are these two t61 fan clips really needed? (pic)

[halfcard1]

i don't see they are doing anything important, and the screws are those tiny kind. i call them clips, although they might be 'brackets'.

[Radioguy]

i don't see they are doing anything important, and the screws are those tiny kind. i call them clips, although they might be 'brackets'.

Seeing how the heatsink is not for the CPU alone, but for the Intel chipset as well, yes.

I think you ought to associate yourself with the HMM and related Lenovo videos before you proceed further.

[RealBlackStuff]

You need those to hold the GPU part of the cooler down in place.

[Radioguy]

You need those to hold the GPU part of the cooler down in place.

Well, the discrete GPU is north of the lower clips, while the Intel chip is under them. Since the clips are present and necessary on either heatsink, I spoke inclusively.