Cheap case fan bracket for video cards

[beatle]

I kept saying I'd take pictures of this setup for a while but I never followed through. Here's what you'll need:

[*]PCI slot cover - Use an old, flimsier one that fastens to the case with a screw, not the "break out" type.
[*]80mm case fan
[*]Grille for 80mm fan
[*]Zipties - You may need a few, depending on the length. Thin ones work better because they're less rigid and will conform to the fan better.
[*]Electrical tape
[*]Hot glue or epoxy (optional)

Remove your video card (mine is a PNY Ti4200) and remove the screws holding the cover / shroud that covers part of the heatsink. I had to use a jewelers screwdriver for these. Next, remove the
two screws holding the fan to the heatsink. Again, the jeweler's screwdriver comes into play. Unplug the fan and set aside. I keep the screws, cover and fan in a ziploc bag in case I want to sell the card. Now would be a good time to apply some quality TIM to the heatsink and GPU. PNY used the lousy white goop.

Now put the card back in its slot and put the case fan next to it to "test fit" it. Then bend the PCI slot cover so that it will attach to the slot adjacent to the AGP slot and hang just over top of the fan. After bending the slot cover into place, you'll want to ziptie it to the fan (Make sure the fan grille is on first! You can use a bit of hot glue or epoxy to join the bracket to the fan permanently, but I've found that if ziptied tight enough and reinforced, it doesn't move around, so it's your call. Depending on the length of your zipties, you may have to join several together to make a full circle around the fan. Cut off the loose ends and apply a bit of electrical tape. Flip it over and place one more piece of tape for peace of mind.

Now with your new fan bracket and fan joined, fit them into the case. You can put two PCI slot covers on top of each other if you have thumbscrews with long shanks. This way the back of the case still looks stock.

I used a Panaflo L1a as my case fan since I have plenty sitting around. I usually run it @ 7v off my baybus since I don't game a lot and I have decent case cooling. When I game, I turn it up to 12v, but I've yet to crash even when I forgot to flip the switch. Even overclocked to 305/625, this keeps my card cool. Best of all, it is silent AND cheap.

 

[Budman]

Great job beatle,I have been looking for a replacement sink for my 9800NP since the little stock fan on there has a high pitch sound & it's the loudest thing in my case.

I think I will try this and unplug the noisy fan & use a nice 80mm case fan with my vantec fan bus controller too.

 

[0roo0roo]

i've done that before, cept i used superglue to attach the fan. allowed me to unplug annoying vid card fan. also mine blows straight down on all the cards. don't have so many empty slots. now i have a better solution for my old case, simply cut a hole in the damn side of the case over the vid card. fresh air directly over the vid card, can't be beat http://fox302.com/index.pl?s=vf&user=oroooroo&category=cases&file=oldcasewithfans.JPG course after i cut one, 4 more came soon after more low rpm fans at even slower rpm

my newer case already has the hole.

 

[beatle]

I'm probably going to use superglue eventually. The electrical tape eventually starts to show its age after all the heat. While the fan bracket is still attached, it's not as tight as it was, so superglue should be just the ticket.