HP Desktop 550-A39 Fan Replacement

Written By: Ibrar

Comments: 0

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes

Introduction

Before starting, you should turn off the computer, unplug all wires and hold the power button down for 30 seconds to drain any remaining power left in components.
Have an arm always touching metal casing when interacting with components inside the computer to avoid static damage to components.

The importance of this guide:

This guide is meant to provide you with knowledge to be able to repair/replace your very own CPU fan in an HP 550-A39 Desktop Computer. The CPU fan is a crucial part of the computer as it helps to stabilize and maintain internal temperatures. If a CPU fan is not running efficiently, it can deteriorate the computer over time and cause internal components to get damaged, potentially ending the computer’s life.

Reasons Why Faulty Fans may Occur

Excessive dirt or debris in the fan can sometimes be the reason as they can clog up the fan blades. Clean out dust carefully and restart the computer as this may fix the issue.
If you built your computer from scratch and installed the fan yourself, ensure that it is installed in the correct location in its proper 3 pin port, also known as the CPU header.
Some CPU fan headers may be faulty. Locate another one and try that if the one that your fan is currently plugged into doesn’t work.
If thermal throttling occurs, it points to one of two things. If it’s not being caused by a faulty fan, the poor thermal management is likely being caused by degradation in the thermal paste. You can learn about how to replace the thermal paste using this How to Apply Thermal Paste guide.
Keep computers in a cool place. If they are left in direct sunlight for extended periods this can cause the temperatures to rise and overwork the fan, making it become dysfunctional over time.
Malfunctioning motherboards or power supply units could be the reason for why the fan has stopped running, which means the fan isn’t receiving much power and there may not be anything wrong with the fan. If replacing the fan and thermal paste doesn’t solve the issue, you may need to address these other components to fix your issue.

Symptoms of A Fan That Needs To Be Replaced

Computer becomes hot very frequently and the fan is making a loud noise
Random System Shutdowns due to overheating
If the fan is overly loud or makes excessive noise (* Note fans do make noise while running, but if it gets louder than usual then this is a sign.)

Tools

Parts

https://www.amazon.com/Protechnic-Fan-12V-10mm-MGA4012HB-010/dp/B010Q28WS8

Step 1

Power down the computer and unplug all power cables.
Hold the power button down for 30 seconds after turning off the computer to deplete any excess power that may remain in the motherboard in order to avoid potential shock!

Step 2

Remove the 10 mm flathead screw on the back panel with a flathead screwdriver.

Step 3

Slide the side panel back towards the back panel of the computer.

Step 4

Continue sliding the panel back until it is about halfway off the computer case, then lift it away from the computer.
Be sure to ground yourself sufficiently before moving any further to prevent the risk of an electrostatic discharge damaging your components.

Step 5

Clean off any excess dust from the motherboard by blowing it off first and then wiping it off with a microfiber cloth.
Be gentle while wiping off the dirt. Don't put hard pressure on motions while attempting to clean as you may damage components.
You don't have to clean every speck of dust you see, only what is easy to clean!
Dust build up can cause the computer to overheat if not cleaned, which causes the fan to overwork and may damage the CPU fan. Over time, a fire may occur if dust is not cleaned as dust is flammable!

Step 6

Clean any excess dirt from the CPU fan.
Disconnect the CPU fan power cord by grabbing hard plastic cable connector and pulling it from the motherboard.