Cleaning my PC issues (Disassembling)

[CheeseGod]

I'm currently trying to clean my pc and swap out my thermal paste however I can't figure out how to remove the fan on my cooler to unscrew everything to remove it. There are these clamps on each side and I don't know how to release them. There is also a soundcard I don't know how to take out, it's blocking my 16x slot and I wanted to move my gpu there.  How do I remove the sound card? I didn't build this pc and I never built one on my own, I don't even know if I even need the soundcard because I never have anything plugged in. It's also blocking those clips from coming out and again I can't even budge them I don't know how to take them out & there's no video on YouTube that tells me how. 

 

My cooler is a dark rock 4 & my soundcard is a Asus strix soar, will I have to change any settings as well if I did remove/move the soundcard or move my gpu?

 

I'm having a real tough time doing this and there's no one that can help me in my area. I have everything unplugged right now. 

[SansVarnic]

Couple of questions:

Why do you want to swap the thermal paste? As in, how old is it? normally you dont need to replace it for a few years.

9 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

There is also a soundcard I don't know how to take out, it's blocking my 16x slot and I wanted to move my gpu there.  How do I remove the sound card?

Can you provide a photo of your setup? this would help us give the best advice.

But in most cases, there should be a screw holding the support bracket in place... looks like this

 

Edited January 30, 2021 by SansVarnic

[CheeseGod]

Just now, SansVarnic said:

Couple of questions:

Why do you want to swap the thermal paste? As in, how old is it? normally you dont need to replace it for a few years.

Can you provide a photo of your setup? this would help us give the best advice.

But in most cases, there should be a screw holding the support bracket in place... looks like this

I wanted to replace it because my performance is really suffering and my cpu is at 95c & it's thermal throttling according to hwinfo64. I'll post a picture

[minibois]

You remove the fan(s) from the Dark Rock 4 cooler, by just gently pulling on the metal clips to release them.

Pull that part of the clip (on both sides of the cooler) away from the cooler.

 

The soundcard will remove in these steps:

1. unscrew the soundcard. The screw will likely be at the back of the case. some cases use a bit of different design, but that is generally how it goes

2. gently, yet firmly remove the soundcard from the system.

[SansVarnic]

3 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

I wanted to replace it because my performance is really suffering and my cpu is at 95c & it's thermal throttling according to hwinfo64. I'll post a picture

If you are having thermal issues, then this would be a good reason. I do suggest using one of the following pastes.

Arctic MX-4

Arctic Silver 5

IC Diamond Thermal Paste

Noctua NT-H1

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

When you apply the paste use the recommend amount for your cpu, a search online will easily get you but if you dont find it list your cpu and we can help you.

 

Do not use any metallic thermal paste if you have no experience doing this.

[CheeseGod]

13 hours ago, SansVarnic said:

If you are having thermal issues, then this would be a good reason. I do suggest using one of the following pastes.

Arctic MX-4

Arctic Silver 5

IC Diamond Thermal Paste

Noctua NT-H1

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

When you apply the paste use the recommend amount for your cpu, a search online will easily get you but if you dont find it list your cpu and we can help you.

 

Do not use any metallic thermal paste if you have no experience doing this.

I do currently already have the paste, it's thermal grizzly kryonaut as you've mentioned.

 

13 hours ago, minibois said:

You remove the fan(s) from the Dark Rock 4 cooler, by just gently pulling on the metal clips to release them.

Pull that part of the clip (on both sides of the cooler) away from the cooler.

 

The soundcard will remove in these steps:

1. unscrew the soundcard. The screw will likely be at the back of the case. some cases use a bit of different design, but that is generally how it goes

2. gently, yet firmly remove the soundcard from the system.

Do I just pull straight up? Also it's plugged with my gpu

 

 

13 hours ago, minibois said:

You remove the fan(s) from the Dark Rock 4 cooler, by just gently pulling on the metal clips to release them.

Pull that part of the clip (on both sides of the cooler) away from the cooler.

 

The soundcard will remove in these steps:

1. unscrew the soundcard. The screw will likely be at the back of the case. some cases use a bit of different design, but that is generally how it goes

2. gently, yet firmly remove the soundcard from the system.

I can't seem to get to the clips, I can't see them like I can in the photo 

 

13 hours ago, SansVarnic said:

Couple of questions:

Why do you want to swap the thermal paste? As in, how old is it? normally you dont need to replace it for a few years.

Can you provide a photo of your setup? this would help us give the best advice.

But in most cases, there should be a screw holding the support bracket in place... looks like this

 

Also there are 3 photos I posted above 

[WhitetailAni]

Please put your GPU in your top slot.

[CheeseGod]

Just now, ragnarok0273 said:

Please put your GPU in your top slot.

I don't know how to do it, I had someone install it for me & people are telling me if I do it it will mess things up performance wise or I'll have to change my settings

[WhitetailAni]

1 minute ago, CheeseGod said:

I don't know how to do it, I had someone install it for me & people are telling me if I do it it will mess things up performance wise or I'll have to change my settings

No it won't.

[SansVarnic]

14 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

Do I just pull straight up? Also it's plugged with my gpu

You can but may need to wiggle it out. It will seem tight because it is but it will come out without hurting anything.

13 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

<snipped photos>

Good photos, I can see why it was built the way it was but in general sense its best to place the GPU in the PCIE slot closest to the CPU.

11 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

I can't seem to get to the clips, I can't see them like I can in the photo 

When you pull out the sound card you will have better access to the clips.

