a8n-sli chipset heatsink fan

[jestes99]

Originally posted by: cdcushman

Originally posted by: induveca
Hey guys, been following this thread for a while.

Found a fan which works GREAT, and also even dug through the crates at home depot to find screws which would easily screw onto the existing heatsink through the new fan.

I hope this saves you guys a lot of time. Note however, the fan is a 4 pin fan........so if you want to plug it into the Northbridge fan slot you'll need a 4 pin to 3 pin connector. I just plugged it into a 4 prong.

This fan has an RPM of 4300, and is only 19 DBA! It's also made by a GREAT company, Papst. My northbridge temps idle at 32-34 C and it's completely quiet!

I bought the fan for about 16 bucks here:
(NOTE: Remove the current fan, it's simple and temps are lower without leaving it in there.)

http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/40mmpapst.html

If you want to purchase the same screws I used to mount it to the existing heatsink, here's all the info off the HomeDepot Screw Bag:

#4 x 5/8" Metal

Pan Head
Phillips
13 Pcs 24791
ZINC/CINC

Crown Bolt Inc

The Bar Code number on the back of the little bag is 30699 24791

Hope this helps everyone! Note, I'm using this fan with 2 eVGA 6800 Ultra cards. It's a very tight fit, but it pops right in. It baaaaarely bends a single fin on my EVGA heatsink, but it's not a problem at all. For those of you without hte gargantuan eVGA Ultra heatsinks even less of a worry.

Also, anyone out there who has a PC Power and Cooling 510 SLI PSU.......please note.........the fan in that thing is LOUD as well. I was super excited to remove the stock northbridge fan, only to be driven crazy by the PSU fan.

I was lucky enough to have an old PC with a PC Power and Cooling 510 ATX PSU which I found to be very quiet. I just swapped out the fan in that one and threw it in the SLI version.

For anyone who is driven batty by this same problem, just give PC Power and Cooling a call and ask to buy the same fan (NOT THE DELTA FAN!) in the "standard" 510 ATX PSU.

Good luck, and quiet SLI computing. :-D

Has anyone else tried this and seen the same results...
or have come across a better, hopefully the BEST solution!!??

I can't wait to stomp that fan under my boot!!!!!!

I bought the same fan and It works great. I found the screws at Home Depot just like induveca said.

Thanks guys.

Jestes

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: darkhawk1126
...it was a matter of snipping off the retaining pins from the backside...which then proceeded to go flying... Then I used the two bottles of artic cleaner. Dried the chip off and then started by reapplying artic paste...it was a close fit as you'll see in the pics. Here's a link to my puter.. http://photos.yahoo.com/darkhawk1126

I hope you didn't almost put out someone's eyes when those pins went flying as one poster mentioned.....

When you say you used two bottles or Arctic Cleaner do you mean two bottles each of cleaner 1) ArctiClean Thermal Material Remover and 2) ArctiClean Thermal Surface Purifier or just SOME of each of the two bottles ??? I have 30ml bottles of each. Do I need to buy more before starting the project ???

BTW, thanks for the pics !!!

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: jestes99
...Thanks guys.

Jestes

Jestes:

No problem; glad I could help, lol

 

[Buck Naked]

I can not wait..
I ordered a Danger Den setup, and noticed they had a block for An Asus A8N chipset. So I figured I would give it a shot.
Danger Den MAZE4 ASUS A8N Chipset Block
I should have it in by next weekend. I will post with my results.

 

[BeyondZork]

Okay, well hello everyone,

I built my system at the beginning of the year, and have been running completely smooth. Until recently. The A8n-SLI northbridge chipset fan started to fail, so I went to Fry's and bought a Cooler Master PAC-P01-UB Chipset Heatsink, and a 40mm fan to sit on top. On a separate note, while I was there I also bought a pair of Liantec Iceberg DDR-A1C Copper Memory Heatspreaders for my 2 RAM chips. Got home, removed the ASUS stock "heatsink," used a dab of A5 on the chipset (the old one had a large thermal pad) but didn't put any on the rubber sleeve or anywhere, used 4 2" zinc coated screws to attach the fan to the heatsink, installed the RAM coolers (1st time using those), and booted up.

