Cooler still usable?

R

Requiem

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Messages
208
I just happened to be touching my heatsink to see how hot it was and my finger accidentally hit the fan. I then noticed a new noise and took out my video card to investigate. My finger took off two of the fan blades on the Zalman cooler and now it vibrates as it runs. As a result, my video card vibrates when it is running. Can I still use this cooler on my card or will the vibrations end up hurting it? If I can't use it, what can I do?

 
How about I just don't plug in the heatsink fan and use one of my other 80mm fans to blow down on the heatsink? Somehow...
 
Finger did that? I think that Mr. Edward Scissorhands will need to purchase another one. I haven't found a place that just sells the fan as a replacement part. Maybe Zalman will send one if you ask. If not, you can try to mod one...I'd just buy another one.
 
I was very suprised. I've accidentally hit many other fans and the blades never fall off.
 
Requiem said:
How about I just don't plug in the heatsink fan and use one of my other 80mm fans to blow down on the heatsink? Somehow...
Click to expand...

This should work if you can get enough air passing over it from that 80mm fan. Mounting it and having it be pretty might be a bit of a challenge, but the theory is sound.

If you leave it go as is, while still plugged in, you could maybe get a bit more life out of the fan, but the vibrations would mess up the bearings sooner or later, and the fan will just die.

Good luck! :)
 
Here's a ghetto mod from old school automotovie fixes. Could you break off the blades from the opposite side to balance the fan back out? People used to do this with their radiator fans in cars if a blade fell off if they were stuck on a highway.
Or get a replacement fan. :p
 
Targ24 said:
Here's a ghetto mod from old school automotovie fixes. Could you break off the blades from the opposite side to balance the fan back out? People used to do this with their radiator fans in cars if a blade fell off if they were stuck on a highway.
Or get a replacement fan. :p
Click to expand...

That actually does work - just make sure its even as to what is removed on each side. I bet you jumped like hell when your finger hit it... :D
 
I wouldn't put it back like that. It would be way off balance. See if you can replace the fan somehow, or do some ghetto mod.
 
I would just try to rig another 80mm fan on it w/ zip ties. I put a 92mm fan on mine.
 
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