Replace Fan or Whole Heatsink on Laptop?

[goldtech]

Hi,

I have an HP 8710w. At the time when I bought it, it was a "top-shelf" laptop, and it's still holding up well.

One thing that's happened though is that the cooling fan is getting noisy and I think it needs to be replaced.

I'm a bit confused on whether I can just replace the fan or I need to replace the whole heat sink along with the fan.

Couldn't I just buy the fan and swap it with the old one? If i had to clean off and reapply some thermal compound I can do that. Not sure what is the best approach?

I haven't opened it up yet...

Thanks

[mike]

Post by goldtech
Hi,
I have an HP 8710w. At the time when I bought it, it was a "top-shelf" laptop, and it's still holding up well.
One thing that's happened though is that the cooling fan is getting noisy and I think it needs to be replaced.
I'm a bit confused on whether I can just replace the fan or I need to replace the whole heat sink along with the fan.
Couldn't I just buy the fan and swap it with the old one? If i had to clean off and reapply some thermal compound I can do that. Not sure what is the best approach?
I haven't opened it up yet...
Thanks

Configurations are all over the map. You may not find a fan that fits.
New heatsink/fan probably costs more than you can stand...if you can
find one.

If you're lucky enough to have a fan with a sticker
covering the bearing, you can oil it.
I've had excellent luck using an insulin syringe and thicker
gun oil to just poke a hole in the sticker.
You can pull up the sticker, but it wont go back down
if you get any oil on it.

[Bob_Villa]

Post by goldtech
Hi,
I have an HP 8710w. At the time when I bought it, it was a "top-shelf" laptop, and it's still holding up well.
One thing that's happened though is that the cooling fan is getting noisy and I think it needs to be replaced.
I'm a bit confused on whether I can just replace the fan or I need to replace the whole heat sink along with the fan.
Couldn't I just buy the fan and swap it with the old one? If i had to clean off and reapply some thermal compound I can do that. Not sure what is the best approach?
I haven't opened it up yet...
Thanks

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H1.XHP+8710w+fan&_nkw=HP+8710w+fan&_sacat=0

[scarecrow]

On Sat, 10 Jan 2015 15:30:30 -0800 (PST), goldtech

Post by goldtech
I have an HP 8710w. At the time when I bought it, it was a "top-shelf" laptop, and it's still holding up well.
One thing that's happened though is that the cooling fan is getting noisy and I think it needs to be replaced.

Have you tried sucking or blowing out your fan grills with a shop vac?
I've had fan noises solved by doing that. Amazing what gets in there
in a year of two. Careful don't use too big a vac and/or make too good
a seal or you may remove more than just dust, hair, and bugs... 8-O

[Bob_Villa]

Post by scarecrow
Have you tried sucking or blowing out your fan grills with a shop vac?
I've had fan noises solved by doing that. Amazing what gets in there
in a year of two. Careful don't use too big a vac and/or make too good
a seal or you may remove more than just dust, hair, and bugs... 8-O

I would add: blow the opposite direction of the fan and insert a toothpick to keep the fan from spinning, as it may spin too fast. 8^(

[~misfit~]

Post by scarecrow
On Sat, 10 Jan 2015 15:30:30 -0800 (PST), goldtech

Post by goldtech
I have an HP 8710w. At the time when I bought it, it was a
"top-shelf" laptop, and it's still holding up well.
One thing that's happened though is that the cooling fan is getting
noisy and I think it needs to be replaced.

Have you tried sucking or blowing out your fan grills with a shop vac?
I've had fan noises solved by doing that. Amazing what gets in there
in a year of two. Careful don't use too big a vac and/or make too good
a seal or you may remove more than just dust, hair, and bugs... 8-O

Bad advice in my experience. At the best it might move the dust / hair
enough so that you'll get a few weeks of cooler running out of it.

However what it won't do - is lubricate the fan spindle - and that's what
the problem is here.

D- / need to try harder.

[goldtech]

thanks, i'll try to oil and/or clean it first...

[~misfit~]

Post by goldtech
thanks, i'll try to oil and/or clean it first...

Usually there isn't any need to lift stickers or the like with laptop fans.
Often once you detatch them from the cooler the fan part simply lifts off
the spindle. You can then check the spindle for wear and add half-a-drop of
good quaility lubrictaing oil to the bushes in the fan proper. (I use a
toothpick for this.)

Good luck.