Here's a pic:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3585/mvc004s7bd.jpg

Didn't notice any significant change in temps but felt assured that my chipset issue was taken care of. So I updated my 6800 GT drivers from 71.89 to 77.72, and my nforce4 chipset drvers as well. Used the computer all day, and everything was fine. Next day, after a long day's use, I played NWN (Never Winter Nights). Played the game for about an hour and had my first ever complete freeze up. I rebooted, thinking "that's weird," and played again. Half-hour later, another freeze. Checked my temps, nothing abnormal, thought I'd play 1 more time to see what was getting hot, about 30 minutes playing and my 3rd freeze up of the night.

Next day, I searched and found that the latest Nvidia drivers cause freezes, so I reverted back to 71.89. Used the computer (work on ebay) for about 8 hours fine. Then played NWN again, and about 1 hour into it, another freeze. Arghh!

The chipset and fan combo I installed is like 1/4" from my GeForce 6800 GT, and I thought maybe the close proximity was causing that end of the board to overheat (not the graphics chipset) so I reset the heatsink with A5 again, and cut out one side of the fan case so that it would kind of blow air up that side onto the 6800 as well as down onto the heatsink. Went to bed.

Woke up this morning, turned on the comp, and within 2-3 minutes of browsing Firefox it freezed! Weird because the other freezes came only after a long day's use and ONLY when playing NWN.

Then I thought, "I wonder if it isn't those damn Liantec Copper RAM coolers I put on. So I took those off. Booted back up, and have been online and running for about 4 hours. I haven't played NWN yet, so I don't know if it was the RAM coolers or what. Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions? I gues the moral of the story is "don't make too many changes at one time!"

LIST OF CHANGES MADE:

1.)Removed A8N-SLI stock heatsink, installed Cooler Master HS with A5
2.)Installed 40mm fan on the HS
3.)Installed Liantec Copper Heatspreaders on both RAM chips
4.)Updated Nvidia Forceware driver from 71.89 to 77.72
4.)Updated nforce4 chipset drivers to 6.66

CHANGES "UNDONE:"

1.)Reverted back to 71.89 Forceware drivers
2.)Removed Liantec Copper Heatspreaders from RAM chips


* Also, in an odd note, my system clock on the taskbar has lost 20 minutes... what's up with that? *

I guess my next step will be to revert those chipset drivers back, but I have a feeling this is a weird heat issue, buut then again this morning when I booted up it froze up after 5 minutes running... what's up? HELP LEASE!


Thank you!

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
AMD 64 3200+ Socket 939
eVGA GeForce 6800 GT PCI-E
Creative SB Audigy 2
1G (2x512) Corsair Value Select PC3200 DDR RAM
2x 80GB Western Digital HD in RAID-O
Antec Neo-Power 480W PSU

 

[Regulator07]

i would say chipset if not heat, i know i installed the 6.66 drivers and boom bsods, and i have never had a bsod other than these. clean installed the 6.53 and no problems since, i am gonna wait before i update drivers again, 6.66 didnt make me feel very confident in them, plus they are the mark of the devil (666)

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: Regulator07
.. installed the 6.66 drivers and boom bsods, and i have never had a bsod other than these. clean installed the 6.53 and no problems since...

Thanks for the info on the 6.66 drivers; they are to be avoided it seems.

 

[Pooed Unit]

I went through 3 of these fans before it was replaced with the new type fitted by Asus onto the mobo now. It is bigger and is mounted like a diamond (due to the larger fan size). It has been going faultlessly for a week now and it is pretty quiet. Asus are aware of this and are supplying the new type of fan to anyone who has a problem. Just go back to the vendor you purchased the board from and they should replace it for free (and they should probably fit it for you also.

 

[BeyondZork]

Yeah, I called tech support, in the US call 1-502-995-0883 -

They'll mail you a replacement, no questions asked - No need to go to your store (unless you want them to fit it).

