Card Fan Down, Requesting Medic, Over.

[FierceRed]

Ok so this sucks.

I turn on my computer today and apparently the fan bearing for my reference model 5850 has gone to shit and I have very loud noise now coming from it every time it even remotely thinks about spinning.

I've had this issue before with a HIS x1950 AGP, and my solution was to buy an entirely new motherboard with PCIe and move on with life. You know, when we were all rolling in pre-2008 money. Now in 2012 AWS (After Wall Street) I can't exactly do that right now. I'm limping on my remaining 5850 currently but now playing anything is depressing and comes with FPS withdrawal symptoms.

Am I screwed? Is a fan bearing repairable or replaceable? Short of buying a similar card for parts off eBay, is there anything I can do for this?

[erocker]

The fans are replaceable. They are mounted using three screws. I may have a fan laying around from my old 5850's. I'll shoot you a PM.

[Radical_Edward]

You can get a replacement fan for about $15 on ebay, I purchased one the other day just as a backup since the fan in my ref 5850 makes noise from a cold boot sometimes.

[FierceRed]

Originally Posted by erocker

The fans are replaceable. They are mounted using three screws. I may have a fan laying around from my old 5850's. I'll shoot you a PM.

Thanks erocker, I look forward to the results of your search.

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

You can get a replacement fan for about $15 on ebay, I purchased one the other day just as a backup since the fan in my ref 5850 makes noise from a cold boot sometimes.

Mind giving me a link to the auction you won? Just so I can know what sort of search parameters I need to deal with.

Cheers to you both.

[Radical_Edward]

Originally Posted by FierceRed

Thanks erocker, I look forward to the results of your search.



Mind giving me a link to the auction you won? Just so I can know what sort of search parameters I need to deal with.

Cheers to you both.

Here you go buddy.

[FierceRed]

Originally Posted by Radical_Edward

Here you go buddy.

Thanks Edward.

"Location: China"
"Location: China"
"Location: China"
"Location: China"
"Location: China"
"Location: USA"
"Location: China"
"Location: China"
"Location: China"

[Radical_Edward]

Yeah, I ordered one and it said it'd be here in like 20 days with the cheap shipping, which doesn't matter since mine's not completely dead.

[FierceRed]

1.

You know, since I'm going to be replacing the fan anyway, perhaps it would be better to just replace the reference blower assembly in general, slap on a 3rd party fan and convert the card into a much quieter version of itself. My non-reference model 5850 runs cooler/quieter/et cetera and I've noticed the reference blower making a bit too much noise during say, Civ5 zoomed in viewing or Witcher 2 forestry scenes.

What are my options in this arena? I'm sure I'm capable of the physical replacing of the part, I just don't know whether I should be staying away from certain fans due to length or lopsided screwhole arrangement or something. So imagine you're me and you have a 5850 reference model card that you want to make as quiet and cool as possible. What do you do?

2.

While a little random, a quick question has been gnawing at me.

I understand that USB3 is backward compatible with USB2 devices, however I primarily bought a Cooler Master Storm Sniper case because it was the only tool-less case at the time with 4 USB ports on its front panel. If I buy a motherboard with USB3 in the future, would a simple connection of these ports to my front panel be enough for full USB3 operation? (Hell, this assumes a motherboard even has USB3 lines to connect to, rather than just the ports on the back...)

I guess what I'm asking is, is the chipset's ability to use USB3 speeds enough for the tech to work, or does the cable connection and port's device contacts between the motherboard pins and a device like an External HDD, have to be rated or certified to provide those speeds?

3.

I seem to have stripped one of the tiny screws on the X-Bracket of the 5850 with the broken fan in the past, as I just found it now while attempting to strip down the card. I can upload a picture if necessary, but imageshack apparently needs an account to use it now and I'm allergic to signups.

Anyone know a good way to remove a stripped screw of such a small size from such a sensitive area?

[erocker]

Originally Posted by FierceRed

So imagine your me and you have a 5850 reference model card that you want to make as quiet and cool as possible. What do you do?

Gelid Icy Vision, Zalmann or an AC Accellero cooler.

I do have the replacement fan, shoot me a PM if you still want it. It's yours.

[micropage7]

better if you do gaming much take after market cooler
for uploading you can directly upload thru TPU, if the picture is too large you can crop it

[95Viper]

Originally Posted by FierceRed

I understand that USB3 is backward compatible with USB2 devices, however I primarily bought a Cooler Master Storm Sniper case because it was the only tool-less case at the time with 4 USB ports on its front panel. If I buy a motherboard with USB3 in the future, would a simple connection of these ports to my front panel be enough for full USB3 operation? (Hell, this assumes a motherboard even has USB3 lines to connect to, rather than just the ports on the back...)

I guess what I'm asking is, is the chipset's ability to use USB3 speeds enough for the tech to work, or does the cable connection and port's device contacts between the motherboard pins and a device like an External HDD, have to be rated or certified to provide those speeds?

