Fans That Require Thermal Paste

• 1). Turn off your computer and open your case. Your CPU fan will be the large fan usually located in the center of your motherboard. Remove any screws or fasteners, pull out your old processor fan and consult your new fan's instruction booklet to confirm that it requires thermal paste.
  
  
• 2). Examine your processor and you should see an arrow near one of its corners. Your cooling fan should also have an arrow or similar marker. Align these two markers when installing your fan. Consult your fan's instruction booklet and determine how your fan is tightened to the processor. Different fans have different methods of tightening, and failure to tighten your fan properly may lead to inadequate cooling. Inadequate cooling may lead to damage to your processor.
  
  
• 3). Remove the fan to confirm the thermal paste has spread evenly over the processor. If your thermal paste has spread evenly, repeat the process to install your fan to complete your processor cooling system.
  
  

Installing Fans That Do Not Require Thermal Paste

• 1). Turn off your computer and open your case. Your CPU fan will be the large fan usually located in the center of your motherboard. Remove any screws or fasteners and pull out your old processor fan.
  
  
• 2). Examine your processor and you should see an arrow near one of its corners. Your cooling fan should also have an arrow or similar marker. Align these two markers when installing your fan. Consult your fan's instruction booklet to determine how your fan is tightened to the processor. Different fans have a different methods of tightening, and failure to tighten your fan properly may lead to inadequate cooling. Inadequate cooling may lead to damage to your processor.
  
  
• 3). Close your computer case.