Fan making noise - cheaper to get another card (second hand).

username#132 · 16-September-07, 01:58 PM

The stock fan on my 6600GT is getting very noisy (intermittently - it's days are numbered) but the cost of a new fan exceeds the cost of the card. Indeed, I could get a better card second-hand off ebay for the cost of a replacement VGA fan. I hate to waste (the card works just fine) and so I have a seemingly unsolveable conundrum...

What causes a fan to start making excessive noise? Is it something I can fix?

TiZakit · 16-September-07, 02:08 PM

It may need some lube. It could have enough dust on it to cause it to become unbalanced.

It may just have worn out the bearings.

You could try lube, peel back the sticker, throw a little in there, replace the sticker. Don't use too much, as it could go flying all over your case.

I just wish I could tell you what kind of oil to use.

Edit: Check it out man... Fan maintenance - oiling bearings for fun and profit!

username#132 · 17-September-07, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiZakit


	It may need some lube. It could have enough dust on it to cause it to become unbalanced. It may just have worn out the bearings. You could try lube, peel back the sticker, throw a little in there, replace the sticker. Don't use too much, as it could go flying all over your case. I just wish I could tell you what kind of oil to use. Edit: Check it out man... Fan maintenance - oiling bearings for fun and profit!

Thanks, I didn't know that was possible. Unfortunately, this fan doesn't seem to have one of those plugs. There's a circle but I think it's just the way it was moulded. I tried to drive it out with a flathead but failed miserably. Anyway it seems to have shut up for now (only time will tell if my jabbing it with a screwdrive made any difference..)

I'll be sure to oil my other fans soon.

username#132 · 18-September-07, 02:33 PM

It's started again... (I knocked the case with my knee).

Perhaps I can unplug the current fan (which fits between the blades of the circular heatsink) and strap on an old case fan. I think that will work well enough. I'm loathe to spend money on a crappy old card that still more than suits my needs. The strap on fan will serve until nVidia brings out a card with a F@H client.

I'll need to use some kind of thin ribbon to do the strapping (since I plan for the ribbon to go the whole way around the card, and fit in the spaces between the contacts). I will thread the ribbon through the holes in the fan. I will use orange ribbon. Nothing can go wrong....

Arc Angel · 18-September-07, 06:13 PM

Quote:


	I will use orange ribbon. Nothing can go wrong....

Famous last words, i dont like the sound of your idea but whatever go ahead (if you break anything you can upgrade

)

Fred_G · 18-September-07, 07:00 PM

JB weld and an 80mm fan are cooling my old borg 9800xt card. Actually cools it well. Wire ties can also be used to mount a fan. I mod ghetto style...

E

username#132 · 06-October-07, 01:25 PM

Graphics card is now being cooled by blue-LED sleeve-bearing case fan "mounted" horizontally via a pretty peice of orange ribbon. This is one of the few modding ideas that I've actually followed through to the end.

Sure, I've heard that you're not supposed to mount sleeve-bearing fans horizontally but it's the only one I had available, and it ain't doin' anyone any good, sittin' in a box, waitin' to be thrown out.

16-September-07, 01:58 PM		#1 (permalink)
username#132 Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Fan making noise - cheaper to get another card (second hand). The stock fan on my 6600GT is getting very noisy (intermittently - it's days are numbered) but the cost of a new fan exceeds the cost of the card. Indeed, I could get a better card second-hand off ebay for the cost of a replacement VGA fan. I hate to waste (the card works just fine) and so I have a seemingly unsolveable conundrum... What causes a fan to start making excessive noise? Is it something I can fix?

16-September-07, 02:08 PM		#2 (permalink)
TiZakit Apex Tech Demi-God	Re: Fan making noise - cheaper to get another card (second hand). It may need some lube. It could have enough dust on it to cause it to become unbalanced. It may just have worn out the bearings. You could try lube, peel back the sticker, throw a little in there, replace the sticker. Don't use too much, as it could go flying all over your case. I just wish I could tell you what kind of oil to use. Edit: Check it out man... Fan maintenance - oiling bearings for fun and profit! Last edited by TiZakit; 16-September-07 at 02:16 PM.

18-September-07, 02:33 PM		#4 (permalink)
username#132 Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Re: Fan making noise - cheaper to get another card (second hand). It's started again... (I knocked the case with my knee). Perhaps I can unplug the current fan (which fits between the blades of the circular heatsink) and strap on an old case fan. I think that will work well enough. I'm loathe to spend money on a crappy old card that still more than suits my needs. The strap on fan will serve until nVidia brings out a card with a F@H client. I'll need to use some kind of thin ribbon to do the strapping (since I plan for the ribbon to go the whole way around the card, and fit in the spaces between the contacts). I will thread the ribbon through the holes in the fan. I will use orange ribbon. Nothing can go wrong....

18-September-07, 07:00 PM		#6 (permalink)
Fred_G !! Sm-hoe-k Free !!	Re: Fan making noise - cheaper to get another card (second hand). JB weld and an 80mm fan are cooling my old borg 9800xt card. Actually cools it well. Wire ties can also be used to mount a fan. I mod ghetto style... E

06-October-07, 01:25 PM		#7 (permalink)
username#132 Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Re: Fan making noise - cheaper to get another card (second hand). Graphics card is now being cooled by blue-LED sleeve-bearing case fan "mounted" horizontally via a pretty peice of orange ribbon. This is one of the few modding ideas that I've actually followed through to the end. Sure, I've heard that you're not supposed to mount sleeve-bearing fans horizontally but it's the only one I had available, and it ain't doin' anyone any good, sittin' in a box, waitin' to be thrown out.

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