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Introduction |
***At a GlanceThe Basics:*** | | This guide provides an overview on the replacement of the Dell XPS 12 9Q23 cooling fan. This process beginsThe parts that will be interacted with in this guide are the: battery, heat sink, CMOS battery, and the removalcooling fan. The CMOS battery is a temporary battery to store information when your computer is without any other source of power. The heat sink is a device that takes heat from the back panelsCPU through a heat spreader and unpluggingconducts it to the batteryheat tubes. Then,The cooling fan blows air through the heat tubes of the heat sink is removed fromresulting in cooling of the CPU by detaching the four screws on the heat spreader. This is necessary because the heat sink’s heat pipes lay over the fan’s flow. | | Afterwards, the left side of the yellow ribbon cable covering the bottom of the fan is removed. Then the CMOS battery (bottom right of fan), whose cable is attached just above the yellow-ribbon-cable port, (left of fan) is dislodged. Finally the four fan screws can be removed so the fan can be replaced. The parts can then be reinstalled in the order of fan, CMOS battery, yellow ribbon cable, heat sink, battery, bottom base panel, and finally the small cover panel. | | ***Necessary Background*** | | ***Notes for Other Work:*** | | The technical procedure this guide discusses requires an intermediate level of handiness and sleight of hand. The ability to operate a screwdriver with adequate applied pressure to prevent screw stripping is required. Also, the steadiness of hand to safely remove screws without losing them is required. Finally, dexterity in careful pulling of plugs from circuit boards is required. | | The best way to trouble shoot this repair is to feel for air flowing from the vents underneath your computer. If you are not sure that there is air coming out, lift the laptop up by its sides while it is still on and press the bottom right corner to your ear. If there is a whirring sound that means your laptop fan is functional. Remember to be patient, if your laptop has not warmed up yet then it may not automatically turn on your fan even if it was installed properly.
***Notes for Other Work***
This project requires the brief removal of the battery, heat sink, and CMOS battery. Therefore, this makes a good time to check for battery bloating (or colloquially “fluffy / spicy pillowing”) which calls for battery replacement. Also, whenever the heat sink is removed, replacing the thermal paste on the heat spreader’s face is recommended. Furthermore, the CMOS battery is what keeps your computer’s internal clock functional when the computer is “shut down”. If your computer is old or has trouble keeping time, then replacing the CMOS battery is recommended. However, these recommendations are not to be covered in this guide. |
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