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Duff fan bearing, any solution??

Chris [BEANS]

Chris [BEANS]

Chris [BEANS]

Soldato
Joined
30 Dec 2003
Posts
6,374
Location
Bigger box!
So, I've put together a new PC, I'm really happy with it, and I'm really really pleased with how quiet it is.

Unfortunately, that's where the problem lies...

When the GPU heats up there's a vibration or rattle. Quite an obvious one too. I've been tinkering, and I thought it had stopped, so I assumed it must have been a wire vibrating against something, or something not seated properly that was rectified by chance when faffing about. Sadly not the case, it came back after around an hour :(

After lots of investigation with a microphone, I've found the issue. It's one of the three fans on the GPU. Specifically, it's the fan closest to the rear of the case.

This is the fan causing the noise, and this fan is also clearly 'looser' than the other two. The other two are rock solid if you touch them, this one has lots of play, and if you gently tap it you can practically recreate the rattle that I hear when the GPU heats up.

Interwebs investigation tells me this is a duff fan bearing.

Is there a solution? Can I change an individual fan on a GPU?

Is it proportionate to RMA the whole thing for the sake of one annoying fan?

I've already RMA'd a PSU from the build, but that was definitely faulty and being a PSU I was concerned it might damage other components, in this case it's just annoying... I'm not sure that qualifies as a reason to return it?!?!

I was hoping to get used to it, but I can't. It's too loud, and in a brand new PC that I'm really pleased with, honestly I really don't want to just 'put up' with an issue anyway...

If it can be fixed, great, if it qualifies for an RMA I will but that's a major pain, and if neither is an option then looks like someone on MM who solely uses a hedset is getting a bargain!!

Cheers for your time, and if anyone from OcUK sees this and can advise on whether an RMA is even a realistic possibility, please shout up.

Chris
 
I did buy from OcUK...

Currently got a PSU sent off for a refund. I replaced it at the same time as I sent the duff one back, and I’m in no rush for the money, but to wait as long with no GPU is rubbish

Can’t be helped, nobodies fault, still rubbish!!
 
****!!

Just had an email to say the ‘serial number isn’t present, so tough’.

I can only assume the serial number was on the small white sticker that was on the very visible front right corner of the backplate (as you look through the case window).

As it’s an all black build, I obviously took it off. Had no idea it would void warranty?!?!

It’s a small sticker, and it’s not like it was somewhere to ensure there’s no tampering etc?!

Why have a nice black backplate, but have a mandatory sticker on it?!?!

I’m not happy
 
What’s really annoying me, is me!! I took it off literally a day before I sent it back too!!!

I’m left with either living with it, which I’m not going to do, or replacing it, which is not only expensive to do but also a wasted £630 on the one I have.
 
Thekwango said:
that's a crappy one. tell them there's no indication that removal of sticker invalidates warranty (hopefully it didn't say that on the sticker!!) gigabyte card isn't it?
Click to expand...
Nah, I’m not trying to ‘get away’ with anything. If the fact is that peeling off that sticker cost me £600, then such is life.

I don’t know for sure if there was a warning on the sticker or not. I’m confident there was not, I’m not an idiot and I’ve put time money and effort into this computer, I wouldn’t deliberately void my warranty, but the fact is I can’t be absolutely sure there was no warning on there.

Yeah, Gigabyte card...
 
A bit of googling suggests that there are no stickers that void warranty, it’s only things like the removal of coolers etc (which I wouldn’t know how to do even if I wanted to!!) that void warranty.

@GIGA-Man , can you possibly confirm whether removal of the sticker from the backplate voids warranty or not?

As I’ve said, I’m not trying to get away with anything and if that sticker cost me £630 then so be it, but I’d like to be absolutely sure before I take it on the chin.
 
Thekwango said:
sorry fella, not trying to suggest you are try to pull a fast one. to my mind the only people trying to 'get away' with anything are whoever is refusing the warranty due to the missing sticker. i'd be 99% certain there was no mention of warranty void if removed on that sticker. wear and tear/handling could remove it given it's on the backplate so i'd highly doubt the legality of refusing warranty just because it's missing. if the manufacturer hasn't the wit to put the serial number on the pcb or somewhere more discrete/secure that's on them not the consumer. i imagine though you'll get sorted, gigabyte and indeed giga-man are pretty damn good with warranty. dare i guess it's OcUK themselves that have rejected the return?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it’s OcUK who have refused it, but I have to be fair and say that I’ve always found OcUK customer service to be top notch in the past. They’ve taken returns and refunded me for duff stuff without fuss before.

I’ve messaged customer service directly for clarification before I accept it.

We’ll see...

(the more I think of it, the more sure I am there was no ‘warranty void if removed’ warning on that sticker!)

Worst case I’ll sell it on MM, someone will get a massive (but slightly annoying) bargain, and I’ll get another... Ti??? :p
 
Yeah, I hear you all, it’s certainly not a complaint and if the warrant is void, it’s void, but it’s frustrating and worth a final check to be sure.

I reckon the card must still be worth £500, and that makes a Ti much more affordable.

(Ha, if OcUK see this, they’ll never help out if they think it’ll cost them the sale of a Ti :p)
 
Thekwango said:
yea OcUK are usually pretty good with their cs but like any retailer they'll often take the 'path of least resistance' which in this instance is to just say 'nope'
I'd defo be getting on to Gigabyte - raise a ticket on their website (their rep on here is top notch and has sorted bigger issues than this but he sometimes takes a while to reply due to other commitments), serial number may well be on the card elsewhere and while OcUK might knock it back gigabyte may well sort it directly.
Click to expand...
Cheers dude. I’ll wait to hear back from OcUK, and hopefully the Gigabyte rep tagged in here before I do anything else.
 
Yeah, cheers all, fingers crossed it gets sorted.

There’s the full audit trail of the purchase, and even the contemporaneous thread of the build :p

Ultimately, this is about as ‘first world problem’ as it gets, so not worth too much upset, but it is a massive downer on a shiny new build I’ve been trying to sort out forever.

I’ll definitely keep you all posted.
 
*Update*

Had a reply from customer services and I’m told that the warranty is indeed void due to the sticker being removed.
However, they haven’t shipped it back to me yet and they’ll contact Gigabyte directly tomorrow and ask if they will accept it anyway.

I’m genuinely not saying this to keep them on side, but I really do think OcUK customer services is cracking.

If the warranty is void, they’re under no obligation to speak to Gigabyte on my behalf, and the fact they’re going to is top notch.

They’ve already made the sale, and could simply say no.

I’ll let you know when I know....
 
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