Nope, because, I believe that case you mention has USB 2.X connections. You can plug them into USB 3.0 connectors (may need adapter, as a lot of newer boards use the 19 pin header), but the will only operate at USB 2.X speeds.

As, you can see the Usb 2.X has a 4 pin + shell connector and USB 3.0 has the 4 pin + 5 more pins + shell.

The connectors are different, example of the connector differences from pinout.net:

Spoiler

If the motherboard you eventually obtain has a usb 3.0 header... it my be like this:

Spoiler

Now you can go to one of these to get the front panel USB 3.0 points you want.
USB 3.0 bay hubs:

Spoiler

SIIG JU-H40212-S1 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 4-Port Bay Hub
Uspeed USB 3.0 Front Panel Hub Kit 3.5-inch Floppy Bay 19pin 2Port
ASUS Model Front Panel USB 3.0 Box Easy Speed - Amazing Front Panel USB 3.0 Convenience
SYBA SY-HUB50044 USB 3.0 Multi-Function Hub and Card Reader for 3.5" or 5.25" Open Bay
Koutech IO-RCM430 Multi-in-1 USB 3.0 Front Panel Internal Card Reader with USB 3.0 Hub (3.5")

You may, also, need one of these(these come in different types and styles to meet individual demands), depending on the connection the device you use requires.

Also, you may need one of these to use the USB 3.0 connections on the MB with USB 2.0 on your case (they still will be USB 2.0 not USB 3.0, as the connections on the case would lack the extra pins USB 3.0).

Spoiler

Basically, you need USB 3.0 connections from point A to B for it to operate at the USB 3.0 speeds and power specification.

Hope that helped.

[FierceRed]

Originally Posted by erocker

Gelid Icy Vision, Zalmann or an AC Accellero cooler.

I do have the replacement fan, shoot me a PM if you still want it. It's yours.

Cheers mate. PM'd.

Originally Posted by micropage7

better if you do gaming much take after market cooler
for uploading you can directly upload thru TPU, if the picture is too large you can crop it

Right, forgot about that as I rarely attach files while on a forum. Anyway, here it is, my stripped screw.

Does anyone have any suggestions about this? I'm still looking for help on small stripped screw removal.

Originally Posted by 95Viper

Basically, you need USB 3.0 connections from point A to B for it to operate at the USB 3.0 speeds and power specification.

Hope that helped.

Jesus Christ, are you kidding Viper? That was amazingly helpful, especially considering what I quoted is all I was looking for.

Thanks for going above and beyond, my enlightenment appreciates it.

[FierceRed]

Still looking for suggestions on how to remove the stripped screw from the X bracket on the back of my 5850. Picture is attached to previous post and screw in question is indicated with the red circle.

Won't be able to disassemble the reference cooler without help guys. Start sounding off? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has ever had a stripped screw in a sensitive area.

Cheers!

[sneekypeet]

you can go one of two routes...

Go to a hardware store and ask for easy-out's / screw extractors

Otherwise get out the Dremmel and carefully cut a groove in that screw for a straight slot screwdriver.

I seen in just a little bit of google-ing that you can try a rubber band between the driver and the stripped head, or even super glue-ing the driver into the screw might add enough "traction" to remove the screw.

[Serg]

Removing the screw shouldnt be too hard, go to a local home depot or orchard or ace, hell you can even rent this at your local autozone, its a socket kit, used to remove stripped screws, bolts and nuts. Mind that they are sockets with a swivel design on the inside, lol dont stick your finger in there, it hurts. Lol.

[erocker]

Originally Posted by Serg

Removing the screw shouldnt be too hard, go to a local home depot or orchard or ace, hell you can even rent this at your local autozone, its a socket kit, used to remove stripped screws, bolts and nuts. Mind that they are sockets with a swivel design on the inside, lol dont stick your finger in there, it hurts. Lol.

Those are used to remove stripped bolts/nuts, not screws. Sneeky mentioned using Easy Outs, that would probably work the best.

[de.das.dude]

have you tried fixing the fan?
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=131473
you say your fan is pretty much dead, so nothing to loose?

[eidairaman1]

EZ Grip

[FierceRed]

Originally Posted by de.das.dude

have you tried fixing the fan?
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=131473
you say your fan is pretty much dead, so nothing to loose?

Yes, the fan is pretty much too loud to use without repairing/replacing it, so I may give this a shot.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

I think my next problem will be replacing the screw as I don't know if anyone sells screws this small. I have a Home Depot literally across the street though so won't hurt to ask around.

erocker, I have a quick question, please see PM.

[Serg]

Originally Posted by FierceRed

Yes, the fan is pretty much too loud to use without repairing/replacing it, so I may give this a shot.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

I think my next problem will be replacing the screw as I don't know if anyone sells screws this small. I have a Home Depot literally across the street though so won't hurt to ask around.

erocker, I have a quick question, please see PM.

Im not sure how small the screw is, but if you cant find anything relatively close, try an optometry, or RadioShack would also be fine, Frys electronics should have some too. Pretty much any PC repair store would have some and most will just give you the screw.

Good luck!