[mythtv-users] Fanless Nvidia GT430 or similar?

[Stephen Worthington]

On Mon, 7 May 2018 08:58:06 -0400, you wrote:

>The GT430 on my parents primary frontend (that drives their Samsung
>8500 series 1080p plasma) recently died (it had a fan, my guess is the
>fan died as the card was several years old).
>
>One option might be to replace the fan, if the chip itself isn't
>damaged, however I'm also wondering if there are possibly any newer,
>better?, video cards that can perform as well if not better than the
>old 430's (as far as deinterlacing and picture quality) that might
>also be fanless?
>Or if anyone knows of a source of fanless GT430's?
>
>thanks!

I have not looked at the GT430 specs, but I would think that a fanless
GT 1030 would likely be more capable.  It does 4K, as well as all that
is needed for MythTV.

Chances are that the fan stopping will have fried the chip on the GT
430.  It is hard to shut down a chip quickly enough to prevent thermal
runaway.

The cheapest thing to try is not to replace the fan, but just to lift
the label in the centre and see if you can see the bearing.  If so,
then add a drop or two of proper light machine oil eg sewing machine
oil.  You may need to take the fan off if the label is on the under
side of the fan.

Do not use a vegetable based oil like 3-in-one - that attracts dust
and gums up.  Rotate the fan manually and see if it will turn
properly.  It may feel as though it is resisting and releasing as it
turns and the magnets line up with the coils.  That is OK, but if the
force required is much higher at one point, the fan is probably not
going to work.  If the force required is the same at all points of
resistance, then try firing up the card again.

You should regularly do the same procedure to oil all older PC fans.
It helps to give them a much longer life.  Although I have never done
it with a CPU fan - they seem to be different and last much better.
But the other fans (case fans in particular) do need it.