[TUTORIAL] Guide to COMPLETLY Cleaning Your Fans | NotebookReview

csin Notebook Consultant

Reputations:: 38

Messages:: 193

Likes Received:: 0

Trophy Points:: 30

Tools:

Small Flat Head Screw Driver

Small Phillips Head Screw Driver

Tiny Phillips Head Screw Driver

Q-Tips

Cleaning Solution

The cleaner should be either a non-residue electronics cleaner, isopropyl alcohol, or deionized water. The chances of a short or fault because of electricity is small, but not worth the risk. Deionized water does not conduct electricity.

Step 1: Remove the battery and start with the laptop lying face down as shown below.

Step 2: Unscrew the two Phillips screws holding the bottom plate on (screws circled in red below). Slide the bottom plate off.

Step 3: Unscrew the two screws (circled in yellow) holding the indicator panel on.

Step 4: Flip the laptop over and open the screen as far as you can. Place the flat head screwdriver between the indicator panel and the laptop frame and gently pry the panel up. It is snapped in place so don’t be scared if you hear a snap sound. Just be careful and make sure you do not break the panel. Repeat this step for the right side.

Step 5: Flip the indicator panel down. Slide the brown cable clamp forward to release the ribbon cable. Set the indicator panel to the side.

Step 6: Flip the laptop back over and unscrew the screws circled below in yellow.

Step 7: Slide the grill pieces out as shown below.

Step 8: Unscrew the two screws holding down the GPU fan.

Step 9: Unplug the fan power cable from the laptop.

Step 10: Unscrew the two screws on the far left. (I will add a picture later today. Thank you to Mexic00ls for pointing out to me that I forgot this step).

Step 11: Take the fan out of the laptop and set the laptop aside. Place the fan with the screw side facing up.

Step 12: Unscrew the three screws in the fan with the tiny Phillips screw driver.

Step 13: Remove the cover from the fan and carefully lift the fan blade off the electromagnets.

Step 14: Clean the fan blades with the Q-tips and cleanser. Make sure you clean the top and bottom of the fan assembly and not just the front back and back of the blades.

Step 15: Clean the heat sink inside the laptop using the Q-tips. Make sure you clean this area well. It can accumulate dust quickly. If this is the first time you have cleaned the laptop after acquiring it from another person use gloves. Dust can be up to 80% dead skin cells.

Step 16: To repeat the above steps for the CPU fan you are going to have to remove the CPU heat sink from the CPU; the fan is attached to it. Unscrew the four screws holding the heat sink on to the CPU. Remove the heat sink and fan from the laptop. Set the laptop aside.

Step 17: Place the fan screw side up and remove the screws from the fan just as you did for the GPU fan.

All other steps are exactly the same as for the GPU fan. Make sure you either clean the heat sink and reapply thermal paste or make sure the thermal paste that is already present is properly installed.