My CPU fan broke recently, and I need to access my computer to back up some data. Since the mount for my heatsink is also broken, I was thinking of just holding the heatsink directly over the CPU. How long do you think I can run my PC like this before it overheats?
4 Answers
The results will really depend on the CPU model and how hot it runs. A newer CPU might throttle itself down to prevent overheating, which could give you some time to work with it. But don’t forget to keep the heatsink secure and blow some cool air on it with a fan if you can!
As long as you're careful, you can probably manage to get some time in. If you have thermal paste, definitely use that. Avoid heavy tasks like gaming or video editing, and aim to get your data backed up as soon as possible, maybe even think about removing the drive and connecting it elsewhere if it gets too risky.
You might be able to attach a case fan to your heatsink to help with cooling. Just resting the heatsink there should work for a short period, but it’s definitely not ideal. Make sure airflow is decent, and keep an eye on temps.
Could you clarify which cooler you're trying to use? You mentioned both a broken CPU fan and a mount. Understanding your setup better could help figure out how to manage it.
Both parts were connected, so they broke together. It's an old stock cooler, and I don't even know the exact model.