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Clean your heatsink

Thu, Sep 13 2012 10:06 AM (11 replies)
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  • Soulcatcher
    1,970 Posts
    Sat, May 8 2010 10:53 AM

    Yesterday my laptop decided it wanted a coffee, not good. In the process of taking apart and cleaning it up I pulled out the heatsink and it was clogged.

    Before I start, if you are not confident with doing this...don't. Take your laptop in and have it cleaned.

    This is a guide for a dell yours will be slightly different.

    Things you will need.

    • Isopropyl alcohol
    • q-tips
    • thermal paste (available at any computer store)

    First remove the battery.

    Now remove the access screws

    Once the panel is open you will have access to the Heatsink.

    In mine it is held down by 5 screws, remove these.

    You now can see the CPU.

    Vacuum the interior and the radiator part of the heatsink.

    Using isopropyl alcohol and q-tips clean the old thermal paste from the CPU and mating area on the heat sink. Take your time, do not scrape the CPU with anything and do not press too hard.

    Nice and clean.

    Allow all of the alcohol to evaporate.

    Now apply the new thermal compound thinly and evenly.

    Reattach the heatsink. Do this in stages following the numbers. Start by just having the screws grab. Then go around again tightening about half way. Continue until snug, DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.

    Reinstall the access cover and battery.

    Enjoy a computer that runs cooler and faster.

    Happy hitting.

     

  • nickuk
    967 Posts
    Sat, May 8 2010 12:04 PM

    TECHNOLOGY

  • YankeeJim
    25,827 Posts
    Sat, May 8 2010 12:10 PM

    nickuk:
    TECHNOLOGY

    LOL-     NECESSITY, thanks to the coffee bath. It's only running faster because it has a caffeine buzz working!

  • Fuzzygazz
    1,469 Posts
    Sun, May 9 2010 11:36 PM

    nice post sc..hope I never need that info

  • rehill
    431 Posts
    Mon, May 10 2010 7:21 AM

    Nicely done! Very informative procedure.

  • griffygriff
    597 Posts
    Mon, May 10 2010 8:32 AM

    I started to do it and about half way through i suddenly started to crying like a baby. My wife had to slap me to snap out of it.  I guess some of you guys are just living on the edge. Having said that its a wonderful post for folks with more courage than me. The scares still remain  

  • griffygriff
    597 Posts
    Mon, May 10 2010 8:37 AM

    I cried like a baby as well as spell like one

  • Soulcatcher
    1,970 Posts
    Tue, Jun 8 2010 5:21 PM

    *bump

  • wayfader
    50 Posts
    Fri, Jun 18 2010 8:27 PM

    ty catcher. that was an excellent post w "soul". lol

    Soulcatcher:

    Yesterday my laptop decided it wanted a coffee, not good. In the process of taking apart and cleaning it up I pulled out the heatsink and it was clogged.

    Before I start, if you are not confident with doing this...don't. Take your laptop in and have it cleaned.

    This is a guide for a dell yours will be slightly different.

    Things you will need.

    • Isopropyl alcohol
    • q-tips
    • thermal paste (available at any computer store)

    First remove the battery.

    Now remove the access screws

    Once the panel is open you will have access to the Heatsink.

    In mine it is held down by 5 screws, remove these.

    You now can see the CPU.

    Vacuum the interior and the radiator part of the heatsink.

    Using isopropyl alcohol and q-tips clean the old thermal paste from the CPU and mating area on the heat sink. Take your time, do not scrape the CPU with anything and do not press too hard.

    Nice and clean.

    Allow all of the alcohol to evaporate.

    Now apply the new thermal compound thinly and evenly.

    Reattach the heatsink. Do this in stages following the numbers. Start by just having the screws grab. Then go around again tightening about half way. Continue until snug, DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.

    Reinstall the access cover and battery.

    Enjoy a computer that runs cooler and faster.

    Happy hitting.

     

     

  • Soulcatcher
    1,970 Posts
    Sun, Feb 27 2011 9:33 AM

    ^bump

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