How do you guys remove dust from your CPU- HSF.

[necro007]

HI.

Any way i can get that dust off and not damage my PC in any way.

I know that,... dust+PC = Heat and damage:thumbsdown:.

So if any one has any tips please let me know, there is also some dust forming in the front of my Case by the fan.

Thanks.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I used a can of compressed air...and sometimes a brush such as an old toothbrush.
I also make sure the power is turned completely off...even the power to the mobo!!

 

[crispy2010]

I use my air compressor to blow it out, but a auto detail brush works great, 99 cents at murrays auto!

 

[necro007]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I used a can of compressed air...and sometimes a brush such as an old toothbrush.
I also make sure the power is turned completely off...even the power to the mobo!!

Originally posted by: crispy2010
I use my air compressor to blow it out, but a auto detail brush works great, 99 cents at murrays auto!

I was also thinking of using a brush to help me get that dust off but won't some of the dust get stuck in the small slits in the HSF of my CPU?

Any way besides a "can of compressed air", is there anything else i could use.

Thanks for the help.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I use a vacuum cleaner and a new, *all plastic*paint brush. Used gently along with a thin nozzel nothing will be harmed. Shut down the rig and unplug the PSU. If you live in the cold boonies, order a three pack of canned air with your next purchase. Make a list of your needs so you don't forget. Get several sizes of cheap paint brushes to make it easy on yourself. A new tooth brush works good for tight spots.

If the CPU's HS is impacted with crud, remove it and wash it with hot soap and water. The fan does have to be removed first.

If it's a Zalman HS, place it in front of a small space heater to dry out for atleast an hour.
Water hides between the compressed fins and must be purged before it is re-installed.

Note: Buy some canned air as it is the ticket for rig mantainance.

...Galvanized

 

[Wentelteefje]

Hold the fan if you're blowing with compressed air... Letting it woosh will break it...

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Wentelteefje
Hold the fan if you're blowing with compressed air... Letting it woosh will break it...

No! It will not *break it* as if a blade will fly off.

Spinning up the fans will compressed or canned air will damage the fans tiny bearings
by over-speeding them.
Misdirected, compressed or canned air will drive grit into the bearings plus it could displace
some of the tiny amount of lubricant they have.


...Galvanized

 

[Howard]

A vacuum cleaner (with metal tube) but I'm careful not to let it touch anything but structural steel.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I open the case, put it on a chair next to the open front door, reconfig my vacuum from "suck" to "blow," and let it woosh. Aim the nozzle to get all behind the drives, inside the PSU, etc.

Do this every 6 weeks or however often you feel the PC is getting dirty.

 

[dawza]

There is a micro vacuum attachment kit available that I like a lot. Link here.

You can also get one of the minivacs (the DataVac), and although I find their power to be a bit anemic, you don't have to worry about sucking up your hardware. A low-powered vacuum plus the micro kit is a good combo and is what I currently use. It should be adequate provided you clean regularly and do not have caked-on grime all over.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee

Originally posted by: Wentelteefje
Hold the fan if you're blowing with compressed air... Letting it woosh will break it...

No! It will not *break it* as if a blade will fly off.

Spinning up the fans will compressed or canned air will damage the fans tiny bearings
by over-speeding them.
Misdirected, compressed or canned air will drive grit into the bearings plus it could displace
some of the tiny amount of lubricant they have.


...Galvanized

Man, give me a break... I'm a non-native speaker... You explained what I meant, thanks...

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

No! It will not *break it* as if a blade will fly off.

Spinning up the fans will compressed or canned air will damage the fans tiny bearings
by over-speeding them.
Misdirected, compressed or canned air will drive grit into the bearings plus it could displace
some of the tiny amount of lubricant they have.


...Galvanized

[/quote]
Man, give me a break... I'm a non-native speaker... You explained what I meant, thanks...

[/quote]

For a non-native speaker you seem to be doing quite well with 1200 posts in 7 weeks.

What's the matter? Are the MadShrimps.Be/ forums slow

...Galvanized

 

[anandtechrocks]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee

Originally posted by: Wentelteefje
Hold the fan if you're blowing with compressed air... Letting it woosh will break it...

No! It will not *break it* as if a blade will fly off.

Spinning up the fans will compressed or canned air will damage the fans tiny bearings
by over-speeding them.
Misdirected, compressed or canned air will drive grit into the bearings plus it could displace
some of the tiny amount of lubricant they have.


...Galvanized

I didn't know that... those bearing must be able to handle a lot of abuse though, cause my 7 year old laptop fans are still spinning away...

 

[drifter106]

Have a compressor in garage that I fill my air bubble up with...works great. Even though you unplug your puter makes sure you get all the juice out of it by trying to turn it on...learned that from experience!!

 

[Wentelteefje]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee


No! It will not *break it* as if a blade will fly off.

Spinning up the fans will compressed or canned air will damage the fans tiny bearings
by over-speeding them.
Misdirected, compressed or canned air will drive grit into the bearings plus it could displace
some of the tiny amount of lubricant they have.


...Galvanized

Man, give me a break... I'm a non-native speaker... You explained what I meant, thanks...

[/quote]

For a non-native speaker you seem to be doing quite well with 1200 posts in 7 weeks.

What's the matter? Are the MadShrimps.Be/ forums slow

...Galvanized

[/quote]
Hahaha, this guy knows about forums... I'll take the first line as a compliment...

EDIT: Madshrimps sucks, people on AT are a lot friendlier...

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The vast majority of PCs don't have sealed bearings, ball or sleeve. At best they are what is called, a shielded bearing. The advantage is no seal drag and they cost less.

Being portable, I would bet your lappy has high quality sealed ball bearings in it's fan.

Uber expensive Sanyo Denki fans can withstand 100C and direct liquid contact but these are ment for industrial application, like inside manufacturing machines or food processing and are 110V.


...Galvanized

 

[anandtechrocks]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
The vast majority of PCs don't have sealed bearings, ball or sleeve. At best they are what is called, a shielded bearing. The advantage is no seal drag and they cost less.

Being portable, I would bet your lappy has high quality sealed ball bearings in it's fan.

Uber expensive Sanyo Denki fans can withstand 100C and direct liquid contact but these are ment for industrial application, like inside manufacturing machines or food processing and are 110V.


...Galvanized

Interesting stuff... by direct liquid contact do you mean while on?

 

[JEDIYoda]

one thing you never want to do is use a blow torch to remove dust from yourCPU `s heatsink!!

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Chuck Norris comes over, and scares the dust out of my machine.

 

[supastar1568]

I usually take a hose and use water to rinse of the dust.


works pretty good and isnt too time consuming