OT: Replacing CPU fan

[Dan Coutu]

Greg, I'll have to contradict Randy a little here in that you may in 
fact need a screwdriver to remove the old fan. But you do not use the
screwdriver in a rotary fashion. (In other words you are not using it to
operate on a screw.)

A lot of CPU fans nowadays use a fan clip that has a section which
stands out to the side of the clip. It is designed such that if you use
a flat blade screwdriver (not a Philips head) it will slide nicely into
the slot (not really but I can't think of a better name) made by that
out standing clip section. You then push down about a quarter inch at
which point you can then push the screwdriver handle sideways (toward
the CPU fan) and the bottom of the clip will move sideways (away from
the CPU in an equal and opposite reaction). (Rocket Science! Oh No!)
Then let up on the pressure and the the whole thing comes apart.

When putting a new fan on BE SURE to obtain either some 'phase
transition material' (which is visually like double sided tape) or some
heat transfer paste (I know that CompUSA sells it). Be sure to clean the
old stuff off the top of the CPU. Put on the new heat transfer stuff,
then put the new fan on. If you leave out the heat transfer stuff you
may slowly cook your CPU and that would be bad.

-- 

Dan Coutu
Managing Director
Snowy Owl Internet Consulting, LLC
http://www.snowy-owl.com/