Which CPU fan do I have?
It is not easy to find out which CPU fan you have or need. In this case, more important than the fan itself is the base on which the heat sink and then the fan are attached. So you first need to know which CPU socket your mainboard uses. In this practical tip, we explain how you can find out the easiest way.
Which socket does my CPU use?
If you are not a PC expert and you prefer not to open your computer, the best way to find the correct socket type is with a diagnostic program - for example with CPU-Z.
- Download CPU-Z and open the program. You will then automatically be shown all relevant CPU information.
- Under "Package" you can read the socket type directly (in the example picture "AM2").
Socket equal to CPU fan?
Now that you know your socket, you can buy a new heat sink and the associated fan, for example.
- However, you cannot derive the currently installed fan directly from the socket type: In standard PCs, the standard heat sinks from the processor manufacturers with a 60mm fan are usually used.
- You can also recognize them by the noise: If you hear a high-frequency whirring from your PC with a high computing effort, it is probably a small standard CPU fan.
- Of course, this method is not exact. If you want to know which fan is currently installed, you have to open your PC.
- If you have the necessary expertise, open the computer and look at the fan on the heat sink of the CPU. If you are lucky, the brand or model name can be read directly from it. If not, you can measure the diameter of the fan with a tape measure.
- However, it is better not to open your case if you are not technically adept or you do not want to lose your guarantee, for example.