The cooling fan on the CPU of my Packard Bell PC is getting noisy, especially when it's working hard to cool the CPU at times of peak activity. I've opened up the computer case and cleaned the fluff off the fins on the heat sink and fan blades, and replaced the heat sink compound, but it's still a bit noisy. The computer is several years old now (running Win XP), and over the last 18 months it's been on
24/7, so I expect the fan is showing its age.I've looked on the Internet for a replacement, but can't find the exact model, although similar models are available from China. I'm reluctant to commit to buying one from there. The fan is an AVC DS08025R12UP, and I believe the specs are 4600 rpm max, 64 cfm/min, 4 pin connector, 80x80x25 mm, 12 v 0.7 a, and clips onto the plastic holder for the cooling fins.
Are there generic replacements for such a fan. If so, could someone point me in the direction of a supplier and model no.? What key properties should I be looking for? It obviously has to fit the clips on the heat sink, as well as having enough capacity to deal with CPU power surges, but what about the power supply and connections to the motherboard? Or is replacement just straightforward and I'm worrying too much?
Failing that, I read the fan has 'fluid bearings'. Is it possible to oil such a fan, using light machine oil for example (my wife has a little bottle of same for her sewing machine). If so, where do I apply it. There are adhesive labels on both top and bottom of the fan, which may cover an oil-hole. Is this likely?
One more question: when I took the fan out, I forgot to note which way up it sat on the heat-sink, i.e. whether the air was blown down through the fins or drawn up through them. Which should it be, or doesn't it matter?