Need a replacement fan for ATI Radeon 9600 Pro - any suggestions?

[TreyRandom]

My stock fan is starting to make noise and lose spin on my Radeon 9600 Pro (built by ATI). I'm not going to RMA it to ATI just for a $2 fan. What would you recommend?

A couple clarifications:

- I'm not overclocking, so it doesn't have to be the absolute best or most expensive. However, I don't mind spending a couple extra bucks for copper over aluminum, or for a slightly better model.

- I've heard good things about the Iceberq 4, but I read that it doesn't fit on the Radeon 9600 Pro without a little bit of creative modifications. I want something that is made to fit without modification. Although I've been a tech for a long time, this is my first video card fan replacement.

With those things in mind... what would you suggest? What's worked for you?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bateluer]

Not sure what fans are available, but the 9600 Pros don't kick out a lot of heat. Any cheap quite video card fan that fits your card should fine.

The factory fan on my old 9600 Pro is pretty dang tiny.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Not sure what fans are available, but the 9600 Pros don't kick out a lot of heat. Any cheap quite video card fan that fits your card should fine.

The factory fan on my old 9600 Pro is pretty dang tiny.

Yeah, that seems to be the information that's hard to find - which ones fit. Hmm.

I see that Arctic Cooling has two different models made for the 9600 Pro. Has anyone had any luck with them?

 

[Killrose]

I have curred quite a few noisey/slow spinning fans. remove the fan from the heatsink, turn it over, remove the sticker that covers the fan pinion bushing, put a tiny bit of your favorite light oil on the bushing and spin it while inverted to distribute the lube. Wipe away any excess lube and put the sticker back in place, then re-install the fan to the heatsink.

If nothing else, it will buy you some time till you come up with another solution.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Killrose
I have curred quite a few noisey/slow spinning fans. remove the fan from the heatsink, turn it over, remove the sticker that covers the fan pinion bushing, put a tiny bit of your favorite light oil on the bushing and spin it while inverted to distribute the lube. Wipe away any excess lube and put the sticker back in place, then re-install the fan to the heatsink.

If nothing else, it will buy you some time till you come up with another solution.

I appreciate the workaround. Problem is, I don't have any oil available, nor do I have any thermal paste if I accidentally scrape the old paste away. In any case, the fan is still moving... it's just slowing down and speeding up. I should have enough time to wait on a new fan to arrive, as long as I can find a suitable replacement.

 

[TreyRandom]

Anyone else with any suggestions? I appreciate it.

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

Surely you should go for Arctic coolings VGA silencer. They fit ATI's from 9500 upwards and are very cheap! They are always recommended (along with Zalman's more pricey heatpipe solution) for overclockers and even though you're not overclocking I would choose that one. At around 15$ (here in Sweden) they are a bargain.

 

[TreyRandom]

They're $26 plus shipping, here. The Vantec Iceberq is $13 plus shipping. Plus, the ATI Silencer would have to be modified because of incompatibilities with a component on the 9600 Pro - I'd have to cut away some of the plastic bottom. Not sure I can justify twice the price. I will take your advice under consideration, however. Thanks.

 

[deadken]

Originally posted by: TreyRandom
They're $26 plus shipping, here. ...... Plus, the ATI Silencer would have to be modified because of incompatibilities with a component on the 9600 Pro - I'd have to cut away some of the plastic bottom. Not sure I can justify twice the price. I will take your advice under consideration, however. Thanks.

Might I suggest that you check out www.svc.com for the Artic cooler Rev.3. They have them for $15. I own two of them (one on a 9800SE, the other on a GF3 Ti200), and the ARE THE BEST! Incredibly quiet, and they cool like nothing else. Then there is the added benefit of exhausting the hot air from your case, rather then have it hanging around keeping it warm in there. The 2-speep fan is so quiet, I leave mine on full blast all the time. Try putting the back of your hand by the exhaust for it, you might be surprised how warm the air you are exhausting is, especially after a heavy round of gaming.

 

[TreyRandom]

$15 plus $6 shipping would definitely work for me. Only a couple bucks more than I'd have to pay for the Iceberq, with the added benefit of venting. I've got 4 case fans (plus the fan inside the PSU), but every little bit helps.

Thanks for the info - I was having trouble finding which revision of the VGA Silencer worked with the 9600 Pro models!

 

[TreyRandom]

I got the VGA Silencer Rev 3 from ExcaliberPC.com for $15.96 shipped.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!

 

[deadken]

Your welcome. Please post here how you like it! I am interested in how much other people like/dis-like theirs!

 

[Cabana]

Anyone know if the Iceberq is thicker than a stock fan on a 9800 Pro? I have a Shuttle and have no extra room, but want to replace this noisy fan it has.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: deadken
Your welcome. Please post here how you like it! I am interested in how much other people like/dis-like theirs!

I like it very much, and it was a great price. ExcaliberPC.com shipped it quickly.

Applying thermal paste juuuuust right always sucks - I'm definitely no surgeon. But otherwise, installation was quite easy. It's pretty bulky - make sure you've got room in the slot below... and it's aaaalmost touching the card below THAT.

I'd recommend it.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Cabana
Anyone know if the Iceberq is thicker than a stock fan on a 9800 Pro? I have a Shuttle and have no extra room, but want to replace this noisy fan it has.

It looks thicker, but I'm not sure. There are a few review sites (and even some online storefronts) that have exact dimensions of the Iceberq. Might even get the specs from Vantec's site.