Blocking GPU fan intentionally

[Ekhangel]

This isn't really related that much to Windows itself, but I was thinking maybe Windows has some built-in safety features, and that you - well - just help me out anyway.

I'm having issues with one of my GPU's fans (it features a dual-fan cooling) and will have to fix it soon. The problem is, it's making an annoying noise and I was thinking if I could just block it for the time being, however brutally that sounds.

So, the question is - provided the GPU doesn't reach critical temperatures (I'm going to monitor this obviously) - would this create any additional risks, like overcurrent or something? (I don't play games, but it's a HD6950, so it does emit a lot of heat)

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Berton]

Heat will be a killer for the GPU, or even the CPU, when not getting the designed effect. I have only one fan on my video card and have to shut down and blow the dust out every couple/three months. The problem is that the weight of built-up dust affects the performance of the fans as does the reshaping of the blades by the accumulation. It doesn't seem like it's much but every little bit is important.

The type of motherboard used, ATX versus a microATX, gives more flexibility in the slots used for mounting PCI cards to keep from blocking airflow to the GPU fan.

 

[Ekhangel]

Well, dust is a problem regardless of whether you use one or two fans. Besides, that'll be just a temporary solution until I replace/grease the shaft or get another cooling. My primary concern is whether there are some safety functions in the GPU/OS drivers that shut down the PC upon detecting that voltage is supplied but RPM = 0. Or if there is any risk of overcurrent/overvoltage/overwhatever

Btw. I could maybe also just unplug the one fan from the GPU, but I don't know about the connectors - are there two for both fans independently or just one. I can't find any disassembly manuals for XFX HD 9650.

 

[Berton]

Some fans have wires to a set of pins on the card and some don't, those that do have can be unplugged but Windows may sense the change and complain about it.