ak31 northbridge cooler, HELP!!

[juliendogg]

okay, so i start hearing a funny noise from my fan. sounds like one of my intake fans has sucked up a little wire or something. so i pull the case and it's the northbridge fan. i knew before i bought this board that people were having problems with it and someone in shuttle mainboard section said they gave theirs a little lubrication with graphite so i tried that but no good. seems like the motor is spinning fine but looses grip with the actual prop and it slows down making a really nice noise.
so what i need to know is if the northbridge fan dies will the chipset still be okay running under a load or do i need to keep it shut off when i'm not monitoring it. and also suggestions for a new cooler for the n/b
apreciate any help asap

[William]

it will probably be ok if the fan goes off. I would just get another cooler. There are northbridge sinks out there that work really well such as the chipset orbs. Also, old Pentium heatsinks or heatsink/fans do the job fine as well.

[Yodums]

Just to be sure I would get a tube of Arctic Allumina Adhensive and a Crystal Orb and replace it ASAP.

Because if that fan dies out while your not noticing you may just fry everything.

Yodums

[Neco]

I have an AK31 myself.


it's a well documented problem alot of people have, the fan can become "unbalanced" and starts making that kinda noise.

some people say greasing it up fixed it, others say lawing their tower on its side, giving the fan a poke or two and a turn, and it was balanced again ..


I'd just replace it if it worries you tho.. or call Shuttle and ask for a new one (joke of the day....what tech support? shuttle who?)

[ken257]

I had the same problem with my A7V133. The system will run ok if the fan stops but it can hinder your fsb overclocking ability. I used a stock Intel P3 HSF as a replacement. Drill and tap some holes in the base and screw it down with some nylon bolts. As a side benifit I got a few more mhz out of the fsb after doing this mod :)

[juliendogg]

i tried the lube and poke and spin. i tried one, both, all three, all three at the same time *LOL* i definately wanna change it cuz my computer is usually crunching seti while i'm at work for 9 hours and i don't like the idea of the n/b sitting there cooking. i always though that the active cooling was just a plus and not necesary but people have had to rma their shuttles from that fan dying and killing the n/b. i'll just leave it off for now when not using. and could anyone give me advice on removing the n/b cooler. is it glued and how do those funky little corner bolts work. they don't seem to do anything. i've got 0 experience with this, never even had a board with active cooling on the n/b before. i'll be at work till 4 pm est but i'll check back after that and any help and more ideas would be great. i've got a little fan from a slot a cooler but couldn't think of a way to mount it to that tiny h/s....??

[juliendogg]

bump.... bump bump bump

how is the hsf mounted on the north bridge, looks like a regular chipset cooler, is it glued or do the little bolts on the two corners actually hold it on? i wasn't able to get it off. didn't try very hard thought i'd try an get some advice first.
please help asap!

[WA2]

i used asii epox to hold mine in (Crystal orb) i did have to rip one of the pins off to make it sit center on the nb....the holes and the pins wont line up on a Crystal orb and ak31

[juliendogg]

do the pins actually hold it on. they don't seem to do anything on mine. is it glued as well??

i found an old chipset cooler in one of my crap boxes and the fan from it was a perfect fit. temporary solution and no more grinding racket. but i'd still like to upgrade asap

[WA2]

check this

SINK (http://www.butta.net/x/wa2/sink/)

[Mr B]

Originally posted by WA2
check this

SINK (http://www.butta.net/x/wa2/sink/)

Hmmmmm...

Does the Crystal Orb have the same dimensions as the Blue Orb?? I might just have to take one of the ones I have here to work and do some carving, if they do.... ;)

That IS an AK31 3.1 mobo in those shots, right??

[Yodums]

Originally posted by Mr B


Hmmmmm...

Does the Crystal Orb have the same dimensions as the Blue Orb?? I might just have to take one of the ones I have here to work and do some carving, if they do.... ;)

That IS an AK31 3.1 mobo in those shots, right??

I'm 99% sure it is since his sig lists AK31.

The Blorb is about the same dimensions of a Corb. Even though you have to carve the Corb preforms pretty well over the blorb and the carving looks like a small job.

Yodums

[WA2]

yeppers...ak31....just rip that tab of on the side =)