Need to replace graphics card fan

zilog_jones

I recently got a second-hand GeForce 4 Ti4200 (Creative, 64MB), but the fan sounds very dodgy - it's really noisy for about a minute after starting up, and it's still quite loud afterwards. It sounds like some crappy sleeve bearing fan that's about to die, so I want to replace it ASAP. It's definately the graphics card fan making the horrendous noise.

I've changed/refitted CPU heatsinks/fans before, but never ones on graphics cards. So, are the fittings standardised and stuff? And can anyone recommend me a fan to get and where to get this kind of stuff from (Komplett don't have much of a selection)? I'd like something reliable and quiet enough but don't want to spend too much on something for such an old card - then again anything will be quieter than what's in there now! I probably won't overclock it.

KELTICKNIGHTT

have a fan off ati x800xt card ,if any good for you

zilog_jones

Will it even fit?

uberpixie

Get an artic cooler.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Arctic_Cooling.html
(does take up 2 slots though...)

There's one there for a gf 4.

It really would be your best bet.

There is a vantec cooler on this page for a gf4
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_Vantec.html

Would go with the artic cooler.

KELTICKNIGHTT

fits ati cards,never tryed on nvidia card ,maybe someone can advise on that,it there if you want it,im not far from you

zilog_jones

uberpixie wrote:

Get an artic cooler.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Arctic_Cooling.html
(does take up 2 slots though...)

Hmm, dunno about that - it's in a micro-ATX case, and there's only one free PCI slot - and I might get a USB2/firewire card...

Are Vantec good? I'm not bothered as long as the fan has half-decent bearings.

TerrorFirmer

Is there really any point though? A fan will cost a few euros and you could just pick up a second hand replacement Geforce card for about 15 euro here on boards instead....or even something like a 9200/fx5200 for 25-30

uberpixie

zilog_jones wrote:

Hmm, dunno about that - it's in a micro-ATX case, and there's only one free PCI slot - and I might get a USB2/firewire card...

Are Vantec good? I'm not bothered as long as the fan has half-decent bearings.

Not sure. Prob would do the job.

Havok has a point with the cost of getting the fan + shipping.

I do have an old dead gf4,you know the one ;-), with a barely used artic cooler if you want to strip the cooler off it.

zilog_jones

HavoK wrote:

Is there really any point though? A fan will cost a few euros and you could just pick up a second hand replacement Geforce card for about 15 euro here on boards instead....or even something like a 9200/fx5200 for 25-30

Yeah but I don't really want to get something that uses more power as the PC in question uses a non-standard and not particularly highly-rated Compaq PSU that I don't want to kill, and I won't gain much out of a better card anyway as the PIII-933 is *kinda* the bottleneck here.

uberpixie: Never got it to work then?!

uberpixie

zilog_jones wrote:

Yeah but I don't really want to get something that uses more power as the PC in question uses a non-standard and not particularly highly-rated Compaq PSU that I don't want to kill, and I won't gain much out of a better card anyway as the PIII-933 is *kinda* the bottleneck here.

uberpixie: Never got it to work then?!

No! Think I poxed it from overclocking the nuts off it back in the day.

Being stuck in a mank qtec case with qtec psu for a few weeks before I could replace it with a real chieftech case + psu did not help I'm sure:-), but you always learn the hard wway with your first build!

Myself and jonnie got the cooler more for seeing how they were fitted on gfx cards more than any real hope of resurecting the card :-)

The artic cooler is sittting on a shelf at home still on the gf4.

It is fixed to the board with screw on pins, so it will be easy to take off.

All you might need is some tim cleaner.

TerrorFirmer

Why not just look for a Geforce MX Model - none of the Geforce MX cards prior to the Ti models need fans and would cost about a tenner to pick up second hand here on boards! And as well as that, any game/application thats runs satisfactory on a 933mhz machine won't demand anything more graphically demanding then a Geforce 3/4 mx anyway....

Speedway

i use an artic cooling Nv5 Silencer Fan on my Geforce 6800GT and it works really well and its very quiet. don't know if they do one for the Geforce 4 series though http://www.arctic-cooling.com/vga1.php

uberpixie

Speedway wrote:

i use an artic cooling Nv5 Silencer Fan on my Geforce 6800GT and it works really well and its very quiet. don't know if they do one for the Geforce 4 series though http://www.arctic-cooling.com/vga1.php

They do: I have one on a shagged gf4 at home which Zilog will be getting off me when I next drag my ass down to limerick :-)

Artic coolers really are great and are well worth the money.

Speedway

ya i agree if possible use an artic cooling one. like i said i used one on my 6800gt and temps dropped at idle but nearly 10 degrees and similar scales at load. and as well as being very quiet it looks damn cool :P