Thermal Paste Question, need help quickly!

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

If the thermal paste on my heatsink and fan was looking as though it needed to be re-done, would this stop the fan from spinning. Because I tried the fan in another computer and it worked fine.
Thank you Community

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

Thermal grease has nothing to do with the fan spinning or not. What problem did you have with the fan?

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

The fan was not spinning at all and the computer started to shutdown, what would you do?

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

What about the rest of the system? If the fan wasn't spinning (but it's a good fan) it was because it wasn't getting power from the motherboard fan header.

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

DO you have another fan header on the original PC you can try to plug the fan into?

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

The system boots up lovely and stays on for about 15 mins, everything else is working fine.

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

SchizTech :

Not a 4 pin fan header there is a 3 pin header next to the psu connector, i tried it in that but nothing

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

grafowler :

Don't try to run it now, overheating can damage the PC.

You may have a bad fan header. it may be possible to avoid a mobo replacement if we can find a replacement fan/heatsink which has a MOLEX connector. What kind of CPU do you have?

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

SchizTech :

I'm not sure its not my computer its a friends but it has a intel quad core processor

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

With these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835146025&IsVirtualParent=1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812226056

Your friend can run the fan directly off the PSU

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

grafowler :

SchizTech :

Thanks SchizTech how do they fit onto the motherboard, the current heatsink and fan has 4 screws inside springs

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

The heatsink has a mounting bracket with instructions that should be in the box. You might need to pull out the motherboard in order to install the thing (it can be a pain in the ass, be patient). Then connect the 3-pin power connector using the adapter to a free four pin connector from the PSU.

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

SchizTech,
Couldn't I just get a 90mm fan with a molex connector and put it on top of the heatsink
grafowler

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

That depends on how the heatsink/fan are put together. Some fans from brand name PC makers can be separated. If this one can, then that is a simpler option.

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

SchizTech :

Yes I have taken it apart, I will do what you said and get a KINGWIN Model ML-01 4" 4 Pin (M) to 3 Pin (F) Adapter Cable and put it in the 3 pin header next to the square psu power connector and connect it to the spare molex from the psu, is that right!

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

No! The adapter doesn't plug into the motherboard, it plugs into a fan.

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

SchizTech :

Ok but the connector on the fan is a 4 pin connector not a 3 pin?

SchizTech · Jun 17, 2013

On most CPU heatsinks yes, but you can use a 3-pin fan. If that heatsink can be separated from the fan, then just get a fan like you said (some even include the MOLEX adapter in the package), or the heatsink I linked uses a 3-pin cable.

Plugging a power cable into a fan header can damage the system.

grafowler · Jun 17, 2013

SchizTech :

Ok I've got it now many many thanks SchizTech for all your help
Cheers
grafowler

Thermal Paste Question, need help quickly!

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