How to clean the PC cooling radiator. Preparation for cleaning

How to clean the fan in a computer from dust correctly

From English, the word “cooler” is literally translated as “cooler”. In fact, this is a regular fan that provides air circulation inside the system unit or laptop. Thanks to this component, heat is effectively discharged from warmed surfaces.

Once I involuntarily became a participant in the next experiment. During the cleaning of the laptop, I had to make it out to the smallest details. In the end, I collected everything, but forgot to connect the cooler. A few seconds after turning on the PC, the thermal protection system worked, and the computer was disconnected. I later learned that there is such a useful function that protects the “iron” from overheating. By the way, not all models are equipped with similar capabilities. And if the fan fails (or you forget to connect it), then the consequences may turn out to be deplorable.

Preparation for the installation of the cooling system

It is not necessary to dismantle the processor itself, just clean the location of the radiator installation with a brush.

If the user decides to replace the cooling system with a new one and acquires it in the “Box” kit, on the back of the radiator, a thermal drive will already be applied. Accordingly, apply the paste to the surface of the processor.

Why clean a computer from dust?

It is necessary to clean the computer from dust so that the components of the system unit do not overheat and do not fail before the end of their operation. The cooling system will operate at lower rulings of the fans and less often include them, so the PC work will be quieter, energy consumption will become more economical. Read also how to clean the air conditioner at home yourself without the help of a master.

Attention! Productivity is reduced, more errors arise in the system, more often failures occur. The processor will not be able to reach maximum frequencies at high loads.

Dust can also accumulate static electricity, which can lead to a breakdown of sensitive chips. With increased humidity, dust gains moisture, which leads to the oxidation of contacts. People who are allergic to dust will experience unpleasant symptoms.

Find out how to clean the keyboard and computer monitor (laptop) at home.

How often you can clean?

Experts recommend doing this every six months. But in many ways it depends on the conditions in which PC is exploited.

Important! If the room is dusty, then cleaning will have to be done more often, if you regularly carry out wet cleaning of the workplace, then you can do it once a year or less often. Carry out regularly cleaning your PC.

How to clean a computer from dust and replace thermal grease

Good afternoon.

Many users mistakenly believe that cleaning a computer from dust is a task for experienced craftsmen and it is better not to go there while the computer at least somehow works. In fact, there is nothing complicated in this!

And besides, regular cleaning of the system unit from dust: firstly, it will make your work for PC faster; Secondly, the computer will be less noise and annoy you; thirdly, its service life will increase, which means you do not have to spend money once again on repairs.

In this article, I wanted to consider a simple way to clean a computer from dust at home. By the way, often with this procedure it is necessary to change thermal grease (it often makes no sense to do this, but once every 3-4 years-quite). Replacing thermal paste is not a difficult and useful thing, then in the article I will tell you more about everything.

From the beginning a couple of frequent questions that they constantly ask me.

Why you need to clean? The fact is that dust interferes with ventilation: hot air from the processor heated radiator cannot exit the system unit, which means the temperature will increase. In addition, pieces of dust prevent the coolers (fans) that cool the processor. With an increase in temperature, the computer can start slowing down (or even turn off or freeze).

How often you need to clean PC from dust? Some do not clean the computer for years and do not complain, others look into the system unit every half a year. Much also depends on the room in which the computer works. On average, for an ordinary apartment, it is recommended to clean the PC once a year.

Also, if your PC begins to behave not stable: it turns off, freezes, begins to slow down, the processor temperature rises significantly (about temperature: https: // pcpro100.info/Kakaya-Dolzhna-Byit-Temperatura-Prothbuka-I-Kak-EE-SNIZIT/), it is also recommended to be cleaned first from dust.

What you need to clean the computer?

Any home vacuum cleaner will come down. Ideally, if he has a reverse. t.e. He can blow air. If there is no reverse regime, then the vacuum cleaner will just have to be expanded to the system unit so that the dusty air from the vacuum cleaner blew dust out of PC.

Usually you need the simplest cross.shaped screwdriver. In general, only those screwdrivers that will help open the system unit are needed (open the power supply, if necessary).

