IC7-MAX3 NB Fan Question

My Northbridge fan went out a week ago so I unplugged it and have been using
my computer without it. My CPU heatsink is too large to allow me to change
to any larger Northbridge heatsink so I'm stuck with just changing the fan.
My quest is this: How long can I run this computer without a Northbridge
fan? And do I really need to replace it? I've been monitoring the temps
and nothing has changed in the last week but I'm always concerned about heat
and this computer needs to last me until near the end of the year. One
other thing is that I have 4 case fans (2 in, 2 out) and 3 fans on the power
supply. All temps are stable so far.

David,

> My Northbridge fan went out a week ago................
> I'm stuck with just changing the fan.
>

If the fan blades still rotate, you can oil it & use again. Carefully pry off
the fan blade and put a drop or two of 3-in-One oil on the bearing shaft. Let
it soak down into the bearing an hour or so, and put fan blade back on.

If yours became siezed-up, replace it with another or a Zalman heatsink.

Do *NOT* use WD-40, as that is a _penitrant_ and _NOT_ a lubricant!
--

Jim
Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
http://www.virtual-access.org

"Jim" <jamlil@comcastcom> wrote in message news:VA.0000005c.4b72910d@comcastcom...
> David,
>
> > My Northbridge fan went out a week ago................
> > I'm stuck with just changing the fan.
> >
>
> If the fan blades still rotate, you can oil it & use again. Carefully pry off
> the fan blade and put a drop or two of 3-in-One oil on the bearing shaft. Let
> it soak down into the bearing an hour or so, and put fan blade back on.
>
> If yours became siezed-up, replace it with another or a Zalman heatsink.
>
> Do *NOT* use WD-40, as that is a _penitrant_ and _NOT_ a lubricant!

Pry off? On the IC7-Max3 I believe the fan is attached to the
NB heatsink with three small screws.

BTW if one or both of your rear exhaust fans are behind the NB
area, it should provide more than enough airflow over the NB
heatsink. Abit's stock fan was a marketing gimmick, and is
virtually useless even when it works.

Thanks Jim. If I need to I'll give that a try. Do I really need the fan at
all?

"Jim" <jamlil@comcastcom> wrote in message
news:VA.0000005c.4b72910d@comcastcom...
> David,
>
>> My Northbridge fan went out a week ago................
>> I'm stuck with just changing the fan.
>>
>
> If the fan blades still rotate, you can oil it & use again. Carefully pry
> off
> the fan blade and put a drop or two of 3-in-One oil on the bearing shaft.
> Let
> it soak down into the bearing an hour or so, and put fan blade back on.
>
> If yours became siezed-up, replace it with another or a Zalman heatsink.
>
> Do *NOT* use WD-40, as that is a _penitrant_ and _NOT_ a lubricant!
> --
>
> Jim
> Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
> http://www.virtual-access.org
>

David Gorick wrote:
> Thanks Jim. If I need to I'll give that a try. Do I really need the fan at
> all?
>
> "Jim" <jamlil@comcastcom> wrote in message
> news:VA.0000005c.4b72910d@comcastcom...
> > David,
> >
> >> My Northbridge fan went out a week ago................
> >> I'm stuck with just changing the fan.
> >>
> >
> > If the fan blades still rotate, you can oil it & use again. Carefully pry
> > off
> > the fan blade and put a drop or two of 3-in-One oil on the bearing shaft.
> > Let
> > it soak down into the bearing an hour or so, and put fan blade back on.
> >
> > If yours became siezed-up, replace it with another or a Zalman heatsink.
> >
> > Do *NOT* use WD-40, as that is a _penitrant_ and _NOT_ a lubricant!
> > --
> >
> > Jim
> > Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
> > http://www.virtual-access.org
> >
My PC is packed with hardware and I've been running without the NB fan
for
three months now. My wife has the same type board made by Asus and it
doesn't
have a fan on the NB, so I think the NB heatsink alone is fine. Just as
long as the
room doesn't get too hot in the summer. You can buy a replacement from
Abit for
about $6, but I don't think it's worth because it will just wear out
again within a year.

