computer overheating

[Mr. Dweezel]

I'l keep on buying a can of air that I know won't have to high a pressure or have any moisture in it.

I've often thought about the refillable aerosol cans, but haven't tried them.

http://www.sureshotsprayer.com/product.htm

[Mr. Dweezel]

This is my last post in this thread....I promise!

The best way to eliminate dust is to prevent it from getting
in there in the first place. Easier said than done!

Some computer cases have filters, but the dust alway finds
another way to get in.

I have some material which I think might be called
theatrical gauze or theatrical scrim. It is a mesh with
tiny holes. The best thing would be to completely cover
the PC with the gauze. Unfortunately we wouldn't be able
to use the DVD drive or the floppy, but a flap could be cut
into the gauze.

In a home with carpet the dust problem is reduced but I don't
have carpet so I have a big dust problem. Yes, I wash the floors! :P

[TBoneit]

I suspect that the gauze might reduce the airflow through the computer? Dells are good for collecting dust. Take a older one like their white case models or even a 2300 / 2400 series and pull the side and then remove the front (3 clips on the white case and two on the 2300/2400 series) on the left side and you'll be amazed how much dust the average Dell has built up. It builds up around teh front on the floppy and optical drives, even around teh slots in the back and the USB ports in the front.

[ROF]

Pull the front panel off your Dell if you want to see the dust bunnies and clumps of hair fall out at you.

[smearbrick1]

Yes, the early Dimensions, all the up to and including the Dimensions circa 2002 where dust magnets. My current Dell has a clamshell design to the case and is a hell of alot less dusty than my previous model.

I also have a Gateway Performance 400 from about 1999... that computer stays very clean inside. It has rubber seals around the access panel.

[Mr. Dweezel]

I suspect that the gauze might reduce the airflow through the computer?

"Gauze" and "Scrim"were the only words I could think of to describe the material.

It has tiny holes that are large enough to allow air to pass but small
enough to trap the dust.

[ROF]

Reduction of airflow will increase the ambient temperature inside your case. I'd suspect that as with acoustical padding that any gauze or wrapped material will also cause a relative increase in temperature.

[Mr. Dweezel]

Reduction of airflow will increase the ambient temperature inside your case. I'd suspect that as with acoustical padding that any gauze or wrapped material will also cause a relative increase in temperature.

My description is probably hard to understand!

My PCs have filters in the front which probably also restrict
the airflow. The "mesh" type of material is able to allow more airflow
than the filters.

As other people have said there is a buildup of dust in various
areas of the PC. The "mesh" wrap would trap the dust without
hindering airflow.

Now I've confused everybody even more!

edit--- Some day I'll have to take a picture of the material.

[ROF]

I understood what you are saying. The filters are nice if they are cleaned regularly however any material(including foreign debris and dust) causes a reduction in airflow. Those fan filters sold in stores reduce airflow. Anything which blocks any portion of the intake or output from a fan based cooling system reduces the airflow inside the mechanism being cooled. Unless under extreme conditions where dust is visibly flying through the air (remodeling your house) I'd recommend against filters and instead recommend investment in a small soft bristle brush such as those used to paint models. You can brush away most dust and with a twist of the bristles you can easily pickup any large debris or dust bunny.

[offline]

a small soft bristle brush

If you are going that route, make it a horse hair brush, not nylon.

[ROF]

a small soft bristle brush

If you are going that route, make it a horse hair brush, not nylon.

Do modelers ever use anything less?

[morr1s2]

When I took off my old heatsink their was basically no thermal compound there, plus I think the retaining clip on the motherboard may have been broke. I put in the thermaltake typhoon heatsink with some artic silver 5 and things are back to normal. I am under 30C idle now.

Thanks for all the help.

[SingSing]

If you buy a MOBO, most of the time you get a utility to read out the CPU temperature.

Is there a windows based temperature readout application that can read Del, Compaq, HP, Gateway... ?