How To Install / Replace A Case Fan

Case Fan

Usually, system manufacturers offer a built-in cooling solution. However, you still need some external units to cool down the system, so it performs its activities more efficiently. Adding an efficient one will improve the efficiency, and you can achieve a smoother performance ride.

Adding more of them will be a good choice if you want to overclock during gaming or executing powerful tasks.

Identifying Faulty Fans

Your system will become heated and blow your jobs if the installed air cooling unit is not functioning correctly. The faulty unit often produces annoying sounds that may irritate you during gaming or performing other tasks. Now it’s time to locate and replace the damaged article.

You should follow the following steps to identify the defective unit:

• Before starting the process, you should completely power off your system.

• Remove the case lid of the computer. You can detach it with the help of screwdrivers.

• Locate them on the bottom or front of the system. Usually, your system has a PSU fan, an exhaust fan, a CPU fan, and an intake one.

• Check that all of them are correctly connected. There may be a case of cable disconnection.

• If the cables are perfectly connected, turn on your system carefully. Be careful, and don’t touch any components.

• Now, identify the broken piece that doesn’t spin or make noises. That needs to be removed.

• If all of them are working correctly, but your system still gets heated, adding another one is necessary.

Pick The Right Fan

What You Need To Know Before Installing A Fan

Before going through the installation process, you should prepare yourself with the following steps:

Choosing The Right Fan

The market offers a variety of them based on their shapes, sizes, and colors. You can get the right product by considering the following factors:

• The air cooling unit with a size range of 70mm to 140mm is standard for regular systems. Larger ones measuring 230mm or having a diameter of 120mm are more common and famous. Choose the compatible unit that can easily fit your case.

• The module with higher air flow and lower noise level will be best. You’ll get the details on the product package.

• You can also use them with LED features to give your case some personality. The LED doesn’t have any impact on performance. However, they are expensive.

• Ensure that the cable connection is compatible with the PSU .

• However, if you want control over speed, it is recommended to link it with the motherboard, which requires a 4-pin connector. So the air cooling unit having a compatible connector is the best choice.

Position Fixing

Maintain Positive Pressure

Before implementing it, you must figure out which way the air will flow to keep the correct pressure. The recommended setting is front to back, where the fans at the front draw the heat toward the back, which drives the air away. You can find the air-flow direction in two ways:

• You can determine it by observing the grille of the case.

• You can also find it indicated by tiny arrows engraved on their frames. The arrow pointing toward the inside is for intake, and the outside point is for the exhaust.

Power Connections

Linking the air cooling case with the motherboard or PSU

requires connectors. Correct powering connectors are essential for proper implementation.

The MOLEX or 3-pin connectors are used to power the spinning. A 4-pin connector is recommended for digitally controlling their speed. Motherboards featured multiple 3 and 4-pin headers around the frame.

Screw The Fan Properly!

If you locate a defective unit, you have to replace it by following steps:

• Unplug the damaged item from the PSU and motherboard. Remove all types of connector cables.

• You will find that they are fastened to the case with the help of screws. Remove all the screws with the help of screwdrivers to take out the casing. Save the screws for future use.

• Sometimes, they are also fixed to the case with the help of small clips that can be pulled or pressed to unclip them.

• After unscrewing the case, take it out to make room for the new case.

• Now it’s time to mount the new module. Place the case correctly, as the holes and screw positions fit properly. Placed the screws in the holes and tightened them correctly.

• Connect it with the fan header. Keying is used to guarantee a good connection. Motherboards have form factor Mini-ITX, and Micro-ATX lacks fan headers. You’ll need a fan hub to mount all of them. Splitter cables can also be used as a low-budget solution. However, a hub or splitter cable can’t control their speeds.

• You can plug them with 3-pin, 4-pin, or MOLEX connectors. However, 4-pin connectors work on a PWM mechanism that allows very efficient control over speed.

• If your system doesn’t have a 3-pin, you can connect it through a 4-pin connector, as they are interchangeable. However, 4-pin cannot be interchanged with 3-pin.

• At this point, you can plug the unit into the PSU . You can also do this with the help of a MOLEX connector.

• Recheck all the previous steps to test that mounting and connection procedures are correctly performed to end the implementation.

• There is a recommendation to manage the cables efficiently with the help of zip-ties or another cabling management method. This step is crucial so the wires can’t come in the way while working. The fan and cables can be damaged if they come across each other.

• Finally, seal the case with the help of a screwdriver.