CM EVO 212 fan died.

[FalseChristian]

I spent $100 for this cooler and the fan just died. Can I just replace the fan as the heatsink is fine. If yes, how do I do this?

Thank you.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I spent $100 for this cooler and the fan just died. Can I just replace the fan as the heatsink is fine. If yes, how do I do this?

Thank you.

The EVO can't be much different than my Hyper 212+. I assume you are speaking of the 212 EVO model.

I cannot imagine how you spent $100 on that cooler unless you have the model name wrong or it equally applies to some CM CLC cooler. I think I bought two of the 212+'s for maybe $35 each.

Now. OF COURSE! You can replace the stock fan with any similar fan that is within motherboard fan-port draw specifications. Likely, the upper limit would be a fan with 1.00A current draw, but you'd never benefit from the extra CFM or noise such a fan might bring.

The fans typically used by CM and other mfgrs always seem intended for silence and limp for CFM throughput, and there are many fans out there just as quiet and promising more CFM. My latest discovery is the AKASA Viper -- 140mm, but it can also be had in a lower-CFM 120mm model.

 

[FalseChristian]

The EVO can't be much different than my Hyper 212+. I assume you are speaking of the 212 EVO model.

I cannot imagine how you spent $100 on that cooler unless you have the model name wrong or it equally applies to some CM CLC cooler. I think I bought two of the 212+'s for maybe $35 each.

Now. OF COURSE! You can replace the stock fan with any similar fan that is within motherboard fan-port draw specifications. Likely, the upper limit would be a fan with 1.00A current draw, but you'd never benefit from the extra CFM or noise such a fan might bring.

The fans typically used by CM and other mfgrs always seem intended for silence and limp for CFM throughput, and there are many fans out there just as quiet and promising more CFM. My latest discovery is the AKASA Viper -- 140mm, but it can also be had in a lower-CFM 120mm model.

Thanks. I know I got ripped because of labour. I miss the olden days where you just mounted the cooler on top of the CPU using those springs.

How do I take the fan off and how do I put the new one on? I've tried taking it off with no success. I don't want to damage the heatsink.

Thank you.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Thanks. I know I got ripped because of labour. I miss the olden days where you just mounted the cooler on top of the CPU using those springs.

How do I take the fan off and how do I put the new one on? I've tried taking it off with no success. I don't want to damage the heatsink.

Thank you.

I was just rummaging through the retail-box for the spare 212+ after receiving the skt-2011 bracket upgrade for free from CM. I was planning to build an X79 IB-E system this year, but I've decided not to.

It seems to me those are the same type of spring clips holding the fan on the cooler as the clips used on ThermalRight or Noctua coolers -- oh, heck -- lemme look . . . . wait-a-minute . . .

OK. If the EVO is like the 212+, then the fan is a standard 120x25mm square fan with the standard mounting holes. There are threaded screws securing it to the black-plastic bracket clipped onto the cooler. Unfortunately, the heads of the screws are on the cooler side of the bracket, so you can't get to them without removing that bracket.

I'd suggest unmounting the cooler first. I tried to see how easy it is to bend the bracket to allow the four barbed tabs to release from the cooler. You COULD do it with the cooler still mounted to the motherboard/CPU-socket. But it would probably be a better idea to just unscrew and dismount the cooler, remove the bracket, unscrew and replace the fan, clip the bracket back on the cooler and re-mount.

Make sure you have a decent tube of thermal grease or thermal-interface paste. It's a chump-change $5 item you can just order from a reseller like www.heatsinkfactory.com , www.coolerguys.com , Frozen CPU or Sidewinder computers, etc.

 

[FalseChristian]

Thank you very much for your help. I'll do exactly as you have directed.

 

[Charlie98]

No, you don't need to dismount the cooler... all that holds the fan to the cooler is plastic clips... just reach in there and pop one side loose and the fan will come off; unplug the fan from the mobo and you can take it out. There are rubber inserts at each corner (to dampen vibration) so it might seem like it doesn't want to come off... but it will.

Yes, it takes basically any standard 120mm fan... unscrew the 4 screws holding the 2 plastic clips, swap them to the new fan, and you are back in business.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

No, you don't need to dismount the cooler... all that holds the fan to the cooler is plastic clips... just reach in there and pop one side loose and the fan will come off; unplug the fan from the mobo and you can take it out. There are rubber inserts at each corner (to dampen vibration) so it might seem like it doesn't want to come off... but it will.

Yes, it takes basically any standard 120mm fan... unscrew the 4 screws holding the 2 plastic clips, swap them to the new fan, and you are back in business.

[I might have assumed he's "all thumbs," and the undercurrent of his post suggests he's skittish about fiddling with it. Me -- I'd just pull open the clips and pop it off the cooler. But those clips are a bit stiff, and I thought it would be easier for him just to unscrew the cooler and fiddle with it where he has some room.]

 

[Charlie98]

[I might have assumed he's "all thumbs," and the undercurrent of his post suggests he's skittish about fiddling with it. Me -- I'd just pull open the clips and pop it off the cooler. But those clips are a bit stiff, and I thought it would be easier for him just to unscrew the cooler and fiddle with it where he has some room.]

😕 ...I wondered. Personally, I think it's harder to dismount the cooler than to pop off the fan... but it is a little tricksy.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

😕 ...I wondered. Personally, I think it's harder to dismount the cooler than to pop off the fan... but it is a little tricksy.

Just getting the spring-clips off my NH-D14 with the cooler installed in a midtower? I wish I had the hands of the E-Trade baby.