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by Nirav Patel

Heatsink and Fan Replacement Guide

Written By: Jehan Suleman (and 3 other contributors)
  • Comments: 14
  • Favorites: 1
  • Completions: 13

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

13

Time Required

00:05:00 - 00:10:00

Sections

3

Flags

0

Introduction

You can also follow this guide if you want to re-paste (apply new thermal paste) your Framework Laptop. However, we don’t necessarily recommend doing that unless needed, since this operation requires exposing and handling the bare CPU die, which is somewhat delicate.

Make sure to follow the steps in this guide carefully, including unscrewing and rescrewing the fasteners in the right order on the heatsink and fan.

    • Power off the Framework Laptop by navigating to the Windows icon on the bottom left and clicking on "Power" followed by "Shut down," or if on Linux, the equivalent action there.

  2. Unplug your power cable from the USB-C Expansion Card in your Framework Laptop.

    • Unplug your power cable from the USB-C Expansion Card in your Framework Laptop.

    • Close the lid on your Framework Laptop and place it upside down on a soft, non-marring surface, such as the bag that it shipped in.

    • Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, unscrew the 5 fasteners on the Bottom Cover. These fasteners will remain attached in the Bottom Cover so that you do not lose them.

    • The fastener on the bottom left (circled in red) will not unscrew as far as the others, as it is acting as a lifter for the Input Cover.

    • You'll hear this fastener start clicking as you rotate when it is unscrewed far enough.

    • Do not use a powered tool for these steps, as this will likely result in damage to the fasteners.

    • Flip the Framework Laptop back over and open the lid to around 120 degrees.

    • Important: Pull the Input Cover off carefully as it is still attached to the Mainboard via the Touchpad Cable. You don't need to disconnect this cable to do most repairs. You can just flip the Input Cover over. If you do want to disconnect it though, make sure to disconnect the Mainboard side using the finger loop over the orange label.

    • The bottom right corner of the Input Cover lifts up when the five fasteners are properly unscrewed from the previous step. You should not have to use any excessive force to remove the Input Cover.

    • Carefully lift the cover up from the bottom right corner. If you need to, you can use the spudger end of the Framework Screwdriver to lift it as well. Lift the Input Cover off the Mainboard, flip it over (keyboard side down), and place it about halfway on the Bottom Cover.

    • Be sure not to put too much force on the Touchpad Cable when doing this.

    • If the LEDs on the left and right sides of the system are flashing red when you lift off the cover, it means the system is still powered on. Make sure your power cable isn't plugged in and that you have shut down correctly.

    • Note that it may take up to 30 seconds after shutting down for the system to fully power off. Wait until the LEDs stop flashing before proceeding.

    • You should keep the Battery connector plugged in unless you need to replace the Battery, Mainboard, or Speakers. This connector is easy to accidentally damage, so it's better to not handle it.

  5. Warning: Make sure the Framework Laptop has been powered off for at least 5 minutes prior to Heat Sink and Fan removal. This component can be extremely hot. Using the Framework T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, unscrew the two fasteners on the Fan first.

    • Warning: Make sure the Framework Laptop has been powered off for at least 5 minutes prior to Heat Sink and Fan removal. This component can be extremely hot.

    • Using the Framework T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, unscrew the two fasteners on the Fan first.

  6. Next, unscrew the fasteners labeled 3, then 2, then 1 (in this order). The screws will come loose after a few revolutions, they will remain captive (attached) in the fan.

    • Next, unscrew the fasteners labeled 3, then 2, then 1 (in this order).

    • The screws will come loose after a few revolutions, they will remain captive (attached) in the fan.

  7. Gently lift up the Heat Sink and Fan module and move it over slightly so that you can unplug the power cable. The thermal paste may be holding the module in place, you may have to apply a slight rotating motion to break the hold of the grease. Using your fingernail, disconnect the Fan cable from the Mainboard by sliding it straight out. The Heat Sink and Fan component is now fully detached.

    • Gently lift up the Heat Sink and Fan module and move it over slightly so that you can unplug the power cable. The thermal paste may be holding the module in place, you may have to apply a slight rotating motion to break the hold of the grease.

    • Using your fingernail, disconnect the Fan cable from the Mainboard by sliding it straight out.

    • The Heat Sink and Fan component is now fully detached.

  8. Before installing a brand new Heatsink and Fan module, be sure to carefully wipe off the excess thermal paste from the CPU using a clean, lint-free tissue, cloth, or cotton swab. The new module has new thermal paste on it. Look for any thermal pads that might have remained stuck on the Mainboard. They are light in color and very soft to the touch. If you notice any, gently peel them off.

