Heatsink Cleaning

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BulletHole24

Weaksauce
Joined
Apr 22, 2005
Messages
109
I use a Zalman CNPS7000B-Cu CPU heatsink/fan for my computer and I was wondering how I can clean my heatsink. I was replacing some old case fans and I realized that it was becoming clogged with dust and blocking a lot of air from reaching the bottom. The problem is with the fan in the way, it's hard to clean, how should I go about doing this?
 
I'd go get some air and turn your computer off and then spray down the inside of your case. Just give it a little before you turn it on because sometimes it shoots out a little "frozen" air (not sure what the scientific name for it is) and I'm not sure if that will cause any damage if you turn it on while it's "defrosting".

I've done this before many times so don't think you're gonna break your system doing this, just be cautious.
 
Well I did have an air duster and I tried. The only problem is that dust has been sitting there for a looooong time so the dust is kind of "stuck" in it. I was wondering if there was a way to take the fan off the heatsink temporarily without breaking anything and without removing the heatsink (I have some arctic silver on there and i don't want to have to reapply).
 
Actually, since my air duster didn't seem to have enough pressure to blast it out, is a Q-Tip a viable option? Or would that cause too much static? Or could I just ground myself and carry on.
 
That's not the only risk, I know you are going to be careful anyway but those fins get bent very easily.
 
A Q-tip shouldn't cause any damage, but if you're worried, just touch the heatsink with one hand and a grounded object with the other after you've done the cleaning and any static charge will be dissipated.
 
Heh. You guys are too careful.

All my heatsinks go through the dishwasher, and are heat dried.

I then polish the base with a tiny bit of vinegar on a cloth to get rid of any water induced oxidization.

I do about 25 a month this way.
 
I do not think I would ever put a heatsink in a dishwasher unless it was special purpose and never used for dishes.
 
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