Rick,

> Pry off? On the IC7-Max3 I believe the fan is attached to the
> NB heatsink with three small screws.
>
Yes, pry off. First remove the entire fan assembly, THEN you pry off
the fan blade hub from it's motor shaft.
--

Jim
Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
http://www.virtual-access.org

David,

> Do I really need the fan at
> all?
>
I'd suggest something, either the fan or a Zalman hatsink.
--

Jim
Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
http://www.virtual-access.org

I heard someone else say much the same thing awhile back. I'm inclined to
run without it and keep an eye on the temps as changing it will be a bear.
My heatsink and fan assembly on my CPU is massive and I would have to take
it off to even get to the NB heatsink and fan. An aftermarket heatsink is
out of the question. I have plenty of air movement and would like to be
able to wait until I really need to tear it apart for some other reason.
But frying the NB is not an option.

<> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
>
> David Gorick wrote:
>> Thanks Jim. If I need to I'll give that a try. Do I really need the fan
>> at
>> all?
>>
>> "Jim" <jamlil@comcastcom> wrote in message
>> news:VA.0000005c.4b72910d@comcastcom...
>> > David,
>> >
>> >> My Northbridge fan went out a week ago................
>> >> I'm stuck with just changing the fan.
>> >>
>> >
>> > If the fan blades still rotate, you can oil it & use again. Carefully
>> > pry
>> > off
>> > the fan blade and put a drop or two of 3-in-One oil on the bearing
>> > shaft.
>> > Let
>> > it soak down into the bearing an hour or so, and put fan blade back on.
>> >
>> > If yours became siezed-up, replace it with another or a Zalman
>> > heatsink.
>> >
>> > Do *NOT* use WD-40, as that is a _penitrant_ and _NOT_ a lubricant!
>> > --
>> >
>> > Jim
>> > Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
>> > http://www.virtual-access.org
>> >
> My PC is packed with hardware and I've been running without the NB fan
> for
> three months now. My wife has the same type board made by Asus and it
> doesn't
> have a fan on the NB, so I think the NB heatsink alone is fine. Just as
> long as the
> room doesn't get too hot in the summer. You can buy a replacement from
> Abit for
> about $6, but I don't think it's worth because it will just wear out
> again within a year.
>

I have no room for a zalman heatsink so my only option is replacing the fan.
I'll try oiling the one I have first and if that doesn't work then I'll
replace it

.."Jim" <jamlil@comcastcom> wrote in message
news:VA.0000005d.4bc7e124@comcastcom...
> David,
>
>> Do I really need the fan at
>> all?
>>
> I'd suggest something, either the fan or a Zalman hatsink.
> --
>
> Jim
> Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
> http://www.virtual-access.org
>

Hi David,
I have an IC7- Max3 and about a month ago my NB fan started making noise
(intermittently). Twice it stopped completely but it would restart when I
warm booted. I called ABIT and was told that it was not advisable to run
without the fan. I was told that the fan was free but I'd have to pay
shipping. I had it shipped 2nd day and it cost $21. I haven't installed
the new fan yet but the fact that I have a new fan is a warm fuzzy <G>. My
advice is to buy the fan and install it when all else fails.

"David Gorick" <> wrote in message
news: ...
>I have no room for a zalman heatsink so my only option is replacing the
>fan. I'll try oiling the one I have first and if that doesn't work then
>I'll replace it
>
> ."Jim" <jamlil@comcastcom> wrote in message
> news:VA.0000005d.4bc7e124@comcastcom...
>> David,
>>
>>> Do I really need the fan at
>>> all?
>>>
>> I'd suggest something, either the fan or a Zalman hatsink.
>> --
>>
>> Jim
>> Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZASS 6.1, & WinXP Pro w/SP2
>> http://www.virtual-access.org
>>
>
>