Just don't ask for ASUS tech support! I got a teenage-sounding kid, seemed like he was half-stoned, and his responses were as minimalist as possible, as if his job sucked and I were a BIG nusicance lol! It was almost comical, seriously.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: BeyondZork
Yeah, I called tech support, in the US call 1-502-995-0883 -

They'll mail you a replacement, no questions asked - No need to go to your store (unless you want them to fit it).

Just don't ask for ASUS tech support! I got a teenage-sounding kid, seemed like he was half-stoned, and his responses were as minimalist as possible, as if his job sucked and I were a BIG nusicance lol! It was almost comical, seriously.

Read other pages of this thread; most agree that the replacement fan "sucks" just as much as the original and most people used an alternative method for cooling the nf4 chip.

 

[darkhawk1126]

Originally posted by: Fisher999

I hope you didn't almost put out someone's eyes when those pins went flying as one poster mentioned.....

When you say you used two bottles or Arctic Cleaner do you mean two bottles each of cleaner 1) ArctiClean Thermal Material Remover and 2) ArctiClean Thermal Surface Purifier or just SOME of each of the two bottles ??? I have 30ml bottles of each. Do I need to buy more before starting the project ???

BTW, thanks for the pics !!!

Sorry it took a while to reply..
Nah I was the only one in the room working on it so no one was harmed in the removal. Granted it would have been embarassing if I came out clutching an eye.

Sorry on the cleaner I purchased from Frozen, it's two bottles in one pack.. remover and purifier. They worked great. Nah I still have plenty left. You only need to use a little bit. I was very careful not to let the liquid roll very far from the chip itself.
good luck..

 

[darkhawk1126]

Originally posted by: Fisher999
Read other pages of this thread; most agree that the replacement fan "sucks" just as much as the original and most people used an alternative method for cooling the nf4 chip.

Agreed! Once I received the replacement fan I simply left it in the package. I think it'd make a better hood ornament.
I have a friend at work who purchased the premium version of the board. The fan has been replaced with a cool pipe now..

 

[AiponGkooja]

They should allow people to trade in their faulty Deluxe's for marked-down Premium's... Mine has been running for a while now with an unworking fan and no problems so far (should get the replacement and install it, but I'm guessing if I installed it myself my board would be FUBAR). Maybe my case fans are cooling the stock heatsink enough without the little annoying fan? *shrug*

Anyway, was wondering what I need to buy to install the replacement hs/fan. Some sort of thermal paste I'm guessing? Figures their "free" replacement wouldn't be entirely free...of COURSE you have to pay for ASUS's mistakes, I mean, you bought the product so you should be responsible for its faults, right? /rant

 

[Gerbil333]

Aipon, you're going to fry your board if you DON'T replace the hsf.

The replacement hsf Asus sends comes with a thermal pad. You don't need anything else. It is completely free, besides your time.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: darkhawk1126
Sorry it took a while to reply...Nah I still have plenty left. You only need to use a little bit. I was very careful not to let the liquid roll very far from the chip itself.
good luck...

Thanks, I'll need it !!!

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: Buck Naked
I can not wait..
I ordered a Danger Den setup, and noticed they had a block for An Asus A8N chipset. So I figured I would give it a shot.
Danger Den MAZE4 ASUS A8N Chipset Block
I should have it in by next weekend. I will post with my results.

Buck:

Have you installed that Danger Den block on your nf4 chip ???

Are u happy with the results ???

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: darkhawk1126

Originally posted by: Fisher999
Read other pages of this thread; most agree that the replacement fan "sucks" just as much as the original and most people used an alternative method for cooling the nf4 chip.

Agreed! Once I received the replacement fan I simply left it in the package. I think it'd make a better hood ornament.
I have a friend at work who purchased the premium version of the board. The fan has been replaced with a cool pipe now..

