Upgrading to a New CPU Cooler: A Step-by-Step Guide

As an enthusiast of computer upgrades and repairs, I'm often requested to share tutorials on basic computer upgrades. Today, I'll be walking you through the basics of upgrading to a new CPU cooler, specifically for AMD FM2 socket processors. Please note that while this process will be similar for all recent AMD processors, the exact imagery might differ slightly for Intel CPUs.

To begin with, you'll need a desktop computer with an upgradable stock cooler, a decent-sized case, thermal compound, a Philips head screwdriver, and a new CPU cooler of your choice. I'm using a Deep Cool Gammax 400 CPU Cooler, which is a universal cooler that works with both Intel and AMD sockets, as well as most socket types. This cooler features two small heat pipes and one medium-sized heat pipe, along with a 120mm fan with a blue LED on it. The fan claims to be silent, but I recommend swapping it for a Noctua NF-F12 fan if you're going for a quiet build.

The required mounting hardware comes in the box, except for the back plate, which should still be attached to your motherboard. It's essential to note that this cooler is quite tall, so make sure you have enough clearance in your case to fit it comfortably. Not all coolers will fit in all cases, so be sure to check the dimensions before purchasing.

The first step in upgrading your CPU cooler is to take off the side panel of your case and expose your motherboard, graphics card, and other components. Next, find your CPU Cooler and remove the cooler fan plug from the header on your motherboard. This will vary depending on your motherboard model, but it's usually located somewhere around the area where you see a small clip or switch.

For AMD CPUs, look for the little clip on the side of the cooler, as I demonstrated in my video. For Intel CPUs, simply press the cooler onto the CPU and screw in the four screws starting with opposite corners. Make sure to apply even pressure to avoid damaging the CPU or motherboard.

Once you've removed the old cooler, it's time to attach the new one. Line up the bracket above the clamping spots on your motherboard, slide the side without the clamp switch over the bracket, and press down enough to reach but not too hard as to damage the CPU or motherboard. Bring the other side of the clamp over the mounting point and flip the switch. The cooler is now attached.

Next, we need to attach and connect the fan. Check the airflow arrows on your fan, which should be pointing towards the front of the case. Hook the brackets into the fan and attach it to the cooler accordingly. If you have a different airflow setup, make sure to adjust the fan's direction accordingly.

Finally, plug the fan into the CPU fan header on your motherboard, secure the cable out of the way of the fan and other components, and put your case back together. Turn on your computer and test it thoroughly to ensure that the fan spins and runs smoothly, without overheating. It may take a few attempts to get it right, but with patience and attention to detail, you'll be enjoying improved cooling performance in no time.

