WTF is up with the chipset fans on the Shuttle AK31A's???

MWink

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,642
1
76
I got a Shuttle AK31A when they first came out. Less than 2 weeks after I got it, the fan died (started making very loud noise while spinning slower). I replaced it with a Sunon Ball Bearing fan from Plycon.

A few weeks later my uncle asked me to upgrade his system for as little money as possible so I picked something with a Shuttle AK31A. Well, I built the system 5 days ago and let it run while I was at school. I came home and heard this fan doing the same thing mine did. Luckly I had already bought a replacement Vantec fan for it because I expected this to happen.

It seems Shuttle is using extremely cheap fans on the AK31A. I was wondering what other people's experiences were like with the fan on the AK31A? How long has it been running? Is the original fan still working?
 

ST4RCUTTER

Platinum Member
Feb 13, 2001
2,841
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No problems yet...

This is definitely a board with a "buget" feel to it though. It doesn't really surprise me that some of the fans they're using are dying. It's stable as a rock so far though. I have yet to see this thing crash when I haven't been tweakin' with it. I guess now you know what $20-$35 bucks will cost you...a new chipset fan. ;)
 

foofoo

Golden Member
Mar 5, 2001
1,344
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i've got two ak31a mbs. one 3 weeks old one 2 months old both still just fine. but the one on my 8k7a went out...
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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I have found that a lot of the new boards seem to use cheesy fans on the NB that die fairly quickly, or at least get loud. I have started replacing my NB HSF units with one of these monster Alpha chipset heatsinks and pairing it with one of these 20CFM, 50mm Top Motor fans for really good NB cooling. :)
 

XMan

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,513
49
91
I have found that a lot of the new boards seem to use cheesy fans on the NB that die fairly quickly, or at least get loud. I have started replacing my NB HSF units with one of these monster Alpha chipset heatsinks and pairing it with one of these 20CFM, 50mm Top Motor fans for really good NB cooling. :)

Niiiiiice.

How do you secure the Alpha to the chipset? Thermal tape?
 

Workin'

Diamond Member
Jan 10, 2000
5,309
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The fan on my AK31A is fine, but I just disconnected it anyway since I want my computer to be as quiet as possible, and the fan is not really necessary. It's been a few days, haven't shut the machine off, still is stable as always.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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"How do you secure the Alpha to the chipset? Thermal tape? "

Up until recently, I have been using AS Thermal Epoxy, but I just picked up some supposedly "high performance" thermal pads and I'm going to give them a try...:)
 

sitka

Senior member
Dec 29, 2000
895
0
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at 50mm the heatsink extends beyond the mount holes of the original NB sink. One very effective attachment method is to transfer original sink mount holes onto the new larger sink base then drill/tap with 2-56 machine screws. Then screw the new sink to NB from back of mobo with isolation washers and two screws. A high perf 50 mm heatsink/fan cpu combo can normally be found for ~$4.00 these days. The drill tap is very easy to do. Don't even need a tap wrench just pliers or something.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
2
81
The NB fans on my Epox motherboards started whining after a few months of usage. I pulled it off, removed the decal, and put some slick50 lube on the bushing. No more noises. :)