• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

The difference in cleaning your computer

aggiestudd07

aggiestudd07

Gawd
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
528
So, I live in the barracks and it tends to be a very dusty place despite constant cleaning and sweeping. I have not blown out my computer in a couple months and I decided that today was the day to clean it out.

Previously: CPU temps idle at about 50-55C and unknown (BSOD) at load, GPU idle at 76C
Clean: CPU temps idle at 38C and GPU idle at 56C

Lesson learned: A clean computer is a happy and cool computer.

I didnt realize a coating of dust could make THAT BIG of a difference. It was getting to the point that my computer was overheating just sitting in the room idle, but I attribute that to Virginia heat and lack of AC. Thought you guys might be interested in this little story...
 
Always a good reminder to others to clean out their PCs :)

Speaking of which, got a few PCs in the house that could use a good cleaning. Thanks for the reminder!
 
Danny Bui said:
Always a good reminder to others to clean out their PCs :)

Speaking of which, got a few PCs in the house that could use a good cleaning. Thanks for the reminder!
Click to expand...

Anytime, hope yours arent as bad as mine was

BTW, i ordered the deal from woot sellout today in hopes that i wont have to keep buying compressed air every so often, what do you guys think?
 
Funny, I to live in Virginia, in the barracks, which has no AC.

What base are you on? Im on NOB.
 
What is the quickest, easiest, and safest way to clean out dust in your computer?
 
ooo. something I didn't consider with the move to water. No more having to clean out the CPU and video card fans.

Biggles,

Get some canned air and tissues. I normally blow out what I can and then just use tissues to wipe off the fan blades.
 
I usually get about +10C CPU load temp difference before I clean the dust out, this takes around 6 months to accumulate with the PC raised 2 feet above the floor.
The dust looks like a thin film over most of the heatsink face.
PC's on or near the floor will accumulate dust much faster.

To clean my fans/heatsinks I use a vacuum cleaner with a brush hose attachment, quick and easy.
I use a paint brush (bristle not plastic brushes to help prevent static build up) to loosen any dust on electronic components/cards etc, vacuuming it up after with a nozzle attachment to increase airflow.
 
biggles said:
What is the quickest, easiest, and safest way to clean out dust in your computer?
Click to expand...

No joke, a leaf blower. Open your case point that sucker in.. 300 mph will clean that sucker out. Just keep it far enough away to where you don't start tearing heatsinks off.

I've done this on many computers including my main rig and it beats paying 5 bucks for a can of air.
 
Wshmaster0 said:
No joke, a leaf blower. Open your case point that sucker in.. 300 mph will clean that sucker out. Just keep it far enough away to where you don't start tearing heatsinks off.

I've done this on many computers including my main rig and it beats paying 5 bucks for a can of air.
Click to expand...
Sounds interesting. I might try that some time. I just wish there were a static-less vaccuum. Cans of air don't help when they just blow the dust around the case some more, or in my face, or into my room, or into my lungs, or...
 
personally, i think the ideal tool to clean out a computer is a good air compressor (as in one that filters and has a large enough capacity/pressure tank).

i wouldnt do a leaf blower b/c it is way overkill. 200-300mph is beyond careless, could you even imagine holding your assembled motherboard out of the car window at interstate speeds??? it would split the pcb in half or rip off components like heatsinks, resistors & caps. just think about it... its pretty irresponsible and careless.

also, i just found out that if you use a can of compressed air and a box fan sitting next to the case, even on the low setting the box fan pulls everything, and i mean everything, out of the case. i was very impressed with how effective it was, esp since a single can of compressed air is insufficient to completely clean out a case.
 
aggiestudd07 said:
personally, i think the ideal tool to clean out a computer is a good air compressor (as in one that filters and has a large enough capacity/pressure tank).

i wouldnt do a leaf blower b/c it is way overkill. 200-300mph is beyond careless, could you even imagine holding your assembled motherboard out of the car window at interstate speeds??? it would split the pcb in half or rip off components like heatsinks, resistors & caps. just think about it... its pretty irresponsible and careless.

also, i just found out that if you use a can of compressed air and a box fan sitting next to the case, even on the low setting the box fan pulls everything, and i mean everything, out of the case. i was very impressed with how effective it was, esp since a single can of compressed air is insufficient to completely clean out a case.
Click to expand...

leaf blower would work ok IMO, (and I will be trying it with my gas backpack blower on my next monthly cleaning) pressure is high at the outlet but quickly disperses,
its not at all like driving and sticking your Mobo out the window. The difrences in volume is stagering.
If blowers were creating the kind of pressure you're talking about of they would move leafs more than 5 feet.
 
aggiestudd07 Quote:
Originally Posted by Pengilum282
Funny, I to live in Virginia, in the barracks, which has no AC.

