Chipset fan sounds really bad......

[cycleman77]

When I first turn my PC on, the chipset fan makes this terrible sound. Its almost like an airplane noise (a small one) and it is pretty loud too.
It goes away after 5 to 10 minutes of run time. No its not because I get used to the sound and "tune" it out. It really does go away.
I removed the fan, cleaned it, and tested it with a battery. It still made the sound.

Is the fan failing? Could the bearing off? Could I fix it?
Anyone know a good place to buy a replacement one?

I have an Eppox 8K7A mobo (3yrs old).

-Thanks

 

[Abzstrak]

yes its dying, I'd recommend a passive cooler unless your severely overclocked.... Something like this

 

[MichaelD]

There should be a little sticker on the fan. Peel it up enough and there should be a small hole. That's where you can oil the bearings.

Buy some 3-in-1 oil. Small red & white can. Put 2 drops (no more!) in the hole and spin the fan a little by hand to let the oil sink in. Let it sit about an hour for the oil to settle. Put the sticker back on as best you can.

That ought to fix it for awhile. If the fan starts making noise again, I'd replace the whole HSF assembly with a passive cooler from Zalman. SVC (and others sell them) They're aluminum, square and mount right to the same pin holes that hold the HSF on now.

Good luck.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Yeah, I was just looking at these chipset coolers at SVC this morning. That big Zalman passive is just $6... pretty good price... I mean, okay, it's just a hunk of shaped aluminum. I'm trying to resist buying.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
Yeah, I was just looking at these chipset coolers at SVC this morning. That big Zalman passive is just $6... pretty good price... I mean, okay, it's just a hunk of shaped aluminum. I'm trying to resist buying.

The newer, bluish one works very well. That is the one I would get if I was in the market for one.

 

[cycleman77]

Thanks.

I'll try oiling it first. See if I can get it to last longer. If not, then those passive coolers might be next on my "To Buy" list.

 

[tracerbullet]

Sounds like you have it. I did something similar to a noisy YS-tech adjustable 80mm fan earlier this week. The oil certainly made it quieter than before, by a long shot. But not quite like it was new - I suppose it had gotten worn down inside when noisy and may be loose now (it's kind of a "machanical" ticking noise). Maybe yours will be OK.

Either way, I'd dump it in favor of one of the big chipset heatsinks. If you have any air movement in the case it will likely be plenty. It is in mine (xp2600 on a VIA 400 chipset).

 

[wetcat007]

I have a vantec chipset cooler, active but very quiet.

 

[ReiAyanami]

remove the fan entirely, they are for decoration (unless ur overclocking). i've done it to my kt133 and xp333 and haven't had problems