how to measure system fans

[Sumdumgi]

Can someone tell me how to properly measure a video card fan on an ati radeon 8500 le? My fan has stopped and I want to replace it. I am assuming I leave the heatsink in place and just replace the fan...Correct?

Also on a Northbridge fan, do you measure diagonally like on a monitor or just across?

TIA

[Colonel Sanders]

If this helps any, I know most fans are in mm sizes(40mm, 80mm...) and are measured along the edges since they are square. Monitors and TVs however, I think they are trying to get a bigger *better sounding* measurement by going with the largest measurment they can(the diagonal).

Logan

[Spyda]

you can usually find upgraded fans for graphics cards made especially for that card

i know they do this with Geforce 4s at least

[Sumdumgi]

Yes I can find the gforce fans but no ati replacements. Thanks for the Chicken and comments Col.

[Alfie]

Just measure the edge of the fan in mm,it should either be 40mm or 50mm,see how it's connected to the heatsink and look at different cooling specialist online stores and find a fan that will fit.
You can also change the heatsink and fan,if you so desire.

[drewK7VT2]

i hope mine doesnt die :X

were there any warning signs? or did u just open the case and notice it being dead? i'd hate to have my video card get damaged.

[Spyda]

they make a hell of a lot of grinding noises and stuff when they are going south

[Sumdumgi]

Originally posted by drewK7VT2
i hope mine doesnt die :X

were there any warning signs? or did u just open the case and notice it being dead? i'd hate to have my video card get damaged.

I opened the case and there she was, DEAD!:eek:

[drewK7VT2]

maybe it doesnt get hot enough to damage it if the fan dies. ATI is pretty smart with things like that, and the cards run cooler than the nvidia counterparts. probably would damage it though if ur running something graphic intensive.

[Sumdumgi]

Originally posted by Alfie
You can also change the heatsink and fan,if you so desire.

How do you remove the heatsink off the gpu without destroying it?

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Sumdumgi
How do you remove the heatsink off the gpu without destroying it? Is it held on with retention pins or with thermal epoxy?

:) Cricket

[Sumdumgi]

No retention pins on 8500, how do you un-epoxy it?

[Alfie]

It's probably held on by thermal tape,how is the fan attached to the heatsink?

[drewK7VT2]

mine has this little proprietary power connecter too. probably dont wanna throw that out just in case you have to do some wire splicing.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Sumdumgi
No retention pins on 8500, how do you un-epoxy it? If it's held on with thermal epoxy (or even thermal tape), you have to run the system for awhile...play an intense 3D game to warm up the card. Shut down and remove the video card and while it's still warmed up, get a butter knife and GENTLY work it back and forth between the heatsink and the GPU (graphics chip). Don't use excessive force and don't rush or you might rip the chip and heatsink right off the video card. It takes awhile, but if you keep at it, it'll eventually come off. Cleaning off the old thermal compound, now that's another story.

It might be safer to just replace the fan...I've seen video cards where the GPU was ripped off...not a pretty sight.

:) Cricket

[Tuf]

I'll bet it's even uglier if you are both the owner and the destroyer af said video card.

[i3OSS]

Haahahhaha, cricket. i had no idea you could do that.

[Sumdumgi]

Originally posted by Alfie
It's probably held on by thermal tape,how is the fan attached to the heatsink?

The fan has screws holding it to the heatsink. Proly should remove fan and look under it, right?

Yeah Tuff, it is my card and no I dont want to destroy it.

Thanks for the help Cricket. I may end up trying the butter knife deal. Should I wash it first?:D

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Sumdumgi
The fan has screws holding it to the heatsink. Proly should remove fan and look under it, right?Yes.

Here are some links to webpages dealing with heatsink removal:

The warmed card, butter knife method (http://www.pc-reviews.com/vcardheatsink.htm)

The freezer method (http://www.casejunkiez.com/articles/video_cool/art_cool.shtml) (slow loading page)

The scary Method (http://users.rcn.com/chinmonster/hsremove.htm) (I don't recommend doing it this way...if you rush, you can rip the GPU from the card along with the heatsink).

:) Cricket

[morriswindgate]

In most cases you can replace just the fan and not have to remove the heatsink. Normally they are attached with screws or clips. And then take it down ot Radio shack and get a replacement the same size. And if the screws don't line up, you can use the High Temp Melt hot glue to install it.

[Sumdumgi]

Thanks everyone, Radio Shack huh, Never would have thought about that one. The ATI fan is a little odd, I will see if they have one.

Nice links Cricket, Thanks!:)