PC surgery might be needed

Mark · 19-02-2007, 18:21

One of my PCs is making a horrible noise and I've got a sinking feeling that it's the fan on the Northbridge or PSU. I hope not, but I'd better be prepared if it is.

If it's the PSU, I don't fancy opening the PSU to fix it. I don't like playing in PSUs with scary big capacitors ready to bite me, and not being able to see where errant fingers are heading, and this PSU is extra small, which just magnifies the problem.

If it's the Northbridge, that fan is almost completely inaccessible - clearences are so tight that you literally have to empty the case bar the CPU, motherboard and RAM. If I get it all out, I'm pretty certain I won't be able to get it all back in (in particular the CPU heatsink).

So, assuming I can eliminate system and CPU fans (already done two, two to go), would anyone be willing to help? It's an SFF system (not a Shuttle though), but that still doesn't make it easy to hoik around, though I can probably get it to London without much bother.

Any ideas gratefully accepted.

Mark · 19-02-2007, 20:36

I'd do it myself save for the fact that heatsinks and PSUs scare me.

I'm about to build a C2D system too - and I'm going to try and do that one myself.

Stan_Lite · 20-02-2007, 00:49

I've had a PSU apart to replace a fan before but that was a standard ATX PSU. I can imagine a smaller PSU would be difficult - especially with restricted vision.
Northbridge fans are fiddly buggers too.

I wish you luck Mark.

Stan

Matblack · 20-02-2007, 11:03

I ran my old Abit board without a Northbridge fan for a while, as long as the sink is good and you can get a small ammout of airflow to it it should be OK, it never crashed on me

MB

Mark · 20-02-2007, 14:37

Airflow. Not much. Heatsink. Tiny. If it is the Northbridge fan, it'll need fixing ASAP.

Dr. Z · 20-02-2007, 17:04

I would offer to help but I am prohibitively far away

Admiral Huddy · 21-02-2007, 12:37

Are you Oc'ing Mark?

If not you may get away with passively cooling the NB as cooling blocks are dirt cheap but as you say this might not be easy. You need specialist equipment to ensure the PSU is safe to work on... They are dangerous even when switched off

You could take out the PSU, turn it on outside the case if you can't hear where the noise is coming from.

Mark · 21-02-2007, 14:21

I'll be able to figure it out when it gets consistant enough that I can move the system out of it's current location and set it up on a desk. I can then eliminate most of the fans straight away.

My laptop cooler also has the same problem (noise), but I don't have screwdrivers small enough to open the sod up. Whoever thought of putting glasses-sized screws in a laptop cooler should be shot.

Admiral Huddy · 21-02-2007, 16:03

This sounds daft but it works.. Cut the bottom off a coke bottle... put your ear to the open (cut) end... then point the neck end inside the case near enough to the direction of each fan. It will applify the noise so you should pick up the offending item from there.

I know this works as i had a simular problem a year or so back. I had a leadtek graphics card with 2 fans.. one of them was making a rackett.. This soon pick the noisy one out.

If it doesn't work you have permission to let all the ladies slap me

Dr. Z · 21-02-2007, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admiral Huddy

You need specialist equipment to ensure the PSU is safe to work on...

A pair of rubber gloves and a screwdriver is adequate

19-02-2007, 18:21	#1
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	PC surgery might be needed One of my PCs is making a horrible noise and I've got a sinking feeling that it's the fan on the Northbridge or PSU. I hope not, but I'd better be prepared if it is. If it's the PSU, I don't fancy opening the PSU to fix it. I don't like playing in PSUs with scary big capacitors ready to bite me, and not being able to see where errant fingers are heading, and this PSU is extra small, which just magnifies the problem. If it's the Northbridge, that fan is almost completely inaccessible - clearences are so tight that you literally have to empty the case bar the CPU, motherboard and RAM. If I get it all out, I'm pretty certain I won't be able to get it all back in (in particular the CPU heatsink). So, assuming I can eliminate system and CPU fans (already done two, two to go), would anyone be willing to help? It's an SFF system (not a Shuttle though), but that still doesn't make it easy to hoik around, though I can probably get it to London without much bother. Any ideas gratefully accepted.

20-02-2007, 00:49	#3
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	I've had a PSU apart to replace a fan before but that was a standard ATX PSU. I can imagine a smaller PSU would be difficult - especially with restricted vision. Northbridge fans are fiddly buggers too. I wish you luck Mark. Stan __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

20-02-2007, 11:03	#4
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	I ran my old Abit board without a Northbridge fan for a while, as long as the sink is good and you can get a small ammout of airflow to it it should be OK, it never crashed on me MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

20-02-2007, 17:04	#6
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	I would offer to help but I am prohibitively far away __________________

21-02-2007, 12:37	#7
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	Are you Oc'ing Mark? If not you may get away with passively cooling the NB as cooling blocks are dirt cheap but as you say this might not be easy. You need specialist equipment to ensure the PSU is safe to work on... They are dangerous even when switched off You could take out the PSU, turn it on outside the case if you can't hear where the noise is coming from. __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

19-02-2007, 20:36	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I'd do it myself save for the fact that heatsinks and PSUs scare me. I'm about to build a C2D system too - and I'm going to try and do that one myself.

20-02-2007, 14:37	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Airflow. Not much. Heatsink. Tiny. If it is the Northbridge fan, it'll need fixing ASAP.

21-02-2007, 14:21	#8
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I'll be able to figure it out when it gets consistant enough that I can move the system out of it's current location and set it up on a desk. I can then eliminate most of the fans straight away. My laptop cooler also has the same problem (noise), but I don't have screwdrivers small enough to open the sod up. Whoever thought of putting glasses-sized screws in a laptop cooler should be shot.

21-02-2007, 16:03	#9
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	This sounds daft but it works.. Cut the bottom off a coke bottle... put your ear to the open (cut) end... then point the neck end inside the case near enough to the direction of each fan. It will applify the noise so you should pick up the offending item from there. I know this works as i had a simular problem a year or so back. I had a leadtek graphics card with 2 fans.. one of them was making a rackett.. This soon pick the noisy one out. If it doesn't work you have permission to let all the ladies slap me __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

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