It often happens so, that after a certain period of time the old power supply becomes making strange grinding sounds. Usually these sounds are a precursor of the final stop of the cooling fan, which already poses serious risks. As you’ve probably noticed, over the time, a large amount of dust accumulates on the fan, that brings the warm air out from the power supply unit. Because an overheating here would be fatal to the entire system, it is advisable to periodically check the state of this particular fan. Moreover an overheating of the power block can result in a failure in its power curcuits and generally you may receive a high voltage to any 12V or 5v line, for example. This can cause serious damages to the electronics in your computer. That’s why a good cleaning is allways recommended if you want your system to run smoothly.
Since usually a full stop of the propeller is not a sudden, there are some signs indicating that something is wrong. One of them is the increased noise emitted by computer sometimes. Usually that same sound is heard when you first start the system and then it stops by itself. After some time, however, that sound becomes a constant grinding noise, which indicates that the fan is permanently damaged, and its rotation is seriously hampered. Therefore, if any of these signs is present in your computer, do not hesitate to clean the power supply unit, because this may prolong its life and help you save money.
Important: With opening the computer’s case you may lose your warranty, so be sure to check the documentation that comes from the company where it was purchased. If the warranty period has already expired, you can continue safely with the cleaning operation. Otherwise it may be better to take it to the workshop of the company where a specialist can take care of its cleaning. However, if you decide to perform the next operation, the only equipmemt you will need is a screwdriver, cleaning cloth, brush and can of compressed air.
OK. Let’s start.
The first and perhaps the most important thing to do before you start is to take care of your own safety, so be sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the outlet.
1. Open the case and unplug all possible connectors that connect the power supply with the motherboard, CD / DVD-ROM devices, hard disks and floppy (if any exist).
2. Then remove four screws fixing the power supply unit to the rear panel of the computer. Keep in mind that the power unit is heavy and when you remove the last screw it could fall inside the computer and broke some of the components (for example, mothrboard or processor). Therefore it is better to hold the power unit with one hand while removing screws.
3. Once you remove the power block, it is time to proceed with its opening. For this purpose you have to remove several small screws (four in this case).
4. Once you get access to the electronic components of the power block, you must clean the accumulated dust, since it prevents them from better cooling. For this purpose you can use a synthetic bristle brush and compressed air spray.
Removal of the fan is pretty easy. All you need to do is to remove four screws, securing the fan to the metal case .
Now is the time to mention that according to its degree of wear, sometimes it’s better to replace it with new one, instead of cleaning it (especially if it makes loud or strange “buzzing” noises, which indicates permanent damage. If the wires are soldered to the curcuit board, your task becomes little more complicated, so it may take more time. The important here is the proper connection of wires when soldering them back to the circuit board.
After completion of the cleaning you can reassemble the power unit and install it back in the computer, but do not forget to connect all of its connectors to the corresponding devices.
Since usually a full stop of the propeller is not a sudden, there are some signs indicating that something is wrong. One of them is the increased noise emitted by computer sometimes. Usually that same sound is heard when you first start the system and then it stops by itself. After some time, however, that sound becomes a constant grinding noise, which indicates that the fan is permanently damaged, and its rotation is seriously hampered. Therefore, if any of these signs is present in your computer, do not hesitate to clean the power supply unit, because this may prolong its life and help you save money.
Important: With opening the computer’s case you may lose your warranty, so be sure to check the documentation that comes from the company where it was purchased. If the warranty period has already expired, you can continue safely with the cleaning operation. Otherwise it may be better to take it to the workshop of the company where a specialist can take care of its cleaning. However, if you decide to perform the next operation, the only equipmemt you will need is a screwdriver, cleaning cloth, brush and can of compressed air.
OK. Let’s start.
The first and perhaps the most important thing to do before you start is to take care of your own safety, so be sure to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the outlet.
1. Open the case and unplug all possible connectors that connect the power supply with the motherboard, CD / DVD-ROM devices, hard disks and floppy (if any exist).
2. Then remove four screws fixing the power supply unit to the rear panel of the computer. Keep in mind that the power unit is heavy and when you remove the last screw it could fall inside the computer and broke some of the components (for example, mothrboard or processor). Therefore it is better to hold the power unit with one hand while removing screws.
3. Once you remove the power block, it is time to proceed with its opening. For this purpose you have to remove several small screws (four in this case).
4. Once you get access to the electronic components of the power block, you must clean the accumulated dust, since it prevents them from better cooling. For this purpose you can use a synthetic bristle brush and compressed air spray.
Removal of the fan is pretty easy. All you need to do is to remove four screws, securing the fan to the metal case .
Now is the time to mention that according to its degree of wear, sometimes it’s better to replace it with new one, instead of cleaning it (especially if it makes loud or strange “buzzing” noises, which indicates permanent damage. If the wires are soldered to the curcuit board, your task becomes little more complicated, so it may take more time. The important here is the proper connection of wires when soldering them back to the circuit board.
After completion of the cleaning you can reassemble the power unit and install it back in the computer, but do not forget to connect all of its connectors to the corresponding devices.
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