It will come in handy if you change thermal grease (in order to degrease the surface). I used the most ordinary ethyl alcohol (it seems 95%).

Thermal paste is a “intermediary” between the processor (which is very hot) and the radiator (which cools it). If thermal paste has not changed for a long time, it dries, cracks and already does not transmit heat well. And this means that the temperature of the processor will grow, which is not good. Replacement of thermal paste in this case helps to reduce the temperature by an order of magnitude!

Now there are dozens of brands on the market. Which of them is the best. I don’t know. Relatively good, in my opinion, Alil-3:

-Available price (syringe 4-5 times of use will cost you about 100r.);

Several cotton sticks Old plastic card of a tassel.

If there are no cotton sticks, ordinary cotton wool is suitable. Any plastic card is suitable: old banking, from SIM cards, some calendar, etc.

A brush will be needed in order to brush off dust from radiators.

Hstan of the system unit from dust. step by step

1) Cleaning begins with the disconnection of the PC system unit from electricity, then all the wires are disconnected: power, keyboard, mouse, columns, etc.D.

Disconnect all wires from the system unit.

2) the second step is to get a system unit for free space and remove the side cover. The removed side cover in the usual system unit is on the left. It is usually attached with two bolts (unscrewed by hand), sometimes with latches, and sometimes at all. you can simply move it away immediately.

After the bolts are twisted. it remains only slightly pressed on the lid (towards the posterior wall of the system unit) and remove it.

3) presented in the photo below the system unit has not been cleaned from dust for a long time: the coolers have a fairly thick layer of dust that prevents them from rotating. In addition, the cooler, with such an amount of dust, begins to make noise than it can be very annoying.

A large amount of dust in the system unit.

4) in principle, if there is not so much dust. you can already turn on the vacuum cleaner and carefully blow the system unit: all radiators and coolers (on the processor, on the video card, on the block case). In my case, the cleaning was not carried out for 3 years, and the radiator was clogged with dust, so it had to be removed. To do this, usually there is a special lever (a red arrow in the photo below), pulling the cooler with a radiator for which you can remove the cooler (which, in fact, I did it. By the way, if you remove the radiator, it will be necessary to replace the thermal tax).

5) After the radiator and cooler were removed, you can see the old thermal grease. It will subsequently need to be removed using a cotton wool and alcohol. In the meantime, first of all, we blow out with the help of a vacuum cleaner all the dust from the motherboard of the computer.

6) the processor radiator is also convenient to blow out with a vacuum cleaner from different sides. If the dust is so entered that the vacuum cleaner does not take. brush it with a regular brush.

7) I also recommend looking into the power supply. The fact is that the power supply, most often, is closed on all sides with a metal lid. Because of this, if dust gets there, blowing it with a vacuum cleaner is very problematic.

To remove the power supply, you need to twist 4-5 mounts of the mount from the back of the system unit.

8) Next, you can carefully remove the power supply to the free space (if the length of the wires does not allow, then disconnect the wires from the mat. fees, etc. components).

The power supply closes, most often, a small metal cover. Keep it several screws (in my case 4). It will be enough to twist them and the lid can be removed.

9) now you can blow off dust from the power supply. Particular attention should be paid to the cooler. often a large amount of dust accumulates on it. By the way, the dust from the blades can easily be brushed with a brush or cotton swab.

When the power supply is cleaned of dust. collect it in the reverse order (GOGL. this article) and fix in the system unit.

10) now it’s time to clean the processor of the old thermal paste. To do this, you can use the usual cotton stick slightly moistened with alcohol. As a rule, I have enough 3-4 such cotton sticks to completely wipe the processor. By the way, you need to act carefully, without pressing, gradually, slowly, clean the surface.

By the way, you need to clean the back of the radiator, which is pressed to the processor.

11) after the surfaces of the radiator and the processor are cleaned, the processor can be applied to the processor. You do not need to apply it much: on the contrary, the smaller it will be, the better. The main thing is that it should level all the irregularities of the surface of the processor and radiator in order to ensure the best heat transfer.

The thermal paste applied to the processor (it still needs to be “smoothed out” with a thin layer).