If you do happen to mess up the thermal compound during this process, don't worry! It's an easy mistake to make, and removing the cooler and starting over might not be as catastrophic as you think. Just remember to take your time, follow these steps carefully, and you'll be upgrading to a new CPU cooler like a pro.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this video, and if you did, be sure to rate it with a thumbs up and let me know what you thought about this kind of format in the comments below. Be sure to check the description for product links and our Patreon campaign, where you can support us via a monthly contribution and help us continue creating content like this.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enAdam ril Vox here and it's been requested quite a few times that I do tutorials on basic computer upgrades and repair so today I want to walk you through the basics of upgrading to a new CPU Cooler for this tutorial I will be upgrading an AMD fm2 socket processor this process is going to be the same for all recent AMD processors but the process will be a little different for Intel CPUs and I will do my best to illustrate what would be done on an Intel CPU along the way but the exact imagery won't be there simply because I'm not using an Intel CPU for this project you will need a desktop computer with an upgradable stock cooler a decent Siz case some thermal compound a Philips head screwdriver and a new CPU Cooler that you wish to upgrade to here I'm using a deep cool gammax 400 CPU Cooler which is a universal cooler that works with both Intel and AMD sockets of most socket types I wouldn't NE necessarily recommend this cooler it was just simply a cheap New Egg deal that I ran across this cooler features two small heat pipes and one mediumsized one and comes with 120 mm fan with a blue LED on it the fan claims to be silent but if you're really going for a quiet build I definitely recommend swapping that fan for a noctua NF F12 fan instead all the required various mounting hardware comes in the Box as well except for the back plate which should still be attached to your motherboard one thing to note about this cooler specifically it's quite tall with any CPU Cooler purchas make sure you have enough clearance in your case to fit the cooler not all coolers will fit in all cases this one just barely fits in this case the first step is to take off the side panel of your case exposing your motherboard graphics card Etc find your CPU Cooler remove the cooler fan plug from the header on the motherboard this will vary per motherboard but it would be somewhere around here if you have an AMD CPU you need to look for the little clip on the side of the cooler as you see here if you have an Intel CPU however you will need to unscrew the four Philips head screws in the four corners of the cooler that will be approximately here here here and here on the AMD side flip that switch or clamp to undo the clip of the cooler and pull off the cooler there is a bracket that runs through the middle of the cooler and grabs on the two sides of the mounting hardware on the actual motherboard so you may have to slide this off manually be careful not to damage anything on your motherboard while feeling around trying to find the bracket if you're on Intel simply unscreen the screws and pulling out the cool should be all you need to do next you need to clean the thermal compound off your processor you can buy a special liquid compound for this or just use rubbing alcohol make sure to use a microfiber cloth for this process if you end up using a paper towel like I did make absolutely sure you you leave no fibers or Paper Bits behind this will cause some serious problems down the road carefully clean off the thermal compound and let it dry you should go on and do this for the old cooler as well to make storing it less messy I was in Rush however so I just threw it in a Ziploc bag I'll probably never use the old one again but I saved it just in case this cooler didn't work that's probably a good idea for you to do as well next you need to check your new cooler on the bottom of the heat pipes or on the heat sink where it makes contact with the processor check to see if the new cooler comes with thermal compound pre-applied this would be a gray or dark gray Square coating the center of the heat sink if so you can proceed to installation if not you will first need to apply some thermal compound to your CPU I'm using some noctua thermal compound that I had with me but I would actually recommend some Arctic Silver compound instead simply put a small line or a small circle there are different preferred Styles and methods diagonally across the CPU and make sure to not touch it next we need to attach the CPU Cooler if you're using a universal cooler like I am you will need to attach the proper mounting hardware for your CPU socket to the cooler before proceeding this will vary based on the cooler and the CPU socket you're using the manual that came with your cooler should be sufficent sufficient explanation to figure this step out next hover the cooler above the CPU socket and line up the mounting bracket or Hardware with the appropriate attachment spot on your motherboard for AMD CPUs we will be using a similar clamping system to the stock cooler for Intel you will be screwed and in the four corners in most cases it is important to keep the cooler hovering above the CPU as much as possible during this initial lining up and adjustment process as to not screw up the thermal compound moving around on top the thermal compound and removing the cooler then replacing it again after the compound has already been applied risk leaving air bubbles and uncovered parts of the CPU which can cause cooling problems in hotter CPUs thus defeating the purpose of upgrading line up the bracket above the clamping spots and Slide the side without the clamp switch over the bracket on the motherboard then pressing down enough to reach but not too hard as to damage the CPU or motherboard bring the other side of the clamp over the mounting point and flip the switch the cooler is now attached this is a bit hard to word specifically but when you took off the old cooler you should see exactly what you need to do for Intel CPUs simply press the cooler onto the CPU and screw in the four screws starting with opposite Corners making sure to apply even pressure to the compound the cooler is now attached all we need to do now is attach and connect the fan the cooler may have had a fan pre-attached to the cooler in which case you can connect the fan plug to the CPU unor fan header on your motherboard and be finished however on most upgrade coolers the fan will have to be attached next this cooler uses two small brackets to hold the fan on top of the heat sink check the airflow arrows on your fan it's one of it's on one of the sidewalls of the fan on the Outer Edge make sure it's pointing in the correct direction for most cases including this one we want air pushing from the front of the case through the heat sink and exhausting out of the back of the case so I will hook the brackets into the fan and attach it to the cooler appropriately if you have a different airf flow setup you will need to put the fan facing the right direction for your setup it is always a good idea to make sure you're pushing air through the heat sink instead of fooling lastly plug the fan into the CPU fan header on the motherboard secure the cable out of the way of the fan and other components and put your case back together that's it you want to make sure you turn it on and make sure it works make sure the fan spins and run a couple tests to make sure it doesn't overheat but that's really it there's quite a few steps but overall it's not a hugely complicated process if you screw up the thermal compound too much during this process it's probably a good idea to remove it and start over however if you just barely nudge it then you probably won't be too bad off just to go on and attach it and make sure it doesn't overheat I hope you enjoyed this video if you did be sure to rate a thumbs up let me know what you think about this kind of format in the comments down below be sure to check the description for product links and links to our patreon campaign where you can support us via a monthly contribution social media links Etc otherwise guys my name has been Adam orles Fox and I will catch you in a future video\n"