A8N-SLi SE Chip Fan failure

Pixellated · 7 Sep 2007 at 10:51

Last Winter/Autumn, the chipset fan on my motherboard (A8N-Sli-SE) started 'grinding' louder than usual, but this resolved itself quickly after bootup, by either waiting about 10 seconds for it to calm down, or me tapping the side of the case or moving the case around.

This time, it's back, and it wasn't just happening at bootup: it randomly kicked in at any point, and I had no real way to get rid of it: I didn't know it was the chipset fan until yesterday after some experimentation with the PC on and the case open.

This morning, I decided to boot up and record the sound it makes so I could post it here, which I did: the wav file can be found here. Now, however, it makes the jittery on/off noise you can hear at 0:17, at which point I turned on my screen to find I was being given a message:

"Your Computer CHIP Fan Fail or speed too low
You can disable this message in the SETUP."

I haven't a clue how I can fix a broken chip fan; it doesn't screw off as I can see, and I can't find a replacement on OcUK. Will I need to replace my motherboard, or can I simply find an alternative cooler if I manage to remove the chip fan and remove the warning?

frying_pan_cat · 7 Sep 2007 at 11:06

A friend had a problem with his chipset fan. I think the chipset fan just clips in with rubber mounts so they just push out

how random · 7 Sep 2007 at 11:09

It unclips from the back of the motherboard, so it has to be taken out.
Ive got the same kind of problem on my A8N-E, although its not as bad as your noise. I have just bought one of these Thermalright HR-05 IFX SLI Northbridge Chipset Heatsink, should be here in the next week or so. I hope it will fit around my graphics card and it will get rid of the noise!

Pixellated · 7 Sep 2007 at 11:18

how random said:
It unclips from the back of the motherboard, so it has to be taken out.
Ive got the same kind of problem on my A8N-E, although its not as bad as your noise. I have just bought one of these Thermalright HR-05 IFX SLI Northbridge Chipset Heatsink, should be here in the next week or so. I hope it will fit around my graphics card and it will get rid of the noise!

Cheers, I'll try that if I can't get anywhere else with it ^_^

If I could find the cause of the problem, then I may be able to sort it: the fan struts and blades didn't seem bent, and I still don't know what kind of contact it's making for the fan to do that.

how random · 7 Sep 2007 at 11:37

I think its just a problem with a lot of these small high RPM fans which this kind of motherboard comes with. The fans do really look and feel quite cheap.
I think Asus will give out replacement fans if you would rather do that, but the same problem would probably come back and they are quite loud as well.

Pixellated · 7 Sep 2007 at 18:41

how random said:
I think its just a problem with a lot of these small high RPM fans which this kind of motherboard comes with. The fans do really look and feel quite cheap.
I think Asus will give out replacement fans if you would rather do that, but the same problem would probably come back and they are quite loud as well.

I went and bought that heatsink a few hours ago (I live about a 10 minute drive from OcUK), but I think I'll go back and buy a basic 40mm chipset fan from them, as the heatsink's going to be hard to install with the space I have, and I have no spare 80mm to clip onto it. Thanks for the help anyway.