To smooth the thermal pavement with a thin layer, a plastic card is usually used. She is smoothly driven on the surface of the processor, gently smoothing the paste with a thin layer. By the way, at the same time all excess pastes will be collected on the edge of the map. It is necessary to smooth the thermal grease until the moment when it will cover the entire surface of the processor with a thin layer (without dimples, tubercles and spaces).

Properly applied thermal paste does not even “betray” himself: it seems that this is just a gray plane.

Thermal paste is applied, you can install the radiator.

12) When installing the radiator, do not forget to connect the cooler to the nutrition on the motherboard. It is not possible to connect it incorrectly, in principle, (without the use of gross force). t.to. There is a small latch. By the way, on the motherboard, this connector is marked as “CPU fan”.

How to clean a computer from dust yourself?

The best assistant in the struggle for cleanliness is an air cylinder. For example, under the cooler on the radiator of the processor, you can’t even get a brush. But a stream of air under pressure blows dust perfectly, it remains only to collect it with a vacuum cleaner. This can be done at the same time.

So, we put the phone on a spray can, make our way to the blinds of the radiator and click on the cylinder button. Be prepared for the fact that muck will fly from there. for this it will not hurt to place the “trunk” of the on the covered vacuum cleaner nearby. Carefully and methodically blow the dust from the radiator. How long to blow out? Until the muck ceases to fly (well, or at least to visual purity). Took this process on the video.

Usually clean coolers and radiators of the following details:

• Processor (installed on the largest, motherboard)
• Video cards (it may not be, if the computer is weak, but usually this is another large fee, installed by the end in the mother)
• Hard drives (there is no radiator here, and there may also not be a fan, but they meet)
• Power supply

We’ll talk separately about the power supply. As a rule, this is a large iron box in the upper part of the system unit. But how to clean the computer power supply from dust, if you can’t crawl to its insides? Just put the tube from the cylinder into one of the holes on the back wall and blow. Dust, which will also be removed from other holes, will fly.

What to do if the purge did not help?

Computer cleaning is in any case a mandatory operation. But not the fact that the cause of the bugs is precisely in overheating. What to do if you deleted all the dust, but the problems that we described at the beginning of the article remained?

• Try not to close the removable panel of the system unit case. If everything works perfectly, then, nevertheless, there is overheating.
• Try to touch the radiators with your finger (carefully without touching electrical contacts). If one of them is so hot that it is impossible to keep a finger, again the matter is overheating (perhaps you just need to install a more powerful cooler).

There is another possible reason. There is a layer of thermal paste between the radiator and the processor. it is used to improve contact. If it dries, normal heat discharge is disturbed, the processor begins to heat up stronger, its performance falls, the computer begins to slow down. There is only one way out: replace thermal grease. This is not so simple, so it is better to entrust the operation to those who have already performed it. But if you want to try it yourself, please.

• Remove the radiator: unfasten the latches, gently tilt it and pull it up.
• Remove the old thermal grease. you can use a piece of thick paper towel or stationery eraser.
• Degrease the surfaces with a cotton swab moistened in ethyl or isopropyl alcohol.
• Apply to the center of the processor site a small number of new thermal paste (slightly larger than a match head).
• Dismate it with a very thin layer with a brush (often enters into a set with a new thermal package) or a piece of plastic.
• Install the cooling system back.

How to remove a radiator from a processor

The radiator can be attached directly to the motherboard with screws, then you just need to unscrew them. Either a plastic slot frame is attached to the motherboard, and the radiator is pushed into it. In this case, to remove the radiator, we raise the lock holding the fastening bracket. We remove the bracket from the groove from both sides and carefully pull up.

If the thermal paste has dried up between the processor and the radiator, the radiator can withdraw along with the processor. In this case, carefully shame the processor with a wooden or plastic tool and disconnect. It is better to do this in gloves.

How to clean a system unit

Having removed the cooler and processor, we clean the system unit from the inside, t.e. We are trying to remove dust from all other elements. To do this, use a regular vacuum cleaner and a clean, dry brush of a small size. Supplinging the vacuum cleaner hose to the clusters of dust on the motherboard or in the case, scoop it out of the corners with a brush.

