The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is the fan replaceable?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Matr11x, Jun 29, 2013.

  1. Matr11x

    Matr11x Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have an R1 and today my fan decided to call it quits. It doesn't turn on at all anymore. I'd like to fix or replace it, but I'm not sure where to start. I talked to Dell, but they told me it was attached to the heatsink and not replaceable. However, they also told me that I needed to purchase a new copy of Windows from them and reinstall after they replaced the fan for me, so I'm not so sure I trust them. I also read a user say " I've broken the system down completely, and have removed the fan (it was easy)."

    All of that said, I'd also like to know if anyone thinks this may be fixable without getting a new part, or what may have even caused it.

    Also, does anyone know the safe operating temps for the R1 with the SU4100? They are all currently in the low 50s (I have a desk fan blowing into the intake), and I think that's safe for light use, but I'm not really sure.

    Any info at all would be very much appreciated.
     
    Matr11x, Jun 29, 2013
    #1
  2. squeak83uk2

    squeak83uk2 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    128
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    squeak83uk2, Jul 2, 2013
    #2
  3. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Yes it is replaceable, you can try looking online (eBay, Amazon) or go to Ztronics.com
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Jul 5, 2013
    #3
  4. clemenzina

    clemenzina Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I had my fan/heatsink replaced under warranty - it involved a helluva lot of stripping down, but I imagine that with step-by-step instructions and a methodical approach it could be done by anyone (except me ;) ).
     
    clemenzina, Jul 7, 2013
    #4
  5. un4tural

    un4tural Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    53
    Messages:
    666
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    31
    The fan bit is a bit fiddly, but i do believe you can replace only the fan without the whole heatsink assembly, though just the fan is a bit fiddly, and you should keep in mind that you'll need a finer philips than PH000. I used a tiny philips i had that came with my replacement DSL battery, as the one you use for most screws in the m11x will be too chubby to undo screws on fan/heatsink.
     
    un4tural, Jul 9, 2013
    #5
  6. SA Spurs1

    SA Spurs1 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    151
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    SA Spurs1, Jul 28, 2013
    #6