Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

6

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour            

Sections

1

  • Cleaning Fan and Thermal Paste
  • 6 steps

Flags

2

Bullets!

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Introduction

After installing “SpeedFan” I noticed I was reaching CPU temps above 60 degrees celsius while idling.

I reviewed a few guides:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2_Vj288

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD3AGwHK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mhPRpdj

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn2ZNOyG

And went to work!

I’ve taken some photos while I went about it, and have shared them in this guide.

Much thanks to my wife who provided a helping hand with cleaning the fan blades.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove Case               
  • Screws are attached to the panel
  • After loosening the screws you can start to separate the lower panel from the upper. I found it easiest to start at the back in between the two hinges, and moving to the sides.

Screws are attached to the panel

After loosening the screws you can start to separate the lower panel from the upper. I found it easiest to start at the back in between the two hinges, and moving to the sides.

1024

Step 2

              Disconnect Battery               
  • Disconnect the plug from the socket (rectangle)
  • If you wist to remove the battery completely you can unscrew and lift it out from the case.

Disconnect the plug from the socket (rectangle)

If you wist to remove the battery completely you can unscrew and lift it out from the case.

Step 3

              Inspect & Clean Fan               
  • Use alcohol spray, with swabs or lint-free coffee filters, in order to clean out dust in the air vents.
  • If you’re just cleaning the fan you can attempt to clean that while it’s fixed to the board, I didn’t do this myself though.
  • You can see the fan connection with the motherboard highlighted in the rectangle.

Use alcohol spray, with swabs or lint-free coffee filters, in order to clean out dust in the air vents.

If you’re just cleaning the fan you can attempt to clean that while it’s fixed to the board, I didn’t do this myself though.

You can see the fan connection with the motherboard highlighted in the rectangle.

Step 4

              Remove Fan & Heatsink               
  • To remove the fan and heat sink/pipe, remove the screws, & disconnect fan connection from board, then lift out from case.

To remove the fan and heat sink/pipe, remove the screws, & disconnect fan connection from board, then lift out from case.

Step 5

              Clean Old & Reapply New Thermal Paste               
  • Clean the old paste away from the chips and the heatsink using the alcohol and cotton swabs and then apply your new thermal paste so it will cover the metal surface of the chips.
  • Place the Heatsink and Fan back into the case carefully, ensuring the paste will get distributed evenly underneath as you tighten the screws again.

Clean the old paste away from the chips and the heatsink using the alcohol and cotton swabs and then apply your new thermal paste so it will cover the metal surface of the chips.

Place the Heatsink and Fan back into the case carefully, ensuring the paste will get distributed evenly underneath as you tighten the screws again.

Step 6

              Enjoy The Low CPU Temps 👍               
  • Hopefully this helps, I’m averaging between 30 & 40 degrees C now.
  • I recommend making sure you’ve washed your hands of any potential old thermal paste that might’ve been picked up while cleaning.

Hopefully this helps, I’m averaging between 30 & 40 degrees C now.

I recommend making sure you’ve washed your hands of any potential old thermal paste that might’ve been picked up while cleaning.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

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                    Innes Ford                     

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