video card hsf problem

[Iniamyen]

I've been hearing a certain noise coming from my computer pretty much since I built it (it's been working fine for about 4 months). I originally thought it was just the noise of one of the fans (CPU or video card) operating normally. It's hard to describe it, it's sort of a very soft vibrational noise. Same frequency as a fan would be.

Today I popped the case to clean things out and move the computer, and I found out what it is. I noticed that when I push down on one end of the video card heatsink (the end closest to the back of the case) the noise stops. So it appears to be vibrational in nature, somehow related to a bad heatsink seating (?)

Since the video card has been working fine, even under heavy graphics load (no crashes, artifacts, etc...) I'm wondering if this is something that should concern me. If so, how can I fix it? I paid a lot for the card and I don't want to ignore it if it's potentially damaging. Thanks.

[mr_spider3]

well if the heatsink is inproperly installed then it could get the card really hot and could ruin it. if u have a warranty or anything on it i would get a new one just to be safe.

[BryanMan]

my computer sort of makes that sound, so i just hit it on the side really REALLY hard until it stops, its almost like getting a spanking. it must be painful

[JPMiller]

Ok.... dont know how comfortable you are with "gettin messy" with component modification.... but it isnt very hard to correct this AND increase the effective cooling of your videocard.
Now if you can easily return or exchange your card then ignore my post...
If your heatsink fan assembly is attached by spring tension pins inserted into kitty corner holes in the vid card then you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to compress the tips poking through the back of the card and push them through to release the heatsink from the GPU...
Clean both surfaces of the ridiculous amount of innefectual white gorp....(lap the heatsink if your in the mood...I would)...and reapply a thin layer of preferably Artic Silver thermal compound.
After examining the mechanism to be sure it isnt damaged, hence the vibration, reattach the heatsink firmly and Wallah...your vibration will hopefully be reduced or gone.
Lapping... http://www.gideontech.com/guides/HSF_lap/
Removing bonded heatsink... http://homepage.mac.com/dgiessel/PhotoAlbum5.html
another link that may help... http://www.drunkenwarriors.com/HowTo...f4-fanmod.html

[Hi Ho]

my computer sort of makes that sound, so i just hit it on the side really REALLY hard until it stops, its almost like getting a spanking. it must be painful

Hitting your computer is not a good idea.