Old guy said:
Thanks for the reply. A few follow-ups
I suppose I can unplug the fan with the PC running?
The tower fan is connected to the MB by a reb/black twisted pair. Is
this the tower fan power supply?
The power box is connected to the MB by a million (rounded) multicolored
wires. Is this the power box fan power supply?
Local PC guy tells me the tower fan is ~$30 - special order from Dell. Not
accurate?
Local PC guy tells me the power box fan is ~$100 - special order from Dell.
(I am assuming this is for a new power supply - box, fan, and all.) Is this
something a non-geek old guy can replace?
I would not recommend connecting or disconnecting any component while the PC
is running. Too much risk involved for such little gain. Take the time to
shutdown and observe proper precautions to guard against static discharges.
It sounds as though you have correctly identified the cabinet fan and the
power supply, but I would expect the cabinet fan to have 3 wires. Yes, the
cabinet fan is the one with very few wires and connects to the motherboard.
Yes, the power supply is that metal box with all the heavy gauge wires.
You don't have to buy from Dell unless you want warranty service. You are
paying through the nose (like 3 times the normal price). Shop around. Check
the Yellow Pages. Try Amazon.com (
http://www.amazon.com). Or, one of my
personal favorites, DC Drives (
http://www.dcdrives.com more lovingly known
as Dirt Cheap Drives - they've been around for ages). If you have a Frye's
in your area, check there.
When locating a replacement power supply (you're not replacing the power
supply fan, but rather the entire power supply), pay attention to the
dimensions, the wattage and the types and number of leads. Sometimes you can
find retail or manufacturer sites that step you through the process of
identifying just the right replacement part.
$100 for a power supply? Uh, one geek shop I've seen in my area has
replacement power supplies for as little as $35 and it isn't special order -
right off the shelf. Dell has been using Intel motherboards for years and
there is no reason to have to "special order" anything.
$30 for a cabinet fan? I wouldn't pay that much regardless of the warranty
that might be attached.
When locating a replacement cabinet fan, just make sure it is the same width
x height x depth and has the same wire count.
If you can locate a local geek shop, disconnect the failing component and
bring it with you. The sales rep should be able to match it up with
something right off the shelf.
Any non-geek can install these components. It all depends on your comfort
level. If you are a total klutz and think a hammer is just as good as a
screwdriver, you might want to consider letting somebody else do the job.
Just be smart about what you're doing. Computer components are sensitive to
static discharges and they don't like to be connected or disconnected while
the power is running. It's not brain surgery and you don't need a pocket
protector to be qualified. Take the time to write down (on a separate piece
of paper and not the motherboard) where the various connectors go. If you
can keep from screwing up the wires, you're halfway there.
