Help with cleaning CPU fan
- Thread starter Stacey88
- Start date
jamesd1981
Active Member
How bad is the fan, does it really need to come out for a thorough clean, or could you clean it while still fitted to the computer.
Also if you do take the fan off do you know you will need to apply new thermal paste when you put it back in ?
Also if you do take the fan off do you know you will need to apply new thermal paste when you put it back in ?
It's pretty bad to be honest, I've had the PC for around 7ish years more or less and I've never been able to clean it properly, the dust build up is pretty noticeable, and so is the noise my PC makes now, and I was hoping if I could clean that out it may help. I didn't realise I'd have to put more thermal paste on to it though, but I've read you can get it cheap?
I've tried cleaning it while its still fitted but its just too difficult, even trying to fit a small brush between the fan blades to even move the dust is impossible.
I've tried cleaning it while its still fitted but its just too difficult, even trying to fit a small brush between the fan blades to even move the dust is impossible.
jamesd1981
Active Member
I have found the best way to clean any pc fan inside or outside the case is to use an old toothbrush and a can of compressed air.
However if you really want to take it out, look carefully at the four fixing points on the cpu cooler, they should have an arrow that will show you which way to turn them, you have to turn all four to release the cpu cooler from the motherboard.
Does you cpu fan have four star screws in each corner, this would let you remove the fan without removing the whole cooler.
However if you really want to take it out, look carefully at the four fixing points on the cpu cooler, they should have an arrow that will show you which way to turn them, you have to turn all four to release the cpu cooler from the motherboard.
Does you cpu fan have four star screws in each corner, this would let you remove the fan without removing the whole cooler.
Laquer Head
Well-Known Member
your fan probably looks similar to this one.. take a philips screwdriver and give a quarter turn to each of the 4 pins..(there are arrows on the heads of the pins).. be semi gentle with it as they are plastic..
then the pins will release..you should be able to pop off the fan/heatsink and then unplug the plug from your motherboard....
Use a can of compressed air and blow out all the accumulated crap...toothbrush works as well on fan blades!!
As stated above..you'll need to clean off the old paste--which most likely is like caked on dust by now--and apply a fresh dab of new paste..and yes, paste is dirt cheap..like a few bucks..
then the pins will release..you should be able to pop off the fan/heatsink and then unplug the plug from your motherboard....
Use a can of compressed air and blow out all the accumulated crap...toothbrush works as well on fan blades!!
As stated above..you'll need to clean off the old paste--which most likely is like caked on dust by now--and apply a fresh dab of new paste..and yes, paste is dirt cheap..like a few bucks..
Tuffie
Active Member
Just in addition to previous comments applying thermal paste, it's common for the paste to come with a spreader for you to spread it across the CPU. Which is absolutely fine, but some consider this not to be the best method as demonstrated in this video. I'm with the chap in the video, a nice pea dot seems to do the trick, a lot of people do get nervous doing this. I know that I did my first shot at it, take your time, don't worry if you mess it up, just clean it off and give it another shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hNgFNH7zhQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hNgFNH7zhQ