Cleaning a CPU fan

[music_beans]

Just in case the cause of my random computer hangs is a clogged CPU fan, I need some advice on how to clean it. I don't have one of those air compressor things to clean it with.

[BuckeyeChris]

Actually, you don't need to go to the trouble of using an air compressor. Just a can of compressed air will do. You can buy them at any electronics store, office supply stores, and online. Just take off the CPU cover, and blast away all the gunk.

[SimpleSimon]

I tell my customers to open the machine and blow it out good every 6 months. Of course, it's rather dry and dusty here, but that's a good starting point anyway.

Since they've been doing this, I've had a lot fewer dust bunny bites - and almost no stitches! :lol:

[HappyGoLucky]

If your vacuum cleaner can also "blow", that's a good tool, too. I put the hose on the exhaust outlet of my cleaner, and using the crevice tool, it generates a very powerful blast that can knock the dirt and dust off even the most grimy of computer parts.

[MarkA]

In fact, do NOT use an air compressor unless it's output air is clean filtered. A lot have tiny bits of oil and stuff in the air

[SimpleSimon]

What MarkA said! Bad news to blow dirty air!

[tonyp56]

You can also use your vacuum to suck out the dust. You don't have to blow it out. Though you will have to have a small enough crevice tool to get in and around the inside of your machine.

If you do decide to use canned air, remember, all that dust is going somewhere, so do it outside, or somewhere easily cleaned up.

[cdru]

It's bad advice to use a vaccum cleaner to clean out the dust directly. Moving bristles across electrical components will build up a static charge. This is bad. If you are concerned about dust, I've used a can of compressed air and a vaccum cleaner beside where I was blowing out stuff. Use the vaccum to suck out the dusty air, but not to dislodge anything.

If it's really bad a small brush can be gently used on non-electrical components (fan blades, heat sink fans, etc).

[MarkA]

You use an attachment without bristles but with high suction (like the crevice tool), and you don't actually touch anything with it...

[cdru]

You use an attachment without bristles but with high suction (like the crevice tool), and you don't actually touch anything with it...I've never seen a vacuum that was able to suck embedded dirt from a fan or heatsink without touching it to dislodge the dirt before. I've always had to blow it out first.

[n8dagr8]

FYI...the dust from computers is supposedly not the healthiest thing (brominated, flame retardant chemicals)...I second the "do it outside" part and try not to breath any in.

[MarkA]

"I've never seen a vacuum that was able to suck embedded dirt from a fan or heatsink without touching it to dislodge the dirt before. I've always had to blow it out first."

Mine sure won't :) But having no canned air and seeing what I mess it was I tried my aunt's vacuum on her computer and I touched nothing and it worked beautifully. Of course, we're talking a very expensive vacuum (sorry I don't know the brand nor remember how much she paid but it was a fortune - six or seven hundred dollars I think)