a8n-sli chipset heatsink fan

[runestone]

 

[runestone]

Update on mine: I installed a Zalman 32 with the Papst fan firing straight down on the heatsink. The Zalman is warm to the touch; the 40 mm silent.
I ended up using the mounting plates from the Zalman 47 heatsink that I bought at the same time, as the ones supplied with the 32 were too long for the A8n board.
Thanks to all for the info supplied here.

 

[wasp]

Has any1 put up a guide on how to install the replacement fan?

my mb (with the original fan) is starting to make buzzing noises.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
...I've had my board running with the NB47J for over two weeks straight now...After extensive testing, I can conclude without a doubt that the NB47J does the job...I've had no trouble at all...

Gerbil333, as of July 15th, it has been about one month that you have been using the Zalman NB47J ALONE (no attached 40mm fan) but with some additional cooling to it provided by you GPU's Zalman VF700-AlCu.

Will you please provide us with an update now that more time has elapsed ???

Thanks,

Greg

 

[DJConan]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
I've finished my silencing project and NB47J testing. I ended up with this:


I contacted Gigabyte and they reported that the nF4 chip is designed to run at 0-90C. Both Gigabyte and Chaintech sell passive nF4 boards (without heatpipes). So, the NB47J should work fine, although incredibly hot, in any computer. Nevertheless, I think it's a much safer idea to get some air moving around the northbridge to cool off the heatsink as I've done.

I have an A8N-SLI Deluxe. So this chip is SAFE up to 90C? I installed the NB 47J a few days ago and inserted a temp probe into the heatsink. Running BIOS, the temp reached 51C on my temp probe. Seemed kind of high to me. For now, I wedged an 80mm case fan on top of the heatsink and it's currently 34C. I feel a lot better with it at 34 than I do at 51+.

I haven't been able to find any source except for your message stating what temps are safe for the chip. I keep finding msgs of people talking about what their MB temp is, which is useless since that's not the chip temp. W/o the fan, my temp probe was 51 and the BIOS and Asus Probe reported 34. Obviously not the same reading.

I'm thinking I need an FB123 to keep the fan in place. I'd like to not have to use a fan, but 51+ seems too high. What do you think?

 

[desteffy]

I have this motherboard and that fan is horribly loud and inconsistent. I just called ASUS and I guess they will send me a new better fan free of charge. I'll update with pics when I get it.

 

[Gerbil333]

Originally posted by: DJConan
I have an A8N-SLI Deluxe. So this chip is SAFE up to 90C? I installed the NB 47J a few days ago and inserted a temp probe into the heatsink. Running BIOS, the temp reached 51C on my temp probe. Seemed kind of high to me. For now, I wedged an 80mm case fan on top of the heatsink and it's currently 34C. I feel a lot better with it at 34 than I do at 51+.

I haven't been able to find any source except for your message stating what temps are safe for the chip. I keep finding msgs of people talking about what their MB temp is, which is useless since that's not the chip temp. W/o the fan, my temp probe was 51 and the BIOS and Asus Probe reported 34. Obviously not the same reading.

I'm thinking I need an FB123 to keep the fan in place. I'd like to not have to use a fan, but 51+ seems too high. What do you think?

Take a look here: Asus Thermal Specs. As you can see there, Asus themselves tested the A8N-SLI Deluxe to run at 79.2 degrees C with the stock hsf (or 69.2C for the A8N-SLI Premium). Asus later gave me the "0-90C" specification just like Gigabyte. Therefore, I do believe the nF4 can handle the high heat.

My A8N-E with its NB47J running passively, other than airflow from the front fan in my Sonata II and the VF700AlCu on my X800XL, has been in use for about 5-6 weeks now. I recently took the system to a LAN party and spent 12 hours playing games with only a few breaks.

The A8N-E is completely stable with the quasi-passive NB47J. I've had no problems with it even in the hot weather when the room heats up past 80F.

