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    How do I clean the gpu fans and fins

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by brlowe, Mar 23, 2011.

  1. brlowe

    brlowe Notebook Geek

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    I just got a M17xr2 with GTX285 and I want to clean out the cooling fins. It was east to take off the bottom cover and remove the CPU fan and clean that but how do you get to the othe two fans and coolers?
     
    brlowe, Mar 23, 2011
    #1
  2. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    you have to remove the GPU's, to get access to the cooling vents in back.... I don't know how familiar you are with your system though.
     
    MrButterBiscuits, Mar 23, 2011
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  3. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Watch the 2 teardown videos of the m17x:
    m17x Teardown PART 1
    m17x Teardown PART 2

    and you'll get acces to everything. If it's the first time you do it i suggest you run them a couple of times, pay attention and be patient. If possible run the videos on another system and pause it anytime you like.
    While you're at it get some thermal paste and change it on your CPU / GPU / chipset search for guides here as there are a few.

    Cheers
     
    katalin_2003, Mar 23, 2011
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  4. ECKS

    ECKS Notebook Prophet

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    Is this the same teardown for the R3 too?

    EDIT: Nm, we can just watch (Mandrake's) teardown video for replacing the Gpu.
     
    ECKS, Mar 23, 2011
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  5. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    No dookie, sorry they are not the same.
     
    katalin_2003, Mar 23, 2011
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  6. steviejones133

    steviejones133 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Be sure to keep the fan blades stationary when cleaning - you dont want them rotating in the wrong direction. ;)
     
    steviejones133, Mar 23, 2011
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  7. Cmagamez

    Cmagamez Notebook Evangelist

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    Ewww, i clean mine today, and i'm sure i didnt not keep them stationary, i assemble it again but seems to work ok
     
    Cmagamez, Mar 23, 2011
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  8. steviejones133

    steviejones133 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well, for future cleaning, just keep them as still as you can. You wouldnt wind a watch in the wrong direction, would you? ;)
     
    steviejones133, Mar 23, 2011
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  9. Cmagamez

    Cmagamez Notebook Evangelist

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    Can i clean them with water? :p, the next time i will use a blower, this time i just use a toohtburhs and a cloth, wasnt an intensive cleaning.
     
    Cmagamez, Mar 23, 2011
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  10. steviejones133

    steviejones133 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Water? - hmm...as long as its not masses of it. Personally I would use something like rubbing alcohol (otheriwse known as isopropyl alcohol or ethanol as it has a high content of either) Quoted useage: Also in computing, isopropyl rubbing alcohol can be used to remove thermal grease from heatsinks and computer components. Courtest of Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol - see USES.

    Use Q-tips (or cotton buds as they are known in the UK - the kind you use to get the wax out your ears lol)

    Compressed air is good but make sure the fans stay stationary (use a Q-tip to stop them rotating)

    Other than that, just be gentle, work slowly and clean away all that crap!
     
    steviejones133, Mar 23, 2011
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  11. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

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    Yea... water might work in small quantities, but check your medicine cabinet for rubbing alcohol first.
     
    MrButterBiscuits, Mar 24, 2011
    #11