and optical drives, old motherboards, and old video cards. However, make sure the voltage is the same. The reason your fan is making
noise is most likely because it was a cheap sleeve-type fan, which is why it is highly recommended to use a ball bearing fan as the replacement.
The Replacement
You may ask, "Why twisty ties? Why not screws?" The answer is that, a good portion of the time, the holes won't like up exactly or you'll have to find new screws of the right length and diameter.
Twisty ties are readily available and they provide a very tight, long term, mechanical connection. They are also insulated with paper or plastic
which is much safer than using conductive wire around your expensive electronics. Also, if your ties are long enough, you can install larger than stock
heatsinks, allowing higher overclocks or a longer lifetime for your computer components.
To install the new fan, first remove the old fan from the heatsink. Then thread the twisty ties halfway through the holes for the screws on the heatsink. Next,
thread the ties through the screw holes on the fan, bringing the fan snug against the heatsink. Finally, twist the two ends of the ties very snugly and tightly together.
Cut off the excess tie sticking up, and then install the HSF back in your case, minding to plug your new fan into the Molex, 2-pin fan connector, or 3-pin fan connector, depending on your fan.
See below for finished pictures of the project, hover over to see caption, click to enlarge.
Kevin C. July 13th 2006 kcas88@gmail.com
『A witty saying proves nothing.』 - Voltaire
