atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Computers & Programming Computers, Software, Accessories CPU Cooling Fan Failure

I have an older IBM Aptiva E56 computer that I use at home as a spare. It has an AMD Pentium processor in it and the CPU cooling fan is failing. I looked at the existing one and the IBM FRU number doesn't seem to come close to anything out there. I suppose that I could just take the old one out and take it to a computer repair place, but I was hoping that these are somewhat generic. It's has a 1 9/16" (22 mm) square hole pattern and appears to be 12 volt. Can anyone offer me some advice as to what can be done?

The part number is FRU 11501A00K6Q60A F01Z9Z. From what I can tell, all of IBM's FRU numbers are XXYXXXX, where X is a number and Y is a letter so I get the impression that the number I have is more than likely just a serial number.

Ed, much has been written lately about CG and telco people. What I do know is processor fans and voltages are not created equal. That's why I have an old time CG on "retainer". One of my processor fans is attached with tie-wraps because it's so big!! Thought I'd throw a little humor out in the middle of the day!!

Hey Ed, if you PM me your address I'll send you a fan off one of my old machines. It's from a Dell system, but is 12 volt. It might fit as most of them I've seen have been pretty similar.

PM quickly sent! Thanks very much, Steve. Is this forum great or what?

Which Model? 2170-2173,2178,2198,2193-2197,2274.....etc
Might be a small sticker somewhere on the case.
Your FRU isn't coming up in the manuals
Might try FRU 19K3653

If all else fails happy searching https://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/product.do?doctypeind=8&template=%2Fproductselection%2Flandingpages%2FonlinePublicationsLandingPage.vm&sitestyle=lenovo
And if you haven't yet...I'd replace the CMOS battery CR2032.

Happy New Year Ed! If you are unable to find the fan from IBM, try this.

Take the fan to Radio Shack or another store like them and buy a new one. Besides the size, most computer fans are generic. The fan are usually $5. If you pay someone, it will cost much more. A couple of cautions, one - the fan connectors are different sometimes (why you need to take the fan with you) and two - make sure you wear a wrist strap. Working with the processor/fan can be dangerous to the computer.


Good luck
Crystal

Thanks for the suggestion, Crystal. I was going to head down that road but I like to use OEM whenever possible (don't know why with an 8 year-old computer)! Steve has been kind enough to send me a used one from one of his old machines. I am sure that if the mounting is different to the CPU socket, I can just install the fan he sends me to my original bracket. I already expected that there might be connector irregularity, so worst case, I will just clip the leads from the old fan and splice them to the replacement fan with a 709 connector. I will be sure to post back once I try the one that Steve sends me.

Bob: By the way, I looked again and found that the part number or so I thought (much more logical) is a 12J6886. This turns out to be the part number for the CPU itself, not the fan assembly. I do know that the computer itself is a 2137, model E56.

Like I said, I'll retrofit if necessary. Beggars can't be choosers. I can't thank you all enough for your advice.

This past year, the CPU cooling fan in my Dell Dimension 8300 started to have problems. Every time we warm started the computer, we would see error messages.
There is a thermistor in the fan's circuit board which varies the rotational speed of the fan blades, depending on how warm the CPU is.
I was told that even if I could find a substitute fan, there was a risk of overheating the CPU and/or continuing to see that annoying error message during a warm start.

Dell sent a replacement fan free of charge. :thumb:

Yeah Paul, but this is an 8 year-old IBM so I doubt any free replacements are in order. Believe it or not, I tried contacting IBM (or should I say ibm ) and the nice person in Pakistan had no clue what I was talking about, but she was very polite.


It's definitely failing bearings in the motor in my case (I can hear the pieces rattling around when it runs at full speed every once in a while, like a BB in a garbage disposal). This one is definitely just a plain fan motor with a two-wire connection so at this point, I will take what I can get.

It's an old computer, but it's like my old dog; I can't imagine not having it (him). Sure, I could probably pick up a more advanced computer at a Goodwill store for less than the cost of a fan, but I like the one I have so I will keep it going as long as I can. I suppose it's a guy thing.

Hey Ed, the fan I sent (which should have gone in yesterday's mail) is the type that screws directly into the heat sink, though I image it could be bracketed on there. If that doesn't work for you, I can see what else I've got here. We do have a few old machines we use for parts. Worst case you've lost a couple of days waiting for the part.