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Dust: silent killer

I

IcarusSC

Gawd
Joined
Apr 19, 2006
Messages
614
I know this shows what a dope I am, but I realized the other day that my temps have been way higher across the board than they were a year ago ... had me kind of worried. So today I took the time to take my case apart and clean it out.

Partial load temps (i.e., Folding@Home temps) are now an average of 27 degrees lower than they were an hour ago.

My HSF was so caked with stupid dust that it was more like a blanket than a heat sink. I had to scrape the stuff out of the space between the plates with a toothpick. No wonder I was having problems!!
 
Damn! You don't want that hardware send it to me. I'll take care of it for you.

I know it's easy to have time slip by tho being busy. It's just one of those things that has to be done.

Good thing I upgrade as often as I can. ;)
 
Too bad it's 120v, or I might pick it up ... I'm in China and I need a 220-240.
 
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I know! I know! It's my own fault! I'm a very bad Dave ... I'll do better next time, I promise!
 
My last PC died 5 days ago from dust. My Tuniq was caked and im sure thats what caused the short. The cpu took the mobo with it.
 
Just turn down the PSI on an air compressor and have fun. Just make sure to wait a few minutes to power it back on, just in case a little water was in the air line.
 
This thread reminds me... About time to blow out the radiator fins again...
 
I run mine with side panel and all case fans removed. Cooler than a closed case and after 1 year far cleaner.
 
I just take my case out side and use an air compressor, does a better job than a vaccum because you can get in the nooks real well, only downside is you got to move your case.
 
munkle said:
I just take my case out side and use an air compressor, does a better job than a vaccum because you can get in the nooks real well, only downside is you got to move your case.
Click to expand...

Got to clean all that dust underneath your pc as well sometime.
 
Using a vacuum is great.

Using compressed air is great too but 2 things.
1) Should use a dryer unit to keep moisture out of air. Do not want to damage components, a hard lesson learned years ago.
2) Recommend doing it outside due to all of the dust you are about to unleash.
 
I clean it once a year too, not ashamed to admit. Last time i did it i used this handheld vacuum:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Decke...90/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1294631609&sr=8-10

it has a couple of attachments that could be used to clean small spaces but i dont think it did anything, hard to tell. And using a vacuum is not recommended at least thats what some people say. Anyway other than the fans and the internals of the case, what else is there to clean? if there is dust on the mobo itself then good luck taking it out. I never tried a blower or compressed air so I cant say.
 
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dioxholster said:
I clean it once a year too, not ashamed to admit. Last time i did it i used this handheld vacuum:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Decke...90/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1294631609&sr=8-10

it has a couple of attachments that could be used to clean small spaces but i dont think it did anything, hard to tell. And using a vacuum is not recommended at least thats what some people say. Anyway other than the fans and the internals of the case, what else is there to clean? if there is dust on the mobo itself then good luck taking it out. I never tried a blower or compressed air so I cant say.
Click to expand...

Air compressor gets that right off quick. I don't have a problem with water getting in lines because I live in utah, which is the second driest state. I could see it being a problem in more humid states.
 
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I fix computers for a living, and I can't believe (well, I can now) how bad some peoples computers are. Sometimes it is so bad, its not even dust anymore, its practically dirt, and it is packed in there and stuck to everything. I just use a regular vacuum for the big stuff, and a combo of canned air/vacuuming till I get them in better shape. It can be pretty gross sometimes.
 
ditchmagnet said:
I fix computers for a living, and I can't believe (well, I can now) how bad some peoples computers are. Sometimes it is so bad, its not even dust anymore, its practically dirt, and it is packed in there and stuck to everything. I just use a regular vacuum for the big stuff, and a combo of canned air/vacuuming till I get them in better shape. It can be pretty gross sometimes.
Click to expand...

What about those people who leave their case completely open for ventilation? what kind of dust do they have?
 
I can't really remember anyone bringing me a computer and saying they usually leave the side panel off. I don't think most people do, so I don't have an answer for that. I would assume that someone doing that would notice the build up sooner and take care of it though.
 
So what are the dangers of using a vacuum to clean the dust besides not be able to get in the smaller spaces? Would it damage the components?
 
I guess I must be insane as I usually clean my system twice a week
 
dioxholster said:
What about those people who leave their case completely open for ventilation? what kind of dust do they have?
Click to expand...


the pc I am using right now is wide open lol.

Its an old P4 on its way out and I lost the side of the case. I think it went to the scrap pile.


I use an air compressor on it once a month though to keep the dog hair down in it.


but if it was sealed up i'd probably clean it once a season.
 
Dust sucks so bad. I have the dustiest room in the world (i think from the old carpet and like a thousand of my dad's old books deteriorating)... gotta clean out my filters weekly.
 
I have both sides off my case and it laying on its side. Room is fairly dusty, but I get far less dust with the sides off.

Just hosted a lan party. Kid sitting next to me would crash to black screen playing COD2 on lan.

"you realize you're overheating right?"
"O man, really?"
"Lets take it outside"
Take the side panel off, the stock intel cooler was no longer fins in a spiral.
It was a solid smooth cylinder of dust. I used a near by loose ziptie to poke it, no dust would come out. A full can of compressed air later and the computer ran fine.
Worst cooler I have seen, it was amazing. It was a nice setup, too.
 
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