Graphics card cooler fix/replacement.

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

Hey guys, so I have a ASUS Strix 980ti.
Now, the primary fan is failing, very badly actually. The bearings are just about shot (I think given the sound it's making) and it can't really turn anymore.
Obviously this makes it have difficulties running games bc I have it limited to 85C to avoid possible damage, and it hits that idling in FF14.

So, I bought this card second hand (lightly used, about a little over a year ago, before crypto mining was huge, it's not a damaged card) so RMA is out of the question.
My question is, is the cooler repairable? I doubt ASUS has the fans available to just buy outright, and even if someone did I bet they're kind of a pain in the ass to replace.

I'm guessing that's pretty much my only option because iirc the Strix cards are custom PCB, so most 3rd party coolers are out of the question.

The only other option I could think of would be doing a Custom WC loop using an EKWB strix block. While this would obviously be the most expensive option it might also be the most viable (unfortunately) as I'm not sure of the availability of the main fans (I found some on aliexpress but I'm not too sure of the sizes on the cooler as they seem to be different). Would help keep temps down though, if I went that route I'd also pick up a WB for my cpu so that would be cool (haha).

 

However I'd much rather take either of those options over trying to buy a new GPU given the current situation with prices etc, especially in Canada.
Thanks for any input you can provide :^)

[For Science!]

4 minutes ago, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

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You could attach normal case fans

 

[Guest Generallee]

Yeah just strap a couple 120mm fan with zip ties

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

Just now, For Science! said:

You could attach normal case fans

 

I've done my time in ghetto pc building already.
It wasn't my PC of course. But I've done it.
It seems like a great temp fix, but I'd like something more concrete.

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

Just now, Generallee said:

Yeah just strap a couple 120mm fan with zip ties

See above reply lmao.

[Streetguru]

8 minutes ago, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

 

Pretty sure the warranty covers fan replacements

 

but just zip tie a 120mm fan to the cooler

There is no better fix outside of buying an aftermarket GPU heatsink, and something like that isn't worth it over strapping a fan to it

[Guest Generallee]

Just now, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

See above reply lmao.

Well watercooling seems the way to go for you, still would be cheaper than buying a whole new gpu considering today's  general bamboozling on gpu pricing

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

1 minute ago, Streetguru said:

Pretty sure the warranty covers fan replacements

 

but just zip tie a 120mm fan to the cooler

See op. GPU is second hand, I don't get warranty.
I do however have the contact of the guy I got it from and see if he has any warranty info from the local store he got it from.

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

Just now, Generallee said:

Well watercooling seems the way to go for you, still would be cheaper than buying a whole new gpu considering today's  general bamboozling on gpu pricing

Yes, tbh with current GPU pricing that's what I was thinking too.

[Streetguru]

Just now, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

Yes, tbh with current GPU pricing that's what I was thinking too.

Also not worth it unless you already have a custom loop and they make a water block for it, or you know the custom PCB(if it has one) won't interfere with the water cooling kits.

It also takes way more work as you have to actively cool the VRMs as well, just get a low profile fan on it, or maybe find a dead one on ebay you can steal the shroud from.

[For Science!]

7 minutes ago, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

I've done my time in ghetto pc building already.
It wasn't my PC of course. But I've done it.
It seems like a great temp fix, but I'd like something more concrete.

Dunno man, my opinion is the investment in a waterblock + all the extra watercooling stuff (fittings, pump, radiators etc) is almost creeping into territory of a new card. Seeing as ampere may be around the corner, I think strapping a fan on is a perfectly concrete solution until new architecture arrives.

If I spent $400 on a loop only to cool a previous gen graphics card and then get a new graphics card arrive, I would be pretty salty.

[SupaKomputa]

no need for watercooling. just buy a replacement fan with the same fan header. if not, you can cut the header from old fans and connect the correct wire to the new fans. problem solved.

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

Just now, Streetguru said:

Also not worth it unless you already have a custom loop and they make a water block for it, or you know the custom PCB(if it has one) won't interfere with the water cooling kits.

It also takes way more work as you have to actively cool the VRMs as well, just get a low profile fan on it, or maybe find a dead one on ebay you can steal the shroud from.

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc980-gtx-ti-strix-nickel
Now whether or not I could find one is questionable, but they do, or rather did, make blocks for the strix PCB. I knew this before hand though.

They make full cover blocks that cover VRMs.

