Can't get answers from ASUS

[sherwindu]

I phoned Asus to get information on how to replace the AMD 761 System Controller Fan on my A7M266
motherboard. Left a message, but they never called me back. Sent an email to tech support and got
the brush off, telling me to
go back to my vendor for support. I'll never buy another Asus board.

Sherwin D.

 

[Hawkeye]

If your refering to the northbridge chipset fan remove it and install
one of these

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=71&code=014

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118214

 

[Egil Solberg]

I phoned Asus to get information on how to replace the AMD 761 System
Controller Fan on my A7M266 motherboard. Left a message, but they
never called me back. Sent an email to tech support and got the
brush off, telling me to
go back to my vendor for support. I'll never buy another Asus board.

Just remove the fan. The fan stopped working after I had done some vacuuming
inside a friend´s case.
Removed it, but of course kept the heatsink. The PC works fine without it.
It was an AMD 761 NB.

 

[sherwindu]

I got my replacement fan from newegg. It was larger than I imagined from the internet picture and came
with no mounting hardware. I decided to try and take off
the ARX fan, which had stopped running. After removing two phillips screws, the fan and connecting
cable came out of a black case enclosure. There were two thumb screw on this case, which after turning
did not seem to release it. I don't know what is holding the fan case to the board. Also, I can't
imagine how this cooling was supposed to work, since behind the fan was a solid piece of plastic.
Maybe this plastic was kept cool, and it inturn kept the chips cool. I'm sorry I bought an ASUS
board! Trying to find information about this fan from ARX is almost impossible. Their site is in
Chinese, and even after loading the plug in to
Adobe for this language set, it could not be read. Emails to the US office of ARX
have produced no result. How can ASUS put an unsupportable component on their
board? I refuse to rip out this board to send it to the RMA department of ASUS,
just to replace a stupid fan. This is just another instance of sending all our production
overseas. Anyone know of a good Chinese language school?

Sherwin D.

 

[Mark A]

I got my replacement fan from newegg. It was larger than I imagined from
the internet picture and came
with no mounting hardware. I decided to try and take off
the ARX fan, which had stopped running. After removing two phillips
screws, the fan and connecting
cable came out of a black case enclosure. There were two thumb screw on
this case, which after turning
did not seem to release it. I don't know what is holding the fan case to
the board. Also, I can't
imagine how this cooling was supposed to work, since behind the fan was a
solid piece of plastic.
Maybe this plastic was kept cool, and it inturn kept the chips cool. I'm
sorry I bought an ASUS
board! Trying to find information about this fan from ARX is almost
impossible. Their site is in
Chinese, and even after loading the plug in to
Adobe for this language set, it could not be read. Emails to the US
office of ARX
have produced no result. How can ASUS put an unsupportable component on
their
board? I refuse to rip out this board to send it to the RMA department of
ASUS,
just to replace a stupid fan. This is just another instance of sending
all our production
overseas. Anyone know of a good Chinese language school?

Sherwin D.

You refer to fan case? Are you talking about the heatsink for the chipset?

There is a HSF (heatsink/fan) for the chipset. If the fan went out, did they
send you a completely new HSF or just the fan?

To replace most chipset HSF's you need to get at the bottom of the
motherboard. If just the fan is being replaced, then maybe you can do it
from the top.

There are lots of aftermarket HSF's for chipsets that usually work better
than the OEM and that are passively cooled or have much quieter fans. Check
with the vendor websites to see which ones are compatible. I would also
seriously suggest you get an experienced person (friend, neighbor) to help
you figure this out, because it is almost impossible to understand the exact
situation based on your description.

 

[sherwindu]

You refer to fan case? Are you talking about the heatsink for the chipset?

There is a HSF (heatsink/fan) for the chipset. If the fan went out, did they
send you a completely new HSF or just the fan?

To replace most chipset HSF's you need to get at the bottom of the
motherboard. If just the fan is being replaced, then maybe you can do it
from the top.

There are lots of aftermarket HSF's for chipsets that usually work better
than the OEM and that are passively cooled or have much quieter fans. Check
with the vendor websites to see which ones are compatible. I would also
seriously suggest you get an experienced person (friend, neighbor) to help
you figure this out, because it is almost impossible to understand the exact
situation based on your description.

