Hi folks,
Just a general point to all of you out there with shiny new fan cooled graphics cards.
Recently my previously rock solid PC installation kept crashing to a black screen. Suspecting a faulty graphics card I borrowed one to try, however when I removed the old card, a Radeon 9600/X1050 I found it was clogged with that fine computer fluff. A thorough clean and back to a solid performance.
So remember-Keep it clean!
Regards
Martin
Graphic warning
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AdamsRadial
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Re: Graphic warning
Ah, that old excuse, the wrong sort of fluff on the lines.
"Time waits for no man - but it sometimes stops to pick up hitchhikers"
Adrian S
Adrian S
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growler37
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Re: Graphic warning
Your right Martin.martin52069 wrote:Hi folks,
Just a general point to all of you out there with shiny new fan cooled graphics cards.
Recently my previously rock solid PC installation kept crashing to a black screen. Suspecting a faulty graphics card I borrowed one to try, however when I removed the old card, a Radeon 9600/X1050 I found it was clogged with that fine computer fluff. A thorough clean and back to a solid performance.
So remember-Keep it clean!
Regards
Martin
Also i sometimes remove the cooling fan on the cpu to remove the fluff from the heat sink,to anyone thinking of doing this, dont try it unless you know what your doing though.
kevin
CORNWALL THE LAND OF PASTIES AND TREVITHICK! INVENTOR OF THE STEAM LOCO.
BUILDER OF THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY ROUTE FOR RS.
PENZANCE TO PLYMOUTH,MODERN,IN PROGRESS.
THE HELSTON BRANCH AND WEST CORNWALL IN THE 1950,S,IN PROGRESS.
BUILDER OF THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY ROUTE FOR RS.
PENZANCE TO PLYMOUTH,MODERN,IN PROGRESS.
THE HELSTON BRANCH AND WEST CORNWALL IN THE 1950,S,IN PROGRESS.
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Retro
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Re: Graphic warning
My Fans tends to get clogged with Dog Hairs (German Shepherd) and coated in Nicotine ( Smoking while getting frustrated working on the Route Editor).
Regards James.
Regards James.
Re: Graphic warning
Although most people don't do it, I would agree that routine maintenance should be part of owning a PC-- certainly anything approaching a high-performance one which is likely to have considerable airflow through it.
Dust will build up so every twelve months (six months with high-performance computers and parts), you should clean out the inside with a can of compressed air-- key target areas being the CPU cooler, the graphics card, then a good blast through the PSU intake, and then anything else with any sort of heatsink to remove the inevitable build up of dust. Once those areas look clean, you can tackle the rest of the inside generally. It shouldn't take more than five minutes or so, and doing so will keep your computer running much more reliably. A word of warning though: if it is some time since you last cleaned your computer, you might want to move your computer into the hallway first, then close your eyes (or wear goggles) and hold your breath before using the compressed-air can as a very large cloud of dust could come out of the computer which you really don't want in your eyes or to inhale.
More technically inclined people can rely on specialist software to check the temperature of key components to ensure the cooling is working properly on all components still, but for the sake of a few minutes work, I'd recommend a quick spring clean to be part of any PC owner's routine to ensure their PC has a long life, just like a car should be serviced regularly - the difference being the PC maintenance is very cheap and anyone can do it in only a few minutes.
Dust will build up so every twelve months (six months with high-performance computers and parts), you should clean out the inside with a can of compressed air-- key target areas being the CPU cooler, the graphics card, then a good blast through the PSU intake, and then anything else with any sort of heatsink to remove the inevitable build up of dust. Once those areas look clean, you can tackle the rest of the inside generally. It shouldn't take more than five minutes or so, and doing so will keep your computer running much more reliably. A word of warning though: if it is some time since you last cleaned your computer, you might want to move your computer into the hallway first, then close your eyes (or wear goggles) and hold your breath before using the compressed-air can as a very large cloud of dust could come out of the computer which you really don't want in your eyes or to inhale.
More technically inclined people can rely on specialist software to check the temperature of key components to ensure the cooling is working properly on all components still, but for the sake of a few minutes work, I'd recommend a quick spring clean to be part of any PC owner's routine to ensure their PC has a long life, just like a car should be serviced regularly - the difference being the PC maintenance is very cheap and anyone can do it in only a few minutes.
Re: Graphic warning
Just want to tack something on the back of this post as I am having anomolies from my GS7800. Windows keeps saying that the Sentinal Program has detected lower power and is reducing performance. I would like to also try giving my fan a good blast of compressed air to see if that stops this warning appearing.
Tazman
Tazman
Re: Graphic warning
If I can add something in helpful mode...
Just changing the graphics card can drastically change the cooling profile of your PC.
I recently upgraded from a Geforce 7600 to a Geforce 8800. The former drew power from the motherboard, the latter uses the direct six pin attachment from the PSU. While the PSU has sufficient rating, its fan is now running faster and getting hotter. I also have one of those little temperature detector programmes installed (Speedfan) and have noticed the CPU cores and general zonal temeratures significantly higher than before. An extreme example, but during Crysis the CPU (C2D 6600 not overclocked) is pushing > 65C while the system is hovering >60C. Prior to installing the 8800 it was unusual to see temperatures above 55C.
My "idle" temperatures are still the same as before but it appears the new GFX card is pumping out significantly extra heat and/or placing extra load on the CPU compared to the 7600. The PC is relatively well ventilated with grilles on both side panels and the PSU fan and a separate 80mm fan to exhaust the hot air.
Just changing the graphics card can drastically change the cooling profile of your PC.
I recently upgraded from a Geforce 7600 to a Geforce 8800. The former drew power from the motherboard, the latter uses the direct six pin attachment from the PSU. While the PSU has sufficient rating, its fan is now running faster and getting hotter. I also have one of those little temperature detector programmes installed (Speedfan) and have noticed the CPU cores and general zonal temeratures significantly higher than before. An extreme example, but during Crysis the CPU (C2D 6600 not overclocked) is pushing > 65C while the system is hovering >60C. Prior to installing the 8800 it was unusual to see temperatures above 55C.
My "idle" temperatures are still the same as before but it appears the new GFX card is pumping out significantly extra heat and/or placing extra load on the CPU compared to the 7600. The PC is relatively well ventilated with grilles on both side panels and the PSU fan and a separate 80mm fan to exhaust the hot air.
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markjudith
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Re: Graphic warning
Does any one know if there is any way of filtering air in the first place by putting some kind of breathable mask or bag over the tower, I have coal fires in my property and the build up of dirt is usually black! Coal smoke smell adds to the atmosphere whilst driving steam trains though!! 