What base are you on? Im on NOB.

I assume you are referring to Norfolk right? I am at MCB Quantico.

That would be correct.
 
aggiestudd07 said:
personally, i think the ideal tool to clean out a computer is a good air compressor (as in one that filters and has a large enough capacity/pressure tank).
Click to expand...


Totally agree. I use an air compressor with a nice small nozzle. Its great for getting into the nooks and crannies. Also, personally I don't think its good to have the fans hit excessive RPM's from the compressor, so I use a paper clip to keep them from spinning.

Normal cleaning maintenance runs about every 2 months except in the summer when my dog sheds like crazy, then its once a month. The box still gets pretty dusty even though it is about 12inches off the ground.

As already stated before, keeping personal hygiene for your comptuer is quite ofton overlooked.
 
I wonder how many computers that "crash all the time" do so because they're filthy inside?
 
I need to clean the filters on my Antec 1200 monthly to keep the airflow decent. It goes up about 5-10C over the month.

I blame the cat.
 
MattLaFleur said:
leaf blower would work ok IMO, (and I will be trying it with my gas backpack blower on my next monthly cleaning) pressure is high at the outlet but quickly disperses,
its not at all like driving and sticking your Mobo out the window. The difrences in volume is stagering.
If blowers were creating the kind of pressure you're talking about of they would move leafs more than 5 feet.
Click to expand...

have you ever actually used a leaf blower??? they blow leaves AND twigs clear across entire patios or pool decks.

i never said anything about pressure. leafblowers do not create any kind of extra pressure at all, it is purely a high velocity movement of air. it happens to be air that is moving at 300 mph, which is actually much faster than holding it out the window of a car
 
aggiestudd07 said:
have you ever actually used a leaf blower??? they blow leaves AND twigs clear across entire patios or pool decks.

i never said anything about pressure. leafblowers do not create any kind of extra pressure at all, it is purely a high velocity movement of air. it happens to be air that is moving at 300 mph, which is actually much faster than holding it out the window of a car
Click to expand...

Without pressure differences air wouldnt move, high velocity air is under a LOT of pressure and therefore the airs mass will have a much greater effect on anything it touches that causes resistance to air flow.
 
A standard vacuum cleaner does nicely, with a can of air (or compressor) to get the spots it misses. One in each hand basically, and when using the air can/compressor try to keep it near the vacuum so most of it get sucked up. Less mess than just blowing it out randomly. Damp cloth to wipe fan blades, shiny surfaces down afterwards.

And as someone mentioned already, hold the fans still when blasting power supplies, heatsinks, etc. because they can reach extreme speeds quickly.
 
I use a portable air compressor (pays for itself compared to canned air) for the heavy lifting and then do a couple passes with disposable dust cloths or old microfiber cloths once used on camera gear.
 
darkpaw said:
I need to clean the filters on my Antec 1200 monthly to keep the airflow decent. It goes up about 5-10C over the month.

I blame the cat.
Click to expand...

in my 1200, i need to clean the filters on the front every few weeks.
And my side panel even sooner.

It's so hard to remove those damn filters, it's annoying. I need to redo my cable managment on top of that.
 
the_b_man said:
A standard vacuum cleaner does nicely, with a can of air (or compressor) to get the spots it misses. One in each hand basically, and when using the air can/compressor try to keep it near the vacuum so most of it get sucked up. Less mess than just blowing it out randomly. Damp cloth to wipe fan blades, shiny surfaces down afterwards.

And as someone mentioned already, hold the fans still when blasting power supplies, heatsinks, etc. because they can reach extreme speeds quickly.
Click to expand...

The vacuum cleaner and box fan essentially do the same thing, and I was incredibly surprised at how well the box fan works.

