F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Notebooks Is it hard to take a laptop graphics card off so you can fix or clean it?

Is it hard to take a laptop graphics card off so you can fix or clean it?

Is it hard to take a laptop graphics card off so you can fix or clean it?

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ganelido
Member
64
06-12-2026, 10:25 AM
#1
I own a 1070 GPU in my ASUS ROG GL702VS, but it is covered in dust. I know very little about computers and am scared to take the risk of opening it up to fix it. However, this thing really needs fixing. Is it something only beginners should try?
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ganelido
06-12-2026, 10:25 AM #1

I own a 1070 GPU in my ASUS ROG GL702VS, but it is covered in dust. I know very little about computers and am scared to take the risk of opening it up to fix it. However, this thing really needs fixing. Is it something only beginners should try?

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xStumpy
Member
50
06-12-2026, 10:35 AM
#2
It all depends on who you are asking. If someone asks about a picture, show them one. Otherwise, tell me what kind of dirt you mean.
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xStumpy
06-12-2026, 10:35 AM #2

It all depends on who you are asking. If someone asks about a picture, show them one. Otherwise, tell me what kind of dirt you mean.

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JOCKER1709
Member
66
06-12-2026, 05:48 PM
#3
You ought to be able to open the back cover and blow some air through your fan while holding it so you can wipe away all that dust.
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JOCKER1709
06-12-2026, 05:48 PM #3

You ought to be able to open the back cover and blow some air through your fan while holding it so you can wipe away all that dust.

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Jumx41
Member
167
06-12-2026, 10:42 PM
#4
Look for a YouTube video that shows how to add more RAM or an SSD to your laptop. Use canned air to blow out most of the dust inside. Make sure you stop the fans from spinning too fast, because that could break them. Also remember that the graphics chip is stuck in the board and not just a card you can swap out.
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Jumx41
06-12-2026, 10:42 PM #4

Look for a YouTube video that shows how to add more RAM or an SSD to your laptop. Use canned air to blow out most of the dust inside. Make sure you stop the fans from spinning too fast, because that could break them. Also remember that the graphics chip is stuck in the board and not just a card you can swap out.

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coolman9222
Posting Freak
754
06-13-2026, 05:39 AM
#5
Don't cut off the heat pipes, because swapping out thermal paste for stuff not meant for laptops could make you sick in the summer. Instead, just keep your fans running cool and clean them using a vacuum cleaner with air blowing out, an air compressor (watch out!), or a can of compressed air. It's actually okay to do this yourself if you know how to use a screwdriver. Look up some videos online on how to take apart your specific laptop model. You don't have to take the whole thing apart; just reach in and get access to the fans. Make sure to keep track of which screws belong to where, because some come in different sizes. It seems like these fans are pretty easy to grab and remove from this model of laptop.
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coolman9222
06-13-2026, 05:39 AM #5

Don't cut off the heat pipes, because swapping out thermal paste for stuff not meant for laptops could make you sick in the summer. Instead, just keep your fans running cool and clean them using a vacuum cleaner with air blowing out, an air compressor (watch out!), or a can of compressed air. It's actually okay to do this yourself if you know how to use a screwdriver. Look up some videos online on how to take apart your specific laptop model. You don't have to take the whole thing apart; just reach in and get access to the fans. Make sure to keep track of which screws belong to where, because some come in different sizes. It seems like these fans are pretty easy to grab and remove from this model of laptop.

D
DareDevu
Member
56
06-13-2026, 12:28 PM
#6
Hey there, some cool points to read. To move on from here, yes, this is pretty easy to do. But it could still be tricky depending on the situation. When you say clean the GPU, do you mean just the fans and heat pipes, or the actual chip inside? Going for the whole chip is harder because you'll need to replace thermal paste after removing those heat pipes. This method also helps stop your laptop's graphics and processor from getting too hot. The little pastes that come with most laptops are bad stuff, so a good one like Noctua NT-H2 works great in a laptop. Other pastes, such as Arctic MX4 or Noctua NT-H1, can fail after just a few months of gaming. By using the H2 formula, you avoid having to replace paste every three to six months. Just apply it and forget about it for two years. If you really want to clean the fans deeply, start with a compressed air can. You might also buy some Isopropyl Alcohol that is 99% pure and cotton buds (or Q-tips if you prefer those). These tools let you wipe away any grime or tough dust. The alcohol is also used to scrub off old paste from the chip. This makes the whole cleaning process easier: Laptop Liquid Metal Re Paste - Asus ROG GL702VS - and a 20-30 degree difference! - HEAT FIX on YouTube (use Bing search). Or, buy a magnetic screwdriver tool with many tips for better control. Make sure you are ready before starting.
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DareDevu
06-13-2026, 12:28 PM #6

Hey there, some cool points to read. To move on from here, yes, this is pretty easy to do. But it could still be tricky depending on the situation. When you say clean the GPU, do you mean just the fans and heat pipes, or the actual chip inside? Going for the whole chip is harder because you'll need to replace thermal paste after removing those heat pipes. This method also helps stop your laptop's graphics and processor from getting too hot. The little pastes that come with most laptops are bad stuff, so a good one like Noctua NT-H2 works great in a laptop. Other pastes, such as Arctic MX4 or Noctua NT-H1, can fail after just a few months of gaming. By using the H2 formula, you avoid having to replace paste every three to six months. Just apply it and forget about it for two years. If you really want to clean the fans deeply, start with a compressed air can. You might also buy some Isopropyl Alcohol that is 99% pure and cotton buds (or Q-tips if you prefer those). These tools let you wipe away any grime or tough dust. The alcohol is also used to scrub off old paste from the chip. This makes the whole cleaning process easier: Laptop Liquid Metal Re Paste - Asus ROG GL702VS - and a 20-30 degree difference! - HEAT FIX on YouTube (use Bing search). Or, buy a magnetic screwdriver tool with many tips for better control. Make sure you are ready before starting.

