If you’ve ever opened up a computer before, you probably know how important the CPU is. It stands for central processing unit, and it’s the main processor for your computer’s operating system. This means that almost all of the processes that happen on your computer go through this device first. As such, it’s not only important but also sensitive to heat and other conditions that can lead to damage over time. That’s why many computers will have a separate cooling unit specifically designed just for the CPU to keep it cool without overheating and burning out prematurely. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to remove your CPU cooler or any other kind of air-based cooling device, this article will help you do so safely and effectively.
How To Remove Cpu Cooler?
- Shut down your computer.
- Remove the CPU cooler from the motherboard or case that holds it.
- If you have a CPU cooler with a fan, remove it and set it aside in a safe place like on top of the fridge or under your desk until you’re ready to reinstall it later.
- Loosen all of the screws that secure the motherboard to the case to allow for more clearance so you can easily remove them without breaking anything off inside your computer. In many cases, there are also screws that secure your motherboard to the case itself, as well as other components such as memory sticks and other internal parts of your computer.
- Remove any cables connected to or plugged into your motherboard and/or CPU cooler before removing them from their respective connectors and ports on your computer’s motherboard or CPU cooler itself. You should also take note of any cables connected to components inside of your computer that can be removed separately and stored safely as they may not be compatible with another device at some point in time down the road (for example, you may later wish to use a different optical drive if one is currently installed)
- If necessary, disconnect all power cords from devices like hard drives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, etc., before removing them from their ports on the back of your computer where they’re plugged in (this will ensure they won’t get damaged when you work around them while installing whatever new components you’re adding in the future).
- Remove any screws or other secure parts that hold your computer’s case or motherboard to the case itself and/or to the floor or walls of your home, office, dorm, etc.
- Loosen all of the screws that secure the top cover of your computer’s case to its bottom cover (also known as the motherboard tray). The top cover is usually secured by a single screw on both sides and by a few more on each side of it in some cases. You should also remove any other screws that secure these two parts together.
- If necessary, disconnect all power cords from devices like hard drives, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, etc., before removing them from their ports on the back of your computer where they’re plugged in (this will ensure they won’t get damaged when you work around them while installing whatever new components you’re adding in the future).
- Once all of these steps have been completed and there are no more screws remaining anywhere inside your computer (or none that are holding anything together), it’s time to remove this part for good and safely store it somewhere safe until you want it back again later on down the road.
How does a CPU Cooler Work?
- A CPU cooler is basically a case for your computer’s processor and/or other components that helps keep it cool and drops its temperature as lower temperatures are better for processors.
- There are two main types of CPU coolers: air-cooled and liquid-cooled.
- Air-Cooled CPU coolers typically use air that is filtered by a fan to cool the processor, while liquid-cooled CPU coolers use water or some other fluid to help lower the temperature of your computer’s processor (and other components inside).
- Air-cooled CPU coolers usually have fans that blow air over the top of the processor and across its surface, while liquid-cooling systems typically have tubes of water or some other cooling solution running through them to help keep your computer’s processor (and other components inside) from overheating in the first place by lowering its temperature in a more efficient manner than by simply blowing air across it would do on its own. A good example of this is when you put a can of soda into a paper cup and then shake it up until all of the gas bubbles escape through tiny holes in the side of the cup, causing it to become more drinkable than before. This same principle applies here with regards to liquid cooling systems: they allow more gas to escape through these tiny holes and into your computer’s components, which lowers their temperature and keeps them from overheating as much as they would if they were just blowing air across them without any cooling system in place.
- The only downside to liquid-cooling systems is that they can be more expensive than air-cooled CPU coolers, but you’ll definitely want to consider this when deciding which type of CPU cooler system you’re going to go with (as well as which components you’re going to use in your computer so that you can have the best possible results from each).
- As far as the actual hardware goes, there are a few different types of CPU coolers out there, including the traditional tower cooler and the more compact fan-less CPU cooler.
- The traditional tower cooler consists of a radiator mounted on top of your computer’s processor with fans blowing air across it, which then blows this air out of vents on top of your computer directly onto its surface (which is why these types of CPU coolers tend to be larger than their fan-less counterparts). Regardless, these types of CPU coolers are still very effective at keeping your processor and other components within them operating at optimal temperatures and will continue doing so for years (and sometimes even decades) down the road without ever breaking down or becoming obsolete.
What Is The Best Way To Remove A CPU Cooler?
- Unplug the power source to your computer, then remove all of the screws holding your CPU cooler in place.
- Pull the cooler off of your CPU and carefully set it aside.
- You can use a screwdriver to remove any remaining screws holding your cooler in place, or you can take it out without removing them by gently lifting up the bottom edge of the cooler with a pair of pliers, then pulling it away from your computer until it pops out (this is especially easy if you have some sort of motherboard tray that allows for this).
- If you have a motherboard with integrated heat sinks, you can simply lift up on one side at a time and pull out this integrated heat sink from your computer’s processor by using some kind of screwdriver or another tool to pry it up from its location (just be careful not to break anything).
- If you want to replace an old CPU cooler with something new, there are many different kinds available these days that come in many different sizes and cooling technologies (including air-coolers and liquid-coolers), so be sure to check around online before deciding which one might best suit your needs and budget (as well as which processor is best for you).
- Now that you’ve installed or replaced your new CPU cooler, put all of the screws back into their proper locations, plug in any cables that need to be plugged back in and/or reconnected properly so that your computer is back in working order once more (this is especially important if you have a motherboard with integrated heat sinks).
- Lastly, if you are replacing an old CPU cooler with a new one and want to keep the old cooler around for future use, there are plenty of places online that sell them used (such as eBay), so be sure to take a look at some of these options before deciding on whether or not to buy one new or used.
What Are Some Tips For Preventing CPU Overheating?
- Don’t overclock your processor. This is something that is recommended only by the manufacturer of your computer, and it is something that you should never attempt unless it’s done under the supervision of a trained technician.
- Don’t place your computer on a bed or couch where you might be coming into contact with other people or objects, as this will increase the amount of heat being generated by your processor and will cause damage to it over time.
- Never block airflow through any vents on your computer case, as this can lead to overheating and damaging your CPU (as well as causing smoke to come out of your computer).
- If possible, keep an eye on the temperature of the processor while you are running any type of application (such as a game), as over time heat buildup can cause permanent damage to it (this is especially true for computers with integrated heat sinks).
- If you do have an application that causes high CPU use and starts causing problems for you, try closing out all unnecessary applications in order to prevent them from using up all of the available resources on your computer (this can also be useful if certain programs are not responding correctly).
- Finally, if you have a laptop or mobile device with an integrated cooling system built in already, these devices usually come with their own software that allows users to control how much power they want their CPU(s) to consume while they are running various applications (this is especially important if you are using a laptop that is primarily used for gaming).
- Lastly, if you are replacing an old CPU cooler with a new one and want to keep the old cooler around for future use, there are plenty of places online that sell them used (such as eBay), so be sure to take a look at some of these options before deciding on whether or not to buy one new or used.
Conclusion
The CPU Cooler is an important piece of hardware that is used to disperse heat from a computer’s CPU. Failure to replace a worn-out CPU cooler can cause your computer to overheat and damage internal components. Fortunately, replacing a CPU Cooler is not a difficult task if you know how to do it. That’s why we’ve written this article to help you understand what a CPU Cooler is and how to remove one properly.