You need to be careful with all protruding elements on the board, so as not to break them. Everything that we see and what we can carefully get to. we clean.

An alternative cleaning option is to use cylinders with compressed air, which can be blown up by contaminated places. But the dust will still settle somewhere, and breathing it is harmful.

The inner surface of the processor cannot be wiped with a damp cloth! After that, computers do not survive!

How to clean a system unit

Having removed the cooler and processor, we clean the system unit from the inside, t.e. We are trying to remove dust from all other elements. To do this, use a regular vacuum cleaner and a clean, dry brush of a small size. Supplinging the vacuum cleaner hose to the clusters of dust on the motherboard or in the case, scoop it out of the corners with a brush.

You need to be careful with all protruding elements on the board, so as not to break them. Everything that we see and what we can carefully get to. we clean.

An alternative cleaning option is to use cylinders with compressed air, which can be blown up by contaminated places. But the dust will still settle somewhere, and breathing it is harmful.

The inner surface of the processor cannot be wiped with a damp cloth! After that, computers do not survive!

How to clean the processor

There is usually no dust on it, but there are remains of thermal paste, usually dried. It is easiest to remove them with alcohol with a paper cloth. It happens that the paste has already caved and alcohol does not take it. then try more aggressive substances such as a solvent or acetone. Do not use wet wipes or rags!

Computer cleaning procedure

If during operation the computer began to make noise louder than usual, and the image on the monitor began to be clearly braided, then in all likelihood, the system unit needs to be cleaned from dust. You can hand over the computer to the service company, or you can try to cope with the problem at home, yourself. First you need to determine the sequence of work.

Cleaning is usually carried out in the following order:

• Clean the power supply.
• Remove large fragments of accumulated dust from the inside of the case.
• Clean the radiator, cooling processor.
• Clean and lubricate or replace the cooler (fans)
• Clean the motherboard, its components and devices fixed on it.

Before cleaning, prepare a soft napkin, vacuum cleaner, cross.shaped and flat screwdrivers. In addition, it is advisable to have a soft brush at hand (an old makeup brush, a small painting brush or shaving beam) is quite suitable).

It should be remembered that during the work, part of the dust will fly out, so it is desirable to clean the system unit in the corresponding room. on the balcony, in the bathroom, corridor, workshop or garage.

Cleaning the power supply

During cleaning, PC is often left “for later” power supply. But this should not be done. The dust is sucked into cooler inside the device along with the air. She settles on the board, covering details, radiators and microcircuits like loose felt. This greatly reduces heat transfer. As a result, the device overheats, its work worsens, ultimately it may fail.

Before starting work, you need to turn off the computer from the electric network and disconnect the wire from the power supply, then you can proceed to dismantling and cleaning:

• We lay the system unit on the side, unscrew the bolts in the end (usually two) and remove the side cover.
• We examine a bunch of wires moving away from the power supply. Mandatory disconnect the connectors on the hard drive and the optical drive for reading CD-DVD discs.
• The wires of the motherboard usually have a fairly large length and they can not be disconnected. But if you decide to completely disconnect the device, then the long connector should be removed from the nest very carefully, holding the fee, as it is usually removed tight.
• Twist 4 fastening bolts on the rear panel and remove the power supply.
• Find and unscrew four small bolts located in the corners on the side of the removed device. One of them is usually under a paper sticker.
• Remove the lid. It has the shape of the letter “P” and closes the three sides at the same time.
• Carefully clean the board, details and radiators with a brush or small vacuum cleaner.
• Clean the cooler with a brush. No need to touch the fan blades with your hands, since dust will stick dust very quickly on the sebaceous prints of the fingers.
• Collect a power supply. All operations are performed in the reverse order. If it does not interfere with access to the motherboard, then you can immediately install this node in place. But you can fix it in the system unit after cleaning all PC devices.

How often you need to clean the computer from dust (frequency of service)?

