Older Northbridge Chipset Fan

[Bill_42]

I have an ABit KR7A-RAID motherboard running an AMD AthlonXP 1900+ CPU.
The motherboard has a VIA VT8366A northbridge controller which has a 40mm
chipset fan.

About 2 months ago, the northbridge fan was making some
"grinding"/"straining" noises, especially as startup, so I replaced the fan
with the fan from an Aspire 3A09S2 chipset cooler. After about a weeks or
so, the straining noises returned (spraying in a bit of lubricating oil
makes them go away for a few days), so I replaced the fan again with another
one of the same type. Now two or 3 weeks later the straining noises have
returned again!

I am wondering:
1) am I using a suitable fan (know of an easy to replace alternative?)?
2) could my fan problem likely to be the result of my aging motherboard
(over 4 years old)?
3) do I need to use the fan at all? I think I have noticed the same
controller on motherboards that did not have a fan on the northbridge
controller. However, the ones I have seen may have been for cooler running
cpus.

Thank you for whatever help you may be able to give me with this problem.
--Bill

 

[Bill_42]

I should have mentioned in my original post--this is the VIA KT266A chipset.

 

[S.Heenan]

1) am I using a suitable fan (know of an easy to replace
alternative?)? 2) could my fan problem likely to be the result of
my aging motherboard (over 4 years old)?
3) do I need to use the fan at all? I think I have noticed the
same controller on motherboards that did not have a fan on the
northbridge controller. However, the ones I have seen may have been
for cooler running cpus.

If you're not overclocking, the KT266A likely does not a NB fan.

If you'd like to replace it, one of these 40x40x10mm units should work:

http://www.sunon.com.tw/products/pdf/maglev.pdf

 

[Bill_42]

If you're not overclocking, the KT266A likely does not a NB fan.

If you'd like to replace it, one of these 40x40x10mm units should work:

http://www.sunon.com.tw/products/pdf/maglev.pdf

Thank you for sending me a link to this catalog, but these fans do not seem
ready to use. If possible, I am hoping to find a fan with a 2-pin
connector already attached. I don't overclock, but I would rather be safe
than sorry. Thanks, Bill

 

[Larry Roberts]

I should have mentioned in my original post--this is the VIA KT266A chipset.

I had an old KT266A chipset based AthlonXP 1900+, and the
chipset only had a heatsink. It wasn't even large.

 

[Kent_Diego]

About 2 months ago, the northbridge fan was making some

"grinding"/"straining" noises, especially as startup, ,,,,

Just remove the fan. You do not need it. The computer will run fine without
it.

 

[Bill_42]

Just remove the fan. You do not need it. The computer will run fine
without it.

If the computer did have problems without the chipset fan, which of the
following is more likely:

a) The computer would boot up again after the chip had a chance to cool off.

b) The chip would be permanently broken.


Thanks,
Bill

 

[spodosaurus]

I have an ABit KR7A-RAID motherboard running an AMD AthlonXP 1900+ CPU.
The motherboard has a VIA VT8366A northbridge controller which has a 40mm
chipset fan.

About 2 months ago, the northbridge fan was making some
"grinding"/"straining" noises, especially as startup, so I replaced the fan
with the fan from an Aspire 3A09S2 chipset cooler. After about a weeks or
so, the straining noises returned (spraying in a bit of lubricating oil
makes them go away for a few days), so I replaced the fan again with another
one of the same type. Now two or 3 weeks later the straining noises have
returned again!

I am wondering:
1) am I using a suitable fan (know of an easy to replace alternative?)?

Zalman northbridge fanless heatsink. Make sure it's suitable for your
board before ordering. I'm using one on a Gigabyte GA-7VA board.

2) could my fan problem likely to be the result of my aging motherboard
(over 4 years old)?
3) do I need to use the fan at all? I think I have noticed the same
controller on motherboards that did not have a fan on the northbridge
controller. However, the ones I have seen may have been for cooler running
cpus.

Thank you for whatever help you may be able to give me with this problem.
--Bill

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

 

[Kent_Diego]

If the computer did have problems without the chipset fan, which of the

following is more likely:

a) The computer would boot up again after the chip had a chance to cool
off.

b) The chip would be permanently broken.

A). The only problem would be a possible freeze or lock-up that would
require a reboot to fix.

 

[Bill_42]

A). The only problem would be a possible freeze or lock-up that would
require a reboot to fix.

Thank you for your reply. --Bill

 

[Stachey]

I have an ABit KR7A-RAID motherboard running an AMD AthlonXP 1900+ CPU.
The motherboard has a VIA VT8366A northbridge controller which has a 40mm
chipset fan.

About 2 months ago, the northbridge fan was making some
"grinding"/"straining" noises, especially as startup, so I replaced the fan
with the fan from an Aspire 3A09S2 chipset cooler. After about a weeks or
so, the straining noises returned (spraying in a bit of lubricating oil
makes them go away for a few days), so I replaced the fan again with another
one of the same type. Now two or 3 weeks later the straining noises have
returned again!

I am wondering:
1) am I using a suitable fan (know of an easy to replace alternative?)?
2) could my fan problem likely to be the result of my aging motherboard
(over 4 years old)?
3) do I need to use the fan at all? I think I have noticed the same
controller on motherboards that did not have a fan on the northbridge
controller. However, the ones I have seen may have been for cooler running
cpus.

Thank you for whatever help you may be able to give me with this problem.
--Bill

I'm using an Abit KR7A-no RAID. I've been having a problem with random
lockups, mainly while playing WorldOfWarcraft. I have SpeedFan running
and it tells me that the WoW program is using 85-100% CPU. My Athlon
XP+2000 runs at 58-63degC normally and jumps to 69degC with 100% usage
with Thermaltake cooler. My Northbridge fan, when working correctly,
keeps the chip at 41degC. When I hear funny noises from it the temp
pops to 63-68degC (again, while playing WoW with heavy CPU usage and
intense video). At that point the computer locks up. I can reboot and
run normal programs, but not games.

Right now I have the midtower on it's side with the side case fan
blowing inward on the MB. Hey, if it works... I'm probably going to go
for the Zamak fanless cooler but have to check the specs on spacing of
the screw holes.

Unless all you do is read email or type letters you need a cooling
appliance on your northbridge.

 

[Bill_42]

I'm using an Abit KR7A-no RAID. I've been having a problem with random
lockups, mainly while playing WorldOfWarcraft. I have SpeedFan running
and it tells me that the WoW program is using 85-100% CPU. My Athlon
XP+2000 runs at 58-63degC normally and jumps to 69degC with 100% usage
with Thermaltake cooler. My Northbridge fan, when working correctly,
keeps the chip at 41degC. When I hear funny noises from it the temp
pops to 63-68degC (again, while playing WoW with heavy CPU usage and
intense video). At that point the computer locks up. I can reboot and
run normal programs, but not games.

Right now I have the midtower on it's side with the side case fan
blowing inward on the MB. Hey, if it works... I'm probably going to go
for the Zamak fanless cooler but have to check the specs on spacing of
the screw holes.

Unless all you do is read email or type letters you need a cooling
appliance on your northbridge.

Thank you for your reply Stachey. Your XP+2000 runs about 5 degrees (C)
hotter than my XP+1900. Please let me know whether the Zamak fanless cooler
works for you. Good luck!
-Bill

 

[Derek Baker]

I had an old KT266A chipset based AthlonXP 1900+, and the
chipset only had a heatsink. It wasn't even large.

Same here but with an 1800+.