sliverz

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What are the main things I need to know for replacing the CPU fan? Never done it before.

I did some checking around, and it looks like I cant buy a fan that fits over the current heat sink, so I think the whole assembly has to be replaced. Any helpful tips on what to watch out for, or hardware compatibility issues I need to be aware of?

Thanks!

skept

ok mate i would go for the zalman 7000CU its the fan i'm running and its fricken silent and fricken cheap oh and the amount it cools is goddamn legendary. CPU fan is pretty simple if its an intel (i dont have an AMD sorry) so all you gotta do is undo the clips and pop it off. Then just spread thermal grease on CPU and place the zalman on top

Compatiblity things to look out for are on the zalman website - like i said its the CPU fan i use - i have a P4 3.06Ghz HT and i have just been playing CS:S for the last.. 3hrs? on maximum everything for graphics - and right now my core temp is 44degrees...

Hope that helped mate. Alternatively just try toms hardware - i am not sure if he has reviews on cooling there but its worth a try

sliverz

Yes, it is an Intel, so i'll take your suggestion and look at the zalman. Cheap is a bonus! Thanks a bunch.

BackdoorJesus

get yourself a can of tuner cleaner at radio shack & spray the hell outta the one you have already - you may get it working again...I've gotten a few "dead" fans spinning again that way...

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wolf68k

2 things
If you replace the whole thing, I suggest not using the thermalcompound that comes with the heatsink&fan unit. Instead get Arctic Silver 5. And while it seems like $8 is a lot to pay for 3.5grams of thermal compound, keep in mind you're not going to be using much for one CPU infact with that much you can do around 15-30 CPUs.
But also be sure to read Artic Silver's web site about applying it...read a few times and even print it out and read it some more and if you still have questions then just ask.

Now for BongRipper's suggetsion; just besure you shut down the system and completely remove the fan from the heatsink and that the fan as dried out before reinstalling it and turning the system back on.

sliverz

Thanks for the input. Sigh.. unforetunately the Motherboard I have is not compatible with zalman series. Going to probably look for a replacement at a local computer store.

8 bucks is not much in the scheme of things when compared against the rest of the PC, so i'm all for using quality compound if it's worth it. Thanks again for everyone's suggestions.