I couldn't agree more and yeah, I NOW know about the heatpipe solution that Asus chose for the premium version AND the price has dropped considerably on ALL the A8N boards; if I would have known about the problem with the hsf BEFORE I purchased the mobo I would have purchased the "premium" or another brand of nf4.

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
Aipon, you're going to fry your board if you DON'T replace the hsf.

The replacement hsf Asus sends comes with a thermal pad. You don't need anything else. It is completely free, besides your time.

It's ALMOST free; you have to call an NON Toll-Free number to contact Asus and if you have to wait for a while listening to Muzak it can start to add up.

 

[Buck Naked]

Originally posted by: Fisher999

Originally posted by: Buck Naked
I can not wait..
I ordered a Danger Den setup, and noticed they had a block for An Asus A8N chipset. So I figured I would give it a shot.
Danger Den MAZE4 ASUS A8N Chipset Block
I should have it in by next weekend. I will post with my results.

Buck:

Have you installed that Danger Den block on your nf4 chip ???

Are u happy with the results ???

Unfortunately my pump was delayed:disgust:
I have to wait another week. It will be tough with all of these nice shinny parts lying around.

 

[AiponGkooja]

Originally posted by: Fisher999

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
Aipon, you're going to fry your board if you DON'T replace the hsf.

The replacement hsf Asus sends comes with a thermal pad. You don't need anything else. It is completely free, besides your time.

It's ALMOST free; you have to call an NON Toll-Free number to contact Asus and if you have to wait for a while listening to Muzak it can start to add up.

Well I guess I should do that then...although, if my board gets fried because of their own stupid mistake, isn't that covered under the warranty? They should just send me a premium for a replacement (I mean, I did pay almost 200 for the thing when it first came out, and premiums are under that right now...and the customer is always right, right? :-D) But I digress, I'll call em tomorrow I guess. Thanks for the info too.
-Aip

 

[StuDizzle]

I got the zalman heatsink. Installation was a pain and now my temp is 5 degrees higher than it was with the defective fan. I have the new fan asus sent me... I may just put that in if it gets too hot. I uploaded some pics to this server u can check it out.

Mobo Pics

 

[darkhawk1126]

Originally posted by: Fisher999

Originally posted by: darkhawk1126
Sorry it took a while to reply...Nah I still have plenty left. You only need to use a little bit. I was very careful not to let the liquid roll very far from the chip itself.
good luck...

Thanks, I'll need it !!!

I think that was the easiest part. A dab will do ya. Have fun putting the mb back in.

 

[darkhawk1126]

Originally posted by: Fisher999
I couldn't agree more and yeah, I NOW know about the heatpipe solution that Asus chose for the premium version AND the price has dropped considerably on ALL the A8N boards; if I would have known about the problem with the hsf BEFORE I purchased the mobo I would have purchased the "premium" or another brand of nf4.

That's how it usually works out. The first batch of boards are a test to see how they work and then they learn and repair as they go.

 

[PoweredbyHonda]

Man I read the whole thread. Now I'm dieing. My eyes are bleeding and I still havent decided what too do. Asus *AH-SUE* as they say at Asus is sending me the NEW SUPER GODLY FAN!!!!


However, some of you think its just as bad as the old one...


I DONT WANNA TAKE OUT MY MB!!!!

My chipset fan sounds like a pulse! ZZZZZZZZZZZ...stop...ZZZZZZZZZZZZ...stop!

Its so annoying that I need to have music on very loud.

Is there any fan I can just bolt on and it will connect directly to the mb without an adapter?

I still havent decided what to do with the old fan once I take it out...smash it on my street with baseball bat? or crush it in bare hands...or light it on fire. I will probably do the bat one.

I have 1 more question...when you say clearence does that mean put a space between the new 4cm fan and the old stock heat sync???

Any pics?:|

 

[AiponGkooja]

Originally posted by: PoweredbyHonda

I still havent decided what to do with the old fan once I take it out...smash it on my street with baseball bat? or crush it in bare hands...or light it on fire. I will probably do the bat one.

Eat it, crap it out, and mail it back to ASUS.

Edit: And demand that they pay you for it.