Changing chipset fan on DFI NF4 board, anything I should know?

[PascalT]

Just got an Evercool VC-RE chipset fan.. wondering if there's anything I should know before installing it? How do I take out the fan currently in place? Should I apply new thermal paste on the chipset?

 

[Rike]

You'll want to pull out your mobo so you can pinch the push pins and remove them without damage. You need to clean off the old TIM (I use a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol) and apply new TIM. Then apply your new cooler. The most annoying part of the whole process is pulling the mobo.

 

[Zinn]

What he said.

I find it helps to use needle nose pliers to pinch the hooks on the push pins together (on the back of the mobo). Just pinch them and pop them through the holes. I used to use q-tips, but now I use 1 or 2 coffee filters (cuz they're lint-free) to wipe with rubbing alcohol and another to dry.

 

[PascalT]

If I don't have alcohol around what can i use to clean it up? Should I remove my cpu hsf? It's quite big, worried it could damage stuff if i start flipping the mobo around..

thanks guys.

 

[Rike]

You can buy some 90% isopropyl alcohol at almost any local drug store for a few bucks. I bought a bottle a few years ago and I still have lots left.

On your CPU HS, I see no reason to do anything to it. When you flip your board over to pull the chipset pins, just do it gently. It shouldn't both the CPU HS.

 

[PascalT]

What if i use water to wipe it off, would that be ok too?

I have some at home but not at this place.

 

[PascalT]

up

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: PascalT
What if i use water to wipe it off, would that be ok too?

Electronic components and water, you've got to be kidding. Please step away from the PC immediately and get help from someone who knows what they're doing!

 

[PascalT]

Well I took a dripping towel and rubbed it all over the chipset to make sure it was all clean, I used a bit of hand soap as well. But when I turned on my computer, I heard a little pop and smoke started coming out of my computer. What happened??? Just kidding. I took a dry towel and rubbed it gently on the chipset, there really wasn't much thermal grease on it. I put some AS5 on it and snapped the fan on (it was quite a chore to do it, as I had to bend one of the pins a bit so it fits).

Everything works fine, and very silently, I can barely hear it. And my temps went down. 🙂

 

[Rike]

Congrats! :thumbsup:

 

[customcoms]

Use alcohol...I'm fortunate to have alcohol pads like they use in a hospital en mass-work perfect for this sort of thing. Just be gentle, and make sure to take the board out of the case gently. When installing the evercool, make sure to apply even pressure-the mounting legs on the evercool are a touch long so you need to be careful and work with it-needs a lot of pressure imo. I too have one sitting on my disk for my board but haven't installed it b/c of the time+I AS5'd my stock heatsink so temps are decent as is.

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: customcoms
Use alcohol...

No need to suggest it, he seems to have used a sufficient amount already :beer:
Glad it worked out!

 

[GMI]

sorry for the newbie question/hijack, how do I know whether a fan/heatsink will fit or not? I have a nF4 DAGF motherboard and need to replacement the chipset fan.

 

[cecco]

I would like to know the answer to this question as well. My chipset fan is failing and i need to replace it, however the 6800GT i have sits right over the chipset fan. I'm trying to access DFI's website to look for replacement options, but no luck thus far. 🙁