Chipset Fan not spinning

[toronado455]

The chipset fan on my MB isn't spinning. It was making noise before,
now it's not working at all. I checked the connector which seems to be
plugged in all the way and isn't loose so I guess the fan is dead. I
was going to replace it anyway so now is a good time.

How do I know what type of fan to buy? Can I use a heatsink instead?

MSI KT3 Ultra

 

[Sean Cousins]

The chipset fan on my MB isn't spinning. It was making noise before,
now it's not working at all. I checked the connector which seems to be
plugged in all the way and isn't loose so I guess the fan is dead. I
was going to replace it anyway so now is a good time.

How do I know what type of fan to buy? Can I use a heatsink instead?

MSI KT3 Ultra

You can either contact MSI and ask for a replacement fan (if it's
still under warranty) or buy one of these heatsinks and say, "enough
with the noisy fans!". Make sure to get the one that will fit your mb.

Click on Coolers for Northbridge Chipset

http://www.zalmanusa.com/

 

[toronado455]

I think I'm going to go with one of those Zalman heatsinks. According
to Zalman they are "compatible with all Northbridge chipsets that do
not have a built-in graphics core". I'm assuming my MSI KT3 Ultra fits
that description, correct?

 

[dawg]

You could try a little oil on that fan. It might be just dust in there. lift
the paper cover on the hub of the fan and put a little sewing machine oil in
the little eceptacle.

 

[Sean Cousins]

I think I'm going to go with one of those Zalman heatsinks. According
to Zalman they are "compatible with all Northbridge chipsets that do
not have a built-in graphics core". I'm assuming my MSI KT3 Ultra fits
that description, correct?

I just looked up your mb and it has no onboard graphics controller so
you should be fine.

I had a mb with a fan on the northbridge chipset (Abit IC7) and mine
got quite noisy so I attached it to a fanbus controller and lowered
the RPM way down. That made it quiet and I never had a problem with it
after that. But I won't buy mb's with fans on the chipset anymore as I
know this problem is quite common.

 

[tomcas]

The chipset fan on my MB isn't spinning. It was making noise before,
now it's not working at all. I checked the connector which seems to be
plugged in all the way and isn't loose so I guess the fan is dead. I
was going to replace it anyway so now is a good time.

How do I know what type of fan to buy? Can I use a heatsink instead?

MSI KT3 Ultra

It probaly just needs oil. Unscrew the fan, peel back the center sticker
covering the bearing and either drop in a couple drops of fine oil or
better still pop the little split plastic retaining washer from the end
of the shaft with a small screwdriver wedged into the
washer slit. Pull out the blade/shaft assembly watching for any loose
o-rings or washers on the shaft. Drop a drop of oil into the sintered
bronze bushing and reassemble the whole thing.

 

[Dude]

The chipset fan on my MB isn't spinning
MSI KT3 Ultra

hmmm, wonder what that could be
:

 

[toronado455]

Please do tell.

In any case, I've decided I'm pulling the old NBHSF and replacing with
Zalman ZM-NB47J.

I need some expert advice on how to remove the old HSF. It has those
two spring loaded push pin things and I have no idea how to get those
off. If anyone's worked on this MB please help!

 

[toronado455]

ooops. meant to quote "Dude" in last post. Just getting used to this
Google way of doing usenet.

 

[spodosaurus]

I think I'm going to go with one of those Zalman heatsinks. According
to Zalman they are "compatible with all Northbridge chipsets that do
not have a built-in graphics core". I'm assuming my MSI KT3 Ultra fits
that description, correct?

I'm using one on my Gigabyte GA-7VA motherboard's northbridge and it's
been running fine for years. The Fan failed in the first fortnight, and
then the replacement fan failed in a week. You have to be careful about
saying you use a Zalman northbridge heatsink in this newsgroup though
because there's a ****wit here that gets his jollies harassing people
who use Zalman products.

 

[spodosaurus]

You could try a little oil on that fan. It might be just dust in there. lift
the paper cover on the hub of the fan and put a little sewing machine oil in
the little eceptacle.

At the hardware store it's also called 3-in-1 oil. Carefully peel back
the sticker on the fan and put a single drop in the fan mechanism. Be
careful not to get the oil elsewhere or you'll have a difficult time
resticking the sticker and the oil can attract dust if exposed directly
to the air (ie- the sticker is necessary).

Ari

 

[spodosaurus]

Please do tell.

In any case, I've decided I'm pulling the old NBHSF and replacing with
Zalman ZM-NB47J.

I need some expert advice on how to remove the old HSF. It has those
two spring loaded push pin things and I have no idea how to get those
off. If anyone's worked on this MB please help!

Hmmm...I forget exactly how I did it. I remember it was also attached
with thermal tape I think, so after you remove the push pins you may
have to twist it a bit as you pull. Clean the tape off carefully
afterwards. I think I took the pins off one at a time by pressing them
down and then feeding them back through using needle nosed pliars to
pinch the plastic prongs to the shaft.

Ari

 

[Sean Cousins]

Please do tell.

In any case, I've decided I'm pulling the old NBHSF and replacing with
Zalman ZM-NB47J.

I need some expert advice on how to remove the old HSF. It has those
two spring loaded push pin things and I have no idea how to get those
off. If anyone's worked on this MB please help!

I think the Zalman website tells you how to do that.

 

[toronado455]

Hmmm...I forget exactly how I did it. I remember it was also attached
with thermal tape I think, so after you remove the push pins you may
have to twist it a bit as you pull. Clean the tape off carefully
afterwards. I think I took the pins off one at a time by pressing them
down and then feeding them back through using needle nosed pliars to
pinch the plastic prongs to the shaft.

Ari

Well in any case it looks like the MB needs to come out to access those
prongs. Ugh...

 

[spodosaurus]

Well in any case it looks like the MB needs to come out to access those
prongs. Ugh...

Yes.

 

[spodosaurus]

Yes.

unless you have a motherboard tray with big holes in the back at just
the right positions...

 

[Bob Davis]

The chipset fan on my expensive Gigabyte GA-8KNXP mobo was a cheap
sleeve-bearing unit that started making noise for 10 or 20 seconds when
cold. You'd think they would use a quality fan considering the price of the
mobo kit. I replaced it with a ball-bearing fan and all has been well.

The problem with the Zalman HS is that you'll need to remove the mobo to
install it, which is more trouble than I would be willing to endure. Others
might find it entertaining or adverturous, but I'll pass. Replacing a fan
is very easy, and I would just buy a few quality BB fans, which are not
expensive. The size used (10x40mm for mine) is not a common size, but I
found some on Ebay and bought two or three. The cost was less than one
Zalman HS.

I use a Zalman 7000Cu CPU HSF, which they say will cool the chipset without
a dedicated fan, especially when not overclocked. I don't know, but think
replacing the fan is the easy solution on a mobo that's already been
installed. If I was installing from scratch, I would probably replace the
stock HSF with the Zalman unit before installation into the case.

 

[Bob Davis]

At the hardware store it's also called 3-in-1 oil. Carefully peel back the
sticker on the fan and put a single drop in the fan mechanism. Be careful
not to get the oil elsewhere or you'll have a difficult time resticking
the sticker and the oil can attract dust if exposed directly to the air
(ie- the sticker is necessary).

Ari

This often works to revive a failing sleeve bearing, but I would just buy a
good ball-bearing fan and replace it. They're not expensive and the job of
swapping them out is not difficult or invasive. You many need to remove the
fan cover (holder) anyway, so the removal chore is something you'll need to
do regardless. Once it's out, just replace it.