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Cleaning fans - specifically, on a DV9700t?

post #1 of 8
7/28/11 at 2:13pm
Thread Starter 

I see all kinds of resources for cleaning laptop fans in general, but not much specific to my computer.  The problem is that many tutorials I find assume that you can get to the fan pretty easily - but with my laptop, it's pretty intensive.  The guide for replacing the fan includes removing pretty much everything in order to pull off the entire top panel and access the fan beneath it - not something I want to attempt unless I really have to.

 

So, I'd like to see if a good cleaning would help.  I asked HP if there was any way to access the fan without actually going through all the steps included in replacing it; they said the only thing I can do is blow air into the side intake vents.  That did nothing.

 

I'm about two years out of warranty, so nothing I do will void anything.

 

Does anyone have a suggestion of how to clean it out?  It's running around 15C hotter than it did when I got it, and since I've never thoroughly cleaned the fan before, I'm hoping cleaning it now will help.  Is there any way to access it (other than through the thin slits at the bottom, which proved useless to me) without ripping the laptop apart?

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post #2 of 8
7/28/11 at 2:20pm
Thread Starter 

Also - with a very light load, the cores are 45-55C.  If I do anything more, like Photoshop work, it gets up to 60-65C.

 

Because of that, I've been running it in power saver mode at 20% CPU power.  That keeps it under 55C for the most part.

 

But this is far hotter than it used to be.

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post #3 of 8
7/28/11 at 5:28pm
No shortcut on this, you just have to take the comp aprt enough to get access to the heatsink and clean it out (q-tips, toothpick, vacuum, canned air). Whilst you are it, apply new thermal paste as well. We have many good guides in the forum about cleaning - read a few of them

cheers ...
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post #4 of 8
7/29/11 at 4:40am
If you find the task too daunting, contact a local computer shop that specializes in laptops and they will disassemble and clean for about $50...if they do, request a new coating of thermal paste for the heatsink/processor while they are at it
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post #5 of 8
7/29/11 at 8:32am
Thread Starter 

Yes, I've read a number of guides already.  I wasn't looking for info on how to clean the actual fan itself - just hoping there's a shortcut to GET to it with my laptop.  HP doesn't make it easy.

 

Saugen48, a while back I got four quotes for replacing the fan.  Lowest was 90, but it's an hour away.  Highest was 140.  They said that was based on hourly rates, and cleaning the fan would probably take about the same amount of time since they still have to remove everything and whatnot.

 

I can't justify spending that kind of money installing something that cost 15 bucks.

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post #6 of 8
7/29/11 at 8:43am
Well, like you said ... it ain't so simple to get into a notebook ... $50 is cheap.

cheers ...
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post #7 of 8
7/29/11 at 10:28am
Well, it was a couple of years ago that I took one of my older Toshibas in because of how difficult it was in getting to the fan heat sink.so prices may have climbed somewhat and that was here in Canada..I must say, that Acer laptops in general at least in the last few years are a breeze to get to..just remove a panel on the bottom and there you are
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post #8 of 8
7/29/11 at 11:52am
Thread Starter 

Unfrotunately, HP doesn't seem to have caught on to that.  :(

 

To get to the fan, I have to pull the HD, DVD drive, switch cover, keyboard, speakers, entire display, the top cover panel, wireless switch board, audio board, USB board, power connector assembly and system board.

 

And yes - $50 is cheap - but no one around here is charging just $50.

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