Whether it's a mechanical hard drive or a system fan, the moving parts in a computer will eventually break down. Fortunately, fans are the least expensive components inside a computer case, and replacing them does not require much computer expertise or special tools. If your motherboard is still under warranty when your fans break down, however, you can contact the manufacturer for a replacement motherboard, rather than potentially voiding your warranty by replacing the fans yourself. You may have to mail the motherboard to the manufacturer and wait several days for a replacement.
Instructions
1. Turn off your computer and detach its power cable from the wall. Do not put your hands inside the case when the computer is on or even connected to a power supply. Damaged or improperly manufactured internal parts can expose you to potentially serious injury if you touch them when the computer is plugged in.
2. Open the case. Modern computers will have a door on the left-hand side (as you are facing the computer). Increasingly, you will encounter case doors that do not require a screwdriver. These use "thumbscrews" that you can loosen and tighten by hand. Sometimes a door is secured by clips or latches or even a magnet.
3. Detach the fan, starting with its power cable. This cable may be connected to the motherboard or to the power supply. Once the cable is detached, remove the fan's screws. Here you will usually need a #1 Phillips screwdriver.
4. Install the new fans. If your new fans came with their own screws, use those, because the screws you just removed may not fit. Once the new fans are securely attached, plug their power cables in, reattach the power cable, and turn the computer on. If the fans spin up, close the case.
If you are replacing chipset fans, these are often built into their heatsinks. In this case, you need a "heatsink fan combo" or HSF replacement, not just a fan replacement. This process is trickier.
Replacing a Chipset HSF
5. Remove the old chipset HSF. First detach its screws, then carefully pry the chipset off with a flat-bladed screwdriver (it will still be partly attached because the thermal paste between the HSF and the chipset acts as an adhesive). You may be able to just twist the HSF off instead. Once the HSF is off, clean the thermal paste off by rubbing it with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol.
6. Apply the new chipset HSF. Your new HSF may come with a thermal pad pre-attached. In this case, simply peel off the pad's protective film and set it on the chipset, being careful to align correctly, because these pads are sticky.
7. Use your sandwich bag as a glove and apply a dollop of thermal paste onto it---an amount about the size of a half a grain of rice. Rub this onto the chipset until you have a thin layer, then set the chipset HSF on top and screw it in. Do all this if there is no thermal pad.
Tags: power cable, thermal paste, break down, case replacing, power supply