Just a reminder to clean your video cards...

[/dev/null]

Just figured out what the heck was wrong with my box. I've been getting all sorts of weird artifacts, crashes, etc lately. Figured it was just Windows 7 the last few weeks, updating drivers and doing clean installs. Then figured some extra cooling would not hurt. Put a fan on the video card which did not seem to do much of anything.

I was looking for RivaTuner to crank the internal fan up to 100%... but could not remember the name of the program. Ran realtemp thinking that was it, only to get a reading on the GPU temp.

Idle @ 85C, in game @127C! Yikes.

Yup, that would explain the instability the past couple weeks. Pulled out some compressed air and filled my room with dust. Lots of it. Guess you miss noticing the kruft in the newer two-slot coolers vs the older exposed heatsink/fans.

Back to mid 50's in game.

Anyhow - for those who have not cleaned their cards in the last year or so, now might be a good time.

 

[Simon]

I think its cleaning time

 

[JunK]

i want to clean my 5850 except i can't take the casing off without taking off the heatsink...so in order to put it back on i'd need to apply new/more therma grease. i have some i just don't want to use it all up right now for 1 clean

 

[SingularPoint]

i want to clean my 5850 except i can't take the casing off without taking off the heatsink...so in order to put it back on i'd need to apply new/more therma grease. i have some i just don't want to use it all up right now for 1 clean

Can of air with the little tube. Stick it into the vents and w+m1

 

[/dev/null]

Can of air with the little tube. Stick it into the vents and w+m1

Yup. Just removing the dust bunnies with a can of air was enough to drop temps over 60C. I had no idea how much junk was in them.

 

[hozer]

Good reminder! I've killed a video card or two in the last few years due to overheating. In a city that never stocks high-end cards, it really can ruin a weekend trying to find a new card to get back up and running.

 

[DanJK]

I cant afford to buy a new card anytime soon so I guess I should probably clean mine so I dont end up not playing CSS for like 3 months.

 

[NUFAN]

Been a long time, since I've done some cleaning, have to take it outside before I do that..

 

[FreakingHell]

127C? Wow...

 

[Passerby]

ya iv been meaning to get my server clean out for a while it dosnt have any grahpics cards but im pretty sure the CPU's heatsync and fan are pretty clogged up cause it as been running for the last 6 months straight.

 

[JunK]

ya i'll do the can thing when i can get one

 

[/dev/null]

ya i'll do the can thing when i can get one

Be sure not to invert the can - test spray, looking for moisture first. Your typical garage air compressor will have some moisture in there.... so might be worth giving things some additional time to let any possible moisture try up.

Another thing that helps is to put a vacuum cleaner to help suck out the dust as you spray in the air.

 

[JunK]

Another thing that helps is to put a vacuum cleaner to help suck out the dust as you spray in the air.

thats a good idea

 

[lplkassm]

I suggest performing a clean sweep of any PC once a month. That way everything runs as smooth as possible. I usually do it either at the beginning of each month, or towards the last week of the month. Have yet to see any performance problems

Since its spring I suggest those who haven't cleaned their PC do so now! Spring Cleaning FTW!

 

[I-Die-Often]

~peaks down into his desk~

Yup... mine is clean. Part of the problem with an actual tower... it acts like an air purifier... traps dust pretty effectively. My computer has stayed VERY clean since I got rid of the tower and put it in my desk... even with two cats!