Epox EP-9NPA+ULTRA chipset fan problem

[davenp]

Not sure if this should be here or in cooling but regardless; in January I built a new computer for the first time, using a Epox EP-9NPA+ULTRA motherboard. Everything works out suprisingly well. I get home from work today to hear a slight rattling sound coming from the case; the kind of sound noo ne but someone who knows what their computer should sound like would hear.

I open 'er up and determine (no easy task) that it is the chipset fan making this rattling noise. Slight, it comes and goes, but it's bugging the HELL out of me. Is this fan going to die on me? Will hitting it with a hammer make it stop? Should I buy a new fan (and how tough would replacing it be?). Do I even NEED a chipset fan?

 

[MDE]

I replaced mine with a passive heatsink (tall blue one like a Zalman or CoolerMaster) and it was fine until I tilted the heatsink and crushed the chipset die. Just be careful and exert even pressure while installing it and you'll be ok. Unless you have a video card with something protruding from the back there shouldn't be any clearance issues.