I have this motherboard and that fan is horribly loud and inconsistent. I just called ASUS and I guess they will send me a new better fan free of charge. I'll update with pics when I get it.

The replacement fan isn't a good solution in my opinion. Read the past 100 posts or so in this thread.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: desteffy
I have this motherboard and that fan is horribly loud and inconsistent. I just called ASUS and I guess they will send me a new better fan free of charge. I'll update with pics when I get it.

No offense but there is no need for you to post pics of the replacement fan; that is OLD NEWS in this thread; anyway the replacement ASUS hsf is NOT the preferred alternative to the original 8000RPM loud, unreliable fan for the majority of the posters in this thread.
Do some reading further back in this thead to become enlightened.

 

[Nocturnal]

I've been using the NB47J on my A8N-SLI Deluxe for the past three months I believe and it's been perfectly fine. However, I do have a fatty 120mm fan blowing at 3100RPM and an exhaust fan blowing at 2750RPM so that may be a contributing factor as to why my system is stable with the NB47J.

 

[krevo]

anyone tried the Coolermaster NB Chipset Cooler?



It's blue, about as tall, and looks almost identical to the Zalman...almost more effcient.


I don't like Coolermaster but I found it in quick need at the local Compusa.

God, sucks. I buy the best motherboard from the best board manufacture, and I have to replace it with something from two companies I really hate.

 

[Gerbil333]

The Zalman ZM-NB47J is taller and provides more surface area. Why do you want the Coolermaster hsf?

 

[krevo]

weekend...my computer shop aint open (the one I work at) and my fan croaked. I need quick resolution while i wait for my pabst fan. Going to mount it on top of the Coolermaster.

 

[krevo]

Also....I don't usually order stuff online because I get online pricing if not cheaper through the wholesaler I work at. Online sales are what put good local computer stores out of business.

 

[Gerbil333]

Originally posted by: krevo
Online sales are what put good local computer stores out of business.

Ah, I understand. The NB47J was only $7 shipped for me. I try to support my local shop, but their prices are terrible except for their used items. Their Athlon 64's are always $100-$200 above retail. Motherboards are usually about $50 higher than they should be, and mid-range and high-end video cards are at least $150 more than Newegg.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
Ah, I understand. The NB47J was only $7 shipped for me. I try to support my local shop, but their prices are terrible except for their used items. Their Athlon 64's are always $100-$200 above retail. Motherboards are usually about $50 higher than they should be, and mid-range and high-end video cards are at least $150 more than Newegg.

Yup, it's often worse here; they price things in a similar fashion, except everything they have is a generation or two out of date. I would make a reasonable effort to support local shops if they had a reasonable selection and reasonable prices (I don't expect them to compete with Newegg, but I don't like being gouged either).

 

[krevo]

don't know about you guys, but i pulled my board and that goddamn chipset wouldn't come out with all the pins pulled and everything. it was STUCK. didn't want to pry at it but it wouldn't even wiggle, as most do that are held down by thermal tape.



SUCKS. looks like mount the pabst down to horribly designed heatsink.

 

[Gerbil333]

I think I remember mine being stiff. Twist it.

 

[krevo]

my shop charges 15% above COST...not retail or wholesale, but what they pay for it. we charge resellers and wholesalers 5% above our cost. san antonio, tx, baby.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: ProviaFan

Originally posted by: krevo

...Online sales are what put good local computer stores out of business.

Originally posted by: Gerbil333

Ah, I understand. The NB47J was only $7 shipped for me. I try to support my local shop, but their prices are terrible except for their used items. Their Athlon 64's are always $100-$200 above retail. Motherboards are usually about $50 higher than they should be, and mid-range and high-end video cards are at least $150 more than Newegg.

Yup, it's often worse here; they price things in a similar fashion, except everything they have is a generation or two out of date. I would make a reasonable effort to support local shops if they had a reasonable selection and reasonable prices (I don't expect them to compete with Newegg, but I don't like being gouged either).

