How To Install Fans On A Computer

Computers are circuitous pieces of technology with many small components that need to run smoothly. Computer fans are an essential part of any reckoner, as they help keep absurd air flowing over your components. If your computer is overheating, or you need to replace an existing fan, installing a new fan tin help lower temperatures and even brand your computer quieter.

1
Check your case specifications. There are two main sizes for computer fans: 80 mm and 120 mm. Your estimator may support other sizes, including 60 mm or 140 mm. If you're unsure, remove ane of the fans that is currently installed and accept it to your local computer retailer and ask near its size or measure it yourself.
- Almost modern cases use 120 mm fans.
- If you are adding a new fan instead of replacing a burnt out i, y'all volition need to look at how the fans interact with each other and whether they will circulate air over the components they are needed for, which is beyond the scope of this article. Items like video cards and processors tend to require private cooling fans designed to draw air over rut exchangers or heat sinks attached to the individual devices, and some older video cards have fans attached to the device lath.
2

Look at your case. Find empty spots where fans can exist installed. At that place are typically fan spots on the back, side, pinnacle and forepart of the tower. Each case has its own fan configuration and maximum number of fans.
three

Pick larger fans, if you lot have an option. If your case supports multiple sizes of fans, larger fans will about always exist improve than smaller ones. 120 mm fans are significantly quieter and as well move much more air per spin, making them much more efficient.
4
Compare different fans. Read spec sheets and reviews to compare dissimilar fans. Look for lower volume levels and high reliability. Fans are unremarkably pretty inexpensive, and you may be able to get a good deal if y'all buy a pack of four. Some of the more popular manufacturers include:
- Cooler Main
- Evercool
- Deep Cool
- Corsair
- Thermaltake
5

Cull between LED or standard. If you want to add a piddling flair to your case, you can employ LED fans. These will lite up your example with unlike colors, but are a trivial more than expensive.
6

Brand sure that y'all're choosing fans with the right power connector for your computer. If yous're planning to connect the fan(s) to the power supply, open your PC'south case and audit the ability cables coming from it to determine what kind of power connector your fan(south) should have. The nigh common connectors are molex, 3-pin, and 4-pin. Some power supplies volition have multiple kinds of connectors which enables you to buy whatever kind of fan, simply do this to exist sure. If want to be able to control the fan's speed, you lot should connect the fan to your motherboard (unless you have a special feature of your PC that allows y'all to control the speed without the motherboard). Nearly motherboards provide 3 and/or four pin connectors for fans.

i

Unplug the computer.
2

Discharge any remaining power in your computer. Concord the power button for at to the lowest degree ten seconds.
3
Remove the side panel. Yous will need to remove the side panel of your reckoner contrary of the motherboard in gild to access the inside. Remove any screws securing the side console to the residuum of your computer'south instance and pry it off. Some cases have side panels that swing.
- The side panel reverse of the motherboard is usually on the left side.
- There are dozens of console configurations, some using the described screws, some with flipback latches, and others with latches you depress to unlock a console.
4
Ground yourself. E'er basis yourself before working inside of a computer. Electrostatic discharge can seriously damage components. You can use an electrostatic wrist strap, or y'all can ground yourself by touching a metal object.
- Proceed to ground yourself while working on the computer to release any charge that has built up.
5

Locate all of your vents. There are multiple vents in the example that can support fan installation. You can find the vents on the back, front end, side, and top of the computer, depending on the case.
half dozen
Locate the ability connectors on the motherboard. They may be scattered around, and at that place may just exist a couple. Fan connectors are typically labeled CHA_FAN# or SYS_FAN#. Consult your motherboard'due south documentation if you are having difficulty finding the connectors.
- If you lot accept more fans than connectors, you can use Molex adapters to power your extra fans.

one

Understand how efficient air cooling works. The fans on your computer don't just blow air on your components. This is not the most efficient way to cool your computer. Instead, fans should movement air through the estimator, passing fresh air over your components.^[1]
2

