Wrench 9,858 Posted February 21, 2012 been having some issues with the dell studio xps, with the GTX240 vid card ... damn thing seemed to be overheating, and shutting down. Not loosing the computer, like a bad PS - everything's still running (speaking working, HD spinning, all power on -in fact the mission I was flying was still running in the background) so, only way out was a hard shut down with the power switch (we all know how much WinDoze loves that!) Pulled the side panel, blew out all the fans, ducts, etc. Even pulled the vid card and blew out ITs fan. but it still did it. Spent half the night reading the boards at nvidia.com; seems to be a chronic problem with dells with this card as there were 5 or 6 posts on the same problem This morning, I pull the vid card again, and THIS time , I take off the heatsink/fan housing cover. And find the edges clogged with crud. Blew it out, and picked at the rest with a toothpick. The pic below is the crap that came out -- packed hard. I used a cig for scale (ya, as a smoker cleaning the insided is more important!) Sorr for the huge size ...I wanted to make sure folks could see these mini-turds The moral of the story .... not only BACKUP YOU HD!!! but clean out the insides once in a while! The fan is so quite now, I can't even hear it, but can feel the airflow from the side vent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Stary 2,427 Posted February 21, 2012 as a (sadly) chain smoker I clean mine often -once a year in service which does all the radiators/heatsinks handling stuff... guy who works there once told me they found f***ing spiders in one's system some days earlier! I think I'd have a hearth attack seeing those monstrosities running inside my system Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
exhausted 55 Posted February 21, 2012 You need to de-FOD your PCs! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. James Cater 62 Posted February 21, 2012 The last time i cleaned out my PCs, the amount of dust and dirt that came out was quite amazing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Piecemeal 450 Posted February 21, 2012 You're spot-on with regard to cleaning. When my brother was rebuilding my desktop he said he was shocked after opening up the access panel. Not only was there plenty of dust but also tons of cigarette ash (!) and nicotine stains everywhere. According to him, a great utensil for cleaning fans is a soft bristle toothbrush. Cleans them like new. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Streakfalcon 57 Posted February 22, 2012 I too have a dell and the GTX240.I somehow feel like Im not so alone in the universe today..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+CrazyhorseB34 937 Posted February 22, 2012 Dang guys, if smoking is doing that to your computers then imagine what smoking does to my lungs! I do not smoke in my house so I do not have to worry about my computer getting smoking related COPD, but it does bring up a good point. Why dont we start a Combat Ace Smoking Secession Support Group? I would consider joining. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 27 5 Posted February 22, 2012 I've seen some pretty nasty computers at my shop - I have a pair of Mechanix gloves that I use when they're too nasty to touch with bare hands. I take an air compressor to my desktop about once a month - also gives me a chance to make sure all cables are secure and such! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liamp51 6 Posted February 22, 2012 Just did a massive cleaning out yesterday. Even put some new thermal grease on the CPU. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 10,253 Posted February 22, 2012 esp important to clean weekly for those of us that deploy to other lovely countries. last tour here had some sort of bug(the six legged kind) die in the fan and jam it til i cleeaned it on sunday. i had wondered why it was heating up so much that fri and sat! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted February 22, 2012 The combination of smoke and dust causes truly disgusting formations inside PCs. Years ago I worked for PC shops and regularly had people bring in their machines just loaded up with this muck. There were also some that had living inhabitants, from spiders all the way up to mice! Anyway, the PC needs more regular cleaning the dirtier the environment it exists in, and as far as what your lungs look like... I wouldn't want MINE to look like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Jug 99 Posted February 22, 2012 been having some issues with the dell studio xps, with the GTX240 vid card ... damn thing seemed to be overheating, and shutting down. Not loosing the computer, like a bad PS - everything's still running (speaking working, HD spinning, all power on -in fact the mission I was flying was still running in the background) so, only way out was a hard shut