Is it safe to remove the fan connector on a motherboard chipset?

[hbui]

I'm running on an Abit IS7 but have come to realize that the loudest part of my setup is the northbridge chipset fan. I've seen other board running the 865PE chipset without a chipset fan. So i'm guessing it's there for overclockers. Since I don't overclock my 2.4C, can i just unplugg that fan?

 

[Kenazo]

how big is the heat sink under the fan? some heat sinks just aren't big enough to cool things down properly on their own.