As long as the fans are off, I wouldn't think there is a problem with them spinning up faster than normal If that is not the case I am very curious as to why not.
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
 
As long as the fans are off, I wouldn't think there is a problem with them spinning up faster than normal If that is not the case I am very curious as to why not.
Click to expand...

Because the air speed produced by a 120v vacuum cleaner's motor or pressurized cans is much greater than a 120mm computer fan could repoduce on 12 volts.


How old are you?
 
Last edited:
I take it outside and go to town on it with a few cans of compressed air, removing anything that's a hinderance or catching stuff. I don't do it as much as I think I should.
 
aggiestudd07 said:
As long as the fans are off, I wouldn't think there is a problem with them spinning up faster than normal If that is not the case I am very curious as to why not.
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
Click to expand...

Depending on the fan design and the motherboard circuit, electrical damage could occur.
If the fan provides a more or less straight path for electricity to flow to it, then when you spin the fan, it will generate electricity (induce current flow) and send that to whatever is connected to it.
If you spin the fan at twice its normal speed, it will generate twice the voltage (4 times the power).
If you spin the fan backwards, it will reverse bias the circuit it is connected to which might be harmful.

Also spinning the fan faster than its intended design will accelerate wear or cause damage to mechanical parts.
 
Old Hippie said:
Because the air speed produced by a 120v vacuum cleaner's motor or pressurized cans is much greater than a 120mm computer fan could repoduce on 12 volts.


How old are you?
Click to expand...

Did you seriously just ask how old I am?? Is there any particular reason you want to know that information?
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
 
aggiestudd07 said:
Did you seriously just ask how old I am?? Is there any particular reason you want to know that information?
Posted via [H] Mobile Device
Click to expand...

Sorry, That's what happens when I have 3 different conversations going on at the same time. :eek:
 
Be careful using air compressors, the act of compressing air causes water to condense out of the air and gather in the tank. You will find most air compressors of medium or larger size will have a drain plug in the tank to let this water out. The point is the air stream from the compressor can have some of this water in the air and you will spray your board with tiny droplets you likely would not even notice. Painters etc. have a water trap / dryer on the air line to prevent this water from messing up paint etc. Several posts over the years of, my machine was fine, I blew it out and now it will not boot. That said I use mine all the time, after I have drained the tank well and at lower pressures (30 psi) and hold the fans to prevent them spinning as mentioned above.
 
BillParrish said:
Be careful using air compressors, the act of compressing air causes water to condense out of the air and gather in the tank. You will find most air compressors of medium or larger size will have a drain plug in the tank to let this water out. The point is the air stream from the compressor can have some of this water in the air and you will spray your board with tiny droplets you likely would not even notice. Painters etc. have a water trap / dryer on the air line to prevent this water from messing up paint etc. Several posts over the years of, my machine was fine, I blew it out and now it will not boot. That said I use mine all the time, after I have drained the tank well and at lower pressures (30 psi) and hold the fans to prevent them spinning as mentioned above.
Click to expand...

that is some very good advice, i never really thought about that
 
After reading this I went out to my parents garage and sprayed out my system with their air compressor.

Doing so knocked ~ 6c off idle and 10c off load o_O I need to do this more often!

Although I wish I would have read this first;
BillParrish said:
Be careful using air compressors, the act of compressing air causes water to condense out of the air and gather in the tank. You will find most air compressors of medium or larger size will have a drain plug in the tank to let this water out. The point is the air stream from the compressor can have some of this water in the air and you will spray your board with tiny droplets you likely would not even notice. Painters etc. have a water trap / dryer on the air line to prevent this water from messing up paint etc. Several posts over the years of, my machine was fine, I blew it out and now it will not boot. That said I use mine all the time, after I have drained the tank well and at lower pressures (30 psi) and hold the fans to prevent them spinning as mentioned above.
Click to expand...
 
Technophobe said:
Not quite as professional, but does the job. Oh, and the problem with blowing high speed air through fans, just unplug them first from the MB, easy.
Click to expand...

do you think its necessary to unplug them if they are plugged into a fan controller?
 
Nenu said:
Yes, see post #30
Click to expand...

most fan controllers use a 4-pin molex controller from the psu. i seriously doubt a couple volts from one fan is going to harm the psu since the molex is 12v. i do agree that it would definitely cause concern plugged into the mobo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top