Replacing the Delta fan IS VERY worth it
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wrote last edited by [email protected]
Hey folks! I have one of the original batches of LCD Steam Decks, with an upgraded SSD.
My battery is still at around 99% of it's original capacity, I love the device, finally found a protective case I enjoy after trying 4 different models, and I don't like the OLED panels used in the OLED model so I'm fine.
But I always thought the fan sounded horrendously bad, specially at bed, with a whiny sound that starts even before it ramps up and only gets worse. You might think wearing headphones fixes it, but I'm not always playing with headphones and my partner trying to sleep most definitely wouldn't agree with the thought that this is a solution. I heard about replacing the Delta with the Huaying fan, but I didn't think the difference would be that big... it will move the same amount of air, right?
Well... I just replaced mine and it's a gigantic difference, I like this upgrade even more so than the SSD one. At maximum speed it does sound like air moving, which is expected, but that's it: air. Not some terrible whining. And when it's running at around 3500 RPM? Pretty much silent, I have to bring the device close to my ears to hear it.
So if anybody out there is still carrying their original models with Delta fans... Do your ears a favor, it's worth getting the better fan. Though I bought mine on Aliexpress for cheaper than iFixit sells it, original part.
If you have a revised unit with the new shielding and the Delta fan, there's a membrane that supposedly helps muffle the whine, I'm not sure how effective that is though, I suspect it still sounds worse than the Huaying.
Also, quick tip: the iFixit guide tells you to lift the metal shielding, but you can replace the fan just fine without doing so. I replaced the thermal paste a while back (early units were also known for having some dry spots) and would rather not disrupt the thermal pads any further, so if you're not comfortable removing the entire shielding... just don't, there's a cut out specifically so you can access the fan connector.
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Hey folks! I have one of the original batches of LCD Steam Decks, with an upgraded SSD.
My battery is still at around 99% of it's original capacity, I love the device, finally found a protective case I enjoy after trying 4 different models, and I don't like the OLED panels used in the OLED model so I'm fine.
But I always thought the fan sounded horrendously bad, specially at bed, with a whiny sound that starts even before it ramps up and only gets worse. You might think wearing headphones fixes it, but I'm not always playing with headphones and my partner trying to sleep most definitely wouldn't agree with the thought that this is a solution. I heard about replacing the Delta with the Huaying fan, but I didn't think the difference would be that big... it will move the same amount of air, right?
Well... I just replaced mine and it's a gigantic difference, I like this upgrade even more so than the SSD one. At maximum speed it does sound like air moving, which is expected, but that's it: air. Not some terrible whining. And when it's running at around 3500 RPM? Pretty much silent, I have to bring the device close to my ears to hear it.
So if anybody out there is still carrying their original models with Delta fans... Do your ears a favor, it's worth getting the better fan. Though I bought mine on Aliexpress for cheaper than iFixit sells it, original part.
If you have a revised unit with the new shielding and the Delta fan, there's a membrane that supposedly helps muffle the whine, I'm not sure how effective that is though, I suspect it still sounds worse than the Huaying.
Also, quick tip: the iFixit guide tells you to lift the metal shielding, but you can replace the fan just fine without doing so. I replaced the thermal paste a while back (early units were also known for having some dry spots) and would rather not disrupt the thermal pads any further, so if you're not comfortable removing the entire shielding... just don't, there's a cut out specifically so you can access the fan connector.
Where did you purchase the replacement fan?
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Where did you purchase the replacement fan?
The official supplier for parts is iFixit, however, they do not ship to Brazil and they charge a premium. I purchased mine on Aliexpress, just make sure to select a listing that shows that it's a Huaying fan (or they sometimes call it the "revised silent model") because there are some Delta ones being sold too.
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Hey folks! I have one of the original batches of LCD Steam Decks, with an upgraded SSD.
My battery is still at around 99% of it's original capacity, I love the device, finally found a protective case I enjoy after trying 4 different models, and I don't like the OLED panels used in the OLED model so I'm fine.
But I always thought the fan sounded horrendously bad, specially at bed, with a whiny sound that starts even before it ramps up and only gets worse. You might think wearing headphones fixes it, but I'm not always playing with headphones and my partner trying to sleep most definitely wouldn't agree with the thought that this is a solution. I heard about replacing the Delta with the Huaying fan, but I didn't think the difference would be that big... it will move the same amount of air, right?
Well... I just replaced mine and it's a gigantic difference, I like this upgrade even more so than the SSD one. At maximum speed it does sound like air moving, which is expected, but that's it: air. Not some terrible whining. And when it's running at around 3500 RPM? Pretty much silent, I have to bring the device close to my ears to hear it.
So if anybody out there is still carrying their original models with Delta fans... Do your ears a favor, it's worth getting the better fan. Though I bought mine on Aliexpress for cheaper than iFixit sells it, original part.
If you have a revised unit with the new shielding and the Delta fan, there's a membrane that supposedly helps muffle the whine, I'm not sure how effective that is though, I suspect it still sounds worse than the Huaying.
Also, quick tip: the iFixit guide tells you to lift the metal shielding, but you can replace the fan just fine without doing so. I replaced the thermal paste a while back (early units were also known for having some dry spots) and would rather not disrupt the thermal pads any further, so if you're not comfortable removing the entire shielding... just don't, there's a cut out specifically so you can access the fan connector.
Definitely worth it ! Getting rid of the Delta fan high pitch whine certainly made me use my SD more.
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Hey folks! I have one of the original batches of LCD Steam Decks, with an upgraded SSD.
