PC hardware forum: How to clean CPU Fan by a newbie.

First off, a noisy fan isn't always external dust. It has a motor with a shaft and bearings or bushings. These wear and clearances increase causing the shaft to sort of bounce around rather than run smoothly. You may not be able to do much about the noise without replacing the fan. I've been able to lubricate a few but the quieting is temporary. As for dust, I'll recommend canned air and a small paint brush. You're going to need to also clean the dust from the heat sink. They come in all shapes and sizes so I'll just say to blow away as much dust as you can with the air and then go at it with the paint brush getting into all the nooks and crannys that are reachable. Follow up with another blast of air. I've heard it wise to unplug the fan from the motherboard first. The reasoning is that spinning the fan might cause enough current to be generated to damage circuitry. While you're at it, use the canned air to remove dust from the inside of the power supply as well. You might want to go so far as to do this outdoors so the same dust doesn't have a chance to come right back inside. There's plenty of new dust around anyway. Hope that helps.

You need to replace fan as "noise" is sure sign its going to fail. If you can post a picture on "pic sharing" forum do so. You gave no clue as to the fan and/or system. But, in buying a replacement get one capable of cooling your cpu, thus if P4-2.4Ghz cpu, one able to handle that. As to removing the fan, just use common sense. Some are held in place by ears/tangs/prongs and/or clips and posts where screws would go, allow it to used for awhile to warm-up the "goop" on the heatsink, then try twisting slightly and pulling on it. Bes ure any clips, etc. are free for removal. Provide the pic "you take" if you can so we can view, if possible.

tada -----Willy

This looks like a common Socket 478 or even 423 Pentium 4 Intel heatsink. No one I know has successfully found a new fan. Because of this pull the entire unit, toss it and install a new one from newegg.com or geeks.com
Bob

Oh sorry, I didn't notice this statement by you "without disturbing the thermal paste = Non-issue." Did you mean removing the CPU Fan along with its clip frame doesn't disturb the thermal paste at all and I needn't worry about it??

OK, great info...

Unlock the latches/levers to open position. In the 2nd pic, you see in the circle, those brackets(top&bottom) hook into the ears/holes, use a small screwdriver or pocket knife to pry carefully away from each other all 4 corners. Once loose, lift the bracket assy. away. You now have access to the heatsink&fan directly. The fan may just sit on top on some posts. Either lift as whole unit by pulling up or slight twist and up. If the whole cpu&heatsink assy. (heatsink compound will hold them). Yes, you will have to replace(re-apply) when remounting again. The whole HSF, heatsink assy. can be replaced by those cooling fans(or HSF)compatible with your model cpu if you can't replace the fan alone.
Robert, has provided links to some vendors. May I suggest this one too: http://www.frozencpu.com

tada -----Willy

Try using compressed air to clean the CPU fan. Don't risk using anything else.

Hi Lee
On mine view goes to this way by applying air pressure or soft hand brush to clean the CPU Fans.
You remind me 2 weeks ago I try my best to repair someones PC. It problem was red light blinking and I relax that the CPU was fualty with a lot dust in all system unit. so I couldn't do it for the person, suggested unles replacement.