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

3 minutes ago, For Science! said:

Dunno man, my opinion is the investment in a waterblock + all the extra watercooling stuff (fittings, pump, radiators etc) is almost creeping into territory of a new card. Seeing as ampere may be around the corner, I think strapping a fan on is a perfectly concrete solution until new architecture arrives.

If I spent $400 on a loop only to cool a previous gen graphics card and then get a new graphics card arrive, I would be pretty salty.

While this is an option, given what I play I'm not really in the market for a new GPU. Going any higher would probably end up having throttling issues with my CPU.
If I went the loop option it's not like I could just buy a WB for the new card though. Although that's considerably more expensive.

The main thing to consider though is I wouldn't be upgrading for a while. I pretty much play FFXIV and other games that are easily in the realm of my 980ti running at 3440*1440. I'm not a baller trying to run new technically impressive games (not that there have been any recently) on my fancy high res monitor. A WB would possibly allow for better OCs allowing me to last it longer though. While this is currently what I'm leaning towards, I'm not one to make split decisions. That and finding the WB could be a PITA.

2 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

no need for watercooling. just buy a replacement fan with the same fan header. if not, you can cut the header from old fans and connect the correct wire to the new fans. problem solved.

Definitely doable but I'm an idiot and not sure if I trust myself with that.
And I need to find the correct fan model. Probably not that big of an issue either.

[Streetguru]

1 minute ago, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

 

Dude. Just zip tie a fan to it and end the madness! It's a $15 or less fix, or if your case has side intake put a fan there and set it to the max speed

 

or just undervolt/underclock your GPU so it'll run semi-passively

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

Just now, Streetguru said:

Dude. Just zip tie a fan to it and end the madness! It's a $15 or less fix, or if your case has side intake put a fan there and set it to the max speed

 

or just undervolt/underclock your GPU so it'll run semi-passively

Possible temporary fix. I don't like to visit the ghetto realm though. While it works, it's just personal pet peeve. If the fan dies right out I'll do it until I work out a longer term solution. I do believe in the LTT video about this though the card, while performing much better than no fan, still performed at a fairly significant higher temp. Not sure if I want that as a long term solution for a variety of reasons.

I idle at 50 C with the cooler fully functional. That's more of a last ditch thing

[Streetguru]

1 minute ago, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

 

All you need a static pressure optimized fan, like this Fractal HP-14, which can fit onto 120mm fan slots, it'll force the air through the heatsink and should work well enough
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835352024

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

1 minute ago, Streetguru said:

All you need a static pressure optimized fan, like this Fractal HP-14, which can fit onto 120mm fan slots, it'll force the air through the heatsink and should work well enough
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835352024

I have plenty of spare fans sitting around, including a handful of Noctua ones. 
IDK how that goes as far as a long term solution though.

[SupaKomputa]

10 minutes ago, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

Definitely doable but I'm an idiot and not sure if I trust myself with that.
And I need to find the correct fan model. Probably not that big of an issue either.

Its really not that difficult, pop out the broken fans and determine the specs.

usually i they write the volts/amps on the bottom.

find a matching specs and you're good to go.

no need to replace all the heatsinks, leave the heatsink untouch.

[SupaKomputa]

4 minutes ago, TheGreatWizardCalder said:

I have plenty of spare fans sitting around, including a handful of Noctua ones. 
IDK how that goes as far as a long term solution though.

Get a very good quality aftermarket fans, nice good build and smooth bearings, it will be better than the old one.

You can also amp up to get faster air speed. Just don't mess with the voltage.

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

Its really not that difficult, pop out the broken fans and determine the specs.

usually i they write the volts/amps on the bottom.

find a matching specs and you're good to go.

no need to replace all the heatsinks, leave the heatsink untouch.

Yeah I'll definitely give it a go. 
IDK if aliexpress takes paypal tho. 
Eh I'll figure something out I'm sure.

[SupaKomputa]

yes they accept paypal

[Hugs12343]

watercooling is an option

[TheGreatWizardCalder]

20 minutes ago, Hugs12343 said:

watercooling is an option

Not anymore, unfortunately. The waterblock is made of unobtainium now that it's a couple years old gpu.

[meenmeen1103]

could slap an aio on it with this

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835146036

just make sure you look up compatibility for your card and which aio's work with the g10, and also get a stronger 92mm fan than what comes with the g10. it's a hassle, but i got my card down from around 30c idle and 75c load to 20c idle and 40c load in a 19-20c environment.