IFIXIT Sappire Vapor-X AMD R9 280x Teardown Instructions

IFIXIT Sappire Vapor-X AMD R9 280x Teardown

INTRODUCTION

This guide exist because I want to clean the fans and heatsinks, I will show to you photos of the best order to strip down the GPU. If you want to clean the heatsink or fans you will need thermal paste because it needs a complete teardown to release the fans.
TOOLS:

• Thermal Paste (1)
• Phillips #0 Screwdriver (1)

Step 1 — Sappire Vapor-X AMD R9 280x Teardown

• To strip down the GPU you will need a Phillips #0 screwdriver

Step 2

• Disconnect the fans and the light connector

Step 3

• Remove the pair of screw that join the heatsink to the output base.

Note
This pair of screws is unique to this join. Keep them seperate from other screws.
Step 4

•  Remove 11 screws, those (+ the next 4 screws) work joining the heapsink+fans group to the gpu

Note:
Ignore 2 empty holes

Step 5 — Heatsink removal

• Now release 4 of the screws that hold the GPU Core to the heatsink
• Note this is the clean, thermal paste ready photo
• This is the 3 years dirty one

Step 6 — Fan support removal

• Remove 4 screws to separate the fans of the heatsink
• Note these screws are pointed tip for plastic
• At this point you’ll release the heatsink is not very clean

Step 7 — Your dirty heatsink

• This is good time to clean the heatsink if it’s dirty

Step 8 — Release the metal plate

•  Remove 3 screws per side (6 screws in total) to release the 2 metal plates

Step 9 — Fan and light release

• Remove 3 screws (per fan 9 in total) to release each fan
•  Remove 2 screws that holds the light and fan wires
• unplug and remove the light

Step 10 — Fans remove

• At this point you can easy remove the fans
• Note: the one with the shorter cable and 4 wires is the center one (for the GPU core)
• the one with double 4 wire connector is the nearest to the gpu outputs

Step 11 — final teardown

• At this point you can easy clean your fans, the fan support (it’s plastic) and the plates

Step 12 — Re assembly notes

• when you’re joining the heatsink (plus the fan support), I recommend you put the block on the edge of the table for optimal position
•  Remember to clean the old thermal paste and replace with a new coat

References

• iFixit: The Free Repair Manual

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