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Cuerty123
Member
65
06-13-2026, 02:25 PM
#7
Okay, so this laptop is NOT allowing me to copy and paste pictures, I went to great lengths to take this thing apart to take some lovely photos for you all for naught. Or perhaps it's this site, I'm not sure. I know that it is caked in dust because it always is, using pressurized air in a can does little to nothing besides delay the inevitable. I'll try and use imgur to upload the photos for you? https://imgur.com/a/vRbvt8C View: https://imgur.com/a/vRbvt8C here is a photo of the laptop with the back taken off, with the fans visible, and here https://imgur.com/a/dYUphbE View: https://imgur.com/a/dYUphbE is the left fan https://imgur.com/a/Q9XRyLf View: https://imgur.com/a/Q9XRyLf and the right fan, respectively As I mentioned, blowing canned air on them does little to nothing besides make my computer run cooler for a week. There is always caked on dirt and dust that the canned air is ineffective at removing that acts as a magnet for more dirt and debris, I need to physically take the fans out and give them a good rinse underwater to get rid of all the dirt and debris. Else, as I mentioned, it's just a matter of time before my PC begins overclocking? Is that the right word? Pardon my ignorance. My laptop gets REALLY hot and the fans begin spinning so much that I can barely hear whatever application I'm running.
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Cuerty123
06-13-2026, 02:25 PM #7

Okay, so this laptop is NOT allowing me to copy and paste pictures, I went to great lengths to take this thing apart to take some lovely photos for you all for naught. Or perhaps it's this site, I'm not sure. I know that it is caked in dust because it always is, using pressurized air in a can does little to nothing besides delay the inevitable. I'll try and use imgur to upload the photos for you? https://imgur.com/a/vRbvt8C View: https://imgur.com/a/vRbvt8C here is a photo of the laptop with the back taken off, with the fans visible, and here https://imgur.com/a/dYUphbE View: https://imgur.com/a/dYUphbE is the left fan https://imgur.com/a/Q9XRyLf View: https://imgur.com/a/Q9XRyLf and the right fan, respectively As I mentioned, blowing canned air on them does little to nothing besides make my computer run cooler for a week. There is always caked on dirt and dust that the canned air is ineffective at removing that acts as a magnet for more dirt and debris, I need to physically take the fans out and give them a good rinse underwater to get rid of all the dirt and debris. Else, as I mentioned, it's just a matter of time before my PC begins overclocking? Is that the right word? Pardon my ignorance. My laptop gets REALLY hot and the fans begin spinning so much that I can barely hear whatever application I'm running.

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StarSabre
Member
62
06-22-2026, 10:58 PM
#8
(yes, imgur.com is the preferred method for posting pics) Yes, thats a lot of dust. Blow it all out. If it gets dusty again really quickly, that is your environment.
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StarSabre
06-22-2026, 10:58 PM #8

(yes, imgur.com is the preferred method for posting pics) Yes, thats a lot of dust. Blow it all out. If it gets dusty again really quickly, that is your environment.

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Matke04
Posting Freak
825
06-23-2026, 06:27 AM
#9
using casual, common words while keeping your original first-person perspective:

The problem is, when I blow air into the computer, I can physically see more dirt and dust on the fan blades. It basically acts like a magnet to pull more dirt and debris onto those spinning parts. The canned air doesn't clean everything off. I've tried this several times, but as you said, eventually it starts getting too hot and runs slower instead of faster. Now I'm thinking about taking my laptop apart completely and removing the fan blades so I can scrub them really hard by hand. But I don't know exactly how many pieces need to come out for that. Also, I need a new laptop battery, which is pretty easy to take off, so I was planning on doing the fans too. Is it just a simple process, or is there some complicated stuff involved?
M
Matke04
06-23-2026, 06:27 AM #9

using casual, common words while keeping your original first-person perspective:

The problem is, when I blow air into the computer, I can physically see more dirt and dust on the fan blades. It basically acts like a magnet to pull more dirt and debris onto those spinning parts. The canned air doesn't clean everything off. I've tried this several times, but as you said, eventually it starts getting too hot and runs slower instead of faster. Now I'm thinking about taking my laptop apart completely and removing the fan blades so I can scrub them really hard by hand. But I don't know exactly how many pieces need to come out for that. Also, I need a new laptop battery, which is pretty easy to take off, so I was planning on doing the fans too. Is it just a simple process, or is there some complicated stuff involved?

X
xanderzone317
Posting Freak
957
06-23-2026, 07:51 AM
#10
I think you need to put a small piece of cotton between the blades. You could wrap some thin plastic around that cotton. Soak that in alcohol to get the dirt off and pull the grime out. It will take a little time. Usually, fans are held down by screws so you can remove them easily. Does your laptop sit on a clean surface or is it on a rug with lots of dust?
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xanderzone317
06-23-2026, 07:51 AM #10

I think you need to put a small piece of cotton between the blades. You could wrap some thin plastic around that cotton. Soak that in alcohol to get the dirt off and pull the grime out. It will take a little time. Usually, fans are held down by screws so you can remove them easily. Does your laptop sit on a clean surface or is it on a rug with lots of dust?

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