Examine the fan. Fans motion air in ane direction, indicated by an arrow printed on the top of the fan enclosure. Look at your new example fan. On the top of the enclosure, y'all should see an arrow. This indicates which mode the fan blows. If there is no arrow printed, you can examine the characterization on the fan mechanism. The air usually flows out of the side with the sticker.
three
Set up your fans to create a wind tunnel. The wind tunnel is created by intake fans and exhaust fans. Generally you lot'll want more frazzle fans than intake fans, as this volition help create a vacuum within the case. When there is a vacuum event, all of the cracks and pocket-size openings in your example volition as well be pulling cool air in.
- Rear - The power supply on the back of your computer has one fan that pushes air out the back (frazzle). Prepare up some other fan or 2 on the rear of the case configured to exhaust air every bit well.
- Forepart - Install a fan on the front of your computer that sucks air in (intake). You may want to install a second front fan in the hard drive bay (if the case supports it).
- Side - Side fans should be ready up to exhaust air out the side too. Near cases support one side fan.
- Top - The tiptop fan should be configured as another intake. It may seem natural to prepare is as an exhaust since the rut volition build up at the top of the case, just this volition usually lead to too much exhaust and not plenty absurd air intake.
4
Install the fans. Spiral the fan in using the four included screws. Make sure that the fan is secure so that it doesn't rattle. Hand-tighten the screws, simply don't over-tighten in case you demand to remove or supplant the fan subsequently.
- Make sure that whatever cables, including the fan's ain power cable, cannot get caught in the fan blades. Use cable ties to pull cables out of the way if necessary.
- If you are having trouble holding the fan in place while you screw it in, use a few small-scale pieces of masking tape to secure it until the screws are inserted. Brand sure not to tape whatever components or circuitry.
v
Connect the fans. Connect the fans to the fan connectors on your motherboard. If yous take too many fans, or the fan cables will not reach the connectors, use the Molex adapter to connect the fans directly to your ability supply.
- If fans are plugged directly into the power supply, you lot will non exist able to modify the fan speed in the BIOS; they will always run at full speed.
6

Shut your case. Brand sure to close up your case before testing your fans out. Cases and fans are designed with airflow in mind, and an open case volition negate all the airflow benefits. Open cases will absurd much less efficiently than a closed case.
7
Monitor your fans. If your fans are connected to the motherboard, y'all can check that they are working past opening your BIOS. You can as well use the BIOS to alter the fan speed. Use a program similar SpeedFan to monitor your fan speed in Windows.
- Whatever fans plugged directly into your power supply will not be monitored.
8

Monitor your calculator's temperature. Information technology's all well and skillful if your fans are spinning properly, but the end goal is to cool the computer's components. Download a temperature monitoring program (SpeedFan takes care of this equally well). If your reckoner is still overheating, you may need to reconfigure your fan locations and directions, or consider more than extreme cooling solutions.^[two]

Add together New Question

Question

How do I upgrade the CPU on a desktop computer?

Here is a fairly comprehensive wikiHow article on how to upgrade your desktop CPU.
Question

How do I place rubber rings on a PC case?

Ordinarily, prophylactic rings are installed in conjunction with screws. Put the ring around the spiral, then screw it in. Continue in heed that dissimilar cases come up with dissimilar parts that may be installed differently.
Question

I'yard pretty sure that having negative air pressure or positive air pressure makes no difference, other than negative air pressure draws in excess dust. Is this true?

No, you must clarify the air period in the estimator advisedly, starting with the airflow of the power supply. Yous should identify your fans so that they piece of work together to describe in air on one side of the case, and leave on the other side of the case. Yous must have both intake and exhaust fans. Some cases provide air filters for the intake fans. If non, plan on opening the case periodically and blowing grit off the parts with canned air.
Question

What does a fan controller practice, and how tin can I install it?

A fan controller monitors temperature, fan speed, and tin be used to manually change fan speed or programme fan speed. Without a fan controller, speed is automatically controlled past the motherboard, according to temperature.
Question

How do I tighten the fan inside my estimator?

Examine the screw, and then choice the advisable screwdriver. Insert the screwdriver in the spiral slot and turn to the right.