Graphics Card Fan 1

[AJ1982]

My machine appears to have recently stopped booting properly, removal of devices I noticed my exhause fan is not spinning (much) and worse, the graphics card fandoesnt seem to spin. (ATI RADEON 9700)

The fan doesnt seem easy to manually spin, am I right in saying that...

The Fan is simply screwed and I should buy a new graphics card.

Or does the fan only come on once it gets hot (Dont wantto leave it on longenough, never looked before)

Cheers

AJ

===

Fatman Superstar (Andrew James)

CCNA, CCAI

 

[pmonett]

As far as I know, all fans in a system start spinning directly at boot. In most models, they remain at 100% speed, but the newer generations (FX 5.x, 6.x and X800) do have fan speed throttle functionality.
I am not aware that the R9800 throttles the fan.
No fan should be "hard" to move manually, if so, it is probably to be replaced.
The "exhaust" fan you are talking about is on the PSU, right ?
If so, and it does not turn either, search no further. Your PC is not booting because neither the PSU nor the graphics card are properly cooled.
Thankfully, both have security cutoffs, which makes it possible to imagine that they are not damaged.

However, I would not push my luck too far. Get them replaced ASAP. The PSU will probably have to be replaced entirely, but you should be able to replace just the fan on the graphics card.

Pascal.

 

[AJ1982]

Thanks for the info, although I still get the problems on my machine with the VGA card removed.

But thanks for confirming I need a new VGA card

Any suggestions on new powerful ones, sorry starting a new topic now

===

Fatman Superstar (Andrew James)

CCNA, CCAI

 

[norty303]

I recently dismantled my PC and noticed that the GFX card fan was not spinning. I attempted to move it with my finger and found it VERY stiff. I thought that it may have burnt up and so was about to bin it. I thought i'd give it one last chance and sprayed it with light oil in the side and also removed the heat reflective sticker on the bottom and sprayed directly onto the spindle. After a bit more movement it started to free up and then eventually became silky smooth. It's now back in the PC running like a dream!

I think the heat from the card causes the lube in the motor to dry up and become more viscous. A bit of fresh stuff sorts it out. Give it a try, you've got nothing to lose

 

[paparazi]

FatmanSuperstar
I certainly wouldn't wright off! a graphics card just because the fan is seizing.
These small 40/50mm fans typically use phosphur bronze bearings which are supposed to be self lubricating, at least in theory but in reality these sieze up with great regularity.
All they need is 1/2 drops of a fine three in one oil applying from the rear (usually underneath the back sticker) a few turns and a good clean and they are, well good for another few months at least.
Roller bearings are always superior but cost more and in this penny pinching market every bit saved is more profit, shame really because we are talking pennies for much better reliability.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Echoe]

I had this problem a while ago also. Instead of just ditching the card, I called the manufacturer (Gainward), and they actually just sent me a replacement HSF. I replaced this and then decided to take apart the old one to see what was wrong. I found the it had actually rusted solid. I believe it was the magnets, because they probably have some iron content. This only happened though because I live in a very humid climate (New Jersey) and I was gone for 8 weeks so I didn't start it.

 

[micker377]

I just replaced my GForce card (beeeeeep beep beep). When I pulled it, my finger hit the fan and I noticed it wouldn't turn! Freed it up, but it was too late. When I went to put in a new card, I noticed that there was about 1/16 of an inch between the fan and the next card. By swapping my audio card (L-shaped) with another full card, I got the fan to have almost complete clearence.

 

[PeteWeedon]

<Roller bearings are always superior>

except that they are generically noisier than plain bearing bushes.

In my experience, the latter are usually sintered bronze rather than phosphor bronze; sintered bronze is porous and the initial charge of oil resides in the pores. But yes, that initial charge doesn't last forever.


Best regards,

Pete W.

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs - you haven't seen the latest Change Note!

 

[felixc]

Your Radeon9700 may not be dead. It is not a cheap board either. Give a try to change the fan before buying a new card.
Also give a try to your motherboard with another cheap card that you can borrow from a friend or from the store who could sell you a good card later. Maybe that the motherboard bellied up too.
A new graphics card? It depends on what your priorities are! Either Radeon or GeForce, the top models do paerform well, but the power dissipated goes along. If the perfomance of the 9700 was fine to you, the Radeon 9600XT is a very stable product, it performs a bit better than your 9700, and it is not a power hog. I use an AIW9600XT and so far this is the most stable ATI board that I've seen.

 

[N3XuS]

There's a zalman cooler for these type of GFX cards btw. It doesn't come cheap "around 100€", but works really good It consists of 2 heat sinks on either side and a fan on the side of the card. It seems like espescially the "non-existent" aldi XL and XXL models seem to have big fan problems so I had it replaced by a zalman.