Cooling fan problem

Question

I've been having a problem with my desktop PC, Windows 10 model. I press the start button and it seems to start up normally then after about 10 seconds, everything shuts down? I opened the side panel and found the main (?) chip fan had broken loose and wasn't making contact with the chip thermo paste. The fan was hanging by its cord. After I set the fan back on the chip housing, the PC started up normally. It looks like the top pin on the chip housing has broken off, which will not allow the fan to attach properly. It looks like the fan housing and the thermo paste will have to be replaced. Would this be a big repair bill?

Answer 1

Hello Warren,

The shutdown is likely happening because the loose CPU cooler is no longer making proper contact with the processor. I would avoid turning the PC on again until the cooler has been securely remounted.

This may only require a replacement mounting pin, bracket, or CPU cooler with fresh thermal paste. It is difficult to estimate the cost without seeing which part broke, so having a local repair shop inspect it would be the safest option.

Answer 2

Hello, in Cnd the higher end would be about $100 the lower end would be $10. There is no correct answer here. I will say though, all cpu fans are screwed into place or locked in place with the clip if it is a clip in fan. It sounds like the fan is not ment to be there. There is always 4 holes on a cpu fan so it can mount to the board. OR 4 plastic mounts if it is the lock in kind. This repair is mostly cheep just buy the correct fan. Sounds like the plastic pin broke I would try for a screw mounted fan. You may need to take out the mother board to mount a screw mounted fan. It honestly just depends on what side the screws are required to be placed on. The easy one will be the plastic mount but then you will be having the same issue later could be years before you do have an issue. Flip a coin and take a risk with the plastic one or buy the screw in fan its up to you.