My battery is still at around 99% of it's original capacity, I love the device, finally found a protective case I enjoy after trying 4 different models, and I don't like the OLED panels used in the OLED model so I'm fine.
But I always thought the fan sounded horrendously bad, specially at bed, with a whiny sound that starts even before it ramps up and only gets worse. You might think wearing headphones fixes it, but I'm not always playing with headphones and my partner trying to sleep most definitely wouldn't agree with the thought that this is a solution. I heard about replacing the Delta with the Huaying fan, but I didn't think the difference would be that big... it will move the same amount of air, right?
Well... I just replaced mine and it's a gigantic difference, I like this upgrade even more so than the SSD one. At maximum speed it does sound like air moving, which is expected, but that's it: air. Not some terrible whining. And when it's running at around 3500 RPM? Pretty much silent, I have to bring the device close to my ears to hear it.
So if anybody out there is still carrying their original models with Delta fans... Do your ears a favor, it's worth getting the better fan. Though I bought mine on Aliexpress for cheaper than iFixit sells it, original part.
If you have a revised unit with the new shielding and the Delta fan, there's a membrane that supposedly helps muffle the whine, I'm not sure how effective that is though, I suspect it still sounds worse than the Huaying.
Also, quick tip: the iFixit guide tells you to lift the metal shielding, but you can replace the fan just fine without doing so. I replaced the thermal paste a while back (early units were also known for having some dry spots) and would rather not disrupt the thermal pads any further, so if you're not comfortable removing the entire shielding... just don't, there's a cut out specifically so you can access the fan connector.
wrote last edited by [email protected]Interesting! My lcd deck hasn't had any issues with fan sounds. I don't think I've ever even noticed the fan while playing. My sd slot is a little here and there though.
Speaking of which... everyone remember to REMOVE THE MICRO SD BEFORE REMOVING THE BACK PLASTIC PLATE!! For some reason it's designed to snap the poor sd card right in half if you don't. Lost a good 512 GB from that mishap 🥲
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Hey folks! I have one of the original batches of LCD Steam Decks, with an upgraded SSD.
My battery is still at around 99% of it's original capacity, I love the device, finally found a protective case I enjoy after trying 4 different models, and I don't like the OLED panels used in the OLED model so I'm fine.
But I always thought the fan sounded horrendously bad, specially at bed, with a whiny sound that starts even before it ramps up and only gets worse. You might think wearing headphones fixes it, but I'm not always playing with headphones and my partner trying to sleep most definitely wouldn't agree with the thought that this is a solution. I heard about replacing the Delta with the Huaying fan, but I didn't think the difference would be that big... it will move the same amount of air, right?
Well... I just replaced mine and it's a gigantic difference, I like this upgrade even more so than the SSD one. At maximum speed it does sound like air moving, which is expected, but that's it: air. Not some terrible whining. And when it's running at around 3500 RPM? Pretty much silent, I have to bring the device close to my ears to hear it.
So if anybody out there is still carrying their original models with Delta fans... Do your ears a favor, it's worth getting the better fan. Though I bought mine on Aliexpress for cheaper than iFixit sells it, original part.
If you have a revised unit with the new shielding and the Delta fan, there's a membrane that supposedly helps muffle the whine, I'm not sure how effective that is though, I suspect it still sounds worse than the Huaying.
Also, quick tip: the iFixit guide tells you to lift the metal shielding, but you can replace the fan just fine without doing so. I replaced the thermal paste a while back (early units were also known for having some dry spots) and would rather not disrupt the thermal pads any further, so if you're not comfortable removing the entire shielding... just don't, there's a cut out specifically so you can access the fan connector.
Same situation, I was in the second batch, whiny Delta fan, impossible to play without headphones, annoying for people around me...
I snatched the Huaying from Ifixit as soon as it was back in stock. It was scary to open the deck so early but I feel like having that experience taught me more about maintaining it !
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Hey folks! I have one of the original batches of LCD Steam Decks, with an upgraded SSD.
My battery is still at around 99% of it's original capacity, I love the device, finally found a protective case I enjoy after trying 4 different models, and I don't like the OLED panels used in the OLED model so I'm fine.
But I always thought the fan sounded horrendously bad, specially at bed, with a whiny sound that starts even before it ramps up and only gets worse. You might think wearing headphones fixes it, but I'm not always playing with headphones and my partner trying to sleep most definitely wouldn't agree with the thought that this is a solution. I heard about replacing the Delta with the Huaying fan, but I didn't think the difference would be that big... it will move the same amount of air, right?
Well... I just replaced mine and it's a gigantic difference, I like this upgrade even more so than the SSD one. At maximum speed it does sound like air moving, which is expected, but that's it: air. Not some terrible whining. And when it's running at around 3500 RPM? Pretty much silent, I have to bring the device close to my ears to hear it.
So if anybody out there is still carrying their original models with Delta fans... Do your ears a favor, it's worth getting the better fan. Though I bought mine on Aliexpress for cheaper than iFixit sells it, original part.
If you have a revised unit with the new shielding and the Delta fan, there's a membrane that supposedly helps muffle the whine, I'm not sure how effective that is though, I suspect it still sounds worse than the Huaying.
Also, quick tip: the iFixit guide tells you to lift the metal shielding, but you can replace the fan just fine without doing so. I replaced the thermal paste a while back (early units were also known for having some dry spots) and would rather not disrupt the thermal pads any further, so if you're not comfortable removing the entire shielding... just don't, there's a cut out specifically so you can access the fan connector.
I was fortunate enough to get a Huaying fan thankfully. Buying those early LCD decks felt like gambling with the fans tbh.
