Another Victim of the deadly A8N-SLI chipset fan.

[MakeYourslf2012]

About month and a half ago, I told Asus mine died when it started acting funny (hi/low speeds within minuets) and they sent me a new one. Just now - it gave that distinct whining noise and crapped out on me.

I went to replace it with the new fan and I can't figure out how to get the dang thing off! It's held in by these plastic "screws" with springs on them, and I fear if I pull too hard, I'd damage it. Does anyone know how to get 'em off? I attached a picture.

Also, the new fan the Asus sent everyone is slightly larger and is mounted at a 45 degree angle. A while ago, I held the new fan up to the old one to compare how it would mount. I couldn't line the new fan up with the 2 mounting holes because the heatsink from my 7800GT was getting in the way. Has anyone else had a problem like this, and what did you do to resolve it?


Thank you for your infinite wisdom
-MakeYourslf2012

[flanzig1]

If those things go through the card and protrube out the other side you will need a needle nose pliers to squeeze the ears together then push the pins out.

[MakeYourslf2012]

Which, I'm guessing, requires me to take the motherboard out of the case.

And even if I do take out the motherboard to replace the fan, that leaves me with a fan blocking my graphics card.



You can see the current graphics card (600GT I beleive) in there doesn't even reach the chipset fan. However, if you add about 3 inches onto the length of that card, you have the length of my 7800GT. It will interfear with the new fan because it's mounted at a 45 degree angle.

[Alaron]

Yes, you'll have to remove the motherboard to take those pins out. I've had to do it on an older Epox board. A bother, but not difficult.

You could try a passive heatsink solution. You'd have to measure to get the right size and clearance but something like this could work: http://www.frozencpu.com/vid-09.html You can buy Artic Alumina Thermal Epoxy and stick it onto the chipset.

[rspassey]

I have the same board, and ASUS isn't cooperating with the shipment of my new fan... but I did do some research.

Yes, like Alaron said, you will have to remove the motherboard, but everything that I have read states that it isn't too difficult nor risky.

On a side note, going with a passive cooling solution (or a different fan) might be just as easy. They aren't expensive, work well, and are quiet. Just a suggestion, but that is probably the route I am going to have to take - can't stand this fan stoppign and starting all the time and ASUS, who usually has great customer service, isn't helping me out any.
Here is another option (I think this may work)
http://www.frozencpu.com/vid-17.html?id=xszVowoN

[MaxRat]

take the fan apart if it's sticking and use automotive engine assebly lube to re-lube...this is a high film anti-friction lube with a very high shear strength...it will spin free for long after the pc wears itself out...

[rspassey]

Originally Posted by MaxRat take the fan apart if it's sticking and use automotive engine assebly lube to re-lube...this is a high film anti-friction lube with a very high shear strength...it will spin free for long after the pc wears itself out...

I'm not sure how long that will last. The problem with the fan is that a bearing isn't functioning correctly. I don't know the details of the issue, but I believe it is simply a fan which was shipped "defective" and is bound to crap out sometime. Best bet is to replace it, though your solution will probably alleviate the problem for a while.

[MaxRat]

I have used that on several fans (smaller) like video card fans and it has worked real well...it's mainly on the sleeve bearing fans... ball bearing will need a way to get the lube inside to the balls...some are one side open...some are sealed units...it's luck of the draw..

[Mesaeus]

The fans initially shipped with the A8N-SLI were a disaster of biblical proportions. If they worked, they made a very loud 8000 RPM noise. And after a week mine started to malfunction. Looking at posts on Anandtech forums it seems almost ALL of them rapidly fail. Asus has since sent a different model when you asked for it or rma'd it, but that one wasn't too good either. Lots of people (me included) simply got the Zalman ZMNB47J as a replacement. It's easy to mount (though you'll have to take the mb out of the case) and completely quiet. Only disadvantage is that it blocks a double slot video card like the 7800GTX in slot 1. Slot 2 can still use any card. Also, I've run with a 7800GT in slot 1 and it still clears the Zalman with a few mm to spare. All normal height cards will work fine in slot 1, but a double slot one will not.

[Panama Red]

Just wondering out loud here. Will Asus continue to honor the 3 year warranty on the mobo if you use a third party fan? Or do you have to use the replacement they furnish to maintain the warranty?

[MakeYourslf2012]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

I was going to lube up the fan as MaxRat suggested, but I'm going to try and get some satisfaction from Asus first.

I did some research and apparently, and like Mesaeus said, most people who had this problem are using the Zalman NB47j heatsink as a replacement. They said it can get really hot, and being next to the graphics card - I'm not sure if I feel too comfertable, but it's an option. I also don't know if it will void the warranty on the board.

I was wondering if it would be possible to take the dead fan out of the existing housing and replace it with the fan thats inside the heatsink that Asus sent me....

However, my dad contacted Asus last night and they weren't very cooperative. He did get a "promise" that the supervisor of the support group would call him around 9:00AM today to work something out - they don't have any of the old fans to ship out. It may end up my dad just RMAing the board all together, he is getting pretty fed up with the people over there.

Thanks for all the input, I'll get back to you later tonight when I find something out.

[tyro]

I'm surprised ASUS is giving you problems with your chipset fan. About 7 months ago the chipset fan was dying on my sli deluxe board so I called those people at ASUS support. I was on the phone for maybe 5 mins with them and they said they would send me a replacement as soon as the new shipment of fans got in. This was a monday that I called and sure enough the following saturday I got a package in the mail from ASUS, the new fan. It has been running like a champ ever since.
As far as replacing the fan it didn't bother me too much taking out the motherboard because I had to swap power supplies anyway. Although I did slice my finger somehow and got blood on the mobo...ouch. Whichever way to decide to fix your fan issue, watch out the computer doesn't bite your finger!

[David M]

Originally Posted by MakeYourslf2012 . Has anyone else had a problem like this, and what did you do to resolve it?

I went with watercooling but probably the most sensible solution is a large passive heatsink like what a few suggested..

[MaxRat]

I dont know if it will work or not but I use The Thermalright NB-1 northbridge heatsink and fan it comes with several ways to attach it to a northbridge or chipset... I really like it and it is quiet for a high speed fan...

[MakeYourslf2012]

Asus didn't call back, as to be expected.


However, I went and tried to install the new fan that they sent. Although it still barely fits, the heatsink from my graphics card is touching the top of the new chipset fan - which Asus guaranteed that it won't. But it's working, and it isn't creating a problem so I'll let it be.

Problem solved....kinda


Thanks everyone
-MakeYourslf2012