down with the power switch (we all know how much WinDoze loves that!) Pulled the side panel, blew out all the fans, ducts, etc. Even pulled the vid card and blew out ITs fan. but it still did it. Spent half the night reading the boards at nvidia.com; seems to be a chronic problem with dells with this card as there were 5 or 6 posts on the same problem This morning, I pull the vid card again, and THIS time , I take off the heatsink/fan housing cover. And find the edges clogged with crud. Blew it out, and picked at the rest with a toothpick. The pic below is the crap that came out -- packed hard. I used a cig for scale (ya, as a smoker cleaning the insided is more important!) Sorr for the huge size ...I wanted to make sure folks could see these mini-turds The moral of the story .... not only BACKUP YOU HD!!! but clean out the insides once in a while! The fan is so quite now, I can't even hear it, but can feel the airflow from the side vent I live in an apartment near my work site and have the same problem so often that I make it a twice a year cleanout event on my Outlook task list. Vacume cleaner with a hose, old toothbrush, screwdriver, and can of compressed air are the tools for the job. I take it apart and take all fans out to get to the cooling equipment. I do this one component at a time so I don't have any of those pesky left over parts from a more massive strip and search effort. My computer is my baby and I think I spend more time on keeping it clean and shiny than I do on my '85 Corvette. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted February 22, 2012 I clean mine out once a week. Every Sunday, because my bedroom is a damn computer/entertaiment room so all the electronics get super dusty. Its a never ending task. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wrench 9,858 Posted February 22, 2012 for me it's a monthly event; I'd just never thought to pull the card field strip it (so to speak). Not just a smoker, but a pet owner, so that adds another dimension as well ... cat fuzz! So Remember People: keep it clean and cool! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fubar512 1,350 Posted February 22, 2012 Nothing beats an electric leaf-blower for blasting dust out of those hard to reach places Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UK_Widowmaker 571 Posted February 22, 2012 Well, been fixing PC's for six years..and although I've cleaned some mucky ones..I (thankfully)have never come across anything alive in there!...nor would I want to Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lexx_Luthor 57 Posted February 23, 2012 Fub that. Gas powered leaf blower. I like Husqvarna. Somebody at the [}{] forum poasted that they used a leaf blower. A few poasts later, somebody else poasted a one-liner....at least the guy has no leaves in his computer. One of the things I like about the [}{] is the funny way threads grow, and grow. Spiders mean no bugs (but ants maybe). I lived in a house full of spiders, and no bugs, except there were ants, from time to time. Dave:: I clean mine out once a week. Every Sunday, because my bedroom is a damn computer/entertaiment room... Yeap. The spilled saturday night beer flows everywhere like avgas on a wing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
macelena 1,070 Posted February 23, 2012 Dang guys, if smoking is doing that to your computers then imagine what smoking does to my lungs! I do not smoke in my house so I do not have to worry about my computer getting smoking related COPD, but it does bring up a good point. Why dont we start a Combat Ace Smoking Secession Support Group? I would consider joining. I second that http://combatace.com/topic/70834-the-give-up-smoking-revolution-thread/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyviper 1,101 Posted February 23, 2012 Wrench your brilliant I've got a nice video card laying on the side that's been giving me problems. I've never thought about taking the cover off!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wrench 9,858 Posted February 23, 2012 thanks! It's the auto mechanic I was; he has to take everything apart to see how it works, and IF something comes apart, maybe fix the bits inside! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TX3RN0BILL 3 Posted February 24, 2012 Some useful tips for keeping the PC cleaner: - DO NOT have your PC stand on ground level. Don't put it under the desk, put it ON TOP. - Get a case which has removable filters for the fans - I've chosen mine, amongst other things, because of that - Thermaltake's Level 10 GT Snow Edition- has many removable filters which you just have to remove and clean and insert back in - excellent at keeping the dust out! If you can't buy one with filters, see if you can retrofit them, even if removing them gives you more of a hassle (probably via screws or something). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
