Hi Anna;
I have four AMD processors around my home ranging from a 2500+ to a 6400
dual core. Their heat sinks range from those provided by AMD in their retail
package to something of a lesser quality whose origin I am unable to
remember. The method to remove the fan ranges from four screws, each in one
corner of the fan, to simple clips that hold onto small indentations in the
heat sink. I have never seen a fan that is secured by pegs deep within the
heat sink, but I could easily be corrected. I do wonder if perhaps your fan
is only "clipped" onto the heat sink, thereby giving you few visual clues as
to its removal method.
I agree with past posters that this is very likely the time to replace this
fan if it is making noise. If it has run cool enough to this point, I
wouldn't bother getting a new heat sink and instead concentrate on finding a
reasonably good fan. I have found that locally-owned shops are quick to help
with these issues and are often better suited to provide the exact fan,
especially when you bring the old one with you. You might pay an extra few
dollars but in situations like these, where my own expertise doesn't extend
far enough for me to order such items on-line (like I do with all my new
components), I am happy to be able to match the old to the new in-person.
Thermal paste is not a difficult issue to deal with, assuming that you have
the paste. If you don't plan on doing much of this work in the future, it
might be better for you to go to that local shop and also ask for a small
sampler of thermal paste. I have had several shops offer me this service
when I have purchased other items from them. You can also buy a full tube at
ten or more dollars. I would think that you could find many tutorials on the
internet, but my own method is to put only enough paste to very thinly coat
the entire surface of the CPU. On your CPU it would be just a small
rectangular area in the centre of the entire chip that is slighly elevated
from the rest of the surface, assuming it is the same as the CPU's I have
dealt with from AMD. I use the edge of the thermal paste tube to ensure that
it is evenly spread as thinly as I can throughout the majority of the area,
leaving perhaps only a millimetre around the edges. To the best of my
knowledge and experience, that is a sufficient amount to then push outwards
when the heat sink is connected to the motherboard. I would also suggest
that you take your time when mounting the heat sink to ensure that it moves
as little as possible from the moment it touchs the CPU until the moment it
is completely clamped onto the mother board. If you don't feel comfortable
with this, it should be a relatively small fee to have a technician do it
for you.
However, in this case a new fan will likely be sufficient. Blowing out the
heat sink will not cause any problem to the CPU or thermal paste, but if you
are hearing noise from the fan I believe it is time to replace it as opposed
to just cleaning out the dust.
Good luck.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "g.Computer9f" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Noise - Processor
I don't know how to get the fan off!! There are holes in the corners with
tiny pegs way down inside. Could it need an Allen wrench, perhaps?
Wouldn't that have come with the processor/heatsink/fan?
It's messing with the thermal paste that give me the willies - I'm afraid
I'd mess it up. Its between the heat sink and the processor chip isn't it?
If I can just take of the fan and blow out the heat sink, that wouldn't
disturbe the thermal paste would it, since its clamped down so tight?
Thanks. --AnnaSummers
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Harris
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Noise - Processor
Not sure why no one mentioned buying a can of air duster, you can remove the
fan and heatsink and clean it with that, I do it with mine every couple of
months because of dust building up, you might have to buy some thermal paste
if you scuff any of it off or get it dirty, but 5$ is cheaper than 18$ and
theres nothing wrong with that. Not to mention the fan does not have to be a
ball bearing based one, I've used some very good fans that didn't use ball
bearings. My suggestion is buy from a reputable company, or a place that has
a good return policy if you dont like it.
----- Original Message ----
From: g.Computer9f <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 10:49:39 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Noise - Processor
I found this fan ($18)
VANTEC CCK-6012 60mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
Is 60mm the right size? How can I tell if the fan and heatsink I have are
one piece or not? I just don't see any screws, just tiny buttons deep
inside the corner holes (I guess they could be screws, but I have no idea
how to get them out).
My CPU is AMD|A64 3200+ 2.0G 939 512K R AMD Venice Athelon 64
Thank you all so much for the help
(I think I'm going to take a PC hardware course at the community college -
I'm tired of being so ignorant)
AnnaSummers
----- Original Message -----
From: Dan W. King
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:03 PM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Noise - Processor
Ann,
Your processor would NOT be making any noise. If it seems like it is coming
from that area, it would have to be the fan. There is no sense in trying to
clean the fan--purchase a new one. Make sure the new one has a ball bearing
(it will state so on the box) and not a sleeve bearing. The fan is usually
held to the heatsink with four screws.
Good luck.
Dan
----- Original Message -----
From: "g.Computer9f" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 10:19 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Noise - Processor
There has been intermittent noise (humming, buzzing, chattery humming)
coming from my PC. I opened it, thinking it was one of the HDDs, but it
appears to be the processor. I can see under the fan that the heat sink is
very dusty, but I don't know how to get the fan off of the heat sink to
clean the heat sink. The processor is the only part that was to hard for me
to lock in place by myself.
Does anyone know if the dust could be causing it, or if I need to look for a
new processor? (This one is only a year and a half old.) CPU AMD|A64
3200+ 2.0G 939 512K R (Venice).
Thanks,
Ann Fennell
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