System76 Serval WS Cooling Fan Replacement

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This guide will show how to replace the two cooling fans inside the Sytem76 Serval WS. It will show step by step how to remove the old fans and safely install new fans. You will need to replace the fans if they stop working.

If the fans are working after the repair and your laptop continues to overheat, you may need to clean the fans or replace thermal paste.

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crwdns2931653:01crwdne2931653:0 Cooling Fan

System76 Serval WS Cooling Fan Replacement, Cooling Fan: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

Unplug the power supply and remove the battery from the device before proceeding.
Unscrew and remove the 4 screws circled in red. Then remove the plastic bottom panel.

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System76 Serval WS Cooling Fan Replacement: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0

System76 Serval WS Cooling Fan Replacement: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0

Remove the numbered screws in order to safely remove the heatsink
Remove the heatsink to access the cooling fans.
During reassembly, make sure to tighten the heatsink screws in the order indicated by the labeled numbers.

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System76 Serval WS Cooling Fan Replacement: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

Unscrew and remove the screws circled in red, 3 screws per fan.
Next unplug the 4-pin power connectors, marked in orange squares.
Remove the cooling fans by lifting them up and out of the casing.

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System76 Serval WS Cooling Fan Replacement: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0

System76 Serval WS Cooling Fan Replacement: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0

Plug in the 4-pin power connectors of the new fans.
Insert and tighten 3 screws per fan.

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crwdns2931653:05crwdne2931653:0 Reassembly

If needed, clean off the old thermal paste from the CPU, GPU, and heatsink using isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Apply new thermal paste before reassembly.
Clean the dust from the heatsink fins.