X570 Crosshair VIII Hero: Need Replacement VRM Fan

[ationfictons]

That silly little fan on the VRM/chipset heatsink of my Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (non-wifi) X570 motherboard has decided to start making grinding/scratching noises. I've removed the grill, blown out any dust (none) and jiggled it a bit to no avail. I need a replacement. Any ideas what to replace it with or where to get it? It would be nice if Noctua made a quality replacement, but I don't think they do.

[Jack007]

This is how I solved this:
https://www.overclock.net/threads/my-x570-passive-cooling-solution.1740034/
https://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/threads/erfahrungen-mit-chipset-fans-auf-x570-mainboards.12362...

[ationfictons]

Jack007 wrote:
This is how I solved this:
https://www.overclock.net/threads/my-x570-passive-cooling-solution.1740034/
https://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/threads/erfahrungen-mit-chipset-fans-auf-x570-mainboards.12362...

What a good idea. Thanks for that. From one of your posts, I'm assuming you bought those pieces in a non-US location. I'll have to see if I can find similar stuff here.

That heatsink is 50x50x15mm? How did you cut the groove in the middle for the bracket and remove the excess height under the graphics card?

These look pretty close to those parts:
https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Skiving-Heatsink-Electronic-Cooling/dp/B07PH639BX/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_prod...
https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Stainless-Cooling-Waterblock-Layering/dp/B08JLFMQ4K?th=1

I'll have to see if I can find a 50x50x10mm heatsink just so I can avoid having to trim all those fins.

EDIT: I replaced the "buckle" I originally listed, above, with another one that has better availability.

[ationfictons]

Based purely on the math, a square with a 47mm side should have a 66mm diagonal. This is a rhombus, not a square, so one diagonal will be bigger than that and the other smaller. So, I might be able to fit a 60x60x10mm heatsink on there. Looks like I'll have to take the thing off the shelf and disassemble it again so I can actually measure it.

If I wanted to try aluminum, something like this might work:

https://www.amazon.com/Heatsink-60x60x10MM-Aluminum-Radiator-Circuit/dp/B07VHLLPKH/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_p...

And for copper, I could probably use parts of this:

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-60x10mm-Socket-Cooler-Heatsink/dp/B00006B8EK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pro...

But, again, I'll have to actually measure the diagonals and check the distance to other parts (especially the distance to that second M.2 slot).

EDIT 1: The actual measurements of the diagonals are about 62mm and 71mm. So, based solely on that, there'd be no problem with using a 60x60mm heatsink. But, the distance to the 2nd M.2 slot looks to be just a tad less than what the diagonal of a 60x60mm heatsink (~85mm) would need: it's hard to measure, but the distance from the center of the chipset to the edge of the M.2 slot is about 40mm (or about 2mm short). Then, there's a raised chip of some sort about 35mm towards the motherboard's edge from the center of the chipset. I'm not sure if that would get in the way of the heatsink, but if it does, a 50x50mm heatsink would be the biggest that would fit. So, I guess I'll limit myself to that.

EDIT 2: I also stuck my particular graphics card back in the slot and tried to measure the actual distance to the motherboard. Again, really hard to do. But, it looks like about 16mm. So, Jack007's use of a 15mm high heatsink looks like it should have worked. I assume the problem was with the height of the chipset and any thermal paste/putty that pushed the heatsink too high and required the shortening of most of it.

[WAG12]

ationfictons wrote:
Based purely on the math, a square with a 47mm side should have a 66mm diagonal. This is a rhombus, not a square, so one diagonal will be bigger than that and the other smaller. So, I might be able to fit a 60x60x10mm heatsink on there. Looks like I'll have to take the thing off the shelf and disassemble it again so I can actually measure it.

If I wanted to try aluminum, something like this might work:

https://www.amazon.com/Heatsink-60x60x10MM-Aluminum-Radiator-Circuit/dp/B07VHLLPKH/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_p...

And for copper, I could probably use parts of this:

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-60x10mm-Socket-Cooler-Heatsink/dp/B00006B8EK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pro...

