Got an Asus A8N - SLI that is noisy during bootup.

[btcomm1]

I think I have narrowed it down to the chipset fan, are there replacement fans that are less likely to start making noise or is there a passive cooler that will work for this chipset? What do you recomend is there anything I can buy at fry's or is there another store I could buy this from? Does it have to be specifically made for the motherboard or is there a certain standard that I should look for?

 

[CurseTheSky]

Is this an A8N-SLI Deluxe?

Back when I bought my A8N-SLI Premium, I was leaning toward the Deluxe, until I read a lot of problems with noisy chipset fans, and fans burning out. I would definately consider buying something different.

I'll see if I can find some replacement options for you when I have time.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I've seen the Thermalright HR-05 recommended in the www.SilentPCReview.com forums (try a search there) but one person mentioned he ruined a motherboard by not installing it carefully enough.

He said the chipset has no heat spreader so it can be easy to damage the chip removing the old HSF or installing the new one.

Newegg, Directron, SVC, ZipZoomFly, mwave are all places that might carry it Newegg does but it's out of stock. They do have an HR-05-SLI model that might or might not fit your motherboard.

 

[mechBgon]

Another nice cooler is the Swiftech MCX159-CU. http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/memandvidcar.html I have one (actually the older one with aluminum pins) on an A8N-E. Still wish I had a passive heatpipe-equipped mobo, but whatever.

 

[Old Hippie]

Another nice cooler is the Swiftech MCX159-CU. http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/memandvidcar.html

That's the one I use. This chipset fan is a common problem and can be remedied with active or passive cooling. You can even use the Asus A8N-SLI Premium's passive cooler. Many solutions can be found at the Asus Independent Forums.

 

[dfuze]

I've used a Zalman heatsink (forgot the model #, but it's purple and sold on newegg for about $10) on my deluxe for well over a year.

 

[sjandrewbsme]

The A8N-SLI Deluxe (the board I had) shipped with an 8,000 rpm chipset fan that brand new sounded like a jet fan. I replaced it with a passive HS and haven't looked back - infinitely quieter and no stability problems whatsoever.

 

[sjandrewbsme]

http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/Zalman-Northbridge-Cooler-ZM-NB47J-p-16266.html

That's what I have - works great.

Pic 1

Pic 2

 

[Rubycon]

For those of you venturing out into "replacing chipset heatsink" territory I advise to check temps BEFORE and AFTER. The OP doesn't have one but the new 975's crank out a LOT of heat. A good tool that's worth its weight in gold is the non contact infrared thermometer. An affordable one such as the Thermohawk series can help immensely in working on thermal issues.

For example in a well vented workstation running a PP5WGD2 WS board the stock NB cooler (which is finned and has a heatpipe running to another HS covering VRM's) runs in the mid 120's! (Fahrenheit degrees) The hottest thing in the case is the GF8800GTX back where it reads well into the 170's when loaded. :Q

I'm sure a good passive solution is adequate particularly at stock FSB's and undeniably better than a fan cooled factory solution when the fan's rotor locks. :Q But do keep track of those temps. The last question you want to hear asked around YOUR computer is "What's burning?" :laugh:

 

[Old Hippie]

An affordable one such as the Thermohawk series

Very slick. Thanks for the link Dawn. :thumbsup:

Couldn't help myself. Got the Thermohawk 200 for 35.00 OTD on Ebay.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie

An affordable one such as the Thermohawk series

Very slick. Thanks for the link Dawn. :thumbsup:

Couldn't help myself. Got the Thermohawk 200 for 35.00 OTD on Ebay.

They're slick. You can point in your ear and get a quick reading to tell if you're running a fever or not. :Q

 

[btcomm1]

sjandrewbsme, Do you need to buy the optimal Optional Thermal Adhesive or paste? Or does it come with everything you need? Also can you buy this zalman at a computer store like fry's or do you have to order it online?

 

[sjandrewbsme]

You defintely don't need epoxy (adhesive). You probably don't need thermal grease either as the OEM HS/F has a big glob of underneath - you could re-use this.

I used some artic silver 3 thermal grease - but I imagine any good thermal grease (paste) would be fine. I have several tubes of this laying around so I stripped off the OEM paste and installed away.

I can't speak to the performance of the unit if you re-use the OEM paste as I didn't do this.

I don't remember if it comes with thermal grease or not - if I had to guess I would say it did but I don't specifically remember.

One thing to pay attention to - the little "arms" that hold down the HS unit need to be flipped upside-down to make it fit as I have shown in the pics I posted. Without doing this, the only way to mount it would be at a 45 degree angle.

The arms are nothing more than stamped pieces of galvanized steel, so flipping them doesn't really change anything. It will just be different than the installation instructions.

I seriously doubt you can find this HS at any retail outlet store (like CompUSA or Bestbuy or something). I just ordered a Tuniq120 from Heatsinkfactory.com and recommend them highly. Normally I would link NewEgg, but they're out of stock (that's where I bought mine).

 

[btcomm1]

Thanks for the reply, do you know if this heat sink will work for the deluxe or the premium?

 

[kjackson09]

My chipset fan recently died on boot up. I took off the fan, removed the sticker and put a drop of sewing machine oil and it was good to go again for another 6-7weeks.

It has started making loud noises again so I called ASUS, told them what's wrong and they are sending me a new fan no questions asked (they stated this fan is slightly different)

I am going to try that before I mess around with a passive.

 

[yh125d]

I want one of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835701003

 

[Nocturnal]

Just get the NB47J heatsink. That thing is amazing. I don't know if they still make it though but if you can find it, use it, it's great. I had one on my A8N-SLI and it worked wonders.

 

[sjandrewbsme]

Originally posted by: btcomm1
Thanks for the reply, do you know if this heat sink will work for the deluxe or the premium?

Those pics I posted are from the Deluxe - works fine.

Now - let me define work: I don't do very aggressive overclocking and I've never checked the NB temps. So, it may be hotter than before. What I do know is that it had no ill effect on my PC going from active to passive - I'm using the same clocks and voltage and it's been very stable.

Will this work with a very high overclock? I don't know. Then again I don't know how effective the active solution was for that situation was anyway (I presume it to be better).

 

[btcomm1]

Do I need to take the motherboard outside of the case in order to take the fan off and put the new heat sink on?

 

[sjandrewbsme]

Yes.

 

[btcomm1]

Dang, thats what I thought, thanks for replying.

 

[btcomm1]

Do I just cut the bottom bottom pegs off of the old fan?

 

[sjandrewbsme]

You can - but I didn't. The legs on the fan are spring loaded prongs. You can compress them together with needle nose pliers and pull the fan right out. That way, you can replace the fan if you ever have to RMA the board.

 

[Old Hippie]

You can point in your ear and get a quick reading to tell if you're running a fever or not.

Holey Mamma...72.9...I must be dead. Oh wait, you gotta take the cap off. :laugh: