Removing dust from computer case

T

ThePentiumGuy

Senior Contributor
Joined
May 21, 2003
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Location
Boston, Massachusetts
Oh man, am I in a big soup tonight. My CPU temps have been gradually increasing from the summer I got it. It started to idle in the low 90's (32 Celcius) <-- in the summer, and towards christmas time it started to idle at around 130 (154C), so I declocked it to 2.5 ghz.... mid january: 140 (60C), declocked to 2.0. It was going way too slow (2.0 ghz...get real).

BUT NOW:

165F (73C)

My fans are all at 5000+ RPM (which makes it very loud), my case temp is in the low 90's ... so I figured it had to be a problem with the CPU
When I got there it gave me a 'Critical temperature' issue, it went to 170F (76C), mouse movements stopd responding and it shut off!

I don't want to shut it on (yet).

I'm certain the problem is with the Heatsink, the Fan, or dust buildup. I'm getting a new heatsink/fan (Zalman CNPS7700-AlCu) as well as some Arctic Silver 5, it took me 2 months to convince my dad that my temps were rising (he woudln't beleive me until after it did this).

My question is, how do I remove the dust? Im using an antistatic wristband, but what do you recommend me to use to get rid of the dust? Obviously a featherduster will damage the CPU (static). Vacuums cleaners will cauise an unbeleivably HUGE buildup of static (trust me, when my mom vacuumed my monitor becuase it was "dusty"... that's when I knew)....

So how would I remove the dust, from the CPU Core, since I'm getting rid of the heatsink anyways. See the problem is, I have a thermal pad and it basically "Waxed" the dust together and the thermal resistance begun to wear off I guess.

I'm going to a LAN party next saturday and I need your advice.

-The Pentium Guy
 
Most use dry compressed air either from an aerosol can or a filtered air compressor (nothing like 175 lbs/sq in. of power - Recommend method by Tim Allen)
 
You guys have absolutely no creativity.

HUSKY Easy Air To Go 1.75 Gal, 135 PSI Mobile Compressor With Deflation Kit

PentiumGuy: Remove the processor/heatsink, clean the areas where the processor and heatsink meet, drop a small bead of Artic Silver Heatsink Compound on the top of the processor, spread it around evenly but not to the edge and then replace the processor/heatsink.

Also, fans are useless if not configured correctly. Make sure there's a flow from one side of the case to the other (usually front to back). Keep the fans relatively in line, and ensure that the processor/heatsink has one or more fans dedicated to it.

This usually creates a computer that sounds like a 747, but mine has been running at 40-degrees Celcius for close to a year now with these simple steps. If the sound is a problem, jam the damn thing in the closet and get a KVM extender. That's my feeling on the matter.
 
TPG, it's also known that p4's dissapate more wattage per sq. cm. than nuclear reactors :eek: But seriously, they do get very hot and with so as you are saying dust can cause a problem. The reason your temperatures differ so much from summer -> winter is because in the summer you are runnning AC. In the winter you are running your furnace or electric heating. As for dust and your heatsink, that may be the problem, however if you would like to rectify the situation (and possibly get more OC'ing out of your CPU) I would suggest a water-cooled solution. My gaming pc is water cooled, and it works well (not to mention quiet).

Here is a link to a lot of good components : DangerDen
 
I'm with Derek as far as the air compressor goes...but maybe something using Diesel fuel to conserve energy costs. Gotta watch every penny ya' know.

And I have a few dumb questions:
Is your computer located under a desk or in a corner, or it's back up against a wall or near a heater vent???

I run 4 3.25" fans along with the CPU fan and have never had a problem except with older SCSI drives.

And any thermal grease between the CPU and it's heat sink will ensure that there are no air pockets (air is a very bad thermal conductor) and help the heat sink to dissipate the heat.

But water-cooling rocks...how about refrigeration like a Cray?
 
Guys lol.
HUSKY Easy Air To Go 1.75 Gal, 135 PSI Mobile Compressor With Deflation Kit :P. Wow.


PentiumGuy: Remove the processor/heatsink, clean the areas where the processor and heatsink meet, drop a small bead of Artic Silver Heatsink Compound on the top of the processor, spread it around evenly but not to the edge and then replace the processor/heatsink.
Click to expand...
I'm getting AS5 (Hmm the 5 looks like an S) anyways. I hate noise. Absolutely. Ok fine a little is ok, but I'd rather not have Vantec/Delta fans (my friend has 6 of these, they're 60 db's each... his comp can be heard from the other room).

That's why I'm ordering a Zalman heatsink (CNPS7700-AlCu) - very quiet, 120mm fans, and keeps it cool.

Hey about fan placement: I have no place to put the front intake fan, I only have the side fan which I use as the intake and my CPU fan blows down. In the back I have the PSU as well as 2 additional fans (exhaust) - I read up that putting an exhaust and an intake in the back is redundant (the air that you suck in gets blown out) - this is from AMD System builder's guide (even though I don't have AMD).

Coldfusion: Actually, earlier I just used my computer as a room heater. As a matter of fact, if my room got too hot I'd open up the door and the floor would get warm, and everyother room on the same floor would get warm. But in my house we don't go crazy with the AC heat, so it's hot in the summer and cold in the winter (well, warn in the summer and warm in the winter, but not like FREEZING cold in the summer and BURNING hot in the winter), so the ambient temperature isn't the problem.

Watercooling - I would have done that of course, but one look at the price tag made me go *ouch*.

Dan, my computer isn't located anywhere near a heater vent, but it's kind of close to the desk, but I keep about 1/2 foot of room from the left side of my case to my desk so that my intake fan can suck up air.

Thermal grease - again I'm ordering some AS5, time to scratch off that stupid thermal pad.

I'm buying the air duster tomorow (some cheapass staples thing), and using a temporary 'Coolermaster high performance Thermal Interface compound' while my AS5/7700 AlCu ships.

-TPG

-The Pentium Guy
 
Taking out the stock heatsink was a *****! I thought I would damage the CPU by applying pressure on the bracket things, but it turns out a ****LOAD of pressure is needed and I seriously thought my CPU would break or my mobo would snap.

I took off the stupid stock **** and put some Coolermaster stuff. Btw the only dusty part of my case was the CPU, and a couple wires... that's pretty much it.

It turns out that I won't be needing the Zalman 7700 AlCu.... :Whistles: or maybe I will ;), and the coolermaster **** is hard to apply

-TPG

Edit: These forum filters are very strict (almost too strict) Makes me sound mad or something.
Oh yeah btw, my temp reduced to 102 F....and it was just because of dust.
 
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