But, again, I'll have to actually measure the diagonals and check the distance to other parts (especially the distance to that second M.2 slot).

EDIT 1: The actual measurements of the diagonals are about 62mm and 71mm. So, based solely on that, there'd be no problem with using a 60x60mm heatsink. But, the distance to the 2nd M.2 slot looks to be just a tad less than what the diagonal of a 60x60mm heatsink (~85mm) would need: it's hard to measure, but the distance from the center of the chipset to the edge of the M.2 slot is about 40mm (or about 2mm short). Then, there's a raised chip of some sort about 35mm towards the motherboard's edge from the center of the chipset. I'm not sure if that would get in the way of the heatsink, but if it does, a 50x50mm heatsink would be the biggest that would fit. So, I guess I'll limit myself to that.

EDIT 2: I also stuck my particular graphics card back in the slot and tried to measure the actual distance to the motherboard. Again, really hard to do. But, it looks like about 16mm. So, Jack007's use of a 15mm high heatsink looks like it should have worked. I assume the problem was with the height of the chipset and any thermal paste/putty that pushed the heatsink too high and required the shortening of most of it.

I was wondering what size heat sink did you end up using? Do you think the 60mm x 60mm x 10mm would be to big? I found a similar black aluminum heatsink on AliExpress that was 50mm x 50mm x 12.8mm, do you think that would work. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to AliExpress here but i just did a search for " heat sink 50mm x 50mm x 10mm " and it came right up. It's $7.11 for three of them with free shipping.

[WAG12]

WAG12 wrote:
I was wondering what size heat sink did you end up using? Do you think the 60mm x 60mm x 10mm would be to big? I found a similar black aluminum heatsink on AliExpress that was 50mm x 50mm x 12.8mm, do you think that would work. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to AliExpress here but i just did a search for " heat sink 50mm x 50mm x 10mm " and it came right up. It's $7.11 for three of them with free shipping.

Here is the link for the 50mm x 50mm x 12.8mm heat sink

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2251832628664511.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.f57c4fc3Y8rcHY&algo_...

[xeromist]

If you go with aluminum it's soft enough to cut with hand tools and minimal cursing. A fine toothed hacksaw or coping saw could probably pull it off. Just make sure to get it clamped stable and use a toothbrush to clear filings from the saw.

[qijdigoldwing]

Thank you ationfictons for this Fixit.. I have been understandably curious about the issue. They REALLY.. needed to have this easily accessible.. Moving parts break in time.. It's just a fact and common sense to not only allow access, but at least make it reasonably easy for a competent person to be able to so do. Fully disassembling my own case just to get the mobo out is a nightmare.. even with all the room. You have my infinite compassion for your frustration over the matter.

They put too much effort into making it look classy, and none into being practical.

I personally, have had Delta case fans for ages, but this is not one of the ball bearing types...

Digikey carries the replacement fan in a proper 4 wire for about $8.14. You would have to crimp on a new mini-molex for it or solder the old wires on to the new fan (which would be my preference)..

Here is a link for it: https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/delta-electronics/KSB0405HBF0D/9974257

The thermal pad looks to be about a 1.0 to 1.5mm (would have to measure it) so a decent 15 W/mK Nab Cooling or Gelid pad would do well.

Something like this>> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095NLM3X4

p.s.

I have actually been known to refurbish fans like this.. A little ArctiClean to purify the bearing and the rotor> https://www.amazon.com/ArctiClean-Thermal-Compound-Remover-Purifier/dp/B001JYQ9TM (Greatest... Cleaner... Ever! So many uses beyond just thermal compound and pads.), a bit of Hoppes 9 (umm the house fans have run constantly for 2 years at a time... longest running lubricant mix yet)>> https://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-Lubricating-14-9-Precision-Bottle/dp/B0013R67A6 mixed to reduce the viscosity of the grease ( I Actually just use black lithium grease. white lithium would also work) by about 50% or so. It needs to cling, but be very very slippery kind of thing (be sure to add a touch of the oil/grease mix on the rotor just under the fan blades) and POOF!!! fixed...

Namaste...

Sun