Thinkpads Forum

I purchased an i7 motherboard to replace the i5 motherboard that was shutting down when playing video games. After replacing the board I was getting constant shutdowns .. Ahhh (silly me), I didn't notice that the nVideo GPU needed a different fan than the i5 fan. Now, I have the fan but it's missing the mounting bracket .. I think. Does anyone know how the fan is mounted to the motherboard over the GPU? I can't find it in Lenovo diagrams and know I'm missing something to screw the fan down to - but what? The CPU has a mount and I assume there would be one for the GPU - but it didn't come with the motherboard or the fan.
Bob

The i5 and i7 are the same socket processor. Are you saying you are replacing a defective motherboard?

Hans Gruber wrote:The i5 and i7 are the same socket processor. Are you saying you are replacing a defective motherboard?

I'm replacing the motherboard. The CPUs are soldered to the motherboard for the T420s. The fan has a heat-sync for the CPU and one for the GPU. The fan has four screws to screw the fan to the motherboard - with a mount on the back-side of the motherboard to screw the fan into (a bracket with four holes for the screws). I'm not sure what the GPU has because the part is missing .. but there are two screw holes in the fan to mount the GPU portion of the fan. Does that make sense?
Bob

I did not know they solder the CPU to the motherboard on the T420 model. Which i7 model are you upgrading to?

Hans Gruber wrote:I did not know they solder the CPU to the motherboard on the T420 model. Which i7 model are you upgrading to?

This is a T420s .. lighter than the T420.

I am expecting an i7 T420s any day now that I should be able to pop open and take a look, maybe send some pics.

mpcook wrote:I am expecting an i7 T420s any day now that I should be able to pop open and take a look, maybe send some pics.

That would be great. I look forward to solving the puzzle.
Bob

I guess this is what you are looking for, the 04W1713 fan: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221430919073

RealBlackStuff wrote:I guess this is what you are looking for, the 04W1713 fan: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221430919073

Yes, I bought one of those. The fan has four screws that attach the CPU heat-sink to the motherboard. There is a mount on the reverse side of the motherboard that the screws screw into. The fan has a GPU heat-sink that has two threaded screw holes (w/o screws) but the motherboard I have doesn't have any mount to attach that part of the fan to the motherboard. I don't know how to attach the GPU fan heat-sink to the motherboard. So that's my question ..
Bob

It looks like the GPU holes have a mounted nut, into which you need to put a screw from the bottom of the motherboard

RealBlackStuff wrote:It looks like the GPU holes have a mounted nut, into which you need to put a screw from the bottom of the motherboard

Okay. Well, the mounted nut bracket is not on the motherboard. So I am missing a piece. I have temporarily solved the problem by putting screws from the back-side through to the fan. But I'd like to do it the right way.
Thanks.
Bob

I have two T420s's open and the i5 looks like the link RealBlackStuff posted but the i7 looks a little different to me. I will email you some photos, I think I have your email address around here rattling around somewhere in my .pst file.

Photos sent. Let me know if it shows what you need. I can shoot more tomorrow (bed time now in EDT).

mpcook wrote:Photos sent. Let me know if it shows what you need. I can shoot more tomorrow (bed time now in EDT).

Thanks. The area I need to see is covered by the frame .. (( .. just to the left of the CPU bracket which is visible. Don't bother taking it all apart .. I have a temporary solution and I'll just wait for better pictures from someone that has the system apart.
Sincerely -- Bob

Just putting screws through the mobo from the bottom (as I already suggested) is all it needs. No brackets or other gadgets required.
See the middle picture on this webpage: http://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/Free ... 48477.html

RealBlackStuff wrote:Just putting screws through the mobo from the bottom (as I already suggested) is all it needs. No brackets or other gadgets required.
See the middle picture on this webpage: http://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/Free ... 48477.html

Great!! That's the answer I was looking for. Those screws must have a head that is large enough so they hold - so they are special screws. I've made something similar with a washer and it works fine. Thanks.