If you're thinking of replacing a noisy or broken motherboard chipset fan (specifically, the
one on a MSI K8N ATX {ms-7185} I have some tips that may prove useful:
- Do not depend on the dickwads at Fry's for product information, even if you bring in the
manual for the motherboard so you know the exact model and have photographic reference.
- The K8N chipset does not follow the northbridge scheme. The holes on the
motherboard for the holding pins are ~59mm apart, further than the northbridge standard.
- Measure the distance between the pins holding the bad fan to the motherboard and make
sure the fan you buy matches.
- The pins are not designed to be removed. Whoever thought this system up deserves a
brisk thrashing. You will either have to remove the motherboard (i.e. almost completely
disassemble your computer) and remove the ends of the pins from the backside of the motherboard,
or do like I did and saw, slice, and finally snip the pins short enough so that they can be pushed through
the holes and fall out. Good luck, and be careful.
- In a pinch, you might be able to keep the fan secure against the chip by using a properly trimmed
bamboo cooling skewer as a prop.
- While you're at it, clean out the dust yaks that have grown inside your computer and don't
forget the inside of the CPU fan.
On the bright side, the repair was successful, my computer is quieter, and I discovered 4
USB ports I didn't know I had. You can never have enough USB ports.