Cleaning Heatsink + Fan

[Tyguy]

I opened up my rig yesterday and noticed a significant amount of dust inside the heatsink fan. I have to assume this is cauing my temps to increase so obviously I want to remove it. My question is, can I remove the fan without removing the heatsink, and what is the best way of removing the dust?

 

[The Brick]

Compressed air?

 

[giant384]

compressed air is the best way to get it out. just make sure if your blowing off components; that you dont aim it directly at it especially close. you could take of a diode or some other important component.

 

[Barney Fife]

Use compressed air cans. You can buy them like Bestbuy, Circuit City or any computer stores. get like two cans and spray em, stay few inches away from motherboard and don't spray at pointblank range.
Obviously where there's air there's also water, keep the side-panel unattached to case and let system sit for few minutes before you turn it on.

Good Luck.

 

[Tyguy]

thanks, ill try...

the reason I even asked was because I sprayed liquid into my old system

 

[Stigmata]

*fapfapfap* "Cmon, I wanna play Episode 1 already, gotta make sure it won't overheat..."

>_>

But seriously. Yeah, what Fife said.

 

[Tyguy]

ughhh, i just cleaned it....and still, load up bios and wait a few minutes, seems to idle at around 49 Celsius....wtf?

 

[giant384]

ughhh, i just cleaned it....and still, load up bios and wait a few minutes, seems to idle at around 49 Celsius....wtf?

you might have a similar problem to this guy http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=121252

 

[Stigmata]

If you've had your CPU/heatsink installed for a year or more, I'd seriously consider reapplying your thermal paste.

 

[Tyguy]

its actually been exactly 1 year. Id rather not remove the heatsink until im sure thats the problem though. Also, my pc tends to start a loud hum at random times, not idea why.

 

[giant384]

its actually been exactly 1 year. Id rather not remove the heatsink until im sure thats the problem though. Also, my pc tends to start a loud hum at random times, not idea why.

you cant be sure what your problem is unless you look at every possible solution; which removing your heatsink is one of them. Also the loud hum would most likely come from your fan or some kind of vibration from a fan.