Shrieking Fan Problem - Athlon 64, S754

[algy]

Hello - I wonder if anyone can advise.

My ageing PC has an Athlon 64 3200 CPU, which uses Socket 754. For quite a while, the fan on the stock cooler sometimes makes a terrible shrieking noise when the PC's first switched on. Generally, I close the PC down, restart and the fan is back to normal. AS the PC is generally on 24/7, it isn't a major problem.

So far, so satisfactory - as a temporary fix, at least. However, the fan has recently started shrieking again at random times - presumably it's about to die. I switch off, and back on, and it's ok again for a while.

My first question is - how urgent is this? If I leave the PC on and the fan goes, does this mean the processor will be trashed, or will the PC close itself down before there's lasting damage?

Secondly - what's a good fan to put in as a replacement? I'm planning on getting a new PC sometime soonish, and had vaguely planned to move this one over to the telly, for media centre type of duties. Would it make sense to replace the cooler too, so as to get something near as dammit to silent? If I'm replacing the cooler, I think it would have to be one that would fit in a media centre type case, as I have a fancy to try swapping the motherboard etc into one, if I do pursue this idea.

Finally (and apologies if this is a bozo sort of question) - how tricky is this
stuff? I haven't replaced fans or coolers before; anything particular I should bear in mind?

Many thanks for your help!

[iceze]

The Athlon 64 has thermal protection so you shouldn't kill your processor even if the fan totally fails. You may get data loss due to the processor abruptly cutting off.

Replacing fans is quite straightforward and you shouldn't have any problems. For a htpc, fans that are close to silent would indeed be ideal.

[GoNz0]

a fans going to cost a couple of quid, why wait for it to stop

[algy]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

"a fans going to cost a couple of quid, why wait for it to stop" - inertia, probably, but I will get round to it.

So is are all fans pretty much equal, or are there any particular brands/models that I should look out for? Would any be noticebly quieter than the current one, and still provide sufficient cooling with the stock cooler? I've googled this with unconvincing results.

[GoNz0]

i know its not a couple of quid, but with this one you can tune it to your ears or cooling needs assuming its an 80mm fan http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=696392

[algy]

Thanks - I like the idea of the fan being controllable, too - I'll pursue.

[teachmech]

You can get some extra life by peeling back the label in the centre of the fan lifting up the little black cover and putting some oil in on the bearing. This has worked for me in the past.
Remember to put the cover back on and place the sticker back on to hold in place.
Hopes this helps.

[joz12345]

you have to check what type of fan it is before buying a new one, and if its anything like the intel ones, with no square frame, then you cant replace it, and have to get a new hsf

[GoNz0]

or use tie wraps