How hard is it to replace CPU thermal paste and add another case fan?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
My PC is about three years old and has recently started running unusually hot, with both the CPU and GPU temperatures increasing. I want to clean out the dust, replace the CPU thermal paste, and install a second intake fan. The CPU cooler appears to be an Arctic Freezer A35, and the current setup has one intake fan at the bottom and one exhaust fan. How difficult would these jobs be for someone with very little PC-building experience? Is this reasonable to do alone, or should I take it to a repair shop?
Answers
I’d do this yourself rather than paying a shop. Watch a couple of installation videos first, shut the system down completely, and take your time. Cleaning the dust and replacing the thermal paste are both common maintenance tasks, and installing a fan is mostly just securing it with screws and routing the cable to the correct motherboard header.
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This is very manageable if you follow a good guide and take your time. Replacing paste depends a little on how the cooler is mounted, but the Arctic Freezer A35 is a standard tower cooler and should be straightforward with the right screwdriver. For the extra fan, make sure your case has a suitable mounting spot and that your motherboard has an available fan header. Check the motherboard manual if you’re unsure.
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The work itself is fairly simple, but check the airflow layout before deciding where to put the new fan. Case fans should generally move air in from the front or bottom and exhaust it through the rear or top. A top-mounted fan is often better as exhaust, depending on your case and existing airflow. Also, rising temperatures in both the CPU and GPU can be caused by dust buildup, blocked filters, poor fan direction, or a failing fan, so inspect those before assuming the thermal paste is the only issue.
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MellowCedar42: It is an Arctic Freezer A35. I currently have one intake fan at the bottom and one exhaust fan, and was thinking of adding the second intake near the top.