I think with a B.S. in engineering, I should be able to handle this myself.

Again, what came off the board was just a thin fan with a wire attached.
This fan matches up exactly with a corresponding plastic housing which is
still attached to the motherboard. There were two thumbscrews on it, but
releasing them did not allow me to remove this plastic housing. I doubt
very much that this housing is the chipset itself, unless it is behind the plastic
where I can't see it. I have a replacement fan ready to mount, if I can only
figure out how to remove this plastic fan housing. ARX, who makes the
original fan is less than helpfull in providing any specs on it. Their website
doesn't have any information, and their agent doesn't reply to my email.

Sherwin D.

 

[Mark A]

I think with a B.S. in engineering, I should be able to handle this
myself.

Again, what came off the board was just a thin fan with a wire attached.
This fan matches up exactly with a corresponding plastic housing which
is
still attached to the motherboard. There were two thumbscrews on it,
but
releasing them did not allow me to remove this plastic housing. I doubt
very much that this housing is the chipset itself, unless it is behind
the plastic
where I can't see it. I have a replacement fan ready to mount, if I can
only
figure out how to remove this plastic fan housing. ARX, who makes the
original fan is less than helpfull in providing any specs on it. Their
website
doesn't have any information, and their agent doesn't reply to my email.

Sherwin D.

I didn't say the housing was the chipset itself. I asked whether the housing
was the heatsink (not clear in your post). Usually, there is a heatsink that
sits on top of the chip, and a fan that blows on the heatsink (to dissipate
heat faster). But not being able to see your motherboard (or pics of it), I
don't know for sure. You didn't mention anything about a heatsink in your
post.

As I mentioned, there are several companies that make good HS's (passive) or
HSF's (with fan) for chipsets, and are much better at cooling, and much
quieter than the OEM ones.

 

[sherwindu]

I didn't say the housing was the chipset itself. I asked whether the housing
was the heatsink (not clear in your post).

I know what a heatsink looks like. This housing is about an eigth of an inch high
of black plastic which appears to rest on the surface of the mother board. There
is no heat sink anywhere, in view.

Usually, there is a heatsink that
sits on top of the chip, and a fan that blows on the heatsink (to dissipate
heat faster). But not being able to see your motherboard (or pics of it), I
don't know for sure. You didn't mention anything about a heatsink in your
post.

As I mentioned, there are several companies that make good HS's (passive) or
HSF's (with fan) for chipsets, and are much better at cooling, and much
quieter than the OEM ones.

I have a substitute fan read to go. Problem is I don't know how to remove the
plastic housing to replace it with the new fan. I have been avoiding taking off the
motherboard from the case, so that I can get a look at whats on the opposite side.
If there is a chipset under this plastic housing, it has to be a very low profile one.
It also makes me wonder what kind of cooling this fan can do, if the chipset is
covered with a solid plastic housing.

Sherwin D.

 

[Bill]

<snip>

There's a fair chance it's stuck on with thermal tape.

Bill

 

[Jeff]

You just said "the fan in question goes over item 2" but from the image and
your reference to the 761 system controller that would location 1. Anyway I
had to replace one of those on my Asus board (not the same model). Anyway
mine was held on by a couple of i guess closest term would plungers that
expanded on the back side of the board. I had to get behind to squeeze that
together and push thru from the back side. I will add that of course with
the kind of luck I have the new fan which was same size voltage excetera the
hole still would not line back up correctly, so hopefully you have better
luck in that regards.

Just my thoughts.

Jeff

 

[milleron]

<snip>

There's a fair chance it's stuck on with thermal tape.

Bill

I presume you're correct. What's the best way to get that off? Just
pull until it comes loose?

Ron

 

[Bill]

I presume you're correct. What's the best way to get that off? Just
pull until it comes loose?

Ron

It would be best to take the board out of the case to give you some
room to work, and in case it's held on some other way. If it's glued
on, warm it up with a hair drier to soften the glue, then use a duct
tape coated screw driver to GENTLY prise up at the corners, work your
way around until it comes off. Of course, I'm not responsible if you
break something, yada, yada...

Bill