Predator Orion 3000 po3 620 CPU Cooler Upgrade?

Hello,

I've had my PC for a few months now and I've had a great experience with it. The complaint I have is that the fans can get pretty loud. I'm getting decent temps for any game I play but I wouldn't mind quieter fans. I'm looking to buy a Noctua NF-A9 PWM (92mm) for the very rear end of the PC and a Noctua NH-U9S, Premium CPU Cooler with NF-A9 92mm Fan for the CPU. My question is, would I be able to install the CPU cooler without removing the motherboard? Also to swap the CPU cooler would I have to actually remove the CPU and reapply thermal paste? Or is there a way I wouldn't have to do that? Sorry for all the questions but I'm still very new to the whole PC stuff so I have pretty limited knowledge. Thank you

Accepted answers

GotBanned

Hi there!

Yes, you can replace the cooler without removing the motherboard. If you go with Noctua all you need is to four M3x12 screws.

Take out the current cooler with its puny fan. Clean the thermal paste that is left on the CPU. You don't need to take it out of its socket. When the CPU is clean, apply new thermal paste and you can start attaching your new cooler.

If you visit THIS Finnish tech site, you'll find a discussion about this tiny box. Don't mind the language, but look at the pictures as they pretty much explain the procedure.

As mentioned before few times on this forum, the original CPU bracket will take machine screws M3x12. By using them there's no need to remove the motherboard and swap that original bracket to the one that comes with Noctua (SecuFirm2).

I used those same 92mm fans for the intake and exhaust. The difference in noise was huge!

All comments

GotBanned

Hi there!

Yes, you can replace the cooler without removing the motherboard. If you go with Noctua all you need is to four M3x12 screws.

Take out the current cooler with its puny fan. Clean the thermal paste that is left on the CPU. You don't need to take it out of its socket. When the CPU is clean, apply new thermal paste and you can start attaching your new cooler.

If you visit THIS Finnish tech site, you'll find a discussion about this tiny box. Don't mind the language, but look at the pictures as they pretty much explain the procedure.

As mentioned before few times on this forum, the original CPU bracket will take machine screws M3x12. By using them there's no need to remove the motherboard and swap that original bracket to the one that comes with Noctua (SecuFirm2).

I used those same 92mm fans for the intake and exhaust. The difference in noise was huge!

MassiveMonkey66

GotBanned said:

Hi there!

Yes, you can replace the cooler without removing the motherboard. If you go with Noctua all you need is to four M3x12 screws.

Take out the current cooler with its puny fan. Clean the thermal paste that is left on the CPU. You don't need to take it out of its socket. When the CPU is clean, apply new thermal paste and you can start attaching your new cooler.

If you visit THIS Finnish tech site, you'll find a discussion about this tiny box. Don't mind the language, but look at the pictures as they pretty much explain the procedure.

As mentioned before few times on this forum, the original CPU bracket will take machine screws M3x12. By using them there's no need to remove the motherboard and swap that original bracket to the one that comes with Noctua (SecuFirm2).

I used those same 92mm fans for the intake and exhaust. The difference in noise was huge!

That was a very clear explanation, much appreciated. Going to give this a try! Thank you so much

thchronic

MassiveMonkey66 said:

GotBanned said:

Hi there!

Yes, you can replace the cooler without removing the motherboard. If you go with Noctua all you need is to four M3x12 screws.

Take out the current cooler with its puny fan. Clean the thermal paste that is left on the CPU. You don't need to take it out of its socket. When the CPU is clean, apply new thermal paste and you can start attaching your new cooler.

If you visit THIS Finnish tech site, you'll find a discussion about this tiny box. Don't mind the language, but look at the pictures as they pretty much explain the procedure.

As mentioned before few times on this forum, the original CPU bracket will take machine screws M3x12. By using them there's no need to remove the motherboard and swap that original bracket to the one that comes with Noctua (SecuFirm2).

I used those same 92mm fans for the intake and exhaust. The difference in noise was huge!

That was a very clear explanation, much appreciated. Going to give this a try! Thank you so much

So, what happened, did u upgrade it? How it goes? I have the same po3-630 and playing games heats up to 90 C?! Dont think this is good, so upgrade the cooler system and maybe later the motherboard are the first thing i have planned to do, but... Some people saying the case is too small, get bigger and so... I like this case. So, what results u got changing the fans? Thanks!

Nekonii

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1024101#Comment_1024101

Hi friend, I just upgraded like you. Do you think mounting the heatsink fan upwards like I did would be a mistake? I don't know how to install it differently.

IMG_5481.jpeg

Cookiemonster2001

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1347563#Comment_1347563

Good idea to upgrade case as well, the stock cases are pretty poorly ventilated. That will give you options for better coolers (at lower prices)

The Noctua are overpriced you can get better value. That difference could go towards a new case, some cases are £60 and will do a better job than the stock case

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