hey all

i was installing some new ram and noticed i have a shit load of dust clogging up my cpu fan. im running a p4630 using the stock fan supplied. Now while I can plug some new ram in and simple stuff like that, ive never actually installed a cpu or anything of that nature.

Ive cleaned dust from the fan as best i can but i can see some more 'stuff' in there and would like to be able to clean it a lot more. The fins/blades get in the way to allow a comprehensive clean out. Can i remove the top fan/blades part somehow without taking off the whole heat-sink thing that fan is attached to?

Yes unscrew the screws that are holding the fan in place on the heat sink or use a q-tip.

Yes you can remove the fan on stock P4 HSF without taking off the HSF. There should be 3 or 4 tiny screws below the fan blades. Remove those and the fan should come off easily.

Use a vacuum cleaner and a paint brush for best fin cleaning effect.

Thanks guys, i will have a crack at it when i get the chance....sounds easy enough (famous last words!?).
Just figure i may as well clean it as best i can, then leave it for another say 6 months and re-do.

Famous last words? I think my freinds uncle said that before he castrated himself with a leafblower.

Well, hopefully i don't castrate my cpu or anything else important 8O .

I will try and have a good look at it tonight when i get home from work...just didn't want to go unclipping or pulling things out that I shouldn't! a friend told me i couldnt do it so i wanted to ask on here to see.

You might also pick up a can of compressed air. They sell it at most computer stores and office depot. It can clean out the heat sink pretty well.

Air In a Can + A Dyson= Clean PC

A vacum cleaner will generate static electricity that may damage your machine. That's why I use compressed air and just blow the hell out of the machine...compressed air may also generate static electricity that could damage your machine. Man, life is so unfair.

If you use the canned air method, probably best to unhook the machine and take it outside. That's what I do.

BS
Alway service a PC with power plugged in with the switch turned off for grounding. That's like the most basic rule.

If you are refering to the comment to take it outside, not all power supplies have a power switch on the back to allow the machine to be grounded with the cord plugged in but the power switched off, but generally speaking you are right. It still won't matter much because static will damage the machine with it grounded or not. I'd much prefer to take it outside and blow it out than to swish a vacume cleaner wand/brush around in the machine with it plugged in. It's the less of 2 evils.

yah mu stock PSU doesnt have a power switch i just pull th eplug when i mes with it

Exactly. In that case it is best to ground yourself to the case before you unplug it, and then don't move around too much while you work inside, and also keep a hand on the case. The best thing of course is to have a grounded workstation with a ground strap, but no everyone has one of those. The other thing that can be done is to actually move the machine to the kitchen sink, wiped dry of course, and also assuming it is stainless steel. But, even if it's not metal it is still probably better than other areas.

A lot of the misconception about keeping the machine plugged in but switched off comes from AT power supplies, which did in fact turn off all power to the machine when it was switched off. Of course now, ATX power supplies still supply power to the motherboard when the computer power is off, so unless the PS has a switch in back, then you must unplug it to work inside, install cards, etc. Lots of misinformation still abounds around the internet, unfortunately.

Fact: Vacuum cleaner are safe to use with PC plugged in
Fact: Compressed air can are not free

Fact: You=BS

Fact: Wusy=funny

Fact. You have no way to confirm that a vacume is safe. If you do, please reference it.

The plastic vacume utinsels and plastics fibers of the vacume brush will generate static, just as moving air will from canned air. There is no perfectly safe way for the average consumer to clean a machine.

I've been using it to clean my rigs for years without a problem.
There's no prove that vacuum cleaner is unsafe with a PC plugged in.

OK. You've been using it for years. So that proves it.

I have no proof to site either. I do know from years in the semi-conductor manufactoring industry, working in characterization and reliability labs that it can cause problems. Will it kill a machine every time? No. Neither will standing in a thunderstorm with a log chain up your butt and a golf club in your hand.

well, a lot of conflicting advice here! 8O
think i will do this inside and try to be as carefull as possible...i tend to unplug while doing anything inside of the pc and try hard as hell not to generate any static electricity. i dont have the hand wire gagdet to ground myself unfortunately but will try to keep a hand on the case i guess. Havent had a chance to clean the fan as yet, work is busy. Will do so on the weekend as I want the extra ram in there! i might try the vacuum but not right on any components, maybe just above not touching to pick up what it can....i mean, its never going to be 100% dust free but i will do the best i can.

MMMMMM grounding....

i wish i had grounding... grounding is practically non existent in saudi arabia, it is hell touching quite a lot of metal objects and getting shocked... (BTW, my monitor's VGA connector gives me a shock when i touch the metal part of the "screw" thing (partially plastic, shaft is metal) is that supposed to happen?)
now if grounding were used....

i completely disconnect my computer when working on it...

Ara