Take care not to bend the cooler fins when removing the clips.

7 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

I don't know how to do it, I had someone install it for me & people are telling me if I do it it will mess things up performance wise or I'll have to change my settings

Moving the GPU won't really change anything and the PC will automatically sense the move, but it will automatically adjust everything for you.

But as I mentioned it is better for performance to place it in the first PCIE slot (closest to the CPU).

[minibois]

5 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

Do I just pull straight up? Also it's plugged with my gpu

Are you referring to the CPU cooler's fans or the soundcard?

 

Anyways, be sure to take things step-by-step and not rushing it.

If you want to have the videocard in the top PCIe slot, I'd go in these steps:

 

1. remove the screw for the soundcard

2. remove the power plug from the soundcard. remember there is a 'latch' of sorts on the cables press that so it can be removed

Now you can gently pull the soundcard out of the slot.

 

3. remove the screw(s) for the videocard

4. remove the power plugs from the videocard.

now you can remove the videocard from the slot. HOLD ON THOUGH. There is a latch on the PCIE slot which you have to push back:

With your videocard installed, this latch is holding the videocard in. you have to push it back (bit back, bit to the right if that makes sense) to make the videocard not hold it anymore. When installing the videocard in the top slot, ensure this latch is in the open position. Installing the videocard will put it in the closed position.

 

Before installing the videocard and soundcard back in the system, with them removed and plenty of space, it's the perfect time to handle the CPU cooler.

Do you have the screwdriver that originally came with this cooler? the screws are very hard to get to without that screwdriver.

Anyways, with the soundcard removed, you should have plenty of room to be able to unclip the fans on the cooler, after which you can unscrew the cooler. Be sure to not touch the thermal paste, it can be a pain to remove stains left by it on fabrics.

 

The way this cooler works, you only need to remove the two screws on either side of the cooler:

 

Are you aware of the precautions you should take relating to static electricity?

In short, plug in your system (PSU) into the power socket in the wall, turn off the PSU and now if you touch the PSU or the case, you are 'grounded', meaning static electricity is removed from you.

 

11 minutes ago, ragnarok0273 said:

Please put your GPU in your top slot.

??? why post this, when you can read in the OP that is partially why this thread is made:

33 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

There is also a soundcard I don't know how to take out, it's blocking my 16x slot and I wanted to move my gpu there.  How do I remove the sound card?

 

[WhitetailAni]

Just now, minibois said:

??? why post this, when you can read in the OP that is partially why this thread is made:

I'm tired and I forgot.

Anyway, follow minibois' instructions.

[CheeseGod]

9 minutes ago, minibois said:

Are you referring to the CPU cooler's fans or the soundcard?

 

Anyways, be sure to take things step-by-step and not rushing it.

If you want to have the videocard in the top PCIe slot, I'd go in these steps:

 

1. remove the screw for the soundcard

2. remove the power plug from the soundcard. remember there is a 'latch' of sorts on the cables press that so it can be removed

Now you can gently pull the soundcard out of the slot.

 

3. remove the screw(s) for the videocard

4. remove the power plugs from the videocard.

now you can remove the videocard from the slot. HOLD ON THOUGH. There is a latch on the PCIE slot which you have to push back:

With your videocard installed, this latch is holding the videocard in. you have to push it back (bit back, bit to the right if that makes sense) to make the videocard not hold it anymore. When installing the videocard in the top slot, ensure this latch is in the open position. Installing the videocard will put it in the closed position.

 

Before installing the videocard and soundcard back in the system, with them removed and plenty of space, it's the perfect time to handle the CPU cooler.

Do you have the screwdriver that originally came with this cooler? the screws are very hard to get to without that screwdriver.

Anyways, with the soundcard removed, you should have plenty of room to be able to unclip the fans on the cooler, after which you can unscrew the cooler. Be sure to not touch the thermal paste, it can be a pain to remove stains left by it on fabrics.

 

The way this cooler works, you only need to remove the two screws on either side of the cooler:

 

Are you aware of the precautions you should take relating to static electricity?

In short, plug in your system (PSU) into the power socket in the wall, turn off the PSU and now if you touch the PSU or the case, you are 'grounded', meaning static electricity is removed from you.

 

??? why post this, when you can read in the OP that is partially why this thread is made:

 

I have an esd bracelet I had connected to the metal part on my case, I'm referring to those clips for my cpu fan, I have no idea how to get them off. Also I have the 99% alcohol 

[minibois]

2 minutes ago, CheeseGod said:

I have an esd bracelet I had connected to the metal part on my case, I'm referring to those clips for my cpu fan, I have no idea how to get them off. 

The clips are a bit of finnicky design, maybe it becomes more clear what you need to do to remove them, by checking out this video on how the fans are installed:

(video is timestamped, at 2:21).

 

The metal clips are held behind the heatsink's fins. You need to make it so the clips aren't held behind there.

[CheeseGod]

21 hours ago, minibois said:

The clips are a bit of finnicky design, maybe it becomes more clear what you need to do to remove them, by checking out this video on how the fans are installed:

(video is timestamped, at 2:21).

 

The metal clips are held behind the heatsink's fins. You need to make it so the clips aren't held behind there.

I saw that and I just can't figure it out, I really appreciate your help and detailed photos but I'm probably just going to hire someone to do it for me, I've never done this and it's just too complicated for me, I've never even touched the parts in my pc & if I mess up its expensive. I might try again but the fan clips are impossible to get off.