can dell optiplex 960 mini tower cooling fan be replaced?

PcGamer202

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Aug 1, 2015
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i was wondering is dell optiplex 960 mini tower's cooling fan replacable becaus i want to replace it with a smaller fan.
sorry for my bad english
 
Solution
All fans can be replaced in every PC, you should have checked the DELL site for information regarding your PC.

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN288394/EN
OptiPlex 960 Mini Tower (MT) Removal Guide for the System Fan, Power Supply, Front Bezel, IO Panel and IO LED Card

You will have to remove and examine the FAN to know what to buy as a replacement, they did not all come with just a single size because the Brackets outer size are the same for other series. You could have a 70mm, 90mm or even a 120mm Fan depending on when your PC was made and what was in stock from one of the three suppliers that made the Fan assemblies.

delaro

Judicious
Ambassador
All fans can be replaced in every PC, you should have checked the DELL site for information regarding your PC.

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN288394/EN
OptiPlex 960 Mini Tower (MT) Removal Guide for the System Fan, Power Supply, Front Bezel, IO Panel and IO LED Card

You will have to remove and examine the FAN to know what to buy as a replacement, they did not all come with just a single size because the Brackets outer size are the same for other series. You could have a 70mm, 90mm or even a 120mm Fan depending on when your PC was made and what was in stock from one of the three suppliers that made the Fan assemblies.
 
Solution


It seems to be a proprietary fan, because it is part of proprietary CPU heatsink.

To OP: why do you need to change it to a smaller one?
 

delaro

Judicious
Ambassador


It has two fans one on the CPU and one case fan. He never stated the CPU fan nor did I list it because of that but both can be replaced with aftermarket units. Going with a smaller fan on either one might be problematic if your Mount is expecting a certain size. These units are not like a typical ATX design that allows you to use different sizes.
 
2 fans? Where

IMG_2598.jpg


8jTIXb5.jpg


Only 1 fan sits between CPU and front panel and acting as intake fan, taking air from the front and pushing through CPU heatsink inside the case, there nothing on the back panel - it is BTX design!?
 

delaro

Judicious
Ambassador
You would be correct, 1 fan on the CPU 1 in the Power Supply with a Thermal sensor to control the Speed, yes it is a BTX. There use to be a issue with Temps from faulty Thermal sensors so we would install a 90mm low speed fan directly on the back of the Case which would solve that issue if the Sensor failed. I guess I got the 960 and 760 confused on the 2nd post.
 


I am not arguing here, but you just stated that

we would install a 90mm low speed fan directly on the back of the Case

It is not factory installed, it is aftermarket solution to improve cooling and OP is asked about changing main, CPU fan I guess.... This small 80mm can be added to any BTX Dell, no matter the model.