PC Fan change on Dell Dimension

[Donkey_Kong]

This is an older Dell Dimension and the fan sounds like a 737 taking off. Now why do they make these so that it is like Fort Knox to get into...Marketing stradegy is put fan in lock box so when it sounds like crap dumb consumer thinks comp is shot and will buy a new one.


Two pics below. How do ya get this grill off of the back panel? Or the green thing in the other picture?...How does that green thing come out?...The fan is housed inside this green plastic thing.

Yea the reason it looks so nasty...This thing was in a house fire at my dads like 5 years ago!! Still runs ok but is damn noisy.

[ChadTower]

You use a Dremel and go in the short way.

[Donkey_Kong]

You use a Dremel and go in the short way.

You're kidding right?  The short way?...Like from the back side?

[ChadTower]

Looking at that thing it would probably be quicker.

I bet there's a way in the real way but you'd have to take enough out to get the power supply out and find a way into the power supply.  There's no guarantee you won't have to Dremel your way into an enclosed power supply either.

[Donkey_Kong]

Chad it is the other fan that is  making all the noise. The power supply fan is ok i think...but the other fan that is inside the green thing is the noise maker.

If you look at the rear view pic it is the bott0m fan...Top fan is the power supply fan.

If you look at the side view pic it is the fan inside that ugly green plastic shell. ---daisies---...what they don't want us playing inside these things  0r what?

[ChadTower]

The green thing is there to maximize cooling by directing/partitioning air flow inside the case.  Can't tell from the pics how to get it out.  Brand name desktop PCs are always hard to get apart.  No, they don't want you in there, particularly since often opening the case at all voids your warranty.

[Donkey_Kong]

1 more quick ?? for you then. Thank you for your time by the way!!

Say  i was able to get this thing out...how hard  to find a replacement? or maybe  she just needs some grease/oil?

[ChadTower]

A replacement for the fan?  Not hard, doesn't have to be exact, there are probably a billion different little fans that would work.  You could probably pick one up at Radio Shack or whatever local electronics supply store you have.

Take it out, clean it, and if it still doesn't work right, replace it.  It's acceptable to take one out of another PC and put it in there if it fits.

[Ed_McCarron]

The only PITA is that the Dell fans have speed sensors... If you don't have the sensor on the new fan, the BIOS yells at you at each powerup.

Might be some way to disable checking, but I just hit F1 each time.

[ChadTower]

Ah.  Well, maybe a Dell fanboy can help him.

[Ed_McCarron]

Ah.  Well, maybe a Dell fanboy can help him.

Boo.  Hiss.  Bad pun.

[USSEnterprise]

You use a Dremel and go in the short way.

I agree with Chad. A dremel, drill, sledgehammer should all work 

Looks like its riveted in from the back. You probably are not getting that off without doing some damage to it.

[Ed_McCarron]

Before you start dremeling, double check the fan mounting.  The last one I replaced, the fan under the gree housing simply press-fit onto some rubber studs.  A little pry action, and it comes right off.

[boykster]

Some also have a fancy schmancy lever-lock system.  My old company used to be an all dell shop, so I'm pretty familiar with the inner workings of those things. 

[romperwomb]

This is an older Dell Dimension

Exactly what model?  That green airflow bezel thing should just kinda be hinged and once moved into an UP position easily removed(up as in when the machine is laid down ...I guess left when stood up).

[mmmPeanutButter]

This is an older Dell Dimension

Exactly what model?  That green airflow bezel thing should just kinda be hinged and once moved into an UP position easily removed(up as in when the machine is laid down ...I guess left when stood up).

I know that my Dimension everything (including the green fan piece) are pretty easy to get off.  Take a look for a couple tabs that you depress and the whole cover might disengage. 

There's got to be a way.   Good luck.

[mrhowell]

you can pull the green cover off. 

[NightGod]

Up at the top of the green shroud there, the two little lever looking things? Those are levers. Push down on them, pull the shroud towards the front of the PC slightly and then lift the whole thing out.

95% sure that's what you need to do, if you gave me a model number I could check the DCSE website and be 100%.

[grantspain]

i very rarely have to change fans,i tend to remove the label to access the bearing compartment(usually there is a little rubber cap to remove) then spray in little wd40 or 3in1 and manipulate the fan up and down in the bearing until it is free
it saves you having to purchase the correct fan,sometimes certain fans can be pricey

[ChadTower]

The fan will be nice and quiet if you just unplug it.

[grantspain]

The fan will be nice and quiet if you just unplug it.

if you don't come up with any good advice then perhaps peale should do that with you

[ChadTower]

Try scrolling up.  At least criticize me in a thread where I didn't provide a large % of the useful advice.   

[lcddream]

try pressing the sides of the "green thing" in and pull towards the front of the pc.

it might be on a hinge

dell has decent cases, but they rivet everything and make replacing parts quite difficult.

[Harry Potter]

Wow. Just saw the first pictures. 

It appears someone took a dump in the fan holes.

[ChadTower]

Those are actually pretty clean for fan vents.  You should see one that's been near a dog or a smoker or a smoking dog.

[Harry Potter]

My last PC which lasted for 5 years didn't have anywhere near that much crap on the vents. Just some dust.

It looks like he was growing vegetables in that case.

[NightGod]

try pressing the sides of the "green thing" in and pull towards the front of the pc.

it might be on a hinge

dell has decent cases, but they rivet everything and make replacing parts quite difficult.

Maybe in the past, but not in the past few years. I really love the 8400s-those things are a dream to work on. The GX2x0 series is nice, too, though a bit smaller so cables tend to be more of a PITA.

[Vigo]

screw getting a new fan, rip the whole thing out with a saw, and make an ionic cooling system. 

http://inventgeek.com/Projects/IonCooler2/Overview.aspx

[ChadTower]

Just leave it outside.  It's 30 degrees out there.

[Donkey_Kong]

 

Yea the reason it looks so nasty...This thing was in a house fire at my dads like 5 years ago!! Still runs ok but is damn noisy.

Tried scrubbing the smoke stains off of it and it still looks like someone crapped it up!! Oh well the thing still runs and IT RUNS MAME!!

PS: Thanks for all of the help...DANG!! My kid wouldn't even let me finish trying to quiet the thing down the other day and he has it back in action so maybe I should make him read this post and do the work himself!!

[Xam]

The green shroud comes off pretty easily...can't remember exactly how, but I remember it was easy. I think the fan and shroud come as an assembly.
A generic fan could work...but would require modification.

A local company here ( www.discountelectronics.com ) sells fan pulls for a reasonable price.

Xam