The most important aspect in maintenance of computers and laptops is to clean the cooling systems from dust and replacing thermal paste with a video card chip and processor. The frequency of maintenance depends on the conditions and environment of operation of the device (temperature ranges, dusting level, operation intensity, processor and video card load). The main indicator for cleaning from dust and replacing thermal paste is a significant increase in the operating temperature of the processor or video card and the visual presence of dust on the cooler’s blades and their cooling systems. Well, in the most severe cases, a systematic shutdown from overheating.

You can check the readings of the processor temperature sensors and the graphic nucleus using the AIDA64 utility in the Computer tab → sensors or in the corresponding BIOS section. The first option is a priority, since you can check the behavior of a laptop (computer) under load, the easiest option during games with good graphics.

So, in what ranges the operating temperature of the processor should fluctuate:

• For Intel processors. in downtime (without load). a normal operating temperature of about 35 ° C. With loading (games, video processing) up to a maximum of 70 ° C.
• For AMD processors. in downtime (without load). a normal operating temperature of about 45 ° C. With loading (games, video processing) up to 80 ° C.

I would advise cleaning the cooling system:

• at least 1 time in 2 years with very moderate use;
• 1 time per year with an average daily load
• 1 time in 3-6 months with constant “heavy” games or other thorough loads on computing power.

In addition, the period of maintenance can be reduced when using cheap thermal paste, for example, KPT-8 and significantly increase when used more expensive and high-quality, for example, Arctic Cooling MX-4. Also, do not forget about the dustiness of the premises in areas located near busy motorways or heavy industry enterprises, cooler and radiators clog much faster.

How to clean the cooler and computer radiator?

There are two ways to clean the computer cooling system:

without removing the cooling system from the motherboard. The method is very simple and allows you to achieve a satisfactory effect. It is necessary to de.energize the system unit by turning it off and extending the 220V power cord from the system unit. Thoroughly pouring the processor and video card cooling systems. It is advisable to use the maximum possible speed of the vacuum cleaner. In addition, you can prove the remnants of dust with an ordinary painting brush. Visually convinced of the absence of dust between the ribs of the radiator. If the dust remains to go to the second method.

Method 2 (recommended): with the removal of the cooling system from the motherboard. The method is identical to the first, but the entire cooling system is turned off and removed with PC and is cleaned with a vacuum cleaner at maximum revolutions and a painting brush. The advantage of the second method is the convenience of cleaning dust in hard.to.reach places, as well as the ability to check the condition of thermal paste on the radiator and processor.

Thermal paste should be viscous, in no case is solid or brittle. If the state of thermal paste is unsatisfactory, further operation of the computer is strictly undesirable and can lead to processor overheating and failure of PC.

Laptop cleaning from dust

Since the process of complete disassembly of the laptop is quite difficult, it can only be entrusted to a specialist. Of course, you can try to do this at home, but it is quite likely that it will not work to assemble the device back. And if it turns out, it is not a fact that his work will be as stable as before.

If you are even a little uncertain that you can make out and collect a laptop without any effort, and also do not have much experience in this area, it is better to contact the service center. As a rule, that there are not so much for the safety and performance of your device.

However, there is a good option for how to perform surface cleaning of a laptop from dust. Yes, this method does not give such a high.quality result that can be achieved when the device is completely disassembled, but it is not so bad.

This method consists in partial disassembly. You need to remove the battery and back cover of the laptop. Everyone can do this. You will need a screwdriver that will suit the screws on the back cover of the laptop. The method of extracting the battery depends on the model, as a rule, it is located on the surface of the laptop, so difficulties should not arise.

When the back panel of the device is “exposed”, you will need a span with compressed air. It can be found in any specialized store at a low price. With the help of a small tube through which a strong flow of air comes out, you can clean your laptop well from dust. For more thorough cleaning, again, it is better to contact the service center.

It is very important to regularly perform thorough cleaning of a computer or laptop from the dust accumulated in it. over, this should not be simple surface cleaning with a vacuum cleaner. If you value your device and its correct work, it is necessary to approach this issue with full responsibility. Ideally, getting rid of pollution in PC is best with a frequency of 1-2 months, but it is possible a little less often. The main thing is that between such sessions it does not pass for six months or a year.

We are glad that we were able to help you in solving the problem.

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