Processor Heatsink & Fan Cleaning.

I have had this laptop for 3 years now and over this time the temperature has slowly risen. However recently the computer has started freezing and when I checked the machine was running at about 65-70 degrees which is quite hot when doing nothing. I decided to check the heat sink and fan to make sure they where clean and operating correctly. The following instructions tell you how this is done.

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  1) First you must turn the laptop over and remove the 7 screws shown and then remove the cover.

   2) Once the cover is removed you must unscrew the 4 screws on the processor and the 2 holding the fan in place. Once you have done this you must remove the small electrical plug attached to the fan.

  3) Once you have removed the screws you can slowly ease the heat sink and fan assembly out of the laptop. Once the unit is out of the laptop you can carefully separate the fan from the heat sink.

  4) Once they are separated you can clean the heat sink with a small paint brush and blowing through the veins. Once this is clean remove all the old heat sink compound from the pad that goes on top of the processor ready for the new compound on reassembly.

  5) The top of the fan can be removed by unscrewing 3 small screws around the outside of the cover. Once removed use the same small paint brush to clean all of the blades of the fan. The cleaner the blades the more balanced, faster and quieter the fan will be.

  6) Returning back to the computer you can now using the paint brush carefully clean the exhaust of the laptop where the heat sink sits as there will no doubt be fluff and dust in this as well. Once this is done have a quick clean around the fan area but make sure you are careful. Once the laptop is clean you can remove all the old heat sink compound from the top of the processor in preparation for the refitting of the heat sink.

  7) Now everything is ready for reassembly. First fit the top back on the fan then piece the fan and heat sink back together. Now you can apply a thin layer of heat sink compound to the top of the processor. Carefully refit the assembly back into the laptop making sure that the cable is not trapped. There is a small rubber flap that has to go on top of the fan assembly to help make a good seal. When refitting this assembly try not to slide it around to much as this will wipe of the heat sink compound from the processor. Once this is in place you can put all four of the processor screws in so they are just touching the metal plate. Now nip each one up so they are tight. Refit the two screws that hold the fan in place and then plug the electrical plug back in.

  8) Fold screen over and gently feed the bottom edge under the buttons at the bottom of the PSP. Once in place gently push the screen down. Each corner will click into place. Try to do this with equal pressure on all corners to help reduce twisting of the screen.

  9) Replace the cover on the bottom of the laptop and the job is done. After I did this I found that the temperature of my laptop had dropped from 65-70 degrees to 40-45 degrees and all is now well with the world.