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.

    Why's the fan taped to the Heatsink?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by gpig, Nov 1, 2010.

  1. gpig

    gpig Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    82
    Messages:
    885
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just curious as to why the fan is taped to the Heatsink on the SXPS 16. I understand that the 2 parts make up the main cooling system, but why the tape?
     
    gpig, Nov 1, 2010
    #1
  2. daver160

    daver160 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    148
    Messages:
    766
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    don't know why either, but Macbook Pros do this as well. i've cleaned the dust out of enough Macs and seen this every time.

    is the tape transparent yellow? if so it's probably the same Kapton tape that most companies use. maybe it's just cheaper to use Kapton than drill screws in?
     
    daver160, Nov 1, 2010
    #2
  3. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

    Reputations:
    6,415
    Messages:
    5,296
    Likes Received:
    552
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Every major OEM does it. When they tape them together, especially over the joints, it keeps the hot air flow heading outward, instead of getting re-directed through the cracks. :)
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Nov 1, 2010
    #3
  4. gpig

    gpig Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    82
    Messages:
    885
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    That's interesting- my tape appeared to be in a very ineffective spot, about 1/4 of an inch from what appears to be a 'sealing' spot.

    BTW daver it's a pretty heavy duty black tape.
     
    gpig, Nov 1, 2010
    #4