    • Before installing a brand new Heatsink and Fan module, be sure to carefully wipe off the excess thermal paste from the CPU using a clean, lint-free tissue, cloth, or cotton swab. The new module has new thermal paste on it.

    • Look for any thermal pads that might have remained stuck on the Mainboard. They are light in color and very soft to the touch. If you notice any, gently peel them off.

    • Also make sure all of the thermal pads are properly in place in the new Heatsink. If a thermal pad is missing, there is risk of power regulators overheating.

  9. Place the Heatsink and Fan module on the Mainboard aligning it carefully with the processor. The new module comes with thermal paste so there is no need to any additional paste.

    • Place the Heatsink and Fan module on the Mainboard aligning it carefully with the processor.

    • The new module comes with thermal paste so there is no need to any additional paste.

    • Make sure that the white or pink thermal pads stay in the spots they were originally on on the heatsink, and if any stayed stuck to the mainboard from the old heatsink, peel those off to avoid doubling them up.

  10. Check the plug for the Fan, and note that there is a black dot on one side. The black dot should face upwards away from the Mainboard. With the black dot facing upwards, plug the cable back into the Mainboard by sliding it straight into the receptacle. Make sure the plug is in the right orientation. Inserting it upside down can permanently damage the receptacle. Starting with the fastener slot marked 1 on the Heatsink, start screwing the fasteners back into place using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver. Next fasten number 2, followed by 3.

    • Check the plug for the Fan, and note that there is a black dot on one side. The black dot should face upwards away from the Mainboard. With the black dot facing upwards, plug the cable back into the Mainboard by sliding it straight into the receptacle.

    • Make sure the plug is in the right orientation. Inserting it upside down can permanently damage the receptacle.

    • Starting with the fastener slot marked 1 on the Heatsink, start screwing the fasteners back into place using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver. Next fasten number 2, followed by 3.

    • Be sure to not over tighten the fasteners.

    • Screw the two fasteners on the Fan back into place.

    • Be sure to not over tighten the fasteners.

    • The Heatsink and Fan module is now fully installed.

  11. Before closing up the laptop, make sure that the Touchpad end of the Touchpad Cable is fully seated in the receptacle. The cable should be inserted far enough that the white line almost touches the receptacle.

    • Before closing up the laptop, make sure that the Touchpad end of the Touchpad Cable is fully seated in the receptacle.

    • The cable should be inserted far enough that the white line almost touches the receptacle.

    • If it is not inserted far enough, you'll need to flip up the black latch on the other side of the connector, slide the cable in further, and then close the black latch again.

  12. Flip the Input Cover over the Bottom Cover so that the keyboard is facing up and attach it to the Bottom Cover by aligning the top and bottom edges of both covers. Tip: The covers are magnetic and should fit into one another easily. If you feel any resistance simply lift the Input Cover up and try again. Tip: The covers are magnetic and should fit into one another easily. If you feel any resistance simply lift the Input Cover up and try again.

    • Flip the Input Cover over the Bottom Cover so that the keyboard is facing up and attach it to the Bottom Cover by aligning the top and bottom edges of both covers.

    • Tip: The covers are magnetic and should fit into one another easily. If you feel any resistance simply lift the Input Cover up and try again.

  13. Close the Framework Laptop and turn it upside down to reveal the five fasteners on the Bottom Cover. Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, screw all 5 fasteners back into the Bottom Cover.

    • Close the Framework Laptop and turn it upside down to reveal the five fasteners on the Bottom Cover.

    • Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, screw all 5 fasteners back into the Bottom Cover.

    • Be sure to not over-tighten the fasteners.

Conclusion
  • To purchase a Framework Laptop visit the Framework website
  • Want to learn more about the Framework Laptop? Take a look at our blog
  • If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Framework Support

13 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 3 other contributors

Jehan Suleman

Member since: 03/08/2021

17 Guides authored

Team

Framework Member of Framework

6 Members

63 Guides authored

3 Comments

Sorry for nitpicking, but is there a reason why the screws for the fans are +, while those of the CPU heat sink are * ?

Given the high likelihood that they both have to be removed at the same time, might as well use the same type of screws ?

It is easy to work on either the fan or the CPU heat sink, then forget to switch the driver head, which can lead to threading, especially when using the + head on the * screws.

Rousslan Dossa - Reply

I did this and it took less than 5 minutes. The new fan/heatsink assembly does feed heavier and more robust than the old one (which was making a nasty broken ball bearing like noise) and now it's so much quieter I want to cry

Mir Rodriguez - Reply

Shouldn’t this have the marketplace link to the heatsink & fan assembly?

Adam Reynolds - Reply

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