Remove shroud from GPU (RTX 3070 VISION OC) without removing the heatsink possible?

[Mark Kaine]

Every video I found (of similar cards) they always remove the heatsink... I don't actually want to repaste (temps are around 60c, no need) I just want to clean the fan assembly...

Is there a way or should I just try with qtips/iso? (which is going to be difficult because there's quite a lot of dust on inside of the fan blades for example)

 

I mean, I can try do that, but it would be so much easier if you could just get the shroud off, without removing the backplate... 

[leclod]

I believe only blowing through the fan blades does a good part of the job (I did that, pretty dusty).

But a compressed air can with a straw probably does the rest.

(Dust on the fan blades really doesn't matter)

Edited May 15 by leclod

[Mark Kaine]

42 minutes ago, leclod said:

I believe only blowing through the fan blades does a good part of the job (I did that, pretty dusty).

But a compressed air can with a straw probably does the rest.

(Dust on the fan blades really doesn't matter)

I mean I regularly do that, it does, but there are parts *inside* around and behind the fans that are pretty dirty after 5 years of heavy usage and also very noticable, because I regularly clean the parts where it's easier to get to...

It's more a OCD thing really, also the fans seem pretty weak, it's difficult not to use too much force when cleaning them...

 

But I get it, without removing the backplate/heatsink that's going to be difficult no matter what.

 

I just thought maybe there are hidden screws that attach the fans or something... It's actually crazy bad design you have to remove the heatsink just to change out a fan (in case one breaks etc) 

 

I know some cards have removable fans, should be a no-brainer really. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[Ha-Satan]

I haven't disassembled that card specifically, but I've disassembled numerous Gigabyte cards before and I have never encountered one where you were able to remove the fan shroud without removing the heatsink. In every case, the primary screws holding everything together needed to be accessed through the backplate and removing them would result in the heatsink coming loose as well.

[OddOod]

1 hour ago, Mark Kaine said:

It's more a OCD thing really, also the fans seem pretty weak, it's difficult not to use too much force when cleaning them...

It sucks that you have the OC, but if you really wanna clean it, you pretty much have to pull the heatsink. Though, once you do that, you could toss it in an ultrasonic cleaner (they're under 200$ and great for cleaning all sorts of things) and get it *perfectly* clean. Just make sure to pull the fans, you don't want to "clean" the lube off the fan bearings