That's the same scenario in my town; I have supported a few of the "local" shops a few times but have always been "gouged" for items one or two generations out of date.

Well put, both of you !!!

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: krevo
don't know about you guys, but i pulled my board and that goddamn chipset wouldn't come out with all the pins pulled and everything. it was STUCK. didn't want to pry at it but it wouldn't even wiggle, as most do that are held down by thermal tape...

1) I don't think you really mean "chipset" in your message. You don't want to remove the nf4, just the hsf that cools it.

2) Did you run the mobo for a while to heat the nf4 and the thermal paste BEFORE trying to take off the hsf ???

If your fan is fried (as you mentioned previously) then it wouldn't take you long to heat the nf4 which would warm up the thermal paste holding the hsf onto the nf4. Powering down and getting to work quickly (before the nf4 and thermal paste have a chance to cool down) might make removing the nf4 HSF much easier.

 

[krevo]

yah, i left "heatsink" out of the sentence.

so yah, my heatsink was warm to the touch when i got the board out. little to no give at all.

 

[rpendl]

Hello all

My problem is that my 6800 Ultra heat sink extends slighly over my northbridge. So only a very low solution - like the original HSF or the replacement will work.

I would love to put a Zalman NBJ47 or better, but I just dont have the room.

I am pulling my hair out because I don't want to settle for the replacement cooler that will likely crap out after a short while like the original.

Thanks

 

[darkhawk1126]

I know mine was a fun to get out. Of course part of the fun was getting the mb out of the system. Once that was done I did what someone recommended about cutting off the plastic pins that hold the old fan down. Again as someone said, be careful of flying pieces. I went ahead with the Copper based Swiftech hsf that Gerbil mentioned. Works great. The replacement fan came in from ASUS and my wife was wondering where the rest of it was after comparing it to the Switech hsf. Thanks to everyone for their posts and help.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: darkhawk1126
...I went ahead with the Copper based Swiftech hsf that Gerbil mentioned. Works great. The replacement fan came in from ASUS and my wife was wondering where the rest of it was after comparing it to the Switech hsf...

May I ask how difficult an installation job is it to replace the Asus hsf with the Swiftech hsf ??? Being so tall does it interfere with anything else in your case ??? Does it at all interfere with your videocard in the PCI-E slot and what brand and model of PCI-E card are u using ???

Thanks

 

[darkhawk1126]

Originally posted by: Fisher999

May I ask how difficult an installation job is it to replace the Asus hsf with the Swiftech hsf ??? Being so tall does it interfere with anything else in your case ??? Does it at all interfere with your videocard in the PCI-E slot and what brand and model of PCI-E card are u using ???

Thanks

Like I said initially getting the motherboard out was the hardest part. Once it had it out then it was a matter of snipping off the retaining pins from the backside. I did this by holding it at an angle with one hand and then very carefully cutting those off, which then proceeded to go flying. After the old fan was off then I had to use an exacto knife and pealed off the rubber pad that surrounded the chip. Making very sure not to cut into the board. Then I used the two bottles of artic cleaner. Dried the chip off and then started by reapplying artic paste. From that point on you just follow the instructions that come with the hsf. Assembled the fan and brackets as in the diagram. Prior to installing cooler you first put in the four neoprene pads evenly spaced around the chipset. I then installed the two longer screws that have to come up from underneath the mb and which is tightened down by two mini-nuts. Once that's tight enough that nothing moves I then lined up the screws inside of the brackets and dropped the fan/heatsink assembly on top of the chip. Took a long breath and then installed the rest of the tension knobs and springs and tightened. Hooked up the fan and put the mb back in the case. This by the way gave me a chance to clean up my cables.

I put both of my BFG 6600 GT OC cards back in and it was a close fit as you'll see in the pics. The hsf doesn't block anything since I have several fan in the system. So far everything works and it's all very quiet.
thanks..