New heatsink for my video card

[Schism]

I have a VisionTek Xtasy Geforce 4 ti 4400 (128MB) and I'm going to get a
new heatsink/fan for it because my old one is no longer working.... but all
the ones I find say they are 3 pin connectors, and the connection on the
graphics card is only two pins... all the ones I find such as the
ThermalTake Crystal Orb and the Thermaltake A1449 GeForce4 VGA CoolMOD say
they have 3 pin connectors.. I might be able to hook it up to the
motherboard instead in the chasis fan slot, but then would my geforce still
work if that plug is left open? (some kind of no fan installed protection
like the CPU?)

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[kony]

I have a VisionTek Xtasy Geforce 4 ti 4400 (128MB) and I'm going to get a
new heatsink/fan for it because my old one is no longer working.... but all
the ones I find say they are 3 pin connectors, and the connection on the
graphics card is only two pins... all the ones I find such as the
ThermalTake Crystal Orb and the Thermaltake A1449 GeForce4 VGA CoolMOD say
they have 3 pin connectors.. I might be able to hook it up to the
motherboard instead in the chasis fan slot, but then would my geforce still
work if that plug is left open? (some kind of no fan installed protection
like the CPU?)

Any help would be appreciated.

Not a problem, just use a small object like a needle or jeweler's
screwdriver to (carefully, slightly) pry up the retention tab on
the plastic fan connectors, and put the old fan connector on the
new fan's power and ground leads.

Very often the metal connector insert is compatible (enough) with
the other plastic plug but if it isn't then simply splice the old
connector's wires to new fan's leads... Since new fan has 3 leads
it would appear to have one as RPM signal, you don't need that
conencted for operation of fan, can snip that lead off near the
fan housing so it isnt' long enough to dangle into the path of
fan blades or touch anything else.

 

[Schism]

Very often the metal connector insert is compatible (enough) with

the other plastic plug but if it isn't then simply splice the old
connector's wires to new fan's leads... Since new fan has 3 leads
it would appear to have one as RPM signal, you don't need that
conencted for operation of fan, can snip that lead off near the
fan housing so it isnt' long enough to dangle into the path of
fan blades or touch anything else.

Well, the 2 pin connector on my video card is surrounded on 3 sides by the
plastic wall and the 4th is halfway covered... what about hooking it up to
the chasis fan slot on my motherbaord? Would the card still work ok?

 

[Schism]

Well, the 2 pin connector on my video card is surrounded on 3 sides by the

plastic wall and the 4th is halfway covered... what about hooking it up to
the chasis fan slot on my motherbaord? Would the card still work ok?

I understand what you mean now - ignore the first part.. but what about the
chasis fan slot?

 

[kony]

I understand what you mean now - ignore the first part.. but what about the
chasis fan slot?

Yes you could run fan from that motherboard header instead but it
would seem better to have it attached to card, so it's
universally compatible, no need to deal with that issue if card
is moved to a different motherboard someday.

 

[Schism]

Yes you could run fan from that motherboard header instead but it

would seem better to have it attached to card, so it's
universally compatible, no need to deal with that issue if card
is moved to a different motherboard someday.

Well, I want to be able to see the RPM from the fan to make sure it's
working in the future, maybe I